1nvest: Why durability matters more than momentum in investing 

In advice, the risk is not missing the next trend but misjudging its durability. Structural shifts like AI, property and sustainable investing, together with the rise of index investing, offer a more reliable foundation for long-term portfolios. 

Markets are full of trends, but most are noise. They capture attention, drive short-term narratives and then fade, often without leaving a lasting imprint on returns. In investing, “trend” should be a much higher bar. It should be reserved for structural change, forces that reshape how economies function, how capital is allocated and how returns are generated over time. 

For advisers, the distinction is critical. The risk is not missing the next headline theme, but rather allocating to something that lacks durability. The opportunity lies in identifying trends that are already embedded in the system and compounding. 

One of the clearest examples is the rise of index investing itself. Once considered niche, it has become a core portfolio building block globally, driven by cost efficiency, transparency and consistency of outcome. It is a reminder that the most powerful trends are often those supported by fundamentals rather than hype. 

The same lens can be applied more broadly. Artificial intelligence (AI), property and socially responsible investing (SRI) each reflect structural shifts, not short-term narratives. They differ in form and maturity, but share a common foundation: they are backed by real capital flows, real assets and measurable change. 

Not so artificial 

AI is no longer a speculative theme. It is increasingly treated as infrastructure. As with rail, electricity and telecommunications, AI is becoming embedded in the functioning of economies. It underpins productivity gains across sectors rather than operating as a standalone industry. 

This shift is visible in capital allocation. Goldman Sachs estimates AI-related investment could reach US$7.6 trillion between 2026 and 2031, spanning semiconductors, data centres and power. 

For advisers, this reframes the opportunity. Exposure to AI is not simply about pursuing growth, but about accessing a foundational driver of long-term earnings expansion across sectors. The 1nvest S&P500 Index STANLIB Feeder Fund offers efficient exposure to many of the companies building and enabling this infrastructure. 

Perpetual relevance: property 

While much of the investment narrative focuses on digital transformation, the physical economy remains essential.  Demand for logistics, residential, healthcare and commercial real estate persists across cycles. The growth of AI reinforces this, with data centres emerging as a critical and rapidly expanding component of the property ecosystem. 

The scale is significant. Savills estimates global real estate to be worth approximately US$393 trillion, making it the largest store of wealth globally.  For advisers, listed property provides a way to access this asset class with liquidity and transparency, while still delivering income and diversification benefits within portfolios. 

The 1nvest SA Property STANLIB ETF enables efficient exposure to the local property market without the complexity of direct ownership. 

More than money 

A further structural shift is the integration of sustainability considerations into investment decision-making. This is no longer peripheral. It is reflected in global capital flows, regulatory developments and institutional mandates. The Global Sustainable Investment Alliance estimates sustainable assets now exceed US$30 trillion. 

For advisers, the relevance is both client-led and investment-led. Demand for alignment is increasing, while sustainability considerations are also becoming embedded in how risk and long-term value are assessed. 

The 1nvest MSCI World Socially Responsible Investment STANLIB Index Feeder ETF provides access to global equities screened for socially responsible practices, supporting both portfolio construction and client alignment. 

From trend to allocation 

The distinction between short-term trends and structural change is not academic. It goes to the heart of portfolio construction. AI, property and sustainable investing are not simply narratives. They represent enduring shifts in how economies grow and how capital is deployed. The same is true of index investing itself, which has reshaped how advisers access these opportunities with efficiency and scale. 

The role of advice is to translate these trends into disciplined, cost-effective allocations. That means focusing on durability, not momentum, and anchoring portfolios in fundamentals rather than short-term sentiment.