Tag: FinancialPlanning

When two architects design the same house independently, they do not create a stronger house. Instead, they create misaligned foundations. Every now and then, a client tells me they use two financial advisers. The explanation is almost always the same. They value a variety of opinions and feel more comfortable knowing multiple professionals oversee their wealth.

The five-year lock-in period on South Africa's Section 12J hospitality investments is over. Across the country, investors who entered these vehicles for the generous upfront tax deduction are now facing a far more sobering reality. Hospitality investors face distressed assets, a near-absent secondary market and a Capital Gains Tax (CGT) liability that is calculated not on their actual return, but on every Rand they receive at exit.

There is a noticeable shift taking place in South Africa's property market. However, it does not follow traditional routes. Owning a home no longer necessarily means living in it. Increasingly, millennials and Gen Z are renting in areas that suit their lifestyle. At the same time, they buy property elsewhere as investment opportunities.

Death has no diary. It does not wait for neat files, updated passwords, or family harmony. It arrives when it arrives. And when it does, the executor steps in. In theory, it is a straightforward appointment. In practice, it is anything but. I have seen firsthand how often people underestimate this role. Appointing an executor is not a box-ticking exercise. It is one of the most important decisions in an estate plan. Yet it remains one of the least interrogated.

The concept of delayed gratification – resisting an immediate reward or temptation to receive a bigger or better reward later – is not a new one. However, modern life makes discipline harder than ever. We now live in a world shaped by on-demand convenience, algorithm-driven marketing, relentless social pressure and easy access to short-term credit. In this environment, ignoring fleeting trends becomes difficult.

A few months into the year, financial pressure begins to feel different. School fees become due, winter expenses approach and transport costs continue to rise. Meanwhile, January’s financial resolutions begin competing with everyday survival. Rarely does one major expense disrupt financial discipline. Instead, the steady friction of small, unavoidable costs slowly chips away at our best intentions.

As South Africans continue to navigate a difficult economic climate, many households face rising living costs, fuel price pressure, unreliable electricity supply and growing financial stress. As a result, many consumers may unknowingly sabotage their savings goals through small, seemingly harmless spending habits.

A sudden medical emergency nearly cost my life. However, thanks to prudent financial planning, hospital bills became the least of my worries. I used to think I had time and health on my side. I trained hard, stayed active and monitored my health closely. By most measures, I was doing what people are supposed to do. Then, one evening in November 2022, after a completely ordinary day, my body gave way without warning.

Most of us do not think we need protection. However, life often proves otherwise. It is easy to dismiss a cover you have never used. That changes quickly in real life. Your phone slips from your hand. It cracks on the kitchen floor. Your geyser bursts without warning. Your car also breaks down after running perfectly the week before.

Most parents assume that leaving money to their children is enough to secure their future. However, how an inheritance is structured matters just as much as what is left behind. Without careful planning, children can become financially vulnerable. This vulnerability often stems from how assets are managed after a parent’s death, rather than from a lack of assets.