Don’t Get Caught Out by Your Own Goodwill
“Creditors have better memories than debtors.” (Benjamin Franklin) At the time, it might seem like no big deal. When the bank won’t give your child or sibling or friend a loan, and they ask you to stand surety, it’s easy to think that you’re just doing a good deed by...
Quote of the Month – Don’t Chase Past Performance
Adriaan Pask from PSG Wealth: “In general, investors face the risk of picking a fund that can either perform well or poorly, depending on a number of variables. These decisions will ultimately influence the probability of losses relative to the expected return on...
Buying Property from a Company – Should You Buy the Shares or the House?
"There is never a wrong time to buy the right home" (Anon) You find the house of your dreams, agree on the price and get ready to put pen to paper. The house is in the name of a company, and you are offered a choice – either buy the house out of the company or...
When Bond Clauses Sink Sales
“Before anything else, preparation is the key to success” (Alexander Graham Bell) You sell your house, give the signed sale agreement to your attorney, and wait to get paid out as soon as the property is transferred in the Deeds Office. What could possibly go wrong?...
May You Live Long… But Not Too Long
“Live long and prosper” (Vulcan salutation from Star Trek) One of the biggest risks that retirees face today is outliving their savings. Thanks to medical advances, we are all living healthier, longer lives. But we have to appreciate what that means for our money. In...
Why You Need to Understand What Investment Game You Are Playing
“Success in this game depends less on strength of body than strength of mind and character” (Arnold Palmer) Investing is not like rugby. On a rugby field, all of the players are playing the same game. The rules are the same for all of them, and they have the same...
Do You Give Your Financial Health as Much Focus as Your Physical Wellbeing?
“A budget is telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went” (Dave Ramsey) A recent study in the UK found that money is the biggest cause of stress for most people. Over a quarter of respondents said that they feel stressed about their finances...
How Safe Are Money Market Funds and What’s the Fuss About Absa’s?
Many South African investors make use of money market funds. According to the latest unit trust statistics, there is R438bn saved in these products. Absa’s decision to close its money market fund has, however, raised concerns about whether these products are safe. The...
Buying and Selling Property: Some Common Questions Asked and Answered
“Owning a home is a keystone of wealth… both financial affluence and emotional security” (Personal Finance Expert Suze Orman) When you buy or sell your “Home Sweet Home”, and/or an investment property, particularly for the first time, the process can seem complicated,...
Quote of The Month – Retirement Re-imagined
Patrick Sheehy, head of product management at Glacier by Sanlam: “The way you think about retirement makes all the difference in ensuring yours is a successful and fulfilling one. To adapt and succeed, a change to our traditional mindset is necessary. Retirement is a...
What Should You Do When Markets are Manic?
“In many ways, the stock market is like the weather in that if you don’t like the current conditions all you have to do is wait a while” – (Lou Simpson) Earlier this year, stock markets around the world were hitting new record highs. In February, however, some of the...
Four Simple Suggestions to Help Your Adult Children on Their Investment Journey
“The easiest way to manage your money is to take it one step at a time and not worry about being perfect” (Ramit Sethi) One of the most often repeated pieces of financial advice is to start as early as possible. It is a simple and powerful thing to do. But for young...