As individuals grow older, they often face mental or physical challenges that hinder their ability to handle finances. Elderly individuals, especially those with diminished mental capacity d… Read More

In times of heightened negativity or political uncertainty such as we’re facing in the build up to our local elections, many investment pundits encourage South African investors to mov… Read More

While the tax benefits of tax-free investments are indisputable, a tax-free investment should be viewed as part of your overall investment portfolio to ensure that it is achieving its purpos… Read More

While both life and living annuities are designed to provide retirees with an income throughout retirement, their respective functions in the context of estate planning are vastly different… Read More

When setting up your business, deciding between a sole proprietorship, partnership, or private company is crucial, each carrying distinct pros and cons. Picking the right structure for your… Read More

Creating an estate plan is essential if you intend to leave assets to minor children. In this article, we take a closer look at how you can safeguard the intended inheritance for minor child… Read More

In a rapidly evolving world, fostering entrepreneurial skills in our children is critical. Cultivating innovation, resilience and a proactive mindset from an early age can lay the foundation… Read More

Navigating the world of property and property finance for the first time can be daunting, especially when it comes to applying for finance and securing the most favourable interest rate. In… Read More

Determining the estate duty liability in your estate is a critical part of the planning process as it allows the estate planner to put mechanisms in place to address any shortfalls that may… Read More

Putting financial solutions in place should be part of a carefully designed strategy. Each solution or product should serve a pre-determined purpose in your wealth creation strategy. As US i… Read More

According to research, large age-gap marriages have a greater chance of failing because each spouse is generally at a different life stage psychologically, emotionally, and financially. Thes… Read More

As sole breadwinners responsible for the welfare of minor children, single mothers face a particularly daunting set of challenges when it comes to financial planning. Besides not having a pa… Read More

The sooner your start your financial planning journey, the better the outcomes are likely to be. Here are twenty steps you can take in your twenties that can set your finances up for life: S… Read More

Numerous studies have demonstrated a cyclical link between financial worries and mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse – with higher rates of mental h… Read More

Understanding the interplay between tax and your estate plan is important to ensure that your estate does not mean with difficulties in the administration process. The strategic integration… Read More

While salary is always an important factor, there are a range of accompanying finances that should be taken into account when contemplating a job offer. The employment offer in its entirety… Read More

Financial planning for couples entering their first marriage and who have no children from any previous relationship is relatively easy to navigate. However, the traditional ‘nuclear&r&hell…Read More

If you intend setting up a trust, do not underestimate the importance of choosing appropriately skilled trustees to manage the trust assets, keeping in mind that the job a trustee is an oner… Read More

If you intend setting up a trust, do not underestimate the importance of choosing appropriately skilled trustees to manage the trust assets, keeping in mind that the job a trustee is an oner… Read More

If you’re fortunate enough to enjoy good health as you enter retirement, longevity is a factor that will affect almost every aspect of your retirement planning. Being fit, healthy and… Read More

As we head towards the end of the 2023/2024 tax year, now is an opportune time to make sure that you’ve taken advantage of the available tax breaks available to you so as not to leave… Read More

Trusts come in many shapes and forms depending on your estate planning needs. The type of trust that you choose to set up depends primarily on the objectives, but also on the type of assets… Read More

A testamentary trust, being the most commonly used trust in South Africa, is set up in terms of your last will and testament to house assets intended for those who are incapable of managing… Read More

Before setting up a trust, it’s important to understand the strict requirements for the validity of a trust, keeping in mind that there may be serious consequences if the trust is foun… Read More

Human cognitive, psychological and emotional biases can lead to poor decision-making and suboptimal investment outcomes. Whereas cognitive biases, such as confirmation bias, involve errors i… Read More

While the long-term benefits of investing through a retirement annuity should not be underestimated, there’s a lot more to this retirement funding vehicle that investors should be awar… Read More

Globally, over 64 countries will be holding elections this year which has led Time magazine to note “2024 is not just an election year. It’s perhaps the election year” as a… Read More

From tax advantages and disciplined savings to investment growth potential, retirement annuities can be effective for housing one’s retirement funds. There are, however, complexities t… Read More

Learning to save and to master the art of delayed gratification are keys to wealth building; and the sooner you learn, the better you will be at it. Here are some tips to raising financially… Read More

An individual’s estate encompasses all the assets and liabilities amassed over their lifetime – and while estate planning is often perceived as preparation for end of life, the r… Read More

In a world of infinite choice, accepting that we can have anything we want but not everything we want can be tough. Everything comes at a price and there is an opportunity cost for all our e… Read More

When local outlooks are negative and bad news abounds, it is only natural for investors to look elsewhere for investment opportunities. Most investors seek offshore investment opportunities… Read More

Your marriage contract can be one of the most important financial documents you will ever sign as it sets out the financial consequences of your future relationship and getting it wrong can… Read More

As a person’s circumstances change over time, an important document that is often overlooked is one’s last will and testament. Being arguably one of the most important documents… Read More

