Lars Kroijer, author of Investing Demystified and a former hedge fund manager, has created a five-video series to explain investing, why you can’t beat the market, and why that fact is important. So if you don’t have the time to read his 200-page...
You are Here >
Home > Financial Sense Home >
How to select the right medical plan for your needs
If you are considering moving medical schemes or looking to take out a medical scheme plan for the first time, you need to consider the viability of the scheme as a whole and then select the plan that best suits your needs. The health of the scheme...
Spouses need to review their finances
Changes to the taxation of estates could leave a surviving spouse with a hefty tax bill. Last month the Davis Tax Committee (DTC) issued an update on its tax recommendations especially around so-called “death taxes”. Some of the key recommendations...
Investing Demystified Part 4: The simple portfolio to suit your risk
Lars Kroijer, author of Investing Demystified and a former hedge fund manager, has created a five-video series to explain investing, why you can’t beat the market, and why that fact is important. So if you don’t have the time to read his 200-page...
Teamwork could lower our medical costs
Medical practitioners need to be incentivised to keep us well, rather than getting paid just when we are sick. Three weeks ago my son cut his finger badly and it needed to be professionally bandaged and assessed for stitches. I popped down to my...
Investing Demystified Part 3: Only buy cheap world equity index trackers
Lars Kroijer, author of Investing Demystified and a former hedge fund manager, has created a five-video series to explain investing, why you can’t beat the market, and why that fact is important. So if you don’t have the time to read his 200-page...
Fears around Trump’s victory: a ‘storm in a teacup’?
By Lesiba Mothata, Chief Economist – Investment Solutions It is not often that the effects of an election can be directly observable in financial markets. This time around, however, the US election and the related ascent of Donald Trump to US...
Why we’re paying so much more for medical cover
As long as medical claims outstrip premiums collected, our premiums will keep rising. This year most medical scheme members will see premium increases well above inflation with the industry average hovering around 11%. Depending on your scheme...
Investing Demystified Part 2: You can’t beat markets
Lars Kroijer, author of Investing Demystified and a former hedge fund manager, has created a five-video series to explain investing, why you can’t beat the market, and why that fact is important. So if you don’t have the time to read his 200-page...
An overseas trip doesn’t need to break the credit card
I recently returned from an overseas trip that I started planning nine months ahead of time. I used the time to plan, budget and make sure that when I returned from my well-deserved break that there would be no scary credit card bills to deal with....
Previous Articles
Why you may unnecessarily be paying the equivalent of 7 Porsches to the finance industry over your working life
Lars Kroijer, author of Investing Demystified and a former hedge fund manager, has created a five-video series to explain investing, why you can’t beat the market, and why that fact is important. So if you don’t have the time to read his 200-page book, these videos...
Should a wife have her own financial adviser?
Last month I spoke at a women’s day event held by Alexander Forbes about the importance of women, especially married women, having their own financial affairs in order. The most interesting part for me was speaking to the many women after the event who came to share...
Medium-term budget: the upshot of the fees decision
No fee increases, higher taxes In the medium-term budget policy statement, government committed to absorbing the 8% increase in university fees for students from households earning R600 000 or less a year. That means the majority of university students will not see...
Five myths about your credit report
Sharon Coppola, Senior Executive Risk and Compliance at Experian South Africa, unpacks the myths and truths behind credit reports and credit scores. As more South Africans seek ways to manage their personal finances during the current economic times, it has become...
10X wants to #StopDaylightRobbery
10X Investments kicked off its campaign to #StopDaylightRobbery by causing quite a stir at Nelson Mandela Square, Sandton. Shoppers and lunch-time restaurant goers were greeted by the sight of a life-sized household scene, complete with furniture, appliances and even...
Are you prepared to pay for advice?
There has been a lot of talk about the Retail Distribution Review (RDR) which aims to provide transparency around financial advice and products, but how do customers really feel about it? At a roundtable discussion on RDR hosted recently by Liberty, Johan Minnie, head...
Actuaries caution that zero fees may not be feasible in SA context
Actuaries working to find a solution to the problem of education costs in South Africa just don’t see free tertiary education as viable. The Actuarial Society of South Africa has cautioned that while all students should be able to access funding to meet the costs of...
Make sure your details are updated for the unwinding of the MTN Zakhele scheme
An election process, whereby MTN Zakhele ordinary shareholders are able to elect whether they would like to receive cash, MTN Group shares, MTN Zakhele Futhi shares or a combination of these options in exchange for their MTN Zakhele shareholding, has been underway...
Should you switch credit cards?
The new maximum interest rates do not apply to existing credit cards In May 2016, amendments to the National Credit Act came into effect which set new maximum interest rates which can be charged on a loan based on the repo rate. In many cases this has reduced the...
Don’t use your tax-free savings account for emergency savings
Research finds that the tax-free savings account is still misunderstood. If there’s one thing the financial industry is good at, it is complicating things that should be fairly simple. Tax-free savings accounts (TFSAs) were meant to be really simple long-term savings...