One of the most common question I receive is, "Where do I start investing?" With this in mind, I recently interviewed Adrian Hope-Bailie, founder of Fynbos Money, about this new investment platform, and how he aims to simplify the investment...
Do you have unclaimed dividends owed to you?
The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) recently launched a campaign entitled “Claim It”, urging South Africans to check if they are potential shareholders owed a portion of the R4.5 billion in unclaimed dividends. The Claim It initiative is a...
Be ready for the tax year-end: key steps for your finances
28 February marks the tax year-end. Everything up until this day will be part of your 2024/2025 tax filings. As this date approaches, it's crucial to focus on your financial affairs to ensure that you maximise any available tax deductions to lower...
Listen: Why are high earners struggling?
Many of us believe that if we simply earned a bit more money, all of our financial issues would disappear. Yet so many South Africans who are considered high-net-worth individuals, are struggling with debt. They earn very good salaries, yet still...
How to prepare your student loan application
The student loan application process can be complex, so do your homework and don’t get caught short. Rising tuition fees have resulted in rising demand for student loans. Standard Bank has noted a surge in student loan applications, including for...
Listen: The young professional’s guide to money mastery
Fulufhelani Mashapha recently published her book Mind Your Cents - A Practical Approach to Financial Freedom. Fulu had asked me to read her draft copy and to write the book’s foreword, and I took the opportunity to interview her about her...
Listen: Knowledge is power
What do you not know about your finances that may be hurting you? Knowledge is power, so isn't it time to find out? A couple of months ago, a friend of mine sent me the link to neuroscientist Dr Andrew Huberman's podcast on the effects of alcohol...
The best way to fund your holiday
Therèse Havenga, Head of Business Transformation at Momentum Savings, sets out how much a holiday can really cost you if you don’t plan ahead. I usually sleep too late when it comes to booking a holiday. I’m so task-oriented at work that holiday...
How interest on your credit card really works
Interest on your credit card is calculated differently in South Africa from how it works in various other countries. Social media is full of tips on how to maximise the interest-free period on your credit card. The problem is that credit cards in...
Make your stokvel work harder for you and your community
A stokvel is more than just a savings group; it helps people build wealth and make their communities stronger. The end of the year is “stokvel season” – a time when most members receive their payouts. It’s also a great time to take a closer look at...
Previous Articles
Buy Nothing Day
We are all being inundated by Black Friday specials. My inbox is full of both press releases and offers from retailers. But how many people know about Buy Nothing Day? Buy Nothing Day was set up as a protest against consumerism. It is held on the last Friday in...
Find your unclaimed benefits on the Standard Bank app
Standard Bank has made it easier for clients to access previously unclaimed dividends, pension, and insurance benefits. In collaboration with the unclaimed benefits tracing company Robin Hood, Standard Bank has made the process of claiming these benefits seamless...
Criminals using AI to target retirees
Criminals are now using AI to create sophisticated phishing emails, build hacking tools and uncover weaknesses in IT systems. While the world marvelled last year at the ease with which artificial intelligence (AI) tool ChatGPT completed tasks for everyday users, the...
The AI bullet train
Technology in general, and AI in particular, is moving ahead at breakneck speed. We need to make sure we are on the train, not hit by it. I recently attended the SingularityU South Africa summit, sponsored by Old Mutual. Listening to speakers like David Roberts and...
Inflation explained: Why your bills feel higher
There are several reasons why your personal inflation rate probably doesn't match the consumer price index, which is the "official" inflation rate. When the official inflation figures for June were released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), they showed that the...
Borrowing from your salary
Earned wage access is the concept that workers should be able to access a portion of their monthly salary before payday. Is it a good idea? What do you do if you have an unexpected expense during the month or find yourself a bit squeezed? In a perfect world you would...
Absa launches Ultimate Banking for the middle-class segment
Absa has launched its Ultimate Banking proposition as a one-stop banking solution for its customers, at an attractive monthly fee. Absa customers currently using a Gold transactional account should consider switching to Absa’s recently launched Ultimate account. The...
SARS clarifies tax on two-pot withdrawals
Anyone who intends to withdraw from the savings pot of the two-pot retirement system from 1 September 2024 must be registered for tax. Those who are not registered must register before they apply to their relevant fund. If a person is not registered for tax, the...
Rate cuts: What can we expect over the coming year?
Optimism for rate cuts varies between banks, but don’t expect a rate cut windfall. The aggressive rate increases since November 2021 have brought significant financial stress to consumers, especially those with large asset-based loans such as mortgages and car...
The dark world of insurance fraud
Murder for insurance is not that common, but insurance fraud comes in many different forms. Anyone who doubts that insurance companies pay out on death claims, should read Killer Cop, the Rosemary Ndlovu story. Over a period of six years, she had family members...