The Big Question: Should You Buy a Home or Rent One?

“Home is not a place; it’s a feeling.” (Cecelia Ahern) Deciding whether to buy or rent your home may be one of the most important financial decisions you’ll ever make. Ultimately, the choice comes down to a combination of financial variables and personal factors, which, as we know, fluctuate unpredictably. Rands and cents Let’s start […]
Aligning Your “Wheel of Life” – A Beginner’s Guide

As your wheel of life turns, your financial needs, goals and focuses change. When you start working, you’re absorbed by accumulating assets. Later, as you near retirement, your focus shifts to wealth preservation. And eventually, when you’re settled and comfortable in your golden years, the transfer of wealth becomes your number one priority. It goes […]
Why You Should Keep Your Investment Strategy to Yourself

“There is no pebble so small that it won’t make ripples when tossed into a body of water.” (Charles Peck) In a recent blog post, financial writer Morgan Housel made an interesting observation. He wondered what would happen if people invited public scrutiny of the way they went about trying to find love: “Imagine if, […]
Market Update: Christmas in September if Rates Come Down as Expected

SA and US interest rate cuts on the cards in September If all goes well, SA and US borrowers can look forward to an at least 25-basis point (bp) reduction in interest rates, spelling the beginning of a declining interest rate cycle. There are hopes that one or both central banks will announce a bumper […]
The Two-Pot retirement reform – What members need to know

What was the thinking behind the Two-Pot system? Many South Africans struggled financially through the pandemic because they don’t have “rainy days” funds. The National Treasury came up with the Two-Pot system to provide a way for them to access a portion of their retirement savings for emergencies. But most importantly, to help them preserve […]