I got really excited recently when I noted the addition of some of the CoreShares funds to the list of funds on one of the LISP platforms that we use...And then I started doing some quotes to see what the effect the addition the CoreSharesTop50 would have
Covid 19 – planting trees
We are now 2 days into the extended lock-down and what a crazy time it has been so far... While these are very uncertain and without a doubt, very exceptional times and we have no idea when we will come out of them, we remain convinced that the b
Cash guarantees?
We have come across many clients recently who are wanting to move their funds into the “bank” following the very poor returns of the past 5 years. Their rationale usually revolves around the fact that at least they would be guaranteed a return of ±7% per
Dont do this at home!
ENT specialists will tell anyone who listens that the only thing that you should ever stick into your ear is your elbow (it’s impossible, just as it is impossible to lick your elbow). And yet a quick trip down the supermarket aisle or peak into just about
Talk about a wolf in sheep’s clothing
I received another unsolicited email today from an operation called “savemoney.co.za” about a tax-free savings account. It's just Old Mutual in disguise and despite claiming to offer the “best tax-free savings account in South Africa” a little digging sho
It’s time to do the Mickey Blue (again)
I recently watched someone using a leaf blower to clear their pavement. As I watched, it struck me what a pointless exercise it was and it crossed my mind that the leaf blower must be one of the most senseless machines yet invented. You never actually dea
It’s time that treasury stopped being short-sighted when it comes to the wealthy!
A few years ago, during the National Budget Speech, government put a cap of R350k pa on retirement contributions. It appears that no one at treasury has given this much thought as it only really affects the top few % of the population (first world problem
It’s time we had different conversations with our clients…
I recently had an interesting discussion with a friend of mine (we don’t do her financial planning). The conversation turned to money and I enquired about her financial planning. The response was surprising. She said that every time she interacted with “h
A moral dilemma?
A moral dilemma? Consider the following: A very old man dies, he had a unit trust investment of R300k that he used to support himself and his wife – this was done by one of his children submitting online repurchase instructions on his behalf (with a GPA
More SARS flu
Not content with being lambasted by the tax ombudsman's office, SARS now seem to be making up their own rules as they go along. Speaking to fellow tax practitioners, the anecdotal evidence of this is overwhelming and it even seems that different SARS bran