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...
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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...
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...
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...
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...
Are you paying advice fees but not getting ongoing financial advice?
If you have an investment policy or product, the adviser who sold you that product is most likely receiving ongoing advice fees or commission. These fees are deducted from your investment returns, and you should be receiving ongoing service from...
Listen: The Dollar Life Plan: Diversifying with dollar-based life cover
While most of us are aware of the importance of diversifying our investments globally, we don’t often think about diversifying our risk cover. Taking out life cover in US dollars is one way to leave a legacy in a hard currency that should maintain...
How does the interest-free period on your credit card work?
Most credit card companies try and hook you by saying that they give you 55 days interest free on your purchases. In fact, most credit card holders don’t get any interest-free period on their credit cards. This is because if you don’t pay your card...
Investment opportunities punted via social media are scams
Reputable and regulated financial services providers will never sell investments via a WhatsApp group, Telegram, a social media platform, email, or an unsolicited random phone call, so you can be sure that investment opportunities punted via social...
Make your first paycheque count
If you can start to manage your money responsibly as a student or new job entrant, you will be able to start to build long-term wealth. The key to wealth is not how much you earn, but how much you spend. Brenda wanted some advice on how to manage...
Previous Articles
Listen: The importance of budgeting
In this second episode of the Santam Insure Your Future Money Bootcamp, I’m again joined by Mapalo Makhu as we dive into the topic of budgeting, and how taking control of your day-to-day spending can significantly reduce financial anxiety. We hear from Thato, who...
DIY investing: pros and cons
When you build and manage your investment portfolio yourself, this is often called DIY (do-it-yourself) investing. In this article, we explore the pros and cons of DIY investing and how to get the most out of your strategy. South Africans are experiencing financial...
Listen: Unlocking financial freedom
Introducing the Santam Insure Your Future Money Bootcamp podcast series. Are you ready to take control of your financial future? The Santam Insure Your Future Money Bootcamp podcast series is here to guide you through a transformative journey that will help you...
Tax debt? Take action now!
SARS is upping its debt-collection game, so if you’ve got tax debt, now is the time to do something about it. If you are in debt with SARS or have received a notice of final demand, there’s no need for panic, says Thomas Lobban, Tax Legal Specialist at Latita Africa....
Deposit insurance offers protection for retail investors
The South African Reserve Bank has launched the Corporation for Deposit Insurance (CODI) which manages the country’s new Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF). This is a dedicated insurance fund that provides protection for bank deposits of up to R100 000 should a bank fail....
Listen: How to bounce back from divorce
In this episode of the My Money My Lifestyle podcast, host Maya Fisher-French delves into the financial complexities of divorce with financial planner Kirsten Smit of Citadel Investments. They explore the alarming rise in divorces, particularly in the post-Covid era...
Is your mental health harming your finances?
The prevalence of mental health disorders in South Africa is among the highest in the world. This understandably affects the way we manage our money. South Africans have a unique set of circumstances that makes many of us particularly vulnerable to mental health...
Listen: Are we spending too much on our families?
In this episode of the My Money, My Lifestyle podcast, I am joined by financial adviser Munya Shumba to address a critical yet often-neglected aspect of financial planning: prioritising your own financial future rather than solely focusing on your family's needs. We...
How to navigate the money choices we must make
How do we live today without being careless about tomorrow, asks Pieter Albertyn, Head of Product Solutions at Momentum Investo. In his State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa used the example of a child called Tintswalo to illustrate how far our...
How your employer can offer financial assistance in tough times
Many South Africans are experiencing severe financial challenges, and some turn to unregistered lenders for quick cash solutions. However, if you’re employed, your company might be able to provide some financial assistance. We all know that South Africans are...