“Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains.” — Jean-Jacques Rousseau The opening sentence of The Social Contract, by revolutionary thinker Jean-Jacques Rousseau, is still just as pertinent today as it was in the 18th century. The book highlights man’s journey from a state of autonomy to the modern condition, which is arguably dominated by a reign of inequality and dependency that not only destroys man’s original happiness and freedom, but also results in […]

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A Barclays Wealth study found that people improved substantially in investment decisions as they got older. When people are young — and perhaps less secure in their financial situation — a tendency has been recognised to be controlled by emotional biases that can be detrimental to investment habits. Behavioural economists refer to some typical flaws that are commonly seen in investment decisions as failures of rationality. In order to achieve long-term financial goals, it is, therefore, […]

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While no one has a ball of fortune with which to predict the future, there are some common mistakes that many investors make, which can be avoided. The basics of investing can seem relatively simple, but it is important to set emotions aside in order to maintain an objective strategy that will benefit you in the long-run, and this can sometimes be quite hard to do. It is, therefore, very helpful to follow certain mechanisms to […]

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A study conducted a few years ago on behalf of the Association for Savings and Investments in South Africa indicated that over 12 million of the country’s workforce were underinsured in terms of life and disability cover. Furthermore, reviews by various insurance companies highlighted that this shortfall fell primarily in the realm of disability cover. In the event that you are not able to completely (or partly) perform your usual professional duties as a result of […]

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The World Health Organisation (WHO) was founded on 7th April 1948, and this date is celebrated every year as World Health Day, with the goal of drawing attention to a specific global health concern. Last year, the focus of the campaign was to mobilise action with regards to depression, and the theme for this year will be “Universal Health Coverage: everyone, everywhere.” The slogan and hashtag behind the 2018 drive is #HealthForAll, and the aim is […]

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Human Rights Day is celebrated annually in South Africa on 21st March, and is arguably one of the country’s most important public holidays. The commemoration of this day serves as a reminder to all citizens of the country’s struggle for democracy, and the sacrifices that were made on everyone’s behalf to attain the basic rights of dignity, equality and freedom. As well as being a remembrance of the suffering that was endured in the days of […]

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Being unable to temporarily – or permanently – work as a result of a serious illness or injury can put a serious strain on your financial well-being. In this day and age, an income protection policy can, therefore, prove vital, as it ensures that you will receive tax-free monthly payments if you ever cannot work. Basically, income protection (sometimes called ICB – Income Continuation Benefit) is designed to replace lost income, so that you can maintain […]

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Arguably, one of the best things about spring in South Africa — apart from the pleasant weather and the abundance of Easter eggs — is the public holidays! Many people in South Africa work very hard. Legislation regarding the Basic Conditions of Employment dictate that employees are entitled to 21 consecutive days of annual paid leave, which equates to only 15 working days per year if you work a five-day week, and 18 working days per […]

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