Since bombs first fell on Iran in late February, causing most asset prices to tumble, the question on everyone’s lips has been: How long will the war last? The truth is nobody knows.
With intense uncertainty about the endgame of the war now the biggest factor in global financial markets, here are five key considerations for investors when it seems there’s no end in sight.
When the final note is played, debts become a part of the legacy shared. (Anonymous) Debt’s journey Unfortunately, your debts don’t evaporate when you pass away. But there is a silver lining as they don’t typically hitch a ride to your family either – unless they’re tied by joint financial obligations or a community of…
“… the economy needs to grow much faster and in an inclusive manner. This is the central objective of the current administration.” (Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana – Budget 2025) The tabling of Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s fourth Budget in February was marked by an unprecedented three-week postponement, following a deadlock around the original Budget proposal…
Since returning to office in January 2025, President Donald Trump has implemented a sweeping series of tariff measures – the latest of which is a 30% tariff on South African exports to the US. These decisions have sent shockwaves throughout the global economy and created significant market uncertainty. At the latest SA Reserve Bank meeting,…
“The beauty of debit orders is that they make investing a habit, not an afterthought.” (Warren Buffett) We’re all human – which often means being emotional and not consistently disciplined. Debit orders remove the emotion from investing and encourage responsible behaviour. With debit orders in place, you don’t have to choose between contributing towards your…
“Our greatest motivation in life comes from not knowing the future.” (Thomas Frey) Investing is an exercise in uncertainty. When you make any investment, you are taking a bet on the future. This can be a hard thing to do. Markets move up and down, economies shift, and geopolitics can make everything feel unhinged. At…
“I’ll tax the street, I’ll tax your seat, I’ll tax the heat, I’ll tax your feet.” (Adapted from Taxman by The Beatles) 1. Why do I have to pay CGT in the first place? Following a worldwide trend, South African authorities introduced CGT in 2001 to broaden the tax base. Before CGT was introduced, salaried…
Europe and South Africa have turned the tables on the US stock market, outperforming them in February and year-to-date due to signs of a slowing US economy, trade policy uncertainty and a rotation out of tech stocks. Trump-related investor optimism has dissipated, leaving the US stock market in the red since he took office. While…
“A life of luxury sounds nice, but generational wealth sounds better.” (Unknown) As the old adage goes: “The first generation creates wealth, the second generation preserves wealth, and the third generation squanders it!” Our goal is to prevent this. If you’re fortunate enough to have created generational wealth, it’s extremely important that your heirs know…
“Focussing is about saying no.” (Steve Jobs) What is the point of investing? In simple terms, there are only two reasons to invest: To save for a specific goal like sending a child to university or taking a holiday. These are finite targets with clear time frames. To achieve financial independence. This means building a…
“A big lesson in life is never to be scared of anyone or anything”. (Frank Sinatra) If you were born between 1946 and 1964, you are part of the Baby Boomer generation. This generation is known to be flexible and robust, having lived through many bulls and bears over the decades. Whether you’re contemplating retirement…
