What would you do if you were given R2 million and told you had to invest it in property? You might think of buying a nice flat in Cape Town’s southern suburbs that you could rent out to students. That should give you an attractive yield in what seems like a good location. But what…
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“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” (Benjamin Franklin) Investing for your children’s education is one of the great non-negotiables as it provides the foundation for a bright future. As always, however, there’s more than one way to skin this cat. Should you opt for a tax-free savings account or an endowment fund? And…
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With the festive season around the corner, it’s time to think about taking a rest, putting your feet up, and perhaps spending some quiet time with a good book. There are many really useful books about personal finance available. Here are three recommendations to keep you engaged during the holidays, or that might even make…
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In the Covid crash, from 20 February to 23 March 2020, the S&P 500 fell 34%. This was the fastest 30% decline in stock market history, and it was caused by the massive uncertainty of what would happen as governments started to impose lockdowns. As the market dropped, the volatility index (VIX) spiked upwards. It…
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These days, we are all under more financial pressure than usual. Inflation and a weaker rand are taking their toll (The weaker rand is always going to benefit certain sectors). So, if you are lucky enough to be getting a 13th cheque this year or your business has allowed you to draw profits, use your…
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Over the short-term markets are inefficient. Last year, almost everything seemed to be going up. This year, it’s difficult to find a market that hasn’t lost value. In some ways, this doesn’t make a lot of sense. Facebook is pretty much the same company it was in 2021, so why should it suddenly be worth…
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Loyalty is a powerful concept that elicits an emotional response. If you’re ‘loyal’, it means that you believe in trust and the idea of building and maintaining a long-term relationship. It’s a good thing, right? It’s complicated In the world of financial advice, loyalty is a little more complicated. Many advisors are aligned with specific…
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“Many folks think they aren’t good at earning money, when what they don’t know is how to use it.” (Frank A. Clark) Getting rich isn’t as hard as it sounds. Years of consistent, calculated investing are almost guaranteed to fill up your coffers. For many, the trickier challenge is maintaining their wealth. Luckily, it’s not…
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“It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.” (Eleanor Roosevelt) A lot of people don’t like budgeting. Many try it for a few months but give up because it’s too inconvenient. They feel it restricts their enjoyment of life and leaves them feeling guilty about spending. Household budgeting also often falls…
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Over the last few years, the government has slowly been raising the limit on how much investors in pension funds and retirement annuities could hold offshore. At this year’s budget, this was raised from 30% to 45%. The decision has been widely welcomed because it has some very positive implications. While there are some…
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