Every parent would like to be able to leave a family legacy to help their offspring get an advantage in life and have a greater chance of creating real wealth in the family. Leaving an inheritance is one of the main goals identified by retirees...
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No-deposit home loans
A recent survey in the UK found that young adults are increasingly relying on their parents to help them pay for a deposit for their first home. The survey conducted by mortgage lender Halifax found that the majority of parents believed they would...
Why retirement may be redundant
If you are 45 or younger, forget retirement. Immortality may be within reach in the next 40 years – or at the very least we will all be living a lot longer than we are now. Viresh Maharaj from Sanlam Employment Benefits says that scientists are...
How to talk about money with your partner
An hour before interviewing Carl Richards, author of The Behavior Gap, my husband and I had just had one of those money arguments that all couples invariably have, so as I shook Carl’s hand I blurted out “how do you speak to your partner about...
Not all financial planners are equal
Last weekend, I spent my time searching for elusive pieces of paper and trawling my inbox for financial statements. It was a partly frustrating, partly liberating experience as the aim was to get all our family’s financial paperwork together so our...
Don’t chase market performance
Steven Nathan, CEO of 10X Investments, warns investors not to be influenced by short-term market performance. Every year, legendary investor Warren Buffett's annual letter to shareholders offers valuable investment advice. In his most recent...
Are your children wrecking your retirement planning?
Lara Warburton of Imara Asset Management warns of the dangers of putting your children's financial needs before your own. How long should you financially support your children and when do you start looking out for your own future and that of your...
How to handle joint expenses
When you get married it is not just your hearts that become one, but also your money. Even if you are one of those financially independent couples where ‘his is his’ and ‘hers is hers’, when you live together, have kids together and hopefully...
What should you look for when selecting an asset manager?
Patrick Barker, Private Client Portfolio Manager at Cannon Asset Managers, looks at key factors to consider when selecting an investment manager. Dealing with other people’s money carries a fiduciary duty and responsibility. When making decisions...
The cost advantages of index tracking funds
by Mike Brown, Managing Director, etfSA.co.za Warren Buffett, the world’s most famous investor, made the following observation in his letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders in February this year. In his instruction to the Trustee of the Warren...
Previous Articles
Is your will worth the paper it’s written on?
There are times when the instructions contained in your will might not be carried out as you intended. South Africans have always believed that they enjoy total freedom of testation - unlike many other countries where legislation imposes forced heirship, which means...
Fees can erode your retirement annuity value
Many South Africans will look to invest in a retirement annuity (RA) before the end of February, which represents the close of the country's tax year, in order to take advantage of the tax break. However, according to Steven Nathan, Chief Executive Officer of 10X...
Who should be providing good financial advice?
South Africans need better access to good, unfettered financial advice. But who is going to pay for this? Recently I was reminded of a story of a man I had once interviewed. Twelve years ago he was severely injured in a work accident and as a result he is permanently...
Starting a savings plan
“You always say that every cent is important so I want to start a savings plan. My pocket money is R400 a month and I want to save R200 to invest for the future. I want to know how I should invest my money,” writes Amogelang who is 22 years old and currently...
Five reasons to sort out your finances today
"Better late than never", or so the saying goes. We say: "Better now than too late." But dealing with financial matters is something that we tend to keep putting off. Here are five reasons why you need to sort out your finances today! 1. Beat the January blues That...
Financial hangover recovery plan
If you’re battling with a financial hangover from a holiday spending spree, we have a 5-point plan to get you back on track: 1. Budget Write down an accurate and honest list of your expenses and income. Use your recent bank statements, invoices and receipts as a...
How to maximize your first paycheque
A young person starting at their first job suddenly realizes that their first paycheque brings with it substantial power. But understanding this power, and how to wield it, is an extremely important lesson to learn. The power of money can create wealth and abundance...
Simple retirement calculator
Sanlam Employee Benefits (SEB) has developed a very simple calculation that you can use to work out whether you are on track with your retirement savings. Dawie de Villiers, CEO of SEB says the beauty of the calculation is that it can be applied with very little...
Nguni customary law does not recognise the rights of an unwed partner
A landmark ruling raises the issue of a woman’s right to inherit outside of wedlock regardless of what Nguni customary law dictates, writes Mkhululi Ngxumza A married woman inherits all kinds of assets from her husband, her children, who may die before her leaving no...
Multi-asset funds: unit trusts that ride the storm
The rapid turnaround in South African investors’ good fortunes highlights the need to have a longer-term investment plan rather than just reacting to short-term market movements. With the rand plummeting, the JSE down over 4% this month and government bonds shedding...