When fraudsters access your personal information, they can use this information to take out a funeral policy in your name, and then claim benefits on the policy using a fake death certificate and other supporting documentation. “Finding out you are...
On 27 August 2021, SARS provided further guidance on the correct tax treatment of crypto assets and how this must be declared in people’s tax returns. SARS published a document on its website entitled Crypto Assets & Tax. The publication should...
Technology is making it easier for GEPF members and pensioners to keep track of their pension information and claims process. By downloading the new GEPF self-service mobile app onto your device, you can remove the frustration of standing in long...
In his book The Psychology of Money, Morgan Housel writes about the difference between being rich and being wealthy. He defines riches as an income you earn, because that allows you to take on the debt to buy that R800 000 car or R40 000 handbag....
Many South African investors who bought UK property developments through SA-based property marketing company SJ Capital, have seen no returns for over 11 years. Investigations have found that the investment is extremely high risk and that investors...
Maya (@mayaonmoney) chats to certified financial planner Gugu Sidaki (@gugusidaki) about ways to skill our children so that they can better manage money as adults. Gugu is author of My 3 Piggies, a series of books for kids all about money. Also...
As part of its ongoing retirement reform process, National Treasury is proposing the introduction of a two-bucket retirement system to provide for shorter and longer-term needs. John Anderson, executive at Alexander Forbes, says it may work along...
When couples marry, including Customary Marriage, they will automatically be married under community of property, unless they sign a separate antenuptial contract. This is seen as a way to protect women, especially those who stay at home to raise...
While noble in its aim, the establishment of a National Social Security Fund (NSSF) is largely unworkable. In August, the department of Social Development issued a Green Paper on Comprehensive Social Security and Retirement Reform, which outlined a...
Death claims statistics released recently by the Association for Savings and Investment South Africa (ASISA) have shown a massive 44% jump in lives lost with an overall increase of 64% in the value of claims paid compared to the previous year....
Have you ever wondered how your money behaviour compares to that of your peers? Where do they save? What do they spend their money on and how much debt do they have? On this edition of Money Matters, we chat to Akash Dowra, Head of Client Insights at Discovery Bank,...
South Africans seem to live in constant fear of the government going after their savings. New tax rules for emigrants' retirement funds is just the latest development to fuel this anxiety. Andre Tuck, Senior Investment Consultant at 10X Investments, has a close look...
Mapalo Makhu (@womanandfinance) rejoins Maya (@mayaonmoney) on the My Money, My Lifestyle podcast after taking a break to have her second child. She shares her experiences of having a child while having to meet client deadlines, and emphasises the importance of having...
Tax Consulting SA gives the lowdown on a new draft tax bill which essentially proposes an additional exit tax on retirement funds. It is not uncommon for National Treasury and the South African Revenue Services (SARS) to propose, and subsequently gazette, amendments...
Many employees don't understand the complex tax calculations made by their companies and they often question these deductions. According to tax specialist Tanya Tosen, there are five key things an employee needs to understand when it comes to their tax. Myth one:...
Did you know that 80% of women will manage their own finances during their lifetime, either because they have remained single, gotten divorced, or been widowed? And the reality is that money and finances are different for women. Why? We know from South African salary...
I often write about the importance of having a financial plan – knowing your goals and how you are going to achieve them. But it is about more than just a financial plan. It is also about how you want to live your life and whether that plan reflects your values. I...
For many working South Africans, the pressure of financially supporting friends and family is unrelenting. Most of us have either experienced a job loss or have a family member who lost an income due to the extended Covid-19 lockdown. It is not surprising then that...
We know from studying history, that entire generations can share a similar money attitude or behaviour based on a major financial event that their generation experienced. People who grew up during the great depression of the 1930s, and those who grew up during World...
Screen scraping can be used by criminals to steal data, but financial services companies are increasingly making legitimate use of this too. Angelique Ruzicka investigates what the process entails and how consumers can protect themselves. Screen scraping can be hugely...