During his first season as a deckhand/nanny, the owner, a savvy British businessman, handed Charl Minnaar a book on personal finance while they were underway — Money: Master the Game by Tony Robbins, which would set him off on shaping his financial journey. “I basically finished it in one sitting. I was hooked,” he says. “I immediately started researching where I can start investing and found it pretty difficult as a South African passport holder.”
Over the next four years, he dove in deep, reading over 60 books on finance, investing, property strategies, tax laws and everything in between, plus taking courses and becoming “an avid student of YouTube university.” Then he started writing letters to his friends and crew mates to explain financial concepts in simpler terms — leading to what would become The Yachting Investor.
“I wanted to solve a problem I saw firsthand — so many crew earn great money but have no idea how to manage or grow it,” he says. “A newsletter felt personal, like a one-on-one conversation, and it allowed me to build trust over time.”
Designed to help crew understand personal finance, build wealth and plan for life after yachting, The Yachting Investor breaks down financial topics into actionable advice through a free weekly newsletter and website with a range of resources. From a yachtie financial playbook to lessons he’s learned, he shares what he wish he had when he started in yachting. For those looking for more personalized advice, Charl offers a one-on-one coaching service on a pay-what-you-feel service to help crew develop a financial plan, whether to pay off debt or start saving and investing.
“I started The Yachting Investor because I want crew to realize they don’t have to choose between having fun now and securing their future — they can do both,” Charl says. “By being smarter with your finances, you can enjoy the lifestyle and set yourself up for whatever comes next.”
His goal is to turn The Yachting Investor into a full-scale platform offering financial education, tools and services tailored to yacht crew. Charl has partnered with Yachting International Radio for the Rich AF (and Focused) podcast, combining industry expertise with practical investment strategies.
“To me, it’s about more than just numbers; it’s about peace of mind and freedom—knowing you’re working towards something bigger than the next paycheck," he says. "I’ve seen firsthand how empowering financial literacy can be, and I want as many crew as possible to experience that.”
To find out more, visit: theyachtinginvestor.com; linktr.ee/theyachtinginvestor