Nervous investors may be considering phasing-in their investments, but does it make sense? At the time of writing this article, the market was down around 15% from its high in April 2015, the rand continued to fall to the dollar at 35% weaker than...
Tebogo writes: I applied for a R200Â 000 loan from a company called Blue Financial Services. They told me the loan was approved and I had to pay a R200 administration fee, which I did. Then they sent me a lawyers letter requiring an amount of R3Â 750...
By Andrew Flavell, Wealth Manager, AlphaWealth Rather than relying on dinner-time conversation and personal bias to determine your view on the Rand, AlphaWealth provides some analytical data that enables you to make a decision on the Rand or at...
By Ricardo Teixeira, COO of BDO Wealth Advisers With South Africa precariously placed on the cusp of a credit rating downgrade, being able to demonstrate to the global credit rating agencies that ‘SA Incorporated’ is solvent and growing has been a...
By Kezia Talbot, Legal Advisor at BDO Wealth Advisers For those taxpayers with undisclosed foreign assets, time is running out. With the introduction of FATCA and a global standard for the automatic exchange of information between countries’ tax...
By Hedley Lamarque, Certified Financial Planner at BDO Wealth Advisers If you have been planning on cashing in an investment (such as shares or unit trusts) in the short term, then it would be better to do it before the end of February 2016, due to...
A quick summary of some of the major points from finance minister Pravin Gordhan's 2016 budget speech. Future tax No increases to personal income tax or VAT this year but Minister Gordhan is looking for R15bn in new taxes next year and another...
Whenever Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) releases the consumer price index (inflation) figure, I always wonder whose basket of goods they are using, because I can assure you that my living costs are increasing well above the 5.2% CPI recorded for...
In the final episode of Change in your Pocket, we highlight the importance of dealing with various admin issues before you get married. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6attRo6UGUQ&feature=youtu.be – Video supplied by BrightRock Welcome to the...
Lebo writes: My brother has suggested that I form a family trust and put my house, car and investments into it in order to protect them. Is this a good idea? Frank Magwegwe, head of Momentum Personal Adviser Services at Momentum Retail replies:...
The Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) has issued a notice to members and pensioners that the new Taxation Laws Amendment Act will not affect their pensions or benefits. As a defined-benefit pension fund, the benefits of the GEPF are already taken as one-third...
Tshepo writes: I would to know what the next step is, after you have settled your debts, to improve your credit score – in other words, clear your credit record. Maya replies: According to the office of the Credit Ombud, once the consumer has settled all the...
When you get married, it's not just your hearts that become one, but also your money. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piYXZDq5TJQ&feature=youtu.be – Video supplied by BrightRock Welcome to the Change Exchange, where we're discussing rings and cha-ching! Even if you...
There is much to be said for renting when it comes to electronics, appliances and even furniture. When I was young, everyone rented a TV, most of them from Teljoy. In those days, TVs were simply unaffordable and credit was not as easily available as it is today. As...
Unpacking Investec’s latest offshore investment product: the China Seas Basket I am normally not a big fan of structured products. Historically, these products have been expensive, with costs hidden from investors through creative pricing. Even as costs have become...
According to statistics from antivirus software provider McAfee’s Global Cost of Cybercrime report, cybercrime costs the South African economy about R5.8 billion a year. In light of Safer Internet Day celebrated on 9 February 2016, Candice Sutherland, Cyber Liability...
How you manage your wedding budget will have a serious impact on your financial future. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJu_uQ68CHE&feature=youtu.be – Video supplied by BrightRock Welcome to the Change Exchange, where we're discussing rings and cha-ching! One of the...
RSA Retail Savings Bonds are an attractive option for savers. For those who are looking to save for the medium term and don’t plan on touching the money for at least two years, the RSA Retail Savings Bond, offered by National Treasury, is an attractive option. This...
By Nazmeera Moola, Economist and Strategist, Investec Asset Management After the events of mid-December last year (now euphemistically termed Nenegate), many investors – both within the country and from foreign ranks – are justifiably concerned about the fate of South...
With retirement legislation set to change from 1 March 2016, high-earning executives with annual salaries above R1.27 million who are pension and provident fund members, may be affected by the newly introduced annual contribution cap of R350Â 000. The deduction cap for...