Tag: MoneyManagement

Before your South African Revenue Service (SARS) refund disappears into a holiday or shopping spree, consider how that lump sum could change your financial future. Who doesn't love that little ping telling you SARS has just paid your tax refund into your account? Suddenly, Mauritius is calling, and you can already hear the clinking of ice in your cocktail.

South African professionals facing sudden career transitions, such as resignation or retrenchment, find themselves at a critical financial crossroads. The first 90 days after resignation or retrenchment can determine their long-term financial security. Although this period represents a high-risk financial window, it can also create valuable opportunities for recalibration and growth.

We live in a world of information overload, and it can be challenging to know what is real and what is not. When it comes to money, social media is littered with "finfluencers" who present information and share "secrets" about managing and growing money. Some of it is real, while much of it is fake. As a result, it can be very difficult to know the difference.

Preparing your children for wealth starts long before an actual inheritance. You need to prepare them to manage it with responsibility and perspective. As financial advisers, we spend a great deal of time helping people build and preserve wealth. I have worked with numerous clients who have spent decades building businesses from scratch and managing investment portfolios.

The role of the nine-to-five is changing, and South Africa’s financial reality reflects this shift. According to the South African Reserve Bank, household debt levels remain high at around three-quarters of disposable income. Meanwhile, savings rates remain persistently low. This leaves many households with little room to absorb shocks, build long-term security and provide for retirement.

The book arrives at a time when many women are seeking ways to strengthen their financial independence and build a more secure future. Financial Confidence for Her Wellbeing is a practical guide that helps women build a stronger relationship with money. It also gives them the confidence they need to make informed financial decisions.

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.

While global geopolitical tensions may feel distant, their financial impact is hitting South Africans closer to home than many realise. From rising fuel prices to mounting inflationary pressure, experts warn consumers about what many now describe as the “unseen tax” on everyday living. In fact, geopolitics drives “unseen tax” in ways that quietly shape household expenses.

Retirement planning is often framed as a question of how much you save. Most people contribute to a Maximising. However, very few understand how to use it strategically. For many investors, retirement annuities function as a routine savings vehicle. People contribute consistently without considering the structural role these products play in a broader wealth strategy.