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…
“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” (Benjamin Franklin) One of the biggest hurdles for new investors is the jargon. The investment world is filled with acronyms, technical terms, and specialist language that can be intimidating. But this language barrier shouldn’t stop you from asking questions or investing in your future. So, here is…
“A rich person should leave his kids enough to do anything, but not enough to do nothing.” (Warren Buffett) In the next couple of decades, families with intergenerational wealth will be transferring far more than assets (including homes, holiday homes, and successful businesses and investments). They will also be transferring value systems and philanthropic support,…
“Patience is not simply the ability to wait – it’s how we behave while we’re waiting.” (Joyce Meyer) In recent years, there’s been a huge increase in advertising for market trading apps. These adverts all have two things in common: Firstly, they show someone making a large amount of money in a very short space…
“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…
“The only person who sticks closer to you in adversity than a friend is a creditor.” (Unknown) You’ve done everything you can to leave your loved ones financially secure after you die. You’ve left enough assets to set them up in their own lives, made a valid will (“Last Will and Testament”), and chosen a…
When President Trump’s 30% tariffs on South African goods took effect on 1 August, many analysts braced for a market meltdown. Instead, the JSE All-Share Index hardly moved on the day and went on to climb from around 98 500 to 101 859 at the time of writing – a solid 3.5% gain during the…
“In investing, as in life, it’s often better to be the patient retriever than the anxious terrier. Be steady, focused, and wait for the right opportunity.” (Inspired by Warren Buffett) When it comes to investing we’ve all got a bit of dog in us. But what breed are you? 1. The loyal labrador Steady, dependable,…
“A girl should be two things: who and what she wants.” (Coco Chanel) According to the International Labour Organization, women in South Africa earn, on average, between 23% and 35% less than men. Women are also more likely to take time out of the workforce or work part-time to take on caregiving responsibilities. This leads…
“By 2045, we will have multiplied the intelligence, the human biological machine intelligence of our civilization a billion-fold.” (Ray Kurzweil) Imagine that your financial planners (that’s us) possess a superpower: the ability to scan global markets in seconds and identify tax-saving opportunities as the deadline looms. While this may sound futuristic, it’s already a reality.…
While President Trump’s unpredictable trade policies are continuing to create global market volatility, emerging market equities have attracted attention this year as investors embrace them as a welcome diversifier from the uncertainty and volatility of US-centric investments. The MSCI Emerging Market equity index is up almost 18% year-to-date, with foreign investors pouring money into India,…
