Navigating into Retirement during a Pandemic
The retirement landscape has arguably changed significantly since the onset of Covid-19. How you might ask? Firstly, people are inhibited from travelling abroad at this stage and even though there’s much discussion about the world opening up to “normality” whatever that might mean, international travel is still restricted. Whether it will change significantly in the […]
5 reasons why you should consider RENTING in retirement
South Africans traditionally loves owning property. Residential properties have however disappointed greatly in terms of the lack of capital growth and the opportunity cost have increased greatly due to fantastic offshore investment options being available. This begs the question: “Should I consider RENTING in retirement?”. We have determined 5 reasons why you should in fact […]
Let’s change women’s money stories for the better
By Hester van der Merwe We’ve all heard the fable: Once upon a time, there were three sisters. One kept her money in a functional leather wallet, the second in a Louis Vuitton purse and the third kept hers tucked under her bra strap… It’s a little outdated, don’t you think? The reality is that […]
9 Steps to protect your family in your absence
1. Ensure you have a valid last will and testament in place Make sure the content of your will is up to date and signed by two independent witnesses. This will avoid your estate devolving upon unintended heirs as determined in the intestate succession act, which you will have no control over. Witnesses need to […]
KZN and Gauteng unrest ~ Portfoliometrix update
Article by Brandon Zietsman CAIA CFA ~ CEO and Head of Investments Portfoliometrix I write this in sympathy with my fellow South Africans as we try to comprehend the scale and the intensity of the violence and looting that has gripped large parts of KZN and Gauteng. Just as evidence is starting to emerge that […]
The debt question: Yes, No or Maybe?
By Hester van der Merwe CFP®, Ultima Financial Planners You’ve probably read a lot of articles about debt – it’s a perennial financial planning topic that has been debated repeatedly over the years. Surely there’s no point in revisiting this topic again? There is a point, and here’s why. According to a report by DebtBusters, a […]
Deal assists and balloon payments: What you need to know
Moneyweb ~ Gareth Collier, certified financial planner at Crue Invest, sheds light on car financing, deal assists and deferred payments for those in the market for a new set of wheels. By Boitumelo Ntsoko With interest rates being at an all-time low, many people have taken the opportunity to buy more expensive vehicles than they would […]
The “R” word: Do we really understand what risk means to investors?
We need to change the way we think about risk so that advisors and investors can speak the same language and lock in long term growth. By Hester van der Merwe CFP®, Ultima Financial Planners, Financial Planner of the Year 2020 Risk profiling is a contentious subject in the investment universe. There was a time […]
Financial planning for a special-needs child
By Hester van der Merwe CFP®, Ultima Financial Planners, Financial Planner of the year 2020 Raising a child is stressful and expensive – ask any parent. But raising a child with special needs is exponentially so. Schooling requirements are different, constant care might be required (often throughout the child’s life), medical bills are higher, and there’s […]
How to make financial planning a family affair
Just as a ship’s captain is ultimately responsible for the wellbeing of those aboard his vessel, managing the family finances is serious stuff, strictly to be dealt with by the head of the house, right? Think again… This might have been the norm in the past, but things are changing, and they’re changing for the […]
