Taxpayers generally have the odds stacked against them when it comes to disputes with the South African Revenue Services (SARS). With wide-ranging powers provided to it under the Tax Administration Act, SARS is able to request information about...
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Be wary of investment seminars
Sebobe was invited by consultants working for the London School of Investment to attend a presentation about investing in the JSE. They are selling their software for between R14 900 and R19 500 and claim that after their training presentation he...
Managing client expectations under different inflation scenarios
David Leslie, MD of Belmont Asset Management in Cape Town, explains that investors should take the inflationary environment into account when they evaluate the growth rates of their portfolios. It is sometimes a good idea to reiterate certain core...
The value of pet insurance
When we bought a gorgeous Labrador puppy for our son’s birthday I decided to take out pet insurance. Little did I realise that this was one of the best financial – and emotional – decisions I would ever make. Since we live in an area surrounded by...
Don’t chase market performance
Steven Nathan, CEO of 10X Investments, warns investors not to be influenced by short-term market performance. Every year, legendary investor Warren Buffett's annual letter to shareholders offers valuable investment advice. In his most recent...
How to save for a deposit
You can improve your chances of being granted a home loan or vehicle finance as well as the interest rate you are offered, if you have a deposit of 10 to 20%. With interest rates expected to increase over the next two years, banks are going to...
Are your children wrecking your retirement planning?
Lara Warburton of Imara Asset Management warns of the dangers of putting your children's financial needs before your own. How long should you financially support your children and when do you start looking out for your own future and that of your...
Air tickets: read the fine print
Air travel is not cheap and even “low-budget” airlines charge you more than R1 000 for a local, return flight. However, low-cost air tickets come with a non-refundable clause, so you get what you pay for. Read the fine print before you buy because...
Do you qualify for credit amnesty?
Credit Ombud Manie van Schalkwyk unpacks the credit amnesty, and separates out the myths from the facts. In the lead-up to 1 April, there have been many misconceptions regarding the credit amnesty: exactly who will benefit, what information will be...
How to handle joint expenses
When you get married it is not just your hearts that become one, but also your money. Even if you are one of those financially independent couples where ‘his is his’ and ‘hers is hers’, when you live together, have kids together and hopefully...
Previous Articles
Understand the retirement annuity you have signed up for
Before signing up for a retirement annuity make sure you understand what type of policy you are signing up for and the financial consequences should you not be able to maintain your premiums. When Neil could no longer afford to keep up with his retirement annuity (RA)...
Starting a property portfolio
“I am 22 years of age and I work as a risk manager earning R18 000 a month. I am moving to Boksburg to be close to work and will be renting, however I see that Cosmopolitan is building affordable houses selling at R320 000. I am thinking about buying two houses and...
What should you look for when selecting an asset manager?
Patrick Barker, Private Client Portfolio Manager at Cannon Asset Managers, looks at key factors to consider when selecting an investment manager. Dealing with other people’s money carries a fiduciary duty and responsibility. When making decisions regarding fund...
The cost advantages of index tracking funds
by Mike Brown, Managing Director, etfSA.co.za Warren Buffett, the world’s most famous investor, made the following observation in his letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders in February this year. In his instruction to the Trustee of the Warren Buffett estate, he...
Four quick investment lessons
Given the recent market events, such as the weakening rand, it is becoming even more vital for investors to understand that their investment portfolios are not only influenced by market movements, but also by their own actions. This is according to Dave Mohr, Chief...
Your credit report can ruin your chances of securing a job
It is a known fact that unemployment figures in South Africa are amongst some of the highest in the world. Securing a job can prove to be one of the most difficult tasks one has to face, as job candidates are jostling with thousands of other candidates for the same...
Can you live debt free?
I was recently interviewed by a magazine who asked if it is possible for a family today to live debt-free. My reply was “absolutely”. I believe that because of the proliferation of credit cards and easy access to credit, we have forgotten how to live without debt. If...
Watching TV news is bad for you
Lara Warburton of Imara Asset Management warns of the dangers for investors of paying too much attention to the news. Do you want to avoid making bad investment decisions? If you do, a good start is to avoid too much bad news on TV; especially now that the...
Is your will worth the paper it’s written on?
There are times when the instructions contained in your will might not be carried out as you intended. South Africans have always believed that they enjoy total freedom of testation - unlike many other countries where legislation imposes forced heirship, which means...
The risk of easy credit
“I've always been a saver and have hated debt with a passion. I applied for a store card to create a good credit rating. It soon became clear that I am not a disciplined spender so I paid off the card and closed the account. This year I bought a car, and used my...