Very often, circumstances occur in life where a person is required to give someone else authority to transact on their behalf and, in such instances, a power of attorney can be a useful docu… Read More

In South Africa, the default matrimonial property regime is in community of property, the effect of which is that the couple share a single, joint estate in equal, undivided shares. However… Read More

Just as we keep tabs on our mental and physical health, so too should we systematically check our financial health to ensure there are no red flags. Conducting a regular financial health che… Read More

Investing is one of the surest ways to build wealth, but understanding your reasons for investing, what you hope to achieve with your wealth, and how your investment fits into your overall f… Read More

Your will is integral to ensuring the efficacy of your estate plan and, as such, making sure that your will meets the requirements for validity is paramount. In this article, we unpack the r… Read More

Retirement investments have a role to play, both in funding for one’s retirement and in achieving one’s estate planning goals. As such, understanding what happens to the proceeds… Read More

As a person’s circumstances change over time, an important document that is often overlooked is one’s last will and testament. Being arguably one of the most important documents… Read More

Life insurance policies are particularly useful when it comes to structuring one’s estate plan as they can be used effectively to create estate liquidity, ensure succession, and make f… Read More

If you have a child with special needs, whether in the form of a mental or physical disability which prevents them from managing their own affairs, making provision for their financial futur… Read More

Where a member of a retirement fund dies before formal retirement, the death benefits are distributed in accordance with the somewhat contentious Section 37C of the Pension Funds Act which p… Read More

Investors in the provisionally liquidated BHI Trust are likely to have a bleak festive season, but it didn’t have to be this way. By all accounts, the writing was clearly on the wall t… Read More

Debt follows us to the grave and understanding what happens to it thereafter is critical to effective estate planning. To a large extent, what happens to your debt depends on your estate&rsq&hell…Read More

Gap cover can play an important role in your overall healthcare portfolio as it provides an additional layer of protection against high-cost, unforeseeable medical expenses that would otherw… Read More

There are very few South Africans who do not feel the need to give back to those less fortunate than themselves and many are taking steps to incorporate their charitable giving into their fi… Read More

According to experts, children as young as three years old are able to grasp financial concepts such as saving and spending, and their money habits are largely formed by age 7. As the primar… Read More

Many of the people named in your last will and testament will be tasked with giving effect to your estate plan and ensuring that your final wishes are honoured. As such, it is imperative to… Read More

Determining the estate duty liability in your estate is a critical part of the planning process as it allows the estate planner to put mechanisms in place to address any shortfalls that may… Read More

Life seldom happens in a straight line and, as investors, we should expect to face a number of curveballs along our wealth creation journeys. While many potential risks may be unforeseeable… Read More

Many dependants and nominees of retirement fund members are unaware of how the provisions of Section 37C of the Pension Funds Act govern the distribution of the member’s death benefits… Read More

There is an African proverb that says, ‘It takes a village to raise a child’, reminding us that for a child to grow into a well-rounded and successful adult, the whole community… Read More

While previously, offshore investing was not accessible or affordable to the average South African investor, changes in exchange control legislation have made offshore a realistic option for… Read More

Beneficiary nomination is critical to the efficacy of your estate plan because incorrect beneficiary nomination can materially affect the nature of the policy, result in additional estate co… Read More

Research is clear that those who have a financial plan in place are more likely to invest for retirement, pay their bills on time, and live a financially more comfortable lifestyle. A well-c… Read More

It’s that time of the year when medical schemes begin publishing their benefits, contributions, and enhancements for next year – and the options can be overwhelming especially as… Read More

Group risk cover is provided by employers to their employees in the form of life and disability cover that forms part of their employee benefits package. As a result of risk pooling, economi… Read More

Upon leaving your employment as a result of resignation, retrenchment, or dismissal, one of the options you have for your retirement funds is to transfer them to a preservation fund. As a re… Read More

Taxes can have a profound effect on your investment returns, with the potential to erode your gains and adversely affect your ability to build wealth. By understanding the tax implications o… Read More

Freedom of testation means that you can use your will to distribute your assets amongst your heirs and beneficiaries as you deem fit, subject to a few exceptions. That said, it is important… Read More

Retrenchment is one of life’s unforeseeable events that can destabilise a person both emotionally and financially. It’s a life event that should automatically trigger a re-assess… Read More

Wealth creation is a slow and steady process that involves financial discipline, consistent investing, and smart decision-making. In this article, we explore twenty top financial tips and ho… Read More

While government provides taxpayers with excellent incentives to invest through approved retirement funds, the uptake remains critically low, and the overwhelming majority of South Africans… Read More

Wealth is seldom created and intended for one generation but rather for subsequent generations to appreciate and benefit from. Key to the preservation and protection of wealth for the next g… Read More

Many of us are afflicted by optimism bias believing that medical emergencies will never happen to us until they do. But being blind to life’s realities is not a viable strategy for ens… Read More

