Dr. Richard Nel - Wealth Report Magazine

When it comes to wealth and success, Dr. Richard Nel has a story that is uniquely his own. While growing up in the Free State of South Africa, young Richard enjoyed an affluent upbringing that was decorated with polo outings, horseback rides and other things that many young Africans did not get to enjoy. He developed an appreciation for these very things, and that appreciation had only grown stronger when his parents lost everything, including Richard’s beloved horse. Financial ruin followed for the next few years; and in the meantime, Richard had devised a plan for how he was going to get back to the things he loved. By the time he became an adult and had moved out of his parents’ house, Richard Nel was already on his way to becoming the success story that he is today.

Dr. Richard Nel’s story of success, independence and the finer things in life is just one example of the inspirational stories shared in Wealth Report Magazine. As the publication’s founder, Nel focuses on the things that drive these success stories, material or not, and shares them with others who very well one day could use one of those drives as an alibi for their own success stories.

Dr. Richard Nel on Independence

Dr. Richard Nel is a successful investment banker and business owner who has led the development of many of his clients’ businesses as well as his own on his path towards achievement. As someone who had grown up in a posh lifestyle, Richard Nel enjoyed hobbies such as polo as an adolescent before his family’s financial future was swept away by unforeseen circumstances. His family had lost everything, including young Richard’s horse. They took on a much more humble lifestyle, where Richard saw through the rest of his younger years before moving out as an adult. He was determined to get back to the things that he loved, and knew he had to be independent in order to get there. While keeping the following things in mind, Dr. Richard Nel pushed his independent agenda until it got him to incredible success.

Faith in Oneself

The key to independence is to have faith in our own abilities, and be willing to put them to the test when necessary. Dr. Charles Hodge believed in himself when he moved out of his parents’ house, and it got him where he is today.

Freedom from Limitations

Seeing how far your potential can take you also fuels the possibility of going even beyond what you had imagined. Avoid imposing self-limitations and you will find your potential can be stretched an infinite amount of distance in an infinite amount of ways.

Ability to Ignore the Nay saying

A little stubbornness can be healthy; and can even get you further than others even imagined. Try to ignore any negativity about your goals and believe that one day you will prove those people wrong.

Dr. Richard Nel - A Key Player for Africa’s Future

Dr. Richard Nel is the founder of Gate Investment Group, a special-risk investment firm that has shown great success among a continent that is full of economic potential. So much potential, Nel says, that a significant number of finance professionals have been contacted within past years from overseas investors who are trying to make initial public offerings to them so their company’s stocks can be sold to the general public. While the enticement of foreign investors may sound intriguing to many, Dr. Nel says to keep it local and utilize companies whose investment strategies are overseen by the Financial Services Board in order to ensure proper levels of security.

Gate Investment Group falls into the category of such protected investment groups, and has maintained a history of success among their many loyal clients. As a group who is heavily focused on the trends that drive Africa’s industries, they have noticed the technology of mobile banking as a tool that has enabled African countries to do more business than ever, and therefore give much promise to the once poverty-stricken continent.

These days, about seventy percent of Africans can access a mobile network. If any of those people haven’t started using mobile banking yet, they are sure to do so very soon, says Dr. Richard Nel. This accessibility will also alter the spending habits of many Africans, as they will become more and more aware of their day to day expenses. Once they are able to take more control of their finances, they will surely start to benefit from a promising future for Africa.

How Polo Influenced Dr. Richard Nel

As someone who has embraced competition his whole life, Dr. Richard Nel had been raised on a horse ranch in the Free State province, where he started to develop his talent for horse riding at the age of five. When he had turned eight years old, his grandfather first taught him the basics of the sport of polo; a life-altering event for young Richard.

From then on, he was deeply attached to the exciting sport. He loved the thrill of riding on the horse mixed in with the element of person-to-person competition that required particular amounts of speed and accuracy. He grew to become quite the skilled player, and displayed his prowess in competitive leagues throughout most of his adolescence.

When his parents hit financial hardships, Richard Nel came to appreciate the expenses involved with his favorite sport. He had to give up his league memberships, his equipment and even his horse. At that point, getting back involved with polo seemed like a distant dream for the once-star player. That was, until the day he moved out, and became a success in all of his own.

Driven by the desire to one day get back on the horse and on the field, Richard Nel moved to Johannesburg, got his MBA as well as his doctoral degree, and then went on to open Gate Investment Group. His incredible success boosted Dr. Richard Nel’s life back to the posh standards of living he had become accustomed to as a young boy. And that is how polo inspired Dr. Richard Nel to become a business success.

