Dumisani asks: In 2009 I took out a retirement annuity with Momentum to supplement my company provident fund. I contribute R500 per month to it. I recently requested that my portfolio of underlying unit trusts to be restructured into a higher risk...
Companies with footprints in the Middle East and North Africa are probably more interested in political risk and insurance than in the markets right now. With Libya in chaos and with tensions in Bahrain and Yemen escalating, it's fair to say the...
"A friend of mine bought a car and now he can’t afford the installment. Is it wise to take it back to bank or to a dealer and will he get something back?" asks Thabang Maya replies: It is very important that your friend sells the car rather than...
The best way to define outperformance when it comes to investing is by way of an example. In the investment world, a fund manager aims to outperform a specific benchmark that his or her fund's performance will be measured against. In that way, a...
The ombudsman for long-term insurance mediates in disputes between members of the long-term insurance industry and policyholders. The service is free and the ombudsman helps to resolve disputes quickly, through mediation and with cost-effectiveness...
South African "semigrants" – those people relocating to different parts of the country, rather than emigrating – are mainly moving for economic reasons, according to a survey undertaken by First National Bank. Relocation for work, or better...
It really depends on your needs. Nedbank, Capitec and FNB seem to be the banks offering some of the best products. But you need to understand your banking profile first. Capitec can be cost effective if you do not do a lot of transactions in a...
Andrew Kemp, head of asset consulting at Liberty Corporate, gives Maya on Money the low-down on Alpha and Beta. Maya on Money: What do Alpha and Beta mean to an investor? Kemp: Alpha and Beta are two investment terms which are often bandied around...
First-time home buyers and self-employed potential buyers struggle to enter the property market. Nearly 50% of employed bond applicants are declined every month and about 58% of self-employed applicants can't secure home loans, which is not good...
FNB and the Automobile Association (AA) offer these really helpful tips that could save you money in the long run. Used cars have to pass a roadworthy test – ask for proof of roadworthiness. All legitimate vehicles have three main identity numbers,...
The first choice for most retirees is to purchase an inflation-linked annuity that will pay a set income for life that increases with inflation. This provides predictability and you know that you have enough income to meet your needs for the rest of your life. The...
It's no secret that inflation is set to rise. This is bad news for everyone, but especially for pensioners, who need their retirement savings to generate an adequate real return while preserving capital, or at least minimising the risk of loss. Over time, it's been...
Rob Zagey, manager of fund research and development at Stanlib, explains what Absolute Return Funds are. "Absolute Return Funds are unit trust funds that use a variety of investment strategies to accomplish the following: Target a return over a defined investment time...
A beneficiary fund is a specialised type of pension fund that was introduced in 2009 by the government. It exists exclusively to receive lump-sum payments, known as death benefits, on behalf of minor dependants. It was introduced specifically to replace umbrella...