Fortunately, our legal system provides for freedom of testation which means that the person writing their Will can provide for the distribution of their estate among friends, family, spouses… Read More

Without the backup of a partner or the security of running a double-income household, single mothers face a unique set of financial risks. In this article, we explore the nature of these ris… Read More

Pension interest, which falls within the ambit of the Divorce Act and Pension Funds Act, is used in the context of divorce and is a notional amount based on the benefit that the member spous… Read More

Retirement annuities are extremely tax-efficient vehicles for those wanting to save towards their retirement and, while tax efficiency is often touted as their main advantage, it should not… Read More

National Treasury is gearing up to introduce a far-reaching change in the retirement industry through the implementation of the Two-Pot System for retirement savings. This system aims to str… Read More

Many marrying couples tend to underestimate the longer-term effects that their marriage contract has on their financial future and only begin to appreciate its significance when difficulties… Read More

If correctly structured, insurance policies can be used effectively to protect your business against future risks. If death, disability, or critical illness strikes a key person or sharehold… Read More

If you and your partner are cohabiting or planning on moving in together, a cohabitation agreement can be critical to protecting your respective financial futures. While there have been nota… Read More

All parents want the best for their children and, while this is not always possible, proactive planning in the months leading up to pregnancy and birth can prepare the way financially for th… Read More

When it comes to wealth-building, women still lag behind their male counterparts for a number of reasons. While some of the disparity stems from historical inequalities such as lack of pay p… Read More

Unlike full title property ownership, life rights ownership entails purchasing the right to use the property for the remainder of your life, with security of tenure forming the foundation of… Read More

Despite shrinking disposable consumer income and a weak economy, year-on-year new vehicle sales have increased by 10.1% since last year, with 90.2% of these sales been made by vehicle dealer… Read More

According to the latest World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report, South African women are paid between 23% and 35% less than men doing the same job, while Stats SA estimates the… Read More

Being safer than carrying cash, credit cards are a secure way of transacting, making online purchases, and tracking all expenses through a single facility. If not used optimally, however, a… Read More

When setting up your business it is essential to choose the right format at the outset so as to avoid administrative, financial, and legal difficulties as your business grows. Each type of b… Read More

All marriages come to an end – either as a result of death or as a consequence of divorce – and it’s prudent to take steps to protect your finances against either eventuali… Read More

If you plan on setting up a trust keep in mind that the primary function of your trustees is to administer the trust assets for the benefit of your nominated beneficiaries. As custodians of… Read More

Investment markets are not for the faint-hearted and, being volatile in nature, often requires investors to have nerves of steel especially in turbulent times. Before starting out your inves… Read More

When a person dies with an estate value exceeding R250 000, their estate must be administered in accordance with the Administration of Estates Act 1965, the provisions of which are appl… Read More

If you find yourself in a position where a loved one is diagnosed with a severe or profound intellectual disability, it may be necessary to appoint a third party to manage their financial af… Read More

Controversial as this piece of legislation may be, Regulation 28 needs to be fully understood in the broad context of one’s overall investment portfolio without succumbing to fearmonge… Read More

Many married couples fail to consider the estate planning implications of the accrual system in the event of death. Where a couple is married with the accrual system, each spouse retains the… Read More

The goal of any divorcing couple should be to protect their assets and ensure the most equitable division of those assets on divorce. Protracted divorce negotiations can be emotionally taxin… Read More

Being unprepared for the practical realities of death can make the winding up of a loved one’s estate even more traumatic. The winding up process can be lengthy, cumbersome, and bureau… Read More

Having recently watched Madoff: Monster of Wall Street which is currently airing on Netflix, it’s difficult to believe the duration and devastation of Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi schem… Read More

SARS has announced that the filing season will run from 7 July to 23 October 2023 for individual taxpayers, while provisional taxpayers (including trusts) will have until 24 January 2023 to… Read More

The role of an executor is to step into your shoes after your death to ensure that your assets are distributed in the best interests of your estate and those that you love. It’s an imp… Read More

Once a divorce agreement has been made an order of court, the next step for divorcing couples is to begin the arduous process of separating their financial affairs. While this process can be… Read More

The decision to become a stay-at-home parent (SAHP) is not one to be taken lightly as it can significantly impact both the current financial stability of the household as well as the future… Read More

Living trusts can be highly effective estate planning tools if used appropriately for your circumstances. However, this area of financial planning can be complex and, in order to ensure that… Read More

The nature of medical aid premiums being what they are, retirees can realistically expect their healthcare budget line item to consume a gradually increasing portion of their monthly spend a… Read More

In the wake of a life-limiting medical diagnosis, attending to your finances may not be top-of-mind, and it’s only natural that your primary focus will be on your health, prognosis, an… Read More

Being diagnosed with a dread disease or severe illness is a life-changing event and can have a serious impact on the quality of your life. Severe illness is not selective and can affect anyo… Read More