For the last few days I have been trying out the Sanlam MNA NAM bracelet which is marketed as a fashion accessory that makes you think about money. There are two aspects to the bracelet which has been designed by top South African fashion designer...
I have to confess that the concept of a buy-aid scheme is new to me, yet it is an industry with a turnover of well over R1 billion and annually pays out in the region of R130 million in bonuses to members. Cape Consumers, which recently re-branded...
By Geoff Blount, MD, BayHill Capital Half the year has gone, so it’s a perfect time to assess your share portfolio. Many investors who run their own portfolios via their stockbrokers often end up with a “neglected portfolio” or become frustrated...
Your retirement fund can be attached for both arrears and future maintenance payments. One of the main benefits of a retirement fund is that your investment is protected from creditors – that is unless you fall behind on your maintenance payments....
Tighter lending criteria as well as consumer awareness is resulting in an improvement in debt levels. The latest figures from the TransUnion SA Consumer Credit Index suggest that South African consumers are starting to wean themselves off credit...
If you’ve always wanted to invest in American stocks and shares, such as Facebook, Google or Apple, then you’re in luck because online stockbroker EasyEquities will soon be offering South Africans the ability to do this via its platform. The...
An app is available that compares the cost of Uber to driving yourself. Upon returning to India after living in the UK for five years, Nishil Kohli noticed that Uber had made having a car redundant as its service is extremely cheap in India. He...
Receiving relevant financial information when you need it is the holy grail of financial education. If you can reach people at a time when they need to make important financial decisions, you can guide them to make the best decision for their...
As a freelancer should you form a company or remain a sole proprietor? During periods of weaker economic growth, companies are more open to using freelancers or contractors to reduce their cost-to-company spend. It also creates employment in an...
Our need to believe in miracles and magic makes us susceptible to tricksters. Listen to Maya discussing this topic on Classic FM with Tamara LePine Williams I was recently watching the Carbonaro Effect, a TV show where a magician plays practical...
The Financial Services Board has confirmed that Profit Trading, which continues to operate, never placed any trades. Since publishing a reader’s complaint about forex trading platform Profit Trading, City Press has been receiving complaints from other angry investors....
At a recent investor roadshow, Richard Carter, head of product development at Allan Gray, provided some figures to illustrate how much you should already have saved for retirement, based on your current age. Carter worked on the assumption that to retire with 75% of...
How will General Motors’ departure from South Africa affect those motorists who have bought or are considering buying Chevrolet, Isuzu and Opel vehicles? General Motors (GM) has decided to exit the South African market by the end of 2017. This means it will cease all...
Des wrote to City Press after being defrauded by forex trading company Profit Trading, a business that claimed to invest clients’ money into an automated forex trading system. “I am one of those investors who had taken every little cent I had and invested it with him....
Last week FNB released its price review for the next year (effective July 1st), with a few tweaks and changes, and two new product offerings. Banking for kids and students FNB has rebranded its youth offering with the launch of FNBy, which I must admit is compelling...
The no-paperwork, no-sacrifice, no-fee tax-free savings account It’s not often that I’m seriously impressed by a new investment product, particularly when it comes to those offered by large insurance companies. But Liberty gets ten out of ten in my books for its...
When you apply for a home loan, lenders will look at many factors before deciding whether to approve your application or not – and if you don’t “pass the test” for any one of these, they are quite likely to turn you down. “This is why it is so important for...
By Hilary Dudley, Managing Director of Citadel Fiduciary Proprietary Limited On 25 April 2017 the Davis Tax Committee (DTC) released a media statement calling for written submissions on the possible introduction of wealth taxes in South Africa. This is a contentious...
When actuary Vinesh Maharaj was considering whether or not to change his DSTV subscription, he did what all maths nerds do – he drew up a spreadsheet to see how much DSTV would cost him over the next 40 years. He assumed an annual 8% price escalation on his Premium...
Making the move to the coast? Here’s how to lose less in an expensive transition. Many Gautengers dream of leaving their busy life in the big smoke and setting up a new, slower life in beautiful Cape Town. Unfortunately a lot of these dreams never come true because...