“If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things.” (Albert Einstein) Every investment journey starts with good intentions. You want to save more, protect your future, care for your family and give yourself the life you want to lead. But intentions alone don’t translate into outcomes.…
“Often, when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.” Fred Rogers Retirement planning 101 If you’re part of a pension or provident fund or have a preservation fund and/or a retirement annuity, you can withdraw up to one-third of your investments to use as you wish. The…
Investors pin their hopes on an investor-friendly outcome The elections have been and gone, and now we wait to hear the nature of the coalition that the ANC will form after not just losing its majority but only managing to muster a 40% share of the votes. A lot has been written about the potential…
Elections often move markets. This year, eight of the world’s 10 most-populous nations – across the Global North and South – go to the polls in the same year for the first time ever. FX markets are often the best way to express views or hedge positions in and around elections, and FX volatility presents…
“Family is not just important; it’s everything.” (Michael J Fox) Many South Africans are not just working to support themselves or even their immediate families. Given the country’s high rate of unemployment, it’s not unusual for people to find themselves under pressure to provide financially for their parents, grandparents and even cousins, aunts and uncles.…
We all dream of a happy retirement, but making it a reality requires early planning. A good rule of thumb is to stash away at least 15% of your pay check before taxes right from the start of your career. Depending on your situation, this might involve diving into some or all of the following:…
“Speculation leads you the wrong way. It allows you to put your emotions first, whereas investment gets emotions out of the picture.” (John C. Bogle) It’s tempting to believe we can control our emotions regarding money matters. However, being human means we’re susceptible to emotional biases that lurk silently beneath the surface, influencing our choices…
Phishing – or the fraudulent distribution of emails/SMSs/WhatsApp’s from what appears to be a reputable source – is on the rise. Through SMSs, messaging apps or by telephone, fraudsters use phishing scams to persuade you they are from a credible organisation, for example your bank or investment platform. They will ask you to reveal confidential…
“You can’t buy love, but you can pay heavily for it.” (Henry Youngman) When describing their ideal partner, most people would probably say they are looking for someone who shares their values. The things that are important to them, should also be important to the person with whom they choose to spend most of their…
“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” (Benjamin Franklin) A is for Asset Your possessions are known as your assets, while any debts are called liabilities. If your home’s mortgage is fully paid up, your home is an asset, but if you’re still paying off a hefty home loan and incurring maintenance costs, it could be a…
“Returns matter a lot. It’s your capital.” (Abigail Johnson) Let’s start at the beginning – Annualised returns The annualised rate of return on investment represents the average yearly return you would have received over a specified period. It expresses an investment’s performance as if it had grown steadily each year, taking compounding into account, even though…
