South African markets continued to show resilience during August (SA Equities up 4.6%), supported by improving investor sentiment, attractive bond yields and strength in resource and financial shares. Commodity prices, particularly gold and platinum group metals, remained supportive, helping offset the country’s ongoing growth challenges. Over the past few months, a more stable fiscal backdrop…
For a long time, a second income was a nice-to-have: a “side hustle” that brought in some extra spending money, or was a way to express your interests and creativity outside of work. But it is increasingly becoming something entirely different: ‘career insurance’.
In this article we look at a profound shift in how people think about a second income, and why it is becoming more critical.
For many South Africans, the annual medical scheme increase has become one of the most dreaded notifications of the year. As healthcare costs continue to outpace inflation and salaries, more families are questioning whether private healthcare is still affordable. Before making decisions to downgrade or cancel your cover, it’s worth speaking to your financial adviser about balancing affordability with the protection your family needs.
This year, just about everything that could go wrong has gone wrong. But despite the turmoil markets have shown remarkable resilience. Time and again, investors have been confronted with events that seemed destined to derail global growth, only for fundamentals to reassert themselves. As wars, technology, and economic policy continue to pull markets in different directions, one question remains: why do markets keep ending up in almost exactly the same place?
The long-awaited Conduct of Financial Institutions (COFI) Bill is set to be tabled in parliament in the next couple of months.
While FSPs will be scrambling to update their policies and processes during the three-year transition period, consumers can look forward to getting fairer results at every step of the financial journey.
Read on for the lowdown.
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” (Winston Churchill) We often look at numbers when planning our finances: how much do we earn from investments, how much have we saved, and when will we be able to retire? These are very important for making the…
“The biggest problem with communication is the false belief that it has happened.” (George Bernard Shaw) Navigating casual financial conversations isn’t about avoiding the subject altogether. It’s about handling it with purpose and grace. The point isn’t to pore over every aspect of your finances around the braai. It’s to keep your peace and your…
“The bluntest pencil is better than the sharpest mind.” (Unknown) The Festive Season is traditionally a time for giving, and it seems a pity to have to mention the hard realities of the law right now. But, as a recent High Court dispute confirms, things can go horribly wrong if the people involved have different…
Economist and analyst JP Landman has written an insightful article on Project Vulindlela, South Africa’s major economic reform initiative. The article explains how the project is opening up key sectors including electricity, water, ports, and visas and fostering partnerships between government and private business. If the project continues successfully, it could significantly boost South Africa’s…
“Money is a terrible master but an excellent servant.” (P.T. Barnum) It seems strange. A man with more money than he could ever spend – a wealthy investor, entrepreneur, or heir – still often says, “It’s a waste of money.” He longs to see his children overseas, yet he won’t fly to them because he…
“Marriage is the chief cause of divorce.” (Groucho Marx) Retirement savings typically account for a substantial portion of a person’s wealth. When a marriage ends, these savings can become a serious bone of contention. The good news is that, starting 1 September 2024, the definition of pension interest will be standardised across all retirement funds.…
