Craig Gradidge explains why “Where should I invest?” is the wrong question to ask your financial adviser. There is always an eagerness on the part of clients and prospective clients to learn more about investments, how markets work, and the...
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New unit trusts on the block
Four new unit trust funds have been launched for longer-term investors with investment horizons of five or more years. 10X Prime High Equity Fund Simple, low-cost investment solution Towards the end of last year, 10X Investments brought its first...
Are gold coins a good investment?
Towards the end of 2011, when the gold price had reached heady peaks of nearly US$2 000 per ounce, I received regular queries from readers asking how they could invest in gold. Many people bought gold coins at the time, hoping to cash in on the...
An easy debt payment strategy
Budgeting and knowing where your money is going is all well and good, but how do you use this knowledge to reach the goal of being debt free? The whole point of budgeting and money management is to help you get in control of your finances, but it’s...
Is now the time to buy your dream home?
With interest rates rising and the economy slowing, is now the time to make the biggest investment of your life? There is one thing most economists agree on: our economy will continue to slow and we will see further interest rate hikes. Against...
Raising your kids with values
Yesterday marked the day that I had been a mother for exactly 16 years, as this year my son’s birthday fell on Mother’s Day. The very essence of being a mother is to put our children first, so yesterday was all about his big day ‒ so no breakfast...
Rand cost averaging: how to minimise risk in a volatile market
By Duane Littler, Executive of Business Development at PPS Investments In times of current market volatility, investors should ‒ among other risk mitigation strategies ‒ reduce the risk of buying assets at the top and (as a result of emotions...
Should you sign up for a PayPal account?
In the freelance world, PayPal provides a way for South African service providers to be paid by international clients. Although the fees are not insignificant, it is still the least expensive and most effective way to get paid. Banks make a lot of...
How your bank tracks fraud
A few weeks ago, as I was about to leave my office for the day, my cellphone started to beep as several SMS notifications came through confirming online credit card transactions, including a R7 700 booking through an online travel agent. None of...
Don’t get caught out by a poorly thought-out Will
By David Knott, fiduciary expert at Private Client Trust Buying insurance, and drafting and updating your Will, can be put next to each other on the list of things that we don’t really want to do, and often put off doing. For many of us insurance...
Previous Articles
Do I need a retirement annuity and a pension fund?
Mokgotla writes: I am 35 years old and I want to invest R700 a month in a retirement annuity. My company is also contributing to my pension fund. Is this a good idea and how do I invest? Maya replies: Since 1 March 2016 you are able to invest up to 27.5% of your...
What are the risks of using 22seven?
I am now onto week three of testing out the 22seven app and it is already starting to have an impact on our household finances. On Sunday evening, the day before payday, rather than watching TV, my husband and I were both updating our 22seven budgets. It was an...
Understand the fine print
I often receive complaints from people who have signed agreements they haven’t fully understood. Unfortunately there is little recourse for the consumer in such cases. Take time to read the fine print. As consumers we tend to be very emotional about our purchases. We...
How do I start paying off my debts?
Ntebo writes: I was unemployed, and then fell behind with my debts. I have found a new job now and intend settling all my debts this year, but I don't know where to start as I am already behind with a lot of my monthly installments. I am not sure if a consolidation...
Ratings downgrade: already priced into market
By Dr Adrian Saville, Citadel Chief Strategist During the course of 2016 we believe there is a very good chance that at least one of the major ratings agencies will downgrade South Africa to sub-investment grade. However, there are a number of technicalities involved...
The risks behind MMM
MMM markets itself as a social financial network whereby members support each other financially to help each other get out of debt with financial institutions. Its website suggests that members can earn returns of up to 30% per month, and many members have reported...
Test-driving the new improved 22seven.com app
Over the last few weeks I have been working on the Show Your Money Who’s Boss campaign, a collaboration between Maya on Money, City Press and 22seven.com, which required me to test drive the money management app 22seven.com. I had tried out 22seven.com before, when it...
Can my husband’s ex-wife refuse to sell the property?
Tracy writes: I met my husband after his divorce. The agreement when he divorced was that two properties would have to be sold and the money would be split between him and his ex-wife. However, the process of disposing of the properties has still not happened ‒ and I...
Should you close a paid-off home loan?
Morake writes: A friend of mine’s home loan is nearly paid off and she wants to know if she should close the home loan or keep it open. What is the procedure to closing a mortgage? Do you have to pay transfer duties to get the title deed? Maya replies: A mortgage...
When would you trust your child with a lump sum?
If a member of a retirement fund passes away leaving minor children, the trustees of the fund are required to determine whether or not to pay out the child’s portion of the fund directly to the surviving parent or guardian, or whether to transfer the funds to a...