Beplanning onderwerpe
Plain and simple solutions to complex matters rarely produce effective results. Interest rate adjustments are a case in point and have proved to be an instrument that is blunt on its own.There is a lot of media interest and speculation about what the SA Reserve Bank’s (SARB) next decision on…
It was a super exciting couple of weeks for Mr A.S. from the Western Cape, who was notified by Lottoland that he had won more than half a million Rand in the US Powerball on the 23d of April.The winner received automatic email notification, and a life-changing phone call from Lottoland to…
South African citizens can now invest in rapidly growing start-ups for as little as R50 a month, contributing to what local venture builder and business incubator Aions Creative Technology calls the ‘democratising of wealth’ in the country.The company recently launched a micro-investment platform…
By Edwin Theron We all know that insurance policies are far from the most thrilling topic in the world, but it’s vitally important to select the right products and make sure they’re perfectly suited to your needs. Nobody wants to end up with less than they bargained for, or worse, fall for a scam.…
Today we are talking medical aids, and experiencing my own 9% increase in contribution this past April, health coverage is no longer close to my heart but has become more of a cut-throat situation.But according to the findings of the latest South African Customer Satisfaction Index for Medical…
By Michael Devereux The idea behind the 60/40 portfolio, which is made up of 60% equities and 40% bonds, relies on the negative correlation between equities and bonds. In others words, if the equity component of the portfolio does poorly, these losses would be offset by gains from the bond…
By Jaco PienaarAt the end of March this year, South Africa’s headline consumer inflation had risen for the second month in a row to 7,1% year-on-year from 7.0% in February, according to Statistics South Africa. Since peaking at 7.8% in July 2022, inflation has remained stubbornly high, putting…
The government effectively tightened foreign exchange controls by stealth last week by introducing onerous new administrative burdens for those wishing to take their money offshore.The SA Revenue Service (Sars) said in its online site on April 24 that the move was aimed at “strengthening…
With increases in the cost of living and rising interest rates, money is not going as far as it used to, pushing South Africans to make hard choices about saving and spending their money, according to Kamal Kalian, head of Affluent Clients at Standard Bank.Kalian said: “During uncertain economic…
By Gary FeldmanMost South Africans leave their retirement planning too late – and when they do finally get around to it, they often fail to include the rising cost of health care in their considerations, which could seriously impact the quality of their lifestyles.Many consumers do not realise that…
While diesel users will enjoy another price cut, petrol users face more pressure at the pumps this month.The prices of illuminating paraffin and LP gas also saw big price cuts for May. South African consumers have faced turbulent times as the cost of living crisis spirals out of control, with…
South Africans are stretching their income to keep up with food and fuel price hikes and the impact of rising interest rates on monthly debt payments.Ayanda Ndimande, Head of Sanlam Business Development for Retail Credit, says there is a growing reliance on credit to compensate for the soaring cost…
Recent research shows 86% of South Africans regularly use cash, with 95% withdrawing money from ATMs at least once a month, which serves as a reminder that cash plays a key role in how citizens transact in the country, despite the growth of digital options. The research, conducted by Boston…
Retrenchments, one of the most traumatic changes that a person can experience in their career, are unfortunately still a reality for many people, according to Lee Bromfield, CEO of FNB Life.Bromfield said: “The shock of being retrenched coupled with the financial stress may leave you uncertain…
Following the recent celebration of Freedom Day, South Africans should take the time to reflect on their personal freedom – specifically, their financial freedom.According to Bertie Nel, head of financial planning and advice at Momentum, financial freedom is:– feeling secure in your current…
By Sumayya DavenhillYou have decided to invest and have mapped out your goals and developed an investment strategy to help realise them. Putting your investment plan into motion can be exciting and you might find yourself eagerly, even impatiently, waiting to see it come to fruition. But as the old…
As South Africans continue to feel the crunch from the cost of living crisis, many are looking at loyalty programmes as their saving grace to make it to the end of the month before receiving the next pay cheque. With rising interest rate hikes coupled with sky-rocketing food costs as well as fuel…
When financial experts talk about inflation, they normally refer to CPI inflation – that is, the year-on-year increase (or decrease, when it’s deflation) in the Consumer Price Index. The index measures the costs of goods and services for consumers, and it is determined monthly by Statistics SA…
In an age where people have the freedom to make decisions that satisfy their needs and wants, coupled with current economic climate, South African consumers are likely to face the burden of debt. Charnel Collins CEO of National Debt Advisors said: “During these tough economic times, debt continues…
As South Africans continue to feel the crunch from the cost of living crisis, many are looking at loyalty programmes as their saving grace to make it to the end of the month before receiving the next pay cheque. With rising interest rate hikes coupled with sky-rocketing food costs as well as fuel…