New transformation fund offers black investors an opportunity to diversify their savings while building a new class of African businesses. We all know that the key to transformation in South Africa lies in the creation of black businesses across...
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Why you shouldn’t be holding out for debt forgiveness
There is a misconception that debt intervention proposals currently being considered could mean that some debts are likely to be written off. The high levels of indebtedness in South Africa have led to parliamentary hearings, held by the portfolio...
Have the courts made it easier for people to become overindebted?
Last week the Western Cape High Court issued a judgement which set aside certain sections of the National Credit Act which it argued “unreasonably and unfairly discriminates against the section of the population that largely consists of the poorer...
Traders share their secrets to success
*This content is brought to you by Sanlam iTrade. In sharing the stories of their trading successes ‒ and failures ‒  the winners of the iTrade #TradeMyWay competition reveal the reality of DIY trading, which is not about getting rich quickly but a...
Student loan or home loan?
A reader recently wrote in, asking whether it would be better to pay for her child's university education from her access bond, or to take out a student loan. A student loan can be very cost effective and in most cases, you would be paying around...
Is retirement even possible?
I recently had a very interesting conversation with Lourens Coetzee of investment company Marriott, who said that the industry is coming to the realisation that retirement, in the way that we currently understand the concept, is no longer feasible....
Why I should take trading advice from my 13-year-old
Testing out the iTradeGlobal demo platform on a teenager I still remember a conversation I had with my then 11-year-old son in January 2016. As we were hiking in the Drakensberg he told me he wanted to buy some oil. He had been listening to the...
From dental surgeon to professional trader
*This content is brought to you by Sanlam iTrade. Trader Alok Khadaroo provides some valuable tips he picked up on his journey from extracting teeth to extracting profits through trading I have not always been a full-time trader. In fact I studied...
Staying safe when shopping online
Last week my son attempted to sell an electronic item on Gumtree. In the past I have only sold furniture on Gumtree and it has overall been a good experience. However, what I quickly discovered was that selling electronic goods brings out the...
Bitcoin: the tax question
Christopher Renwick, Attorney at Tax Consulting SA investigates the tax implications of making money from cryptocurrency. Although usually behind the global curve, South Africa seems to be keeping pace with the current Bitcoin trend. This is...
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Starting to invest at 70 with success
*This content is brought to you by Sanlam iTrade. An iTrade investor proves that you are never too old to start investing yourself, but why wait? I farmed in the bushveld and had a red brahman Stud. When I was 70 years old, I realised I will have to do something to...
Six key take-aways from Warren Buffett’s 2017 annual letter to shareholders
There is always a frenzy to devour and dissect Warren Buffett’s shareholder letter and extract the freshest pearls of wisdom. This year was no exception, even though the pickings seemed a bit slim. On more leisurely reading, says Steven Nathan, 10X Investment chief...
Make money creating and selling your own online course
The e-Learning industry is booming and it’s possible to make money putting together an online course and selling it. However, you have to get into the mind of the student and fulfill your promises, otherwise it won’t be sustainable. If you’re skilled at teaching...
Debt is a trap, no matter who you borrow from
I recently wrote about readers who were complaining about loan shark tactics that got them trapped in a perpetual cycle of debt. Since writing the article, I received several comments from readers who argued that the actions of some micro-lenders were no different,...
Cost effective cover for your domestic worker
*This content is brought to you by Simply Financial Services. There are approximately 1 million people employed as domestic workers in South Africa. And yet, according to Namhla Duma, Director at Premium Domestic Services, insufficient salary was the biggest challenge...
Borrowing without a credit record
CreditVision, a new product from TransUnion, should make it easier to get financing without a credit record. One of the reader queries we receive regularly is from people who have chosen not to take out short-term credit. They have sensibly avoided credit cards and...
Ask the right questions before buying trading software
*This content is brought to you by Sanlam iTrade. Share investor Peter Imrie shares his story of being nearly ‘conned’ by a company selling trading software. In many cases the only ones who make money out of these computer-based trading programs are the sellers, not...
10 things you need to know about the Budget
How government will raise R36 billion in revenue: Spending will cost more Government has taken the step to increase the VAT rate from 14% to 15%, raising an additional R22.9bn to meet the fee-free higher education costs and reduce debt. This does not apply to 19 basic...
The murky world of loan sharks
Once you borrow money from a loan shark, you will be indebted to them for life. City Press has received an increase in the number of readers complaining about loan sharks as illegal moneylenders or mashonisa operate across the country, using threats to collect...
Swipe and save
We often complain that we don’t have enough money to save, but it is often the hassle of opening up a savings account and committing to the minimum investment amounts that is the major hurdle. This is especially true for the younger generation who are focused on work,...