Hedge funds have long been shrouded in myths and misconceptions, but today, the South African hedge fund industry is governed by robust regulations under the supervision of the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), meeting stringent transparency, governance and risk management requirements. Investors have access to a variety of retail-friendly hedge funds that are becoming essential building blocks in investment portfolios, as investors seek more protection, consistency and diversification.
The 2025 Blue Chip Hedge Fund Guide is the launch edition of a special annual supplement designed to provide useful information to the South African financial planning community on these investment vehicles. Rob Macdonald, an independent consultant, author and CFP® Professional, provides a series of introductory articles on hedge funds: what hedge funds are; the history of hedge funds; the various types of hedge funds offered in South Africa; the pros and cons of using a hedge fund; why financial planners and institutional investors should consider incorporating hedge funds into an investment plan; and
how to choose the right hedge fund. Members of the Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa (FPI) can earn one verifiable Continuous Professional Development (CPD) point by completing an online assessment on the FPI member portal, based on the introductory articles in the Hedge Fund Guide.
The Hedge Fund Guide also features contributions from a number of South African hedge fund managers in the form of company profiles and interviews with key individuals involved in the management of the hedge funds, exploring a range of topics such as investment philosophy, competitive advantages, costs and performance. This is followed by a listing of 33 South African hedge fund managers and the hedge funds they offer.
The Blue Chip Hedge Fund Guide follows the successful format of the annual Blue Chip DFM Guide launched in February 2025, with the Structured Products Guide set to be launched in January 2026 and the second edition of the DFM Guide due for publication in February 2026. The guides are produced by Global Africa Network Media, the publisher of Blue Chip Journal. Blue Chip is the official publication of the FPI, published quarterly in January, April, July and October, and distributed directly to the full and up-to-date member base of the FPI, reaching over 5 000 CFP® Professionals as well as other categories of FPI membership.
