Greg Bradfield, Wealth Manager at Alexforbes, explains what you should do to prevent financial chaos if you should receive a terminal diagnosis. Most financial plans are built on hope – hope for long lives and long retirements, that children will...
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No direction without a will
Dying without a will could cause delays in winding up your estate, and your assets might not be distributed according to your wishes. Get your will drafted for free during National Wills Week, from September 15-19 2025. Former One Direction star,...
Estate planning insights for the single mom
As a single mom, planning for your child’s future is essential, especially if you’re not on good terms with the other parent. In this article, David Thomson, Senior Legal Adviser at Sanlam Trust, provides insights on guardianship and estate...
What happens to your furry children when you pass away?
Have you made provision for who should care for your beloved animal friends after your death? A giant ginger cat called Kevin. A tiny guinea pig named Didi. Cheetah the Doberman. Many of us have pets we’ll never forget. They love us...
Listen: Sort out your will this Wills Month
September is Wills Month, a Capital Legacy initiative inspired by National Wills Week, aiming to help more South Africans get their wills drafted at no cost. Having a valid will is essential, but many of us delay it due to time constraints. Did you...
What happens to your home when you pass away?
Carl Coetzee, Joint MD of Capital Legacy, has some valuable advice and tips for homeowners when it comes to estate planning. If you own a home of your own, have you thought about what will happen to it one day when you pass away? With as many as...
Women in Conversation: Protecting your family
When you get married, there are so many exciting things to focus on like the wedding dress, invitations, and the honeymoon. And when you have a child, your life becomes so busy as you care for your growing family. The last thing you want to think...
Don’t die without a will!
A will allows you to provide for your family and removes complications after you pass away, but if you die without a will, it could cause delays in winding up your estate and your wishes may not be carried out. “Through years of winding up deceased...
A will to protect your family
One of the most important tasks that the Absa/City Press Money Makeover candidates need to fulfil, is to write up a will. We spend so much time and energy on our families and making many sacrifices for them, yet most parents have not taken the time...
Listen: Use your will to protect your child’s legacy
September is Wills Month and in this podcast, we discuss how you can use your will to protect your child’s legacy. Maya speaks to Alex Simeonides, CEO of Capital Legacy, about how parents can navigate the complexities of estate planning. Navigating...
Previous Articles
The implications of an unsigned will
Only around 30% of people who write up a will actually sign it, but an unsigned will can cause major family dramas. The only things certain in life are death and taxes, as Benjamin Franklin famously said. We will all die at some point, and when we do, our estate will...
Death taxes and fees
Dying is an expensive business, and not only because of the cost of the funeral. There are multiple death taxes and fees that need to be paid when someone dies. If you don't plan for these, they will reduce the value of the legacy you were expecting to leave your...
Video: Avoid family fights with a simple will
According to research by Sanlam, 75% of South Africans do not have a will. Nearly half of those who don’t have a will believe they don’t own sufficient assets to make a will worthwhile, but you'd be surprised at the family fights that can ensue over a small estate....
Listen: Drawing up a will
In this podcast Maya speaks to wills and estate specialist Alex Simeonides, CEO of Capital Legacy, about the things to keep in mind when it comes to drawing up a will. Alex answers the following questions: Why are we so afraid to sign a will? How can a parent use a...
Death benefit: what you need to know
After the death of a loved one, you may be entitled to a death benefit. Rita Cool, certified financial planner at Alexforbes takes a look. During what is a very emotionally-charged time, the paperwork which nominees are required to complete in order to claim a death...
Beware the pitfalls of bequeathing property
When bequeathing property, make sure you have done your estate planning properly. For most middle-class families, the primary residence is the most valuable asset in their estate, as retirement funds fall outside of one’s estate. It is not uncommon for parents to...
Who will inherit your property?
When a person dies intestate (which means without a will), it can become a legal and financial nightmare. If you have property, it’s important to have a will in place which takes the law into account (such as the type of marriage contract you have), and clearly...
Unmarried couples and death – how to protect yourself and your partner
David Knott of Private Client Trust explains how unmarried couples can protect themselves in the unfortunate event that one partner dies. Many unmarried couples mistakenly believe that they are protected as “common law” spouses. However, South African law does not...
How your marital regime affects estate planning
Christel Botha, fiduciary services manager at Alexander Forbes, looks at the impact that various marriage contracts have in the event of the death of a spouse. The month of love has arrived, and many couples will be getting married, or planning a wedding. It makes...
Video: Review your will
Last week was National Wills Week, which is always a great reminder to review your will. If you don’t have one, make sure you prioritise this immediately. To find out more about what should be in your will and what makes a will valid, I am speaking to Monica Moodley,...