Back to Budgeting Basics: Spend Less on What Matters Less
Mention the word “budget” and enthusiasm tends to go up in a puff of smoke. The B word suggests fewer dinners out, cheaper holidays and the uncomfortable business of working out where last month’s money went. Budgeting is usually presented as an exercise in cutting back. But used properly, a budget can reveal how much is going towards things we barely value anymore … Often at the expense of things we would much rather be doing.
Private Credit Is Having a Moment
Private credit is booming. But what does it mean for you and me? Once associated with high-risk lending, private credit has evolved into a sophisticated, institutionalised market filling gaps left by traditional banks. Understanding why it’s growing, and who’s driving the demand, offers a useful window into how global markets are changing, even if you never invest in private credit yourself…
When Risk No Longer Feels Risky
After years of market turbulence followed by surprisingly resilient recoveries, many investors are asking an unexpected question: “Am I being too cautious?”
Let’s look at how recent experience shapes our perception of risk, why discipline still matters, and the role thoughtful financial advice plays in keeping emotions from driving investment decisions.
The Ultimate Gift: Maximising Your Child’s TFSA from Day One
They say that nothing comes for free, but for South African investors there is an exception. Tax-free savings accounts give investors tax-free growth on their money, making them a powerful wealth creation tool.
They are most powerful when they are given time to work their compounding magic. In this article, we examine just how incredible the results can be if you open one for a child the day they are born.
Why South Africans Are Better Investors Than We Think
With all the turmoil in South Africa, you could be forgiven for thinking it’s not the best place to be an investor.
On the contrary, the qualities developed here often translate remarkably well into investing. South Africans tend to think practically. We are adaptable, emotionally resilient and generally capable of functioning through changing circumstances without completely losing momentum. Read on to feel good about yourself.
Markets Are Easy to Access. Wisdom Isn’t
Advances in technology have opened financial markets up to anyone who owns a smartphone. But easy access does not necessarily translate to stellar investment outcomes.
While online platforms have made investing easier than ever, long-term success still depends on discipline, structure, and avoiding costly mistakes. Much of the value financial advisors add comes from helping investors stay focused on long-term goals.
Higher-for-Longer: Navigating Inflation, Interest Rate Uncertainty
The uncomfortable reality is starting to sink in. Interest rates are going higher, not lower as expected earlier this year, and that the era of cheap money is not returning any time soon.
As Warren Buffett has pointed out, the government can’t print oil. That means investors need to consider how inflation may affect their portfolios, without panicking.
Climbing a “Wall of Worry” on an Unstable Footing
Global markets are currently climbing a classic “wall of worry”, stubbornly rising against a persistent backdrop of uncertainty.
However, this rally is increasingly viewed as fragile, driven more by positioning and narrative than by a fundamental assessment of the real risks arising out of the Iran war.
Snakes and Ladders: Managing Your Money in a World That’s Lost the Rulebook
What could a childhood board game possibly have to do with investment advice? Quite a lot, it turns out.
Uncertainty has always been a feature of human history. But in recent years, the volatility has ramped up several notches. Change is everywhere, it seems, and there’s always a fresh crisis around the corner. But amid all the turmoil there is also opportunity. You just have to be prepared to land on a few snakes…
Is SA’s Investment Tide Changing?
For over a decade, the best you could say about South African markets was that there was a lot of unrealised potential. At worst, there was a sense of structural decay.
But could a shift be underway? In this article, we look at the changing sentiment towards South Africa and what it might mean for local investors.
