The lower-than-average medical scheme premium increases that members enjoyed in 2021 and 2022 are largely over. During the Covid-19 pandemic, medical schemes saw a decline in claims as members deferred elective procedures or were reluctant to seek...
Setting up a debit order so that you put away a small amount every month into an investment, is an extremely powerful tool for wealth creation. One of the most common reactions I get when it comes to investing, is that it is only for “rich” people....
Debra Slabber, Portfolio Specialist Director at Morningstar Investment SA, reminds us that investing is a long-term endeavour, and you should stop worrying about what you don't ‒ and can't ‒ know. Year to date investors have been fleeing from risk...
Dying is an expensive business, and not only because of the cost of the funeral. There are multiple death taxes and fees that need to be paid when someone dies. If you don't plan for these, they will reduce the value of the legacy you were...
Aggressive interest rate hikes may have more to do with the currency than local inflation. The decision in September to increase interest rates by 75 basis points was an aggressive decision by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) considering the...
According to research by Sanlam, 75% of South Africans do not have a will. Nearly half of those who don’t have a will believe they don’t own sufficient assets to make a will worthwhile, but you'd be surprised at the family fights that can ensue...
The Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) is a defined benefit fund. This means the pension received by a member has nothing to do with the investment performance of the fund. A member's pension payout is determined according to the GEPF...
Over the past few years, investing in the stock market has become more and more accessible for novice investors. In this podcast, I speak to Moroko Modiba, managing director of Fatima Capital and author of The Wise Investor: The Beginner's Guide to...
Statistics from the Consumer Goods and Services Ombud (CGSO) annual report highlight the extent to which consumers are being defrauded by rogue online operators. The Covid lockdown saw an increase in the adoption of e-commerce, and many fraudsters...
Many people are tempted to take out a cellphone contract in order to get the latest device without shelling out a huge sum of money upfront. These contracts make the phone seem more affordable, but in reality, they cost you significantly more over...
Ernest North, co-founder of fully digital platform Naked Insurance, takes us through the steps to follow if you've caused a minor car accident. Few of us will get through a lifetime of driving without causing a minor car accident or two - whether that's...
In this podcast Maya speaks to wills and estate specialist Alex Simeonides, CEO of Capital Legacy, about the things to keep in mind when it comes to drawing up a will. Alex answers the following questions: Why are we so afraid to sign a will? How can a parent use a...
Jashwin Baijoo of Tax Consulting SA considers the pros and cons of a wealth tax as a tool to address the huge wealth gap in South Africa. The idea of a wealth tax has been bouncing around in South Africa for a long time, and it became a topic of wide discussion upon...
Most people have some form of insurance or death benefits. This could be a policy taken out for a specific reason, or simply because they are employed or a member of a retirement fund. How these death benefits are paid and to whom, all depends on the benefit and your...
In this fourth and final podcast of our four-part series “Life behind the numbers”, in partnership with Discovery Life, we look at the longer-term impact of Covid-19 and provide some advice as to how to adjust your lifestyle to manage the risks of so-called "long...
In her book Smart Woman, author Sylvia Walker writes about creating your "designer life." She explains that instead of being driven by consumerism, trying to look rich, we can make smart choices and start growing our wealth. For many people shopping is a form of...
There's been a concerning increase recently in the number of scamsters targeting South African consumers. This includes scamsters pretending to be representatives of your bank or your cellphone provider. There are SMS and email scams claiming your crypto wallet will...
In this third podcast of our four-part series “Life behind the numbers”, in partnership with Discovery Life, we look at the importance of protecting ourselves against the risk of cancer. Cancer can affect anyone, at any age. The number of insurance claims due to...
In this podcast Maya (@mayaonmoney) talks to Michael Kruger, Senior Investment Analyst at Morningstar, to unpack the strange emotional relationship we as South Africans seem to have with the value of the rand. Kruger points out that when the rand is strong,...
Why do we focus on financial planning for women? Isn't money gender neutral? After all, investing in a unit trust or opening a bank account is the same, whether you're male or female. So what's all the fuss about? Apart from issues like wage gaps and single...