Tag: personalfinance

For decades, the conversation about inequality has centred on income, employment and access to capital. Those issues remain fundamental. However, another divide is becoming increasingly important: the gap between people who can navigate an increasingly complex financial world and those who cannot

For many young South Africans, a financial windfall, whether through an inheritance, a family gift, or prize winnings, can fast-track major financial goals and responsibilities. However, without a clear plan, a sudden windfall can easily become a missed opportunity to build long-lasting wealth.

Most of us know the feeling. The car goes in for something small. Then, the workshop calls back, and the quote lands well above what you budgeted for. A few months later, it happens again. Somewhere between the second and third invoice, the thought arrives: is it time to let this one go?

You’re lying on the couch after a long day, scrolling through Instagram. Someone is drinking cocktails in Bali. Someone else is unboxing a new handbag. A 25-year-old is smugly explaining the “five things she did to become financially free”. Another reel tells you that your savings “should” reach a certain number by 40. That number makes your stomach drop. You put your phone down and feel vaguely as though you’re failing at life.

An additional percentage point in annual investment fees may seem insignificant. However, over a lifetime, it can compound into millions in lost retirement savings. Yet many South Africans remain unaware of the fees they pay to invest and grow their wealth. An investor paying just 1% more in annual investment fees could retire with R3.5 million less than someone paying lower fees.

Nearly half of under-60s with retirement products have dipped into their savings pots, mostly to get through the month. Our 2026 Retirement Insights Survey suggests the right response is empathy and better design. Nobody raids their retirement savings unless they are facing difficult economic pressure today. That is worth saying upfront. The two-pot retirement system has become one of the most moralised subjects in South African money conversations, and the moralising has taught us very little.

As a 25-year-old professional starting in my career, investing in shares felt unfamiliar and intimidating. I considered it a market for the wealthy, and certainly not a place that I could leverage for my own personal and professional benefit. I had a savings mindset, not an investing mindset. Therefore, I invested any surplus cash in a bank account earning interest.

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.

Most of us insure our cars against accidents, theft and damage. But what about when something simply stops working? An electrical fault, gearbox failure, or major mechanical problem can quickly become an expensive surprise. This is why some drivers choose to obtain an extended motor warranty.

Most climate change conversations focus on shifting rain patterns, agricultural yields, or environmental damage. Yet one of its most immediate consequences often goes overlooked: the direct and measurable impact extreme weather events can have on household finances. A Super El Niño is one such event.