Your No BullSh*t Guide to Building Wealth
By Carla Venter
Money with Carla challenges many assumptions South Africans hold about building wealth. Carla Venter draws on her experience in finance, investing and international markets. She combines professional knowledge with practical lessons from her own journey towards financial independence.
Venter grew up in Volksrust on a strict family budget. As a ten-year-old, she dreamed of becoming rich. Her career eventually took her across South Africa, London and Zurich. Along the way, she discovered that many common beliefs about money remain incomplete or simply wrong.
“When I grow up, I want to be rich!” – Carla Venter at 10 years old.
Money with Carla examines the financial lessons that many people never learn. Venter explains how investment fees can quietly reduce long-term wealth. She also questions the value that some financial advisers provide. Her discussion encourages readers to examine where their money goes before chasing higher returns.
The book also challenges the belief that property always creates wealth. Instead, Venter explores why the stock market can offer greater opportunities over time. She also questions the assumption that savings accounts always provide the safest option.
Importantly, Money with Carla does not focus solely on accumulating money. Venter presents wealth as a means of gaining greater control over one’s time. This approach gives the book a broader purpose. Financial decisions become tools that can support personal freedom, choice and long-term security.
The strength of Money with Carla lies in its accessibility. Venter aims to make investing understandable to ordinary South Africans, regardless of their income or background. Her experience across several international financial markets adds credibility to her perspective.
Overall, the book offers a useful guide for readers who want to rethink their relationship with money. It encourages informed decision-making rather than financial dependence. More importantly, it reminds readers that wealth should serve a purpose beyond accumulating numbers.
About the author
Carla Venter is a Chartered Accountant, MBA graduate and founder of Money With Carla. She has worked in finance roles across South Africa, the UK, the Netherlands and Switzerland.
Venter created Money With Carla to make smart investing more accessible to South Africans. She also produces free weekly videos and podcasts on YouTube and Spotify. Venter has an engaged Instagram audience and lives in Stellenbosch with her husband and two young children.
- PUBLISHER | Penguin Random House SA |
- ISBN | 9781776393169 |
- Recommended Retail Price | R350.00 |
- Classification | Finance |
