One of the most interesting parts of our recent conversation with Anchor Capital wasn't the stock ideas, market forecasts or sectors attracting attention. It returned to something simpler: behaviour. 

Here are some of the biggest ideas that stood out.

1. Pay Attention to the Businesses You Already Use

Peter encouraged investors to pay attention to their own experiences.

Think about the products and services that have become part of your daily life. Think about the businesses that consistently deliver value year after year.

He used examples like Netflix and Spotify. Businesses that many people interact with regularly and genuinely enjoy using.

That doesn't automatically make them great investments. But it does highlight something important. Good businesses often leave clues in plain sight.

2. Anchor Thinks Active ETFs Are Still Early In Their Story

The webinar centred around two newly listed actively managed ETFs, but the bigger discussion was about why active ETFs are attracting attention globally.

According to Kieran, the first actively managed ETF in South Africa only launched after regulatory reforms in 2022. Since then, the category has grown to around R30 billion.

Anchor believes there is still significant room for growth.

Part of the appeal comes from combining two things investors increasingly value: the accessibility and transparency of ETFs, alongside active stock selection and portfolio management.

As Kieran explained, these strategies were previously available mainly to institutional investors and wealth management clients. The ETF structure makes that same investment process available to a much broader audience.

3. South Africa Still Has Companies Worth Paying Attention To

South Africans are often exposed to a steady stream of negative economic headlines.

While challenges certainly exist, the conversation offered a useful reminder that investing and economic sentiment are not always the same thing.

Kieran highlighted several areas where Anchor continues to find quality businesses capable of growing earnings and gaining market share.

South African banks featured prominently, particularly businesses that continue expanding opportunities beyond South Africa's borders.

Companies such as Capitec, Discovery, Outsurance, Shoprite and Boxer were also discussed as examples of businesses continuing to execute well within their respective industries.

Perhaps the broader lesson is that opportunity often exists alongside uncertainty and that iInvestors do not need a perfect economy to find strong businesses.

4. Building A Business From Scratch Taught Peter Armitage A Lot About Investing

Before founding Anchor, Peter was running the investment side of Investec Wealth.

Twelve years ago, he decided to leave and build something of his own.

He spoke candidly about the entrepreneurial journey. The excitement of starting with a room full of people, giving the business a name, building a culture and slowly growing it into something much larger.

He also spoke about the less glamorous side. The moments where there is nobody reassuring you that you're heading in the right direction.

Today Anchor manages around R320 billion in assets across South Africa, Mauritius and London.

It's a reminder that whether you're building a company or building wealth, progress often comes from making thoughtful decisions consistently over long periods of time.

5. The US Market May Not Be As Expensive As Many People Assume

One of the more surprising market observations came when Peter discussed global equities.

At first glance, many investors see a market that has already risen significantly and assume the opportunity has passed.

Anchor sees it slightly differently.

Peter pointed out that while major US market indices have moved higher, earnings growth has been exceptionally strong. He highlighted median earnings growth of roughly 15% among companies, suggesting parts of the market are actually cheaper relative to earnings than they were a year ago.

That doesn't mean risks have disappeared.

But it does illustrate why professional investors often spend as much time studying business performance as they do studying share prices.

6. Good Investing Thinking Shouldn't Be Reserved for a Few People

Towards the end of the conversation, Peter reflected on the relationship between Anchor and EasyEquities.

The partnership makes sense because both businesses have approached investing from different angles.

Anchor built expertise around research, portfolio construction and wealth management. EasyEquities focused on making investing more accessible to everyday South Africans.

Together, they represent something larger happening across the industry.

The barriers that once made investing feel exclusive are gradually becoming easier to cross.

What it creates is an environment where more people can learn, participate and build confidence over time. And perhaps that's one of the most encouraging developments in investing today.

Because the future of investing may have less to do with finding the perfect stock and more to do with helping more people feel that they belong in the conversation.

7. What A 92-Year-Old Investor And A Child Have In Common

One of the best moments from the webinar arrived almost in passing.

Chief Enablement Officer Carel Nolte mentioned that among EasyEquities investors holding Anchor products are both a 92-year-old investor and a child investing through a minor account.

It's a small detail that says something much bigger.

Investing isn't reserved for a particular age group. Or a particular income bracket. Or a particular level of expertise.

People arrive at investing from different places and for different reasons.

And perhaps that's one of the more interesting developments in South African investing today. More people are gaining access to information, tools and opportunities that once felt out of reach.

One where experienced professionals, first-time investors, retirees and children can all be part of the same investing ecosystem, each starting from a different point but moving toward the same goal: building a better understanding of how money can work over time.

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