I recently had a conversation with a friend about the pros and cons of using diet pills and injections. She was arguing that people are using medication – that comes with serious side effects – instead of using self-discipline. It’s easy to talk...
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Listen: Big Banks – David and Goliath
“Know your ombud” episode 3 In the latest episode of our "Know Your Ombud" series, we dive into the world of financial services with Nerosha Maseti, the lead ombud for banking services. With an increasing number of complaints about banking...
Investing and fatherhood
Siyabulela Nomoyi, Quantitative Portfolio Manager at Satrix, explains how fatherhood has influenced his investing decisions. Fatherhood reshaped my perspective on investing. I have a toddler discovering the world, a nine-year-old full of questions,...
Listen: What to do if your financial institution treats you unfairly
“Know your ombud” Episode 2 I’m joined by Reana Steyn, the head of the National Financial Ombud, to discuss the role of this ombud, and how it is a vital resource when you have a dispute with a financial institution. Reana shares insights into the...
2025 tax filing season opens on 7 July
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has announced the official start of the 2025 tax filing season, effective from 7 July 2025. Filing season for non-provisional taxpayers will close on 20 October 2025, whereas provisional taxpayers have until...
Listen: Know your ombud
“Know your Ombud” is a series of conversations aimed at helping consumers of financial services understand their rights and where to go if they are not treated fairly. The financial ombud schemes include the National Financial Ombud, the FAIS...
Why are there delays in paying out GEPF benefits?
Recently, I’ve been receiving complaints from members of the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) who say they are experiencing delays in receiving their benefit payments. These relate to resignation, divorce and death benefits. These members...
Is marriage outdated?
A few weeks ago, I posted some graphs about the declining marriage rates in South Africa from the Outlier.co.za newsletter. This set off a robust conversation about why marriage rates were declining. There was a strong feeling that because many...
SARS specialised crypto unit cracks down on non-compliance
SARS has unearthed a new source of tax revenue collection – cryptocurrency trading and investing! SARS has confirmed that it is able to receive information directly from local crypto asset exchanges, which means that non-compliance is both...
Five financial conversations to have with your fiancé
Amidst the excitement of wedding planning, it’s easy to overlook a crucial aspect of marriage: financial planning. Metropolitan Gauteng’s General Manager, Queen Malobane, urges couples to have open, practical discussions about money before the big...
Previous Articles
Common exchange control misconceptions
To avoid nasty surprises such as frozen bank accounts or getting stranded abroad, South African residents need to understand South Africa’s exchange control regulations. Well over 300 000 South Africans embarked on international trips during early 2024, according to a...
GEPF explains how it calculated the pension increase
The low 2.9% GEPF pension increase has created an outcry among GEPF pensioners. Many point out that the National Treasury used an annual inflation rate of 4.4% for the budget. So why are pensioners only receiving 2.9%? I wrote an article in News24 explaining how...
Starting your first job? A beginner’s guide to paying tax
Starting your first job is a big deal. It comes with new responsibilities, formative learning curves, a regular paycheque, and, unfortunately – tax. Geo Kilian, tax attorney at Hobbs Sinclair Advisory, lays out the tax basics you need to know as you kick off your...
Another WhatsApp investment scam to watch out for
Old Mutual is warning the public about a highly sophisticated investment scam currently circulating on social media and messaging platforms such as WhatsApp. The scam falsely uses the names and images of real employees and the Old Mutual company logo to create a...
Listen: Understand your long-term insurance
For most of us, long-term insurance is one of our biggest assets, yet we spend very little time understanding it. Am I over-insured? Does my company provide life insurance and how does that work? What is my premium pattern? Am I going to be able to afford my premiums...
In times of crisis, it’s worth taking a step back
The last few weeks have been a rollercoaster ride as Trump’s policy decisions have given new meaning to uncertainty! The markets have not experienced this level of volatility since 9/11. With tariffs on and then off again, no one is predicting anything, as honestly,...
Estate planning insights for the single mom
As a single mom, planning for your child’s future is essential, especially if you’re not on good terms with the other parent. In this article, David Thomson, Senior Legal Adviser at Sanlam Trust, provides insights on guardianship and estate planning to help any single...
Listen: How to make smart tax decisions
In my latest podcast episode, I chat to tax expert Andre Bothma about the complexities of the South African tax system and how recent proposals could affect personal finances. We also have a broader discussion about the current tax landscape and whether our...
Will a salary increase leave you worse off?
Who wouldn’t love a salary increase of over 5% this year? Most employees would be happy with a raise that keeps up with inflation. But in 2025, even an inflation-related increase might not be enough to keep up with the rising cost of living as the taxman is taking a...
Tax avoiders beware: AI is coming for you
Attila Kadikoy, Managing Partner at Levantine & Co, warns wealthy individuals that tax authorities are increasingly adopting AI to help identify tax evasion. Many investors consider tax as a major contributor to wealth erosion – and rightly so. My advice has been...