A person under the age of 35 is more likely to claim for income protection or disability than death. While life cover may not be a priority, protecting your future income should be. When Greg, aged 35, was rushed to hospital after a virus attacked...
You can’t claim from both your medical scheme and the Road Accident Fund
Maya Fisher-FrenchOct 26, 2014
A reader wonders why her medical scheme deducted her medical expenses from her Road Accident Fund settlement. Paseka writes: I was in a car accident and was awarded around R2 million from the Road Accident Fund (RAF). I was admitted to a private...
Finding cost-effective medical cover
Maya Fisher-FrenchOct 13, 2014
We set ourselves a challenge to try and find medical cover for one of our readers. Our findings show that medical cover is expensive for many middle-income earners and that a comprehensive hospital plan is possibly the best option. Elizabeth has...
More clout for medical scheme members
Neesa MoodleySep 25, 2014
The Council for Medical Schemes (CMS), which is the regulator for medical schemes in South Africa, has initiated new processes to put more power in your hands so that you are able to take on large medical schemes. Consumers have always been able to...
Choosing the right life insurance
Maya Fisher-FrenchSep 13, 2014
You need to ensure that you have the correct type of life insurance policy in order to leave a legacy. In order to make insurance more affordable insurers have introduced age-rated premiums where you receive an initial discount on your life...
Retrenchment insurance
Neesa MoodleyJul 7, 2014
When Chantal Ogle returned to work after the December holiday and was told that the IT company she works for was no longer considered part of the holding company’s “core business”, she was taken by surprise. However, she soon realised that she...
The value of pet insurance
Maya Fisher-FrenchMay 9, 2014
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...
The five highest expenses businesses face in the first five years
Guest AuthorFeb 14, 2014
This article was provided by hippo.co.za There are a number of factors to be taken in consideration with the start-up of any business, and inadequate planning may lead to your company’s demise. One thing your business insurance does not cover is...
Who should be providing good financial advice?
Maya Fisher-FrenchFeb 10, 2014
South Africans need better access to good, unfettered financial advice. But who is going to pay for this? Recently I was reminded of a story of a man I had once interviewed. Twelve years ago he was severely injured in a work accident and as a...
Stay healthy and make your medical savings last
Maya Fisher-FrenchJan 24, 2014
Instead of overwhelming yourself with resolutions in the New Year and then falling off the bandwagon too early, let 2014 be the year in which they stick. Andrew Edwards, Executive Principal Officer of Liberty Medical Scheme and fitness expert, Lisa...

Previous Articles
Uninsured drivers beware
Dec 30, 2013
Insurers are becoming more enthusiastic about suing uninsured drivers to recover costs. If you are uninsured and crash into another vehicle causing damage amounting to thousands of rands, you are liable for those repairs. Even if the other driver was insured, his...
What carpooling means for your insurance
Nov 1, 2013
With the price of petrol having reached record levels recently, carpooling is something you could consider as a means to cut your travel costs. However, if you do decide to carpool, you need to inform your insurer or broker immediately and find out what the...
How to lower you premiums for theft cover
Sep 23, 2013
“I feel that I am paying too much for the theft cover portion of my household insurance, as the insurance company values all my contents even though it would be difficult to steal all of it. In most break-ins the robbers just take things that are easy to grab like a...
Every woman should have her own financial adviser
Sep 19, 2013
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 life insurance and my...
Co-habiting and your household insurance policy
Sep 18, 2013
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. But before you move...
A flexible car insurance solution
Sep 9, 2013
There's a new car insurance product available which could offer a good solution for those who think they can’t afford to insure their vehicles. Soaring petrol and maintenance costs may drive you to reconsider taking out comprehensive car insurance but short-term...
Ensure you’re not over-insured
Aug 19, 2013
“Can I have more than one life insurance policy?” asks Susan Maya replies: Although technically you could have more than one policy, you need to be careful that you are not “over-insured” as you may not receive the full pay-out that you have been contributing towards....
Insuring a young driver
Jul 5, 2013
There are ways to cut your insurance premiums as a young driver. Taking out motor insurance as a young driver can be very expensive, often making car ownership unaffordable. There are ways, however, to lower your risk and therefore your premiums. Gari Dombo, managing...
Tough new requirements for electric fence compliance
Jul 2, 2013
New regulations may find your electric fence on the wrong side of the law. In a society where homes need maximum protection from criminals, it is easy to understand why you might choose to use electric fencing to protect your family and your property. However, if you...
Adviser dupes client into overpaying on commission
Jun 29, 2013
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...