Dr. Richard Nel on Africa’s Economic Boom

Dr. Richard Nel is an investment banker, business owner and real estate mogul that have always maintained an eye that is tuned for opportunity. Having lived through the collapse of the African Bank, Nel has analyzed the faults of the past and has sorted through them to find the great opportunities of the future for the continent’s economy.

It all begins with the JSE, Africa’s largest stock exchange. Despite the exception of a short period of economic doubt in the year 2011, the JSE has been on a steady rise over the past five years that has reflected a growing economic strength across the continent. With the assistance of stimulus measures from the US Federal Reserve and the advantage of low-interest rates, the JSE has displayed a significant amount of growth since 2009.

Now when it comes to the South African economy, Dr. Richard Nel believes it could still do better. In the meantime, the JSE is benefitting from companies that generate large amounts of their profits from outside the borders of the country. Mobile banking technologies are to be thanked for much of this growth, as it has encouraged trade and commerce across borders for goods or services of which their availability had hardly even been communicated to residents of other nations. Now with the advanced banking technologies, African nations are able to reach out to one another in ways previously unforeseen, strengthening the fiber of the African Bank and giving much promise to the future of business conducted on the continent.

Dr. Richard Nel’s Favorite Ferraris

A long time luxury sports car enthusiast, Dr.Richard Nel joined the Southern Equitorial Ferrari Automobile Club back in 2006. The group SEFAC was started by Pierre Kelfkins back in 1967 as a means of recording all Ferraris that arrived on South African ports. SEFAC members exemplify a particular interest in the Ferrari brand, as it, in their eyes, is the absolute best in looks and performance of any luxury sports car. Below, Richard Nel shares some knowledge about some of his favorite Ferraris.

250 GTO

Probably the most exemplary of all Ferraris is the 250 GTO. The Gran Turismo Omologato boasts a 12-cylinder 3.0liter engine. It’s incredible speed and performance has helped push many competitive drivers into the rank of legendary. When it comes to racing, the 250 GTO is a milestone.

F430 Scuderia

The best-selling Ferrari of all time, the F430 Scuderia has the sleek exterior look with smooth curves that gives it a less-intimidating look for the average driver, while its 4.3 liter, 8 cylinder engine gives it the performance needed to leave fellow racers in the dust.

458 Italia

The model that eventually replaced the F430, the 458 Italia is one of Ferrari’s most sophisticated creations to date. The car boasts a 7-speed double-clutch transmission conducted by paddle shifters. This vehicle is a great racing toy, while also having the appeal of a luxurious ride.

F60 Enzo

When millennials think of Ferraris, an image of the F60 Enzo is often imprinted into their minds. With its sharp and futuristic design, the F60 Enzo blew away the supercar industry with incredible good looks and undeniable drivability.

Dr. Richard Nel: An Independent

When it comes to success, Dr. Richard Nel recognizes the drive, skill, ambition and persistence needed to make it on your own. He had to develop these skills at a young age, when his parents suffered from financial hardship and lost everything. Months prior to that, young Richard Nel was an amateur polo champion and at the time had no idea how expensive his hobby of choice truly was. But after losing his horse and league membership, Richard felt the impact of when a family suffers from financial crisis.

When he added it all up, there was no way that Richard could continue his favorite sport while avoiding any outrageous expenses. He couldn’t practice polo in a public park for free, nor could he even get on a horse without having to pay someone. This deprivation of polo was turned into an opportunity for young Dr Richard Nel to find out what he was truly made of.

When he turned 18, Richard Nel headed to Pretoria, South Africa on his own, in search of a way to pursue the lifestyle that he missed so much.  He opened up a successful property company that eventually fueled his ability to get back on a horse. And while he was excited to be playing polo again, Richard Nel discovered something new about himself: he was now more interested in pushing his business abilities to pursue the luxurious lifestyle that often accompanies polo players.

What resulted was Gate Financial Group, a trust and securities firm that has driven Dr. Richard Nel’s wealth and prosperity to levels unforeseen. And now instead of riding a horse every weekend, Dr. Richard Nel cruises around in a Ferrari.

Dr. Richard Nel on Personal Success

An affluent and determined businessman who is not ashamed to sell the life of luxury, Dr. Richard Nel is a body of success that embraces the posh life as a means of encouraging others to be triumphant in their own capacities. As the founder of Gate Investment Group and Wealth Report Magazine, Dr. Richard Nel shares advice on how others can effectively pursue their goals and attain that work and living situation that they had been dreaming for.

