If you are looking to buy or sell a property, or even just want to find out what the properties in your area are worth, Lightstone Property has introduced an easy, low-cost valuation service for individuals. In the past, the company provided the...
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Five myths about payroll tax deductions
There are many myths and misconceptions about payroll tax in South Africa that simply won't go away. Let's look at a few of them and what the tax and labour laws actually say. Myth 1: Salary is taxed differently from overtime or commission No...
Video: Loan scams
There has been an increase in loan scams as people become financially desperate and see a cheap loan as a way out of a financial crisis. My own inbox is flooded each day with emails from companies claiming to offer really cheap loans. Many of these...
Reclassification of inward-listed ETFs – what it means for you
The market is alight with speculation over a statement which quietly crept into Finance Minister Tito Mboweni's recent medium-term budget policy statement around the reclassification of inward-listed financial products. National Treasury has made a...
Listen: Smart tricks for Black Friday
Maya (@mayaonmoney) is joined by personal finance blogger Brendan (@Your_Money_Blog) to discuss Black Friday. They chat about their approaches to Black Friday, and offer some tips on online safety when shopping for deals.
Video: Investing for your child
One of the questions we receive quite frequently from our viewers is where to invest for their children’s future. The answer depends on what the investment is for. Saving for next year’s school fees would be a very different investment decision...
Investment lessons from a horrible year
2020 has reset the bar when it comes to how we evaluate a horrible year, but an "annus horribilis" doesn’t have to be an "investment horribilis". In a speech marking the 40th anniversary of her accession, Queen Elizabeth said, “1992 is not a year...
Early access to pensions mooted
Legislation will be introduced to allow early access to one's pension, but it's not an end-of-year bonus. In the medium-term budget address, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni confirmed that National Treasury will be introducing legislative changes to...
Vaccine news a shot in the arm for recovery stocks
The result of the US election was big news for the world, for the economy and for markets. But as an investor I’ve always considered the pandemic of far greater consequence. Joe Biden’s electoral success was duly eclipsed by the news on Monday that...
Video: When to consider debt counselling
Even before lockdown, many people were finding it difficult to meet their debt repayments and facing the prospect of defaulting. Once you are in default, the collection and legal fees start mounting up. Debt that you were already struggling to...
Previous Articles
Accessing offshore shares via an ETN
Ordinary South African investors now have more options to access to global companies. Technology is making it easier and cheaper for South Africans to get exposure to shares in large global US-listed companies like Apple, Facebook and Netflix. This month FNB announced...
Listen: Offshore investing made easy
Offshore investing is not just for millionaires, it should form part of everyone’s investment portfolio. In this podcast Maya (@mayaonmoney) and Mapalo (@womanandfinance) unpack the many low-cost options that make offshore investing accessible for the ordinary South...
How does my access bond work?
If you are confused about the effects of depositing extra funds into your home loan, you are not alone. During lockdown, many people looked into their finance agreements, which resulted in a lot of queries about what happens when you pay an additional amount into a...
Video: Review your will
Last week was National Wills Week, which is always a great reminder to review your will. If you don’t have one, make sure you prioritise this immediately. To find out more about what should be in your will and what makes a will valid, I am speaking to Monica Moodley,...
Get a home inspection before you buy
So you've finally found your dream home and are ready to put in an offer. Before you dive in, be sure that you conduct a home inspection. This is according to Marius Steyn, Personal Lines Underwriting Manager at Santam. Steyn suggests including a clause in your offer...
Safety tips when trading crypto-assets
By Wiehann Olivier, CA (SA) and Partner at Mazars South Africa While we wait for the experts to draw up a regulatory framework for crypto-assets, it’s crucial that you educate yourself on good practices for Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs). Red flags Here are...
Video: Spring clean your insurance
Whether you’ve recently made property upgrades or added a few new items to your home, it is time to spring clean your insurance policies to check that you are adequately covered. Your short-term insurance policy is automatically renewed almost every year but it is up...
South Africa’s rocky road to recovery
By Izak Odendaal and Dave Mohr, Investment Strategists at Old Mutual Wealth South Africa’s economic recovery is rightly in the spotlight, and important questions need to be asked. We need to know not only how we bounce back from the lockdown-induced contraction but...
Lower medical premium increases thanks to lockdown
An unexpected side-effect of lockdown has been smaller-than-usual annual medical aid premium increases. Despite fears that the outbreak of COVID-19 would result in high claims from medical scheme members, and a resultant increase in the cost of healthcare, the...
Don’t let your life policy lapse
It is important to understand how your life policy works and what your options are if you find that you are no longer able to afford your premiums. While the outbreak of COVID-19 raised awareness around the need for life cover, especially for those with financial...