Planning Topics
Travelling to a developed economy such as the UK is an expensive exercise, as you probably know. My wife, son, and I recently returned from a three-week holiday in Surrey (with brief sojourns to other areas). With each English pound costing R23, we had to try to find a balance between spending…
Cell C plans to implement a franchise modelCell C has announced that it will be implementing a store franchise model in line with the strategy to leverage partnerships and collaboration to boost revenue and drive growth.According to Cell C, the decision follows a review of its service…
Nicola MawsonAlthough South Africa’s interest rate, at 11.75%, is still at a 14-year high as the South African Reserve Bank seeks to trim inflation further, thousands of South Africans are diligently working on improving their credit score status.More than half of all South Africans are keeping an…
The Pension Funds Adjudicator Muvhango Lukhaimane has ordered the Municipal Gratuity Fund to pay a complainant serving a prison sentence, and his pension fund paid out to a syndicate.The pension fund paid out a benefit of more than R800 000 to a syndicate that was involved in identity theft…
By Brett LadouceThe lives of provident fund members will look a lot different on September 2, 2024 than it was on February 28, 2021. The reason for this is that two significant changes to legislation would have been implemented that changed the way retirement and withdrawal benefits are paid to…
By Yolisa DyasiWith the increase in the use of technology comes the increase in the risk of data breaches and digital fraud. The South African tax system and specifically the South African Revenue Service (Sars) is not immune to these risks. In 2019, Sars Commissioner Edward Kieswetter made it his…
For any aspiring entrepreneur, starting a new business is a thrilling process. Deciding what the business will do, how it will operate and where it will be located are among the “fun factors” to consider at the outset. However, while this is an exciting journey, once the business is operational, it…
In many instances trustees abdicate their responsibilities to their accountants or tax practitioners, leaving them to manage the trust’s tax affairs. A number of accountants/tax practitioners not specialising in trusts treat them similarly to legal entities such as companies, ignoring their unique…
This is the fifth article in a nine-part series that summarises findings from Just Retirement Insights 2024, a tracking study conducted by retirement income specialist, Just SA.Just Retirements Insights gathers respondents’ feedback on the age they expect to live to.In 2024, individual life…
The financial services industry is one of the most tightly regulated industries in South Africa, and with good reason: your money is at stake. Regulations evolve as the industry evolves, and consumers of financial products and services need to keep up-to-date with the changes.Recently, the…
By Frants PreisImagine walking into a restaurant known for its incredible variety of dishes. You could feast on just one item, but the real magic lies in sampling a bit of everything, creating a meal that balances flavours, textures and nutrients. Investing is similar.Instead of putting all your…
Forex trading comes with its fair share of profit opportunities, but it also comes with several costs. Understanding what these costs are – as well as some of the hidden costs involved, is an important factor in being able to make informed decisions.All Forex brokers have different cost structures…
The entrepreneurship sector is often touted as a huge source for employment and economic growth in South Africa, but small businesses are beset by high failure rates. “The small and medium enterprise (SME) sector currently contributes 39% to South Africa’s GDP, but the failure rate is between 50…
With the 2024 Olympic Games set to take place in Paris later this month, all eyes will be on big name athletes like basketball player LeBron James, cyclist Jennifer Valente and swimmer Chad Le Clos to see how they fare at this year’s games.But July not only sees the start of the Olympics – it is…
As South Africa commemorates Savings Month this month, the country’s financial landscape presents a unique opportunity for retail investors to bolster their savings. Interest rates continue to hover at elevated levels and the predictions are that there will only be gradual decreases in the latter…
With the cold front in full force, fireplaces, gas and electric heaters, electric blankets, and hot water bottles become our trusted companions during these chilly days. And, of course, many of us rely on generators and inverters to keep the heat turned up when the power’s out.However, it’s crucial…
Finishing school is a huge step in life – and it’s important young people are prepared for all the highs and lows of adulthood. One important aspect is finances, but so often graduates are not prepared to manage their money effectively and successfully.Thabo Qoako at Momentum Metropolitan…
By Jonathan SpencerSouth Africans’ salaries aren’t stretching as far as they used to, with inflation pushing up the cost of essentials like food, transport, and utilities. This means every rand buys less than it used to, leaving over half of consumers worried about making ends meet. The pressure is…
By FNBThere is an increase in phishing and smishing attempts aimed at loading debit and credit cards onto criminals’ digital wallets. Phishing is a type of cybercrime in which people are duped into providing sensitive information such as login credentials, passwords, PINs, card details, or ID…
By Alude XubaThe first day of September, 2024 will usher in a new era for a number of public service employees with the introduction and coming into effect of the new two-pot pension system. The two-pot system is a mechanism designed to help pension fund members access their pension savings in a…