Market Update: Financial Markets Welcome GNU 2.0 and New Cabinet
GNU 2.0 the best possible outcome for investors South Africa’s second Government of National Unity in three decades heralds good things to come for the country and investors. Financially speaking, it is the best outcome we can hope for in a challenging political environment. Dominated by the ANC and the Democratic Alliance, the GNU 2.0 […]
Why the Marshmallow Effect Could Derail Your Retirement Plans
“One must learn to give up momentary, uncertain, and destructive pleasure for delayed, restrained, dependable pleasure.” (Sigmund Freud) What is the marshmallow test? The test was devised by Walter Mischel, a Stanford University psychology professor, in the 1960s. While the test has undergone many tweaks over the years, at its essence it is exceedingly simple. […]
Safeguard Your Money: Look out for Phishing Scams
“Obviously crime pays, or there’d be no crime.” (G. Gordon Liddy) It’s an unfortunate reality that you can’t be too careful with your money these days. For all that modern technology has done to enhance our lives, it has also sadly made it easier for criminals to operate. It’s no longer necessary for the bad […]
Busting the Post-Retirement Jargon
“Often, when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.” Fred Rogers Retirement planning 101 If you’re part of a pension or provident fund or have a preservation fund and/or a retirement annuity, you can withdraw up to one-third of your investments to use as you wish. The […]
How the Elections May Impact Markets in the Months Ahead
Investors pin their hopes on an investor-friendly outcome The elections have been and gone, and now we wait to hear the nature of the coalition that the ANC will form after not just losing its majority but only managing to muster a 40% share of the votes. A lot has been written about the potential […]
The Sandwich Generation: How Can You Deal with Family Always Asking You for Money?
“Family is not just important; it’s everything.” (Michael J Fox) Many South Africans are not just working to support themselves or even their immediate families. Given the country’s high rate of unemployment, it’s not unusual for people to find themselves under pressure to provide financially for their parents, grandparents and even cousins, aunts and uncles. […]
Demystifying Retirement Planning Lingo
We all dream of a happy retirement, but making it a reality requires early planning. A good rule of thumb is to stash away at least 15% of your pay check before taxes right from the start of your career. Depending on your situation, this might involve diving into some or all of the following: […]
Why Emotions and Investing Don’t Always Mix
“Speculation leads you the wrong way. It allows you to put your emotions first, whereas investment gets emotions out of the picture.” (John C. Bogle) It’s tempting to believe we can control our emotions regarding money matters. However, being human means we’re susceptible to emotional biases that lurk silently beneath the surface, influencing our choices […]
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 […]
Do You and Your Spouse Share the Same Money Values?
“You can’t buy love, but you can pay heavily for it.” (Henry Youngman) When describing their ideal partner, most people would probably say they are looking for someone who shares their values. The things that are important to them, should also be important to the person with whom they choose to spend most of their […]
