Are You Financially Fluent or Just Faking It?
All that glisters is not gold.” (William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice) 1. Cash ain’t king Let’s cut to the chase: cash is not optimal for long-term investments. While it is the safest asset class, shares, property, and commodities generally produce better long-term returns. Unit trusts work well in diversifying asset classes. What’s more, cash […]
Empower Yourself by Understanding These Key Investment Terms
“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 […]
Financial Advice for Women: It’s Personal
“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 […]
AI & Us: A Smarter, Smoother Wealth Journey
“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. […]
South Africa’s Financial Wellness – How Are We Doing?
When someone talks about saving, it is usually in the context of saving for retirement. While this is a major undertaking and deserving of a lot of attention, there needs to be more focus on the overall level of savings within our South African households. Shocking statistics from 2019 revealed that over 80% of South […]
Why You Should Treat Your Finances Like Your Health
“A good doctor treats the disease, but the great doctor treats the patient who has the disease.” (Unknown) Most of us understand why it’s important to have regular medical check-ups. We also recognise that, as we get older, what we need from them changes too. While it’s important for babies to have special health and […]
The US and You: Why What Happens in America Impacts Your Portfolio
“The markets are like weather; you may not like it, but you have to bear it.” (Rakesh Jhunjhunwala) South African investors don’t need to follow every twist in American politics or economics, but you can’t ignore them either. The world’s biggest economy casts a long shadow, and what happens in the US can ripple across […]
How Fit Are You Financially?
“He who has health has hope; and he who has hope, has everything.” (Thomas Carlyle) Doing a financial health check can sound like a daunting idea. But it needn’t be. Just checking a few simple things can give you a good idea of whether you’re financially healthy and on the right track. Here are four […]
Budget 2025: How It Affects You and Your Business
“… the economy needs to grow much faster and in an inclusive manner. This is the central objective of the current administration.” (Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana – Budget 2025) The tabling of Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s fourth Budget in February was marked by an unprecedented three-week postponement, following a deadlock around the original Budget proposal […]
When it Comes to Investing, Debit Orders are Your Friend
“The beauty of debit orders is that they make investing a habit, not an afterthought.” (Warren Buffett) We’re all human – which often means being emotional and not consistently disciplined. Debit orders remove the emotion from investing and encourage responsible behaviour. With debit orders in place, you don’t have to choose between contributing towards your […]
