Category: Wealth Advisors

By Leslie Greyling* Women face distinct financial hurdles, so it’s not surprising that survey data from Money Stress Tracker reveals that South African women are 10-15% more financially stressed than men. With overall financial anxiety increasing notable as women shoulder heavier burdens across home life, personal health, and workplace demands. Key financial challenges:  Cumulative wealth…

Few financial transactions feel as complicated as moving large sums of money into or out of South Africa. Whether you’re emigrating, purchasing property abroad, receiving a foreign salary or inheritance, or managing import/export payments for your business, the process can quickly become a maze of paperwork, regulatory requirements and pricing structures that make it difficult…

By Dorothy Avvakoumides* Picture a ‘typical’ breakfast for two at home. Two slices of toast each, with cheese, plus two eggs and milk for your coffees or tea. Ordinary, unremarkable, the kind of thing you don’t think about twice. Until you look at what this daily routine will cost you in retirement. Whereas this breakfast…

By Charize Beukes*  It’s one of the questions I hear most often, and a fair one: why invest offshore when you live in South Africa, earn in rands, and understand the local companies well? I’ll admit it, the JSE has served investors well recently. Over the past 10 years it has returned close to 12%…

By Brian Butchart* I spent a few days in London recently at Ninety One’s global investment conference, in a room with some of the world’s most seasoned fund managers and market commentators. I came away with one uncomfortable thought that I think matters to you, no matter how experienced or inexperienced you are as an…

By Lloyd Uren* When investors sit down with us to review their portfolios, one word comes up more than any other: diversification. They point to a global fund here, a local equity tracker there, and feel reassured that their money is spread across different markets and asset classes.  That reassurance is understandable. In many cases,…

By Suzean Haumann* In February, the finance minister doubled the single discretionary allowance (SDA) from R1 million to R2 million a year. This is the biggest change to exchange controls in 15 years, yet the true opportunity this presents isn’t clear to everyone. This is especially true for South Africans thinking: “Great, but I don’t…

By Ruan Breed * One of the more misunderstood corners of SA’s retirement legislation is what happens when an investor contributes more to a retirement fund than they are allowed to deduct in a given tax year. Many assume that anything above the limit is simply money not put to good use. Well, the opposite…

On 12 November last year, in the middle of a budget speech, South Africa changed the most important number in its economy. The Reserve Bank would no longer aim for inflation in a 3% to 6% band, the range in place since 2000. The target is now a firm 3%, give or take a point.…

By Leslie Greyling* Every year Youth Day highlights issues affecting young people. There are many matters to consider, this is a guide to create a better understanding of how to be smart with money. For many young people, attending college or university is their first experience of managing money independently. Unfortunately, many students begin their…

By Mags Heystek* Many investors tend to use a universal benchmark when gauging investment performance, and most default to Money Market rates, and to a lesser extent, cash rates that their banks provide in current accounts. There are many different money market fund options available, and the performance is roughly equal, because the underlying investment…