“I am about to change company and will receive R157 000 between my pension and provident fund. After tax I should receive R130 000. I have bank loans along with my wife of about R70 000, and we also want to renovate our kitchen and bedroom. What do...
A landmark ruling raises the issue of a woman’s right to inherit outside of wedlock regardless of what Nguni customary law dictates, writes Mkhululi Ngxumza A married woman inherits all kinds of assets from her husband, her children, who may die...
“I have R20 000 that I plan to invest for a two- to three-year period. I am considering the Coronation Capital Plus fund and will add a monthly debit order of R700 into the fund. Is this an appropriate investment strategy considering the time...
When you die all your assets such as your bank account and investment policies are frozen and will only be released once the estate has been finalised. If you do not have a will this can take years to resolve. Sorè Cloete, Legal Manager at Old...
When it comes to investing and financial planning, women have a unique set of circumstances and issues, such as longevity and maternity leave, which they need to take into account. Living longer on less In May this year, Statistics SA revealed that...
Women have a responsibility to themselves and their family to remain involved in the family’s finances. A recent conversation between friends highlights so clearly the need for married women to get good financial advice. The discussion was about...
When moving in together, your household insurance policy may be the last thing on your mind – until you need to claim. In this day and age, it is quite common for couples to choose to live together either before or as an alternative to marriage....
When starting your own business you don’t always need to be the expert, but you need to know how to run a business. When Bulelwa Tengwa decided to open her first hair salon she knew very little about how to style hair but what she did know was that...
“What do you think about some of the banks that offer high interest rates such as Finbond that guarantees their investments? Finbond has a banking license just like Capitec and it appears that they offer up to 9.5% on fixed deposits,” writes...
Tax season is in full swing and as you race to get all your documents in order, you should take some time to reflect on the Tax Administration Act and how it affects you. SARS extended power The South African Revenue Service will now have extended...
When it comes to cutting expenses, there are small changes you can make in your spending behaviour that can add up to big savings. With at least 72 per cent of South Africans cutting down expenses in their budget, you too may be wondering how best to shave off some...
If you cut out your monthly trip to the cinema and saved what you would have spent on your night out, you could significantly boost your retirement fund. “It is surprising what can be achieved by employing a bit of what I call movie magic'," says Esther Venter, the...
Karin Muller, head of Sanlam Growth Markets Solutions, suggests four empowering money moves you can make. South Africans are not very good when it comes to money management. In March this year, the total outstanding consumer credit balance for South Africans was a...
An emergency fund is your most important savings priority. Thanks to a collision with an uninsured driver and vet bills due to a dog with a penchant for swallowing bouncing balls, our household was faced with thousands of rands worth of unexpected expenses within one...
More than three million South Africans are owed more than R45 billion in unpaid benefits from retirement funds they have left already, according to unclaimedbenefits.co.za. In many cases when leaving a company, employees may not be aware of funds that have accrued to...
Michael wonders whether it's legal for a bank to charge more than double the amount of his personal loan. “I recently applied for a personal loan of R79 000 to buy a car as I did not qualify for car finance due to a poor credit record. After costs, the total value of...
We need to recognise the significant social burden carried by young black working South Africans in today’s society. “If you really want to understand the reality of our high unemployment levels, speak to young black professionals,” says Sinenhlanhla Nzama, Marketing...
The rapid turnaround in South African investors’ good fortunes highlights the need to have a longer-term investment plan rather than just reacting to short-term market movements. With the rand plummeting, the JSE down over 4% this month and government bonds shedding...
Make sure you read your investment contract to ensure it’s what you signed up for. Do you know how much you are paying for your investment policy? Could you state exactly how much of your monthly contribution is paid in commission or product fees? The truth is few...
When it comes to motor insurance, you and your insurer each have certain obligations that you have to meet in order to render the insurance contract valid. As a policyholder, if you don’t hold up your end of the contract, you could find yourself without cover at a...