You may be familiar with the 10% savings rule.The idea is that, as soon as you are financially independent, you should save approximately 10% of your income for retirement, and it is a general guideline that gives you a starting point for your savings early on in life. If you consistently save 10% of everything you make from your early 20s, you should be all set for a happy and healthy retirement. However, you may need […]
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Fashion for the sake of your finances
Watches can now double as fitness trackers… and if you ask anyone who has one – they are considerably more aware of their activity. Sure – they may not actually exercise more, but with an easier way to monitor how active they are, they are more likely to change any behaviours that they are unhappy with. Building on this principle comes a brand new wearable… A hip new bracelet by Sanlam called the MNA NAM bracelet […]
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Top tips for buying an investment property
It’s important when buying an investment property to do your homework so that your property becomes an asset rather than a liability. While astute investors can make good money, there are significant holding costs and initial fees, and a property is not as liquid as other investments. An interesting article in City Press reviews the considerations that savvy investors should take into account. It is important to be aware that even in high growth areas like […]
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Why make a will this National Wills Week?
National Wills Week is from 11th to 15th September 2017 and is a time when participating attorneys in South Africa will draft new, basic wills free of charge. To make the most of this time of year, simply make an appointment with a participating attorney before or during National Wills Week. However, if your circumstances are not simple enough to take advantage of a free basic will, it’s still worth making the effort at this time […]
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5 ways to spring clean your finances
The temperature is starting to climb and it’s almost safe to leave your scarf at home. Spring is in the air and, as flowers bloom and citizens emerge from hibernation, it’s the perfect time to start afresh with some spring cleaning. Once you’re done dusting the shelves, take a look at your finances and see where they could do with a polish too. This summary of a five-step guide that was published on Clark will help […]
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How do commodities affect investments?
An article published on Maya on Money about the 10 key themes investors must not ignore in 2017 inspired thought about a word that gets used a lot in the world of investments — commodities. The key takeaway from this should be that commodities traditionally move in opposition to stocks, so they can be a good way to diversify an investment portfolio — either for the long-term, or during unusually volatile periods. Let’s take this opportunity […]
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Careers and Industries for the Future
When you were younger, did you have any idea what you wanted to do when you grew up? Perhaps you now have children who at some point will need to consider their options and will need guidance, or perhaps you are at a stage in your life when you’re considering a change in career yourself. You may simply be interested in developing your understanding of which way the world is heading. Whatever your incentive, an article […]
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Asset allocations in a post-downgrade world
Before we chat about the current asset allocation environment, let’s quickly roughly describe the term for those of us who may be unsure of what this means. Asset allocations broadly refer to the actual investment options – ie. when you invest money, it needs to go somewhere, and some of these options are called asset allocations. Since South Africa was relegated to ‘junk status’ by two credit ratings agencies, investors have witnessed some currency depreciation, a […]
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Different money personalities
Dealing with money matters can feel like negotiating a minefield for many couples, which is highlighted in this article by Maya on Money. Money has been cited to be the biggest reason for divorce, and differing attitudes towards money in any relationship can cause friction. So let’s take a look at some basic ‘money personalities’ and you can decide with which you most identify. This may not only help you to manage your relationships, but also […]
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Should we trust in trusts?
We live in uncertain times, so it is natural for many parents to want their children to have financial security, without money worries on top of everything else. Many parents also wish to build their wealth to such an extent that it will be passed down for generations to come, and a recent article published in Maya on Money examines the use of trusts to create intergenerational wealth and ensure a financial legacy. No matter how […]
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