We’ve lost the plot when it comes to borrowing and saving Recently I had a conversation with a young woman who, along with her husband, is under debt review. She told me that they had just let their lifestyle get ahead of them – they bought a...
You are Here >
Home >
Why does a 13th cheque not give me double my usual take-home pay?
By Cathie Webb, Director, South African Payroll Association As the Christmas season approaches, some lucky employees will be looking forward to a bonus or a 13th cheque. Frequently, however, people express surprise that their 13th cheque doesn’t...
Over half of top shopping apps collect users’ personal information
More than half of the top 60 Android shopping apps collect users’ personal information through trackers, a new study finds, with South African favourites LetGo and OLX among apps with the highest number of trackers. The result is from a privacy...
Five ways to spot a top wealth management business
By Roger Eskinazi, head of wealth management, AlphaWealth I have spent 25 years working in wealth management, many of these for some of the most reputable companies. They all claim to have the best people, a proprietary investment process,...
Investing Demystified Part 5: Implementing the Investing Demystified portfolio
Lars Kroijer, author of Investing Demystified and a former hedge fund manager, has created a five-video series to explain investing, why you can’t beat the market, and why that fact is important. So if you don’t have the time to read his 200-page...
How to select the right medical plan for your needs
If you are considering moving medical schemes or looking to take out a medical scheme plan for the first time, you need to consider the viability of the scheme as a whole and then select the plan that best suits your needs. The health of the scheme...
Spouses need to review their finances
Changes to the taxation of estates could leave a surviving spouse with a hefty tax bill. Last month the Davis Tax Committee (DTC) issued an update on its tax recommendations especially around so-called “death taxes”. Some of the key recommendations...
Investing Demystified Part 4: The simple portfolio to suit your risk
Lars Kroijer, author of Investing Demystified and a former hedge fund manager, has created a five-video series to explain investing, why you can’t beat the market, and why that fact is important. So if you don’t have the time to read his 200-page...
How the JSE has changed over time
By Geoff Blount, MD, BayHill Capital Looking at the JSE super sectors, it is extremely interesting how their contributions to the JSE Top 40 index have changed over time. In part, this reflects the changing fortunes of the sectors in the South...
Teamwork could lower our medical costs
Medical practitioners need to be incentivised to keep us well, rather than getting paid just when we are sick. Three weeks ago my son cut his finger badly and it needed to be professionally bandaged and assessed for stitches. I popped down to my...
Previous Articles
Investing Demystified Part 3: Only buy cheap world equity index trackers
Lars Kroijer, author of Investing Demystified and a former hedge fund manager, has created a five-video series to explain investing, why you can’t beat the market, and why that fact is important. So if you don’t have the time to read his 200-page book, these videos...
Fears around Trump’s victory: a ‘storm in a teacup’?
By Lesiba Mothata, Chief Economist – Investment Solutions It is not often that the effects of an election can be directly observable in financial markets. This time around, however, the US election and the related ascent of Donald Trump to US President-elect was...
Why we’re paying so much more for medical cover
As long as medical claims outstrip premiums collected, our premiums will keep rising. This year most medical scheme members will see premium increases well above inflation with the industry average hovering around 11%. Depending on your scheme option, some members...
Investing Demystified Part 2: You can’t beat markets
Lars Kroijer, author of Investing Demystified and a former hedge fund manager, has created a five-video series to explain investing, why you can’t beat the market, and why that fact is important. So if you don’t have the time to read his 200-page book, these videos...
An overseas trip doesn’t need to break the credit card
I recently returned from an overseas trip that I started planning nine months ahead of time. I used the time to plan, budget and make sure that when I returned from my well-deserved break that there would be no scary credit card bills to deal with. One of the benefits...
Why you may unnecessarily be paying the equivalent of 7 Porsches to the finance industry over your working life
Lars Kroijer, author of Investing Demystified and a former hedge fund manager, has created a five-video series to explain investing, why you can’t beat the market, and why that fact is important. So if you don’t have the time to read his 200-page book, these videos...
Should a wife have her own financial adviser?
Last month I spoke at a women’s day event held by Alexander Forbes about the importance of women, especially married women, having their own financial affairs in order. The most interesting part for me was speaking to the many women after the event who came to share...
Medium-term budget: the upshot of the fees decision
No fee increases, higher taxes In the medium-term budget policy statement, government committed to absorbing the 8% increase in university fees for students from households earning R600 000 or less a year. That means the majority of university students will not see...
Five myths about your credit report
Sharon Coppola, Senior Executive Risk and Compliance at Experian South Africa, unpacks the myths and truths behind credit reports and credit scores. As more South Africans seek ways to manage their personal finances during the current economic times, it has become...
10X wants to #StopDaylightRobbery
10X Investments kicked off its campaign to #StopDaylightRobbery by causing quite a stir at Nelson Mandela Square, Sandton. Shoppers and lunch-time restaurant goers were greeted by the sight of a life-sized household scene, complete with furniture, appliances and even...