Listen to how one mother managed to shift her mindset to transform her relationship with money. When Thokozani first began her financial coaching journey with Mapalo Makhu, her relationship with money could only be described as “poor and...
Listen: what every pension fund member needs to know
Maya Fisher-FrenchJul 18, 2025
“Know your ombud” episode 8 For many South Africans, their pension fund represents their largest financial asset, yet countless members remain in the dark about their rights when things go wrong. In the latest episode of our Know Your Ombud series,...
Listen: Consumers’ rights and advisers’ responsibilities
Maya Fisher-FrenchJul 11, 2025
“Know your ombud” episode 7 In the latest episode of our Know Your Ombud series, I am joined by John Simpson, the Ombud for Financial Services Providers (FAIS Ombud). We chat about his office’s approach to handling disputes between financial...
Money Bootcamp: How to ace your tax
Maya Fisher-FrenchJul 10, 2025
Welcome to the second episode of the second season of the Santam Insure Your Future Money Bootcamp, where I tackle various financial topics together with my co-host, Mapalo Makhu. As we dive into July, many of us feel the familiar pang of anxiety...
Listen: Death and disability claims not adding up?
Maya Fisher-FrenchJul 4, 2025
“Know your ombud” episode 6 In the latest episode of our Know Your Ombud series, I am joined by Sonya Marais, Senior Adjudicator for the Life Insurance Division of the National Financial Ombud (NFO), who helps us understand the complexities of...
Listen: General and personal insurance unravelled
Maya Fisher-FrenchJun 27, 2025
“Know your ombud” episode 5 In the latest episode of our Know Your Ombud series, I am joined by Edite Teixeira-Mckinon, the lead ombud for non-life insurance at the National Financial Ombud. Have you ever felt overwhelmed or confused by one of your...
Money Bootcamp: Recognising financial trauma
Maya Fisher-FrenchJun 26, 2025
Welcome to the second season of the Santam Insure Your Future Money Bootcamp, where I will tackle various financial topics together with my co-host, Mapalo Makhu. In this first episode, we investigate the complicated relationship between emotions...
Listen: When responsible credit goes wrong
Maya Fisher-FrenchJun 20, 2025
“Know your ombud” episode 4 In the latest episode of our Know Your Ombud series, I am joined by Howard Gabriels, the head ombud for credit. Credit providers are required to treat customers fairly, but consumers also have a responsibility to repay...
Listen: Big Banks – David and Goliath
Maya Fisher-FrenchJun 13, 2025
“Know your ombud” episode 3 In the latest episode of our "Know Your Ombud" series, we dive into the world of financial services with Nerosha Maseti, the lead ombud for banking services. With an increasing number of complaints about banking...
Listen: What to do if your financial institution treats you unfairly
Maya Fisher-FrenchJun 6, 2025
“Know your ombud” Episode 2 I’m joined by Reana Steyn, the head of the National Financial Ombud, to discuss the role of this ombud, and how it is a vital resource when you have a dispute with a financial institution. Reana shares insights into the...

Previous Articles
Listen: Know your ombud
May 30, 2025
“Know your Ombud” is a series of conversations aimed at helping consumers of financial services understand their rights and where to go if they are not treated fairly. The financial ombud schemes include the National Financial Ombud, the FAIS Ombud, the JSE Ombud, and...
Listen: Understand your long-term insurance
Apr 14, 2025
For most of us, long-term insurance is one of our biggest assets, yet we spend very little time understanding it. Am I over-insured? Does my company provide life insurance and how does that work? What is my premium pattern? Am I going to be able to afford my premiums...
Listen: How to make smart tax decisions
Mar 31, 2025
In my latest podcast episode, I chat to tax expert Andre Bothma about the complexities of the South African tax system and how recent proposals could affect personal finances. We also have a broader discussion about the current tax landscape and whether our...
Listen: Unpacking Budget 2025: taxes, spending, and what it means for you
Mar 14, 2025
This interview with Chris Axelson, acting head of tax and financial sector policy at National Treasury, will give listeners a window into how Treasury thinks when putting together a tax package. Our conversation provides invaluable insights into how budget decisions...
Listen: How to select the right annuity income for your needs
Mar 11, 2025
We all spend a lot of time thinking about how much we should be saving for retirement, and what the best strategy is for those investments. But we often don’t spend much time thinking about what the best strategy is for using this money after we have retired. In this...
Simplifying the investment process
Feb 24, 2025
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 process for people who...
Listen: How to build your side hustle
Feb 11, 2025
Did you know that nearly half of employed South Africans engage in side businesses? In this episode of the "My Money, My Lifestyle" podcast, I chat about the growth of the side hustle with my guest, business coach and mentor Willem Gous. Willem is the author of Side...
Listen: Why are high earners struggling?
Jan 28, 2025
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 have serious money...
Listen: The young professional’s guide to money mastery
Jan 14, 2025
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 experiences as a young...
Listen: Knowledge is power
Dec 17, 2024
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 on our brains and...










