October marks Breast Cancer Awareness month, the second most common cancer (after skin cancer) in women in South Africa. According to the National Cancer Registry, 1 in 33 women are at risk of developing breast cancer.Men can also develop breast cancer although they are at a significantly lower risk with 1 in 1249 developing this disease.There are a number of factors that contribute to your likelihood of developing breast cancer. Lifestyle plays a major role — […]
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WEAK RAND HAS A MIXED IMPACT ON PETROL PRICE
The Department of Energy recently announced that 93 grade petrol will decrease by two cents per litre from October 7. There will, however, be increases in 95 unleaded, diesel and illuminating paraffin. The department noted the main reason for the price hike was the weakening of the rand against the dollar.The price of 95 ULP and LRP petrol is set to increase by 4c a litre. The price of diesel receives the biggest increases; 0.05% sulphur […]
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AS RATES INCREASE, SO WILL THE PRESSURE
Looming interest rate hikes in South Africa should theoretically lift savings rates by boosting returns, but in reality they will only make it harder for heavily indebted households to repay loans, leaving little extra money to set aside. “As a country we save way too little,” said Rian le Roux, an economist at Old Mutual. “You’ve got a group that ought to be able to save but tell you they can’t, after paying off the excessively […]
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BOOST BUSINESS WITH A BLOG
Loads of people are doing it nowadays, but not everyone understands why it’s important. Blogging is a powerful marketing tool for your business – if you want to grow and sustain online communication (and business…) with your clients and customers, then this is an elemental piece of the puzzle.There are multiple ways to increase your online audience. Paying for advertising is one of them, but it can be costly and only goes as far as your […]
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THE BENEFITS OF A TAX FREE ACCOUNT
With the introduction of tax free savings accounts (TFSA), people have been wondering what sort of benefits they provide. So what are the main reasons to consider a TFSA?The first reason would be to replace the interest exemption in our tax laws. It was specifically stated that with the introduction of the TFSA, there would be no increase to the annual interest exemption in future. Since many retirees used this interest exemption to minimise tax in […]
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CAN I RETIRE ON R2 MILLION?
While it seems like a simple question there are many considerations that need to be accounted for when asking: Can I retire on R2 million?It is important for a financial advisor to provide a client with guidance regarding questions that have been asked, but also to provide answers to questions that the client hasn’t thought to ask yet.The question was posed from a 48 year-old requiring at least R30 000 a month to survive current debts, […]
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SPRING CLEAN YOUR SPENDING – PART 2
Your finances can use some spring cleaning as much as your house does. Last week we went over some budgeting and account handling ideas, this week we continue with some more ways to get you feeling financially refreshed… Review recurring costs We become accustomed to recurring fees to a point of comfort. Maybe it is time to shop around for better rates on your car insurance, cell phone plan and other subscriptions. You will have a […]
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SPRING CLEAN YOUR SPENDING – PART 1
Clearing out old clothes and a garage full of stuff? While you might be tempted to just dump it all, there are people less fortunate that can use your second hand clothing to keep warm in the evening chill. While you are spring cleaning the accumulated clutter in your house, why not brush up on your finances? Here are some ways to achieve this… Budget maintenance The ever-present spending plan, one of the most important financial […]
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CRUCIAL STEPS TO TAKE AFTER A COLLISION – PART 2
Last time we went over some basic procedures to reduce risk after an accident has occurred. Now we go into some of the finer details that you should pay attention to and note down, but above all remember to keep your cool. These scenarios are stressful for everyone involved. Collect basic information You will have a much easier time making an insurance claim if accident information is properly gathered and written down. Include a short description […]
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CRUCIAL STEPS TO TAKE AFTER A COLLISION – PART 1
It’s something that we all anticipate with apprehension. Would you know what to do if someone pranged into you or if you lost control of your vehicle on a slippery surface? There are certain procedures to be followed that can help you if you have been involved in a traffic accident. Stop No matter how serious the accident may or may not be, you are legally required to stop your vehicle. Leaving the scene of the […]
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