1. TRUSTS
Business Structuring & Wealth Protection

2. A Trust is a legal arrangement where the ‘Settlor’ (aka the ‘Donor’ or ‘Founder’) transfers assets via the
‘Trustees’, for the benefit of the ‘Beneficiaries’.
SCI Wealth Advisers are in place to answer your questions. Experienced professionals you can trust, working with
you to secure your personal and business assets - giving you and your loved ones long term security.
BENEFICIARIES
Beneficiaries may be named, or may be
nominated by Class.
Income from Assets may vest with the
Beneficiaries or be reinvested within the
Trust.
Potential future Beneficiaries and/or
Contingent Beneficiaries may be
nominated to cover every eventuality.
TRUSTEES
It is vital that a settlor or founder appoints
Trustees that they can Trust.
 SCI can advise on the suitability and
appointment of Trustees
While family members can act as Trustees, it
is important that an independent Trustee is
appointed to prevent a Trust being seen as a
‘sham’ or an ‘alter ego’.
Annual accounts must be prepared but are
not required to be publicly filed, meaning that
confidentiality and privacy are assured
DISCOVERY SESSION
The team of Financial Planners and Investment
Advisers at SCI provide a full range of wealth
advisory services.
 We seek first to understand your
position - then advise you on the best
course of action
Your first step is a discovery session with a
qualified financial planner, so that you can ask
questions and we can understand your needs.
Trusts in Botswana
FLEXIBILE, PERSONALISED SOLUTIONS TO PROTECT YOUR ASSETS
“A trustee has a responsibility to guard the assets of others with a
higher degree of care than he does his own.”
BOTSWANA TRUSTS
While Trusts have existed in Botswana for
many years, our Trust Property Control
Act came into effect in 2018.
When a Trust is founded, the Trustees and
Trust Deed must be registered with the
Master of the Court.
The Settlor, Donor, Protector and
Beneficiaries (or classes of Beneficiaries)
may be resident or non-resident.
A Botswana Trust is resident in Botswana
but may hold both local and international
assets.
The team of Financial Planners and
Investment Advisers at SCI provide a full
range of wealth advisory services.
 We seek first to understand your
position - then advise you on the
best course of action
Your first step is a discovery session with
a qualified financial planner, so that you
can ask questions and we can understand
your needs.
Q: Why should I establish a Trust?
Q: What control can I have over Trust assets?
Q: Can a Trust protect my Children’s Inheritance?
Q: What assets should I put in my Trust?
Q: Does a Trust need to be registered?
Q: Can a Trust protect my Personal Assets from Business Creditors?

3. SIX STEP FINANCIAL PLANNING PROCESS
 We’ll introduce our ideas to you at a
complimentary, face-to-face discovery meeting.
 We’ll seek to understand where you are now
financially, and what you need to achieve in the
future.
 If you’re in a position to invest for your future,
we’ll gauge your appetite for risk, and counsel
you on the level of growth you should target.
 We’ll develop a financial plan for you - tailor
made for your goals.
 We’ll help you to build diversified investment
portfolios. That may include cash, stocks, bonds,
property and commodities - to securely grow
your wealth.
 We’ll be at hand to monitor your investment
plans on an ongoing basis, building a trusted
relationship that can last many years.
THE HISTORY OF SCI
Founded in 2002 as Southern Cross International,
SCI Group is headed by James Fern CFP®, a Certified
Financial Planning Professional.
Our 20 strong Botswana team hold a wide range of
experience and qualifications.
We provide high quality financial planning advice,
and give exceptional personal service.
INTER-GENERATIONAL PLANNING
Handing over the reins of your carefully built assets
can be difficult – whether they be a property
portfolio or a business empire.
However, successful people must consider how
much harder that would be to do after they pass on.
 Trusts do not Die
The benefit of a Trust in generation planning is that
the ownership of assets does not change at death.
A board of Trustees controls the ownership of the
assets, with no one individual able to wrest control
away from the others.
 Trusts can Protect against Creditors
Provided assets are settled into Trust for valid
reasons, personal and business creditors of the
Settlor do not have claim over those Assets.
WILLS AND TRUSTS
It is far more urgent that your Will is in place before
you establish a Trust.
Drafting your Will with SCI is an efficient process,
requiring understanding of your Assets, your
Beneficiaries and your Intentions.
It is especially important to make provision for
minor children or other dependents - in case you &
your Spouse pass away together.
 Every individual needs to put their
Last Will & Testament in place, today"
Our service includes full consultation, drafting,
signing ceremony & registration with the Master of
the Court.
TWO MAIN TYPES OF TRUST
 Inter-Vivos Trust - set up during your lifetime to
segregate, protect your assets and mitigate tax.
 Testamentary Trust - set up by your Will on
your death, to manage assets for minor children
or to protect your Legacy for future generations.
SCI drafted Wills typically include provision for a
Testamentary Trust – especially if there are minor
children to consider.

4. FOR MORE INFORMATION
JAMES FERN CFP®
+267 318 0111
j.fern@scifinancial.com
SCI Group, 129 Kgale Court
Gaborone International Finance Park
PO Box 89AAH, Gaborone
Botswana
www.bdo.bw
PERSONAL ADVICE
This publication has been carefully prepared, but it has been written in
general terms and should be seen as containing broad statements only. This
publication should not be used or relied upon to cover specific situations and
you should not act, or refrain from acting, upon the information contained in
this publication without obtaining specific professional advice.
Please contact SCI Wealth to discuss these matters in the context of your
particular circumstances.
SCI Group, its partners, employees and agents do not accept or assume any responsibility or duty
of care in respect of any use of or reliance on this publication, and deny liability for any loss arising
from any action taken or not taken or decision made by anyone in reliance on this publication or any
part of it. Any use of this publication or reliance on it for any purpose or in any context is therefore at
your own risk, without any right of recourse against SCI Group or any of its subsidiaries partners,
employees or agents.
Copyright ©2020 SCI Wealth. All rights reserved. Published in Botswana.
THE SCI WEALTH DIFFERENCE
SCI Wealth specialise in helping people in Africa invest money, gain
control of their finances and grow their personal wealth.
We're independent, so we sit by your side - as advisers to guide you.
We can help you:
 Draft your Last Will & Testament
 Protect your Family & Business with life insurance
 Get a better interest return on your Savings
 Set up an Emergency Fund
 Diversify your Investment Assets
 Plan for your Children's University Education
 Protect your Assets with a Trust
 Set up an Investment Portfolio
 Reduce your Financial Risks
 Retire Successfully