Companies have been racing to capitalise on the tax-free savings accounts. We sum up what products have come to market so far. Financial product providers have by and large brought out two types of tax-free savings accounts (TFSAs): a basic bank...
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Pay back that study loan!
Credit Ombud Manie van Schalkwyk explains why it's vital that students pay back their study loans. Thousands of students rely on study loans to see them through their years of studying at tertiary institutions. Without these loans, many would not...
Investing overseas: capital preservation in uncertain times
By Derry Pickford, Macro Analyst at Ashburton Investments (@AshburtonInvest) Two esteemed US Economics Professors, Maurice Obstfeld and Kenneth Rogoff called it one of the six great puzzles in macroeconomics: "home bias". Why do investors keep so...
What to do if you’ve cashed in your pension fund
The continued mass resignations and cashing-in of pension funds by employees belonging to the Government Employees Pension Fund is a concern that has been highlighted widely. The biggest risk in withdrawing your pension fund is the issue of...
Become your own debt reviewer
By Wikus Olivier, debt expert at DebtSafe Debt is an issue that most South Africans unfortunately find themselves facing for most of their adult lives. Every individual deals with different forms and scales of debt, but for some, their debt spirals...
Tax-free savings a reality
Tax-free savings accounts (TFSAs) get the go-ahead. From 1 March 2015 South Africans will be allowed to invest up to R30Â 000 a year in tax-free savings accounts (TFSA). (*Update: this amount was increased to R33Â 000 per year on 1 March 2017 and to...
Tax-free savings – will it work?
South Africa’s declining household savings rate has been of national concern for some time now – in fact this burning issue has found its way into the annual budget speech year after year. But while initiatives have been implemented to try...
The impact of lower inflation on investment returns
Dave Mohr, Chief Investment Strategist at Old Mutual Wealth, explains that investors with portfolios that include performance benchmarks that target inflation-linked growth should not be overly concerned about the possibility that their returns...
Implement Your Money Plan: forum and book giveaway
After nearly 11 years of engaging with readers across many publications, I realised that while there are many books that cover the theory behind creating a financial plan and offer encouragement to do so, what was really needed was a money book...
How to stick to your New Year’s resolutions
We know if we want to lose weight we need to eat less and exercise more and we know that in order to grow wealth we must spend less and save more. So why then do we give in and buy the chocolate bar at the counter when we purchase our groceries, or...
Previous Articles
Why your education is worth paying for
While borrowing money is generally a bad idea, a student loan is an exception. For individuals who work hard, get their qualifications and manage their loan repayments, a student loan can lead to wealth creation. According to Advtech, within two years of gaining work...
Asset classes: which were the top performers in 2014?
2014 was a risky year for the short-term investor. Some asset classes started out outperforming others in their category but ended up at the bottom of their class. Shaun Ruiters, head of strategy and client solutions at Sanlam Investments Retail Business, takes a look...
Financial tools to keep you on track in 2015
In today's Internet age, keeping yourself on track financially has never been easier. There are a range of websites, smartphone apps and online financial tools to help you along the way. Track expenses and create a budget Find a way to track your daily expenses so you...
Making sense of interest rates
Last week, consumers received good news from the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) that the repo interest rate would be kept at 5.75%, which means that the retail rate at which consumers are offered credit, would stay at 9.25%. Absa provided this useful infographic...
The JSE: mind the gap
The JSE continues to trade at record levels alongside a depressed South African economy. David Leslie, a director of Belmont Asset Management, explains the logic behind this apparent contradiction. It’s no secret that the South African economy is on shaky ground owing...
The fine art of franchising
You want to be your own boss and becoming a franchisee seems like the perfect way to do it. Before you go racing off to make your fortune, though, there are a few things you need to bear in mind. Zanele Mvelase was on the executive fast track in the financial services...
Should I pay off my bond with my pension?
If you cashed your pension in to pay off your bond make sure you replace it over time. Sego writes: I have R100 000 from my pension fund which I cashed out last year. I am 30 years old and have a retirement annuity which I took out recently. Should I use the R100 000...
Momentum Financial Wellness Competition winner
Monday was the last day for the Maya on Money/ Multiply competition and congratulations go to our winner Afika Soyamban who will receive R2 500 in Dis-Chem vouchers. After completing the Momentum financial wellness assessment Afika committed to drawing up a will after...
How does one invest in dividends?
Understand the difference between investing and trading. Sidwell writes: I read your article entitled "Using dividends to earn an income". I'm currently one of the many people who in fact invest for "share prices". Investing in share prices is easily accessible; one...
How small businesses can manage increased risk this holiday season
Santam provides some safety tips for small-business owners to avoid becoming victims of crime at a time when profits need to be maximised. As the busy holiday season approaches, small businesses often find themselves more vulnerable to security breaches. In...