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…
“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…
“Social media is merely an extension of real life, not a substitution.” (Abhijit Naskar) On social media, anything can go viral. And that includes financial advice. Platforms like TikTok have encouraged the spread of some interesting ideas, including three notable trends: “loud budgeting”, “cash stuffing”, and “no-spend challenges”. At their heart, these all focus on…
“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…
All that glisters is not gold.” (William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice) 1. Cash ain’t king Let’s cut to the chase: cash is not optimal for long-term investments. While it is the safest asset class, shares, property, and commodities generally produce better long-term returns. Unit trusts work well in diversifying asset classes. What’s more, cash…
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” (Winston Churchill) Writing a will isn’t only about dividing assets – it’s about expressing your values, protecting your family, and reducing the risk of conflict after you’re gone. Yet many South Africans put it off. According to the…
“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…
Gold broke through the psychologically significant $4 000-per-ounce barrier, surging over 25% and trading above $4 300 in late October. This rally represents a fundamental shift in how global investors view wealth preservation in an increasingly uncertain world. The gold price’s record rally has been driven by a perfect storm of factors: President Trump’s aggressive…
September was an eventful month for central banks. The long-awaited rate-cutting cycle finally got underway in the US, but back home, the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) surprised markets by holding rates steady. These diverging paths tell us a lot about the economic dynamics driving these economies. They also hint at the differing degrees of…
“In the face of too many choices, we often choose nothing—and pay dearly for it.” (Barry Schwartz, The Paradox of Choice) Everyone knows about FOMO. But have you even heard of FOBO, let alone contemplated how it might be kaiboshing your wealth targets? Fear of Better Options is a clear and present danger… The buffet of…
