Globally stock markets have been on a rollercoaster ride, and for those who thought crypto assets would offer a safer alternative – well they’ve been along for the same ride. There are many factors driving this volatility and these are going to be...
Higher interest rates are a certainty this year, so in light of this, would it be wise to fix your interest rate now? The only prediction we can make for 2022 is higher interest rates. Globally inflation is raising its ugly head and news from the...
The normalisation of interest rates is set to be a major theme for global financial markets in 2022, says Carmen Nel, economist and macro strategist at Matrix Fund Managers. Normalisation of interest rates means different things in different...
The transition from the old emigration regime to the current regime ‒ ceasing of tax residency ‒ came with some relief. However, there were some changes that went largely unnoticed. By Lovemore Ndlovu, SARS and Exchange Control Specialist at Tax...
“It is not only a crowdfunding platform, but a crowd value creation platform ‒ an ecosystem of partners rather than a conglomerate owning everything.” Farming is becoming an increasingly popular asset class. Crowdfunding for farming ticks many...
The Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) will be holding its elections for new trustees from January to May 2022. GEPF elections are held every four years and are an opportunity for pensioners and members of the South African National Defence...
Angelique Ruzicka shares five ideas for how you can improve your financial knowledge and possibly boost your income. Boosting your income, especially during a pandemic, can feel nigh on impossible, especially when costs are going up and you’ve been...
Advances in technology mean that it’s now so easy to keep track of your finances and achieve savings goals, using smartphone apps, websites, and other online financial tools, says Angelique Ruzicka. If you’re still using Excel or some other...
Ryan Booysen, MD at DG Capital Forex, stares into his crystal ball to predict where the rand will go in 2022. The rand ended 2021 on the back foot, after the Omicron announcement and subsequent global kneejerk reaction of isolation and red-listing...
Jashwin Baijoo, Legal Manager, Africa Tax and Compliance at Tax Consulting SA, warns all non-compliant taxpayers that SARS could be coming for them sooner rather than later. In media statements in recent months, the South African Revenue Service...
A question that I often receive is whether it's a good idea to use one's lump sum on retirement to pay off short-term debts, such as car debt or one's credit card. For example, Ntombise recently wrote to me: “I have just retired from work and expect a lump sum...
Victoria Reuvers, Managing Director at Morningstar Investment Management South Africa, looks at how financial markets performed in 2021. As a runner, the change in seasons gives me time to reflect. Autumn is my favourite season, and always reminds me that change is...
Retirement reform paper calls for comment but no move on immediate access. Retirement fund members hoping to access their retirement funds for urgent financial relief will be disappointed by the retirement reform paper issued by National Treasury last month. In the...
As if the last two years were not tough enough, there is no silver lining awaiting us in 2022. In 2021 we absorbed further fuel-price increases, a 15% hike in electricity costs, and an interest-rate increase of 25 basis points – and this is only the start. It is...
Many financial advisers are using life products to supplement medical costs. While current legislation does not allow for cover like critical illness insurance to be marketed as a product to cover medical costs, for most policyholders, that is exactly what it is used...
Many companies are cash strapped due to the impact of Covid-19, but if you are one of the lucky few who got a bonus or windfall this year, it will be tempting to spend it to celebrate surviving another tough year. However, money experts recommend being a bit cautious,...
Retirees need to work with their financial advisers to carefully determine the structure, size, and affordability of their future pension withdrawals, particularly in a volatile market environment, says Jean-Pierre Matthews, product head at Matrix Fund Managers. When...
Medical schemes remain unaffordable for many working South Africans. According to Gary Allen, chief executive at Sanlam Health, an individual should not be spending more than 10% of their income on health cover. Considering that a basic hospital plan can set you back...
The GEPF's investment mandate has consistently delivered above-inflation returns, outperforming its benchmark over five years and resulting in a financially sound fund. South Africa is one of the few countries where the state pension is guaranteed by government, and...
After living in lockdown for over 18 months, many of us just want to go on holiday. Like any major expense, if you plan for it, it doesn’t have to break the bank. Many tourist destinations and establishments are offering great specials, making it more affordable for...