The no-paperwork, no-sacrifice, no-fee tax-free savings account It’s not often that I’m seriously impressed by a new investment product, particularly when it comes to those offered by large insurance companies. But Liberty gets ten out of ten in my...
When you apply for a home loan, lenders will look at many factors before deciding whether to approve your application or not – and if you don’t “pass the test” for any one of these, they are quite likely to turn you down. “This is why it is so...
By Hilary Dudley, Managing Director of Citadel Fiduciary Proprietary Limited On 25 April 2017 the Davis Tax Committee (DTC) released a media statement calling for written submissions on the possible introduction of wealth taxes in South Africa....
When actuary Vinesh Maharaj was considering whether or not to change his DSTV subscription, he did what all maths nerds do – he drew up a spreadsheet to see how much DSTV would cost him over the next 40 years. He assumed an annual 8% price...
Making the move to the coast? Here’s how to lose less in an expensive transition. Many Gautengers dream of leaving their busy life in the big smoke and setting up a new, slower life in beautiful Cape Town. Unfortunately a lot of these dreams never...
It may be tempting to take the keys of your hire car and drive off so that you can finally enjoy your holiday destination with your family. After all, you’ve waited a long time for this break and with all the political turmoil and work commitments...
If you want to draw down on the equity built up in your property, you may be in for a nasty surprise. Paragon Lending Solutions recently issued a press release warning investors and small business owners that if they try and access additional...
The following infographic, courtesy of Bayhill Capital, shows how the composition of the JSE has changed over the last four decades, as the industrial and technology sectors have grown.
According to a 2016 Fin24 interview with Nicola D’Elia, managing director for Airbnb Africa and Middle East, South African Airbnb hosts earn on average R28 000 a month by making their property available for short-term let via the popular sharing...
Is financial education more important than free education? According to figures published by the Consumer Credit Panel in the USA, a student who leaves college with a $100 000 student loan is twice as likely to repay that debt than a student who...
Most parents want their children to be financially secure and to live better lives than they were able to ‒ lives without financial stress. Parents also want to be able to leave their children a financial legacy that will provide for intergenerational wealth. This...
By George Herman, Citadel Director and Chief Investment Officer Bloomberg news agency recently published an article stating that South African bonds were now seemingly “junk” – a word which is loaded with negative sentiments. In turbulent times such as these, it is...
The uncertainty in South Africa is taking its toll on our bodies, and possibly our insurance premiums. Over the last year, long-term insurers have experienced higher-than-expected claims ratios, especially when it comes to stress-related illnesses and death. Henk...
In recent weeks, investors have been on a President Zuma-fuelled rollercoaster ride as market valuations and currencies reacted to the political and economic fallout of the Cabinet reshuffle. Everyone is trying to figure out what this means for the markets, but this...
As access to banking services through digital channels continues to grow, so does the need to protect consumers against the prevalence of online banking fraud. Yolande Steyn, Head of Innovation at FNB says, “We view security as an integral part of a seamless online...
Digital currencies are a form of electronic money, that are as liquid as normal fiat currencies. There are currently over 600 digital currencies – also known as cryptocurrency – that are already in the market. They function the same way as regular currencies, except...
US President Donald Trump famously declared himself bankrupt four times – a fact that Hillary Clinton loved to rub his nose in. In South Africa, filing for bankruptcy is possible, but it’s not easy. “If someone files for bankruptcy or sequestration, it’s really when...
By Mokgatla Madisha, head of Fixed Interest at Sanlam Investment Management. The downgrade by Standard & Poor’s (S&P) of South Africa’s local-currency debt to one notch above junk (BBB-) and its minority foreign-currency debt to junk status (BB) has long been...
How women are navigating relationships as the breadwinner. After a talk I had given at a Women’s Day breakfast, a woman in her early 30s came to chat to me about an issue that faces many financially independent women. My talk had been about the “Cinderella Complex”...
By David Thomson, Sanlam legal adviser If you have a trust and have transferred some assets to it without being paid, you may soon have to start charging the trust interest, or be liable for donations tax. This change to the Income Tax Act came into effect on 1 March...