Disappointing returns from South African shares and a huge fall in listed equity have resulted in even diversified investments such as multi-asset funds delivering negative real five-year rolling returns for the first time in 20 years. Amid tales of corruption, political turmoil and expectations of muted economic growth globally, the question on almost every investor's mind is whether this time is really different — and should you switch to better-performing cash investments? But many asset managers say the biggest risk now is that you capitulate and switch out of your investments. All indications are that "this is the darkest hour before the dawn", as Investec sales manager Paul Hutchinson puts it. Releasing the unit trust industry statistics last month, Association for Savings and Investment SA board member and MD at Investec Asset Management Thabo Khojane says never in his 20 years in the industry has he seen rolling five-year returns that were negative in real terms. But Investe...

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