Last week Pravin Gordhan, Finance Minister to President Jacob Zuma, delivered his final budget speech for the current administration. Financial gurus, economists, financial planners and all those money-astute, sat rapt and listened with educated ears to the updated blueprints for South Africa’s future. This blog is not written with them in mind, but rather for … Read More
Financial Planning
PAY SARS LESS. PAY YOURSELF MORE.
With only a few days left in the tax year, you have just enough time to make a prudent financial decision that may save you a few thousand rand on your next tax return, and earn you considerably more than that at retirement! It’s common practice amongst those astute in minimising their tax deficits and … Read More
WHY DO YOU NEED A FINANCIAL PLANNER?
This question crosses the minds of most people, just moments before they meet up for coffee with their financial adviser – and it’s a good question! This question can be answered in so many ways… so let’s answer it with a few questions: Would you service your own car? Would you diagnose yourself if you … Read More
HOW TO BUILD A STRONG INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (III)
Hindsight is 20:20; we can always view what we’ve done with a comprehensive view than before we did it. Whilst you can’t change the decisions that you’ve made, you can change the decisions that you’re going to make in the future. When building an investment portfolio, the third key consideration that you must bear in … Read More
HOW TO BUILD A STRONG INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (II)
THE LARGER THE GAIN, THE LARGER THE RISK For those in the southern parts of South Africa, there are rainy days ahead. Easter normally signposts the temperature drop and increased saturation in the air. Rain begins to fall, animals slow down and all too often our waistlines begin to explore the other side of the … Read More
HOW TO BUILD A STRONG INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (I)
BASIC INSTINCTS Every winter we begin to see a profusion of pallid tree-dwelling rodents, squirreling away nuts and seeds for the cold season. This is a lovely illustration of wise investments for the future: simple, natural and too true to life. The reason for this can be put down to instinct, but ask yourself – … Read More
NECESSITIES, NICETIES AND NOT-JUST-YETS…
BREAKDOWN YOUR EXPENSES It’s hard not to notice how fast our current economic landscape is changing. Jobs are harder to get, and harder to keep. Although things may look tough for everyone else, they don’t have to for you! How is this possible?With wise and creative financial planning! I’d like to share with you how you can … Read More
ARE YOU PREPARED FOR THE STORM?
Bruce Cameron, finance writer for Personal Finance, recently published an article highlighting the concerning statistics that most South Africans, who are currently employed, may be seriously under-assured for death or disability cover. His opening paragraph reads as follows: “The vast majority of 13 million employed South Africans are ignoring the fact that, if they die … Read More
DO YOU NEED A FINANCIAL ADVISOR?
Iona Minton The profession of financial planning is relatively new, the average pensioner will tell you that in their youth financial planning was not even a recognisable term. During and after the Second World War the depression made it virtually impossible for most people to make ends meet, let alone have surplus money to invest. … Read More
THE COST OF CANCER
Every year countries throughout the world dedicate the month of October to raising awareness around Breast Cancer. Cancer has increased exponentially and is, in many cases, treatable – at a cost; making cancer a life, health and personal finance issue. There are very few families in South Africa that have not had one or more … Read More








