Newsletters

The US and You: Why What Happens in America Impacts Your Portfolio As the world’s most powerful economy, what happens in the US has a big impact on markets around the world. In fact, what happens in South Africa’s markets is often more about what’s going on in the US than what is appearing in…

How Fit Are You Financially? Your financial health is just as important as your physical health. Yet, while many South Africans work hard to stay fit and eat healthy, they never take the time to check whether their finances are in good shape.  Part of the reason may be because it’s difficult to know what…

Does Your Debt Die With You? Unfortunately, your debts don’t just disappear when you die – but they don’t necessarily attach themselves to your loved ones either. Your estate must follow the letter of the law in dealing with all your financial responsibilities before anything is distributed to your heirs.  That’s why it’s so important…

When it Comes to Investing, Debit Orders are Your Friend When you see all the debit orders flow out of your account early every month, remember that they are your friend. Or at least some of them are.  Investing via debit order is one of the biggest life hacks around as there’s no temptation to…

How to Keep FOMO Out of Your Investment Strategy The fear of missing out (FOMO) is a powerful emotion for many people. And when it comes to investing, it can be a dangerous one. This is because FOMO creates a strong urge to act impulsively – which can have negative long-term consequences. Disciplined investors are…

A Comprehensive Shield: Risk Cover is More Than Just Life Insurance Many people shy away from life insurance because they view it as a tax on their current income in order to benefit someone else when they are no longer around. But personal risk cover is about a lot more than simply leaving a windfall…

Burgernomics: Decoding Currency Values with the Big Mac Index The Big Mac Index, created by Pam Woodhall and first published in The Economist in 1986, offers an easily digestible way (pun intended) to assess currency values and the purchasing power parity (PPP) between countries.  Comparing the price of a McDonald’s Big Mac in different currencies…

6 Winning Strategies That Top Investors and Elite Endurance Athletes Share A recent survey from the US reveals that people who do endurance sport as a hobby earn three times more than the average person. Surprising?  Initially, perhaps. But when you look closer, the traits that fuel success on the trail often mirror those that…

With Gold at Record Highs, Should You be Investing? Many South African investors have a strong affinity for gold. And the recent gains in the gold price have also got a lot of people excited. Gold has never looked this good. But it’s important to understand that while gold itself is easy to understand, there…

The Big Question: Should You Buy a Home or Rent One? Our clients often ask us whether renting or buying a home is preferable, and the answer is not straightforward.  Renting and owning are fundamentally different in almost every aspect of finding a place to live. The responsibilities, costs, and rewards for renters and owners…