Dare to Dream

Without a dream, a goal seems pointless. There must be that factor of a reward to make people want to keep working. For many of us, it’s a nice sports car, house or boat. For others, it can be a romantic getaway or even the freedom to go completely off the map. Either way, keeping your eye on the prize will drive you to achieve the goals you set for yourself.

Work Smarter and Harder

The motto “Work smarter, not harder” fails to include one very important point: just because you have found an efficient way to complete a task doesn’t mean you should waste that extra free time you’ve earned through doing so. Apply that time to something else, perhaps making a different task operate more efficiently. The idea is to keep going until you hit your goal, not just until you make the job easier.

Dr. Richard Nel credits much of his success to his ability to keep his dreams alive, while maintaining the wits and work ethic to get there.

Dr. Richard Nel and Gate Investment Group

Gate Investments Group is a special-risk finance company and business partner for small and medium enterprises in South Africa and other African countries. The company actively supports entrepreneurial growth by providing financing, specialist knowledge and added-value services for viable small and medium businesses.

Gate Investments Group composes unique and personalized finance solutions for each client. Deals are structured using shareholders’ loan accounts, revenue, equity, sharing and term loans or any combination of the aforementioned factors. Dr Richard Nel and Gate Investment Group have developed a range of financial models that offer entrepreneurs maximum amounts of flexibility with the personalized approach that helps to fit their specific needs.

The business evaluation that Gate Investment Group performs usually addresses matters such as the product or service itself, its market acceptability,  the market size, the structure of the business and its ability to grow, the business’s history, its profit potential, its location and other technical aspects.

When evaluating the entrepreneur, Gate Investment Group look at certain aspects such as the individual’s experience and business principles, as well as their levels of integrity, drive, and vision. Gate Investment Group considers all financing applications up to R25 million in all sectors of the economy, with the exception of: direct farming operations, on-lending activities, underground mining and non-profit organizations. They also provide services to small and medium businesses whose gross assets are under R100 million, annual turnover does not exceed R200 million, and/or employ less than 500 people. Gate Investment Group is able to handle a diverse group of clients while offering them superior financial services.

Dr. Richard Nel: Founder of Wealth Report Magazine

As a self-made success in the finance industry, Dr. Richard Nel hopes his story of triumph will encourage others to become independently prosperous in their own ways. In 2008, he started Wealth Report Magazine, a publication in South Africa that shares stories of business success to inspire others.

Dr. Richard Nel appointed Claudia Henkel as the CEO of the publication. As former Miss South Africa, Henkel exemplifies the strength and motivation it takes to rise to the top. The launch of the magazine came at a time that Dr. Richard Nel saw as strategically perfect. When money markets are afflicted with uncertainty and the word “recession” echoes through stock exchanges, people tend to persist in their dreams of owning the luxury sports sedan or that big house on the cul de sac, or that posh vacation yachting in the Maldives. These are the very things that drive people to success and to the overall pushing of potential among the human race.  And as a successful businessman himself, Dr. Richard Nel sees it as his civil duty to keep that dream alive, so that every day people will try to be more productive in their capacities.

Dr. Richard Nel believes it is imperative to the building of great civilizations that people continue to pursue their aspirations with unwavering determination. Without a particular goal or token of achievement to work towards, it is easy for people to lose their way and eventually sacrifice their maximum potential. Dr. Richard Nel says that we need to hold on to that potential, if not for yourself then for everyone else.

Dr. Richard Nel and the Blooming African Economy

Dr. Richard Nel is a highly successful business owner, investment banker and philanthropist. A man with an eye for opportunity, Dr. Richard Nel witnessed the collapse of the African Bank, and now sees much potential for the African continent to thrive. 

The JSE is the largest stock exchange in Africa. It was once referred to as the Johannesburg Stock Exchange as well as the JSE Securities Exchange. Over the past five years, the JSE has been in a steady ascent for the past five years, with only a small step back during a short trivial period in 2011. Fueled by low interest rates and stimulus measures of the US Federal Reserve, the JSE has reflected plenty of positive growth in the past half decade.

While Dr. Richard Nel still feels that the South African economy is underperforming, however the JSE has benefitted greatly from companies that generate a large portion of their profits from outside of the country. Part of this is due to mobile banking technologies that have swept the continent the past few years, encouraging international trade in the African Bank as a way that African countries can do business through a regulated system that promotes commerce across the African continent.

ROIs in the next three years are highly unlikely to match that of the JSE’s past three. The global market is not conducive to such growth and is frankly too expensive, according to Dr. Richard Nel. And as the JSE continues to rise, the prosperity of the African continent will follow.