Planning Topics
The touching reunion of South African violinist Petrus De Beer with his cherished 1896 Léon Fischesser violin serves as a poignant reminder of the emotional and financial risks tied to valuable possessions. After being stolen from his car in July 2022, the violin was recently recovered thanks to…
Landsdowne Property Group, one of South Africa’s residential real estate managers and estate agency companies says having a good credit record is a powerful tool for tenants, and it empowers them to negotiate more favourable lease terms.In a competitive rental market, a strong…
New research commissioned by Sanlam uncovers a significant insight: South Africans will not openly talk about income, wills, investments and savings, and debt. This silence, highlighted in Sanlam’s research, is a significant barrier to improving financial literacy and confidence. Now’s the…
By: Hannah Myburgh The world of investing is filled with outdated rules of thumb and generalisations that have no bearing on our personal financial planning, and which can hopelessly mislead us. Here we explore and debunk 5 common myths about investing:You need 70% to 80% of your pre-retirement…
Football and tech unite once again, as HONOR, a global leader in smart device technology, announces a partnership with celebrated South African footballer and national team captain Ronwen Williams. This collaboration comes at a pivotal time, as Williams prepares for his historic nomination for the…
Recent revelations by Stellenbosch University students Veer Gosai and Joel Cedras have shone a harsh light on the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) and its alarming deficiencies.Upon applying for the R350 social relief of distress grant, Cedras discovered an application had unlawfully…
By: René Basson Recent Southern African Fraud Prevention Service statistics paint a concerning picture, reporting a 32% increase in fraud incidents and a staggering 54% rise in impersonation fraud victims compared to 2023. As October marks Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we urge the country’s…
In a remarkable shift within the investment landscape, private equity (PE) funds have garnered an unprecedented 50.5% of private capital fundraising so far this year.This surge is detailed in the inaugural report from Barclays Private Bank, titled Forging New Paths: How private investors are…
Luxury homes often pioneer trends that eventually influence the mass market, with high-net-worth individuals adopting innovative designs and technologies first. Adrian Goslett, CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa, says these buyers set new standards for home aesthetics and functionality.“From smart…
The share price of financial services group FirstRand slid nearly 3% on Friday after it announced its decision to appeal a recent UK Court of Appeal ruling regarding commission disclosure practices in motor finance agreements. The share price ended Friday 2.78% lower on the JSE at R80.69.FirstRand…
On October 23, 2024, the Press Council of SA (PCSA) took the drastic step of announcing the expulsion of Independent Media. First and foremost, it is crucial to understand this: we were not expelled by the Press Council.Our decision to withdraw was deliberate and driven by our commitment to media…
Media freedom stands as one of the most significant pillars of a truly free nation. In societies grappling with social challenges, the ability of individuals to voice their frustrations without fear of judgment or oppression is invaluable. Independent media creates safe spaces where diverse…
As the executive editor of Business Report and Personal Finance, I stand behind Independent Media’s decision to withdraw from the SA Press Council (PSCA). This was not merely a gamble—it was a necessary response to an increasingly hostile environment where our commitment to press freedom is…
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) announced on Friday that South Africa has made significant headway in addressing deficiencies identified in its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT) systems. After recent upgrades, South Africa now largely or fully addresses 16 out…
Global technology brand HONOR has unveiled the launch of MagicOS 9.0 in China, the industry’s first all-scenario personalised AI operating system. This groundbreaking operating system integrates its new proprietary MagicLM line-up, while YOYO Assistant has been upgraded to a more powerful AI Agent…
South Africans have faced a challenging year dealing with sluggish economic growth, limited consumer spending power, and unprecedented hikes in fuel prices that disrupted daily life, putting extra pressure on consumers and business finances.This was according to Sebastien Alexanderson, the head of…
There’s a new addition to South Africa’s range of Shariah-compliant collective investment schemes – the Satrix MSCI World Islamic Feeder exchange traded fund (ETF) listed on the JSE this week. It brings to 31 the number of retail unit trusts and ETFs (29 and two, respectively) from South African…
By: Erin WhiteGroup risk cover is an employee benefit provided by employers, typically including life and disability cover. Due to risk pooling, economies of scale, and group underwriting, these policies are generally more affordable and advantageous, particularly for employees with pre-existing…
By: At van Rooy and Kobus du RaanAccording to Forbes the Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) market is projected to experience substantial growth from $86.9 billion in revenue in 2022 to $407 billion by 2027. As such, it is no surprise that more questions are arising about inventorship and ownership of…
The third quarter of 2024, to the end of September, produced bumper returns for South African investors, with the JSE having its strongest third quarter in 11 years and local bonds also performing strongly. Returns from global equities and bonds, however, were muted. The quarter also saw the rand…