Most investors seem to follow trends, often to their own detriment. In the Nineties the in-thing was to invest offshore; today the fashion is local South African equities. Neither is a good choice in isolation because...
During 2004 fraud in the long-term assurance industry was down from the previous year, both in terms of number of cases reported and in rand value, says the Life Offices’ Association (LOA).
Its members,...
Kroll Associates is active in business intelligence and investigations, political consulting, global risk analysis and security; its range of services is designed to aid companies and organisations mitigate the risk...
Sanlam Home Loans 102 (Pty) Ltd has been registered as a securitisation operation to obtain lower warehouse funding rates through the capital and money markets. This will provide cheaper loans to Sanlam Home Loans (...
For its year ended 28th February 2005 Channel Life saw its assets grow a staggering 63% to R2 096,3 million taking the company into the mid-sized category of the industry. Indeed, a key feature of the company’s...
In just over four years a Cape Town businessman has seen one of his five vehicles stolen and then recovered by Tracker no fewer than ten times.
In fact, his fleet of five vehicles has now been stolen and...
The Liberty Life merger with Capital Alliance was sanctioned by the High Court 12th April 2005.
In essence, the proposed new structure will create a front and back office and, where practical, will...
Latest unit trust figures are a sharp reminder to investors of the value of diversification across different investment philosophies, says Stanlib.
In this respect there are two principal philosophies to...
Fund managers from five South African asset managers expect returns from local equities to exceed 10% pa over the next 12 months. This according to the Sanlam Personal Portfolios (SP²) Bull and Bear Report, a survey...
Multi-managed products continue to grow in popularity, with more retail investors increasingly choosing them as a preferred solution, as opposed to investment in single manager funds.
“A decade ago, multi...
Now that the National Treasury has garnered an extra R10 billion in the tax coffers than expected it is likely to borrow less offshore.
As intimated in last February’s budget the Treasury was planning to...
The majority of the world’s population is failing to improve production, which is why it is largely poor. Only 20%, the middle and upper classes of the world, is responsible for 80% of global production.
...
“Impairment policies are not the solution to the issues in the workplace disability market,” says Ralph Richardson, Chief Executive Officer of Momentum Collective Benefits. “Employers selecting these policies...
Although this is peculiarly British and only has application under UK Law, reference to this clause has a habit of being incorporated in many South African risks placed in the London Market. Under the Act a placing...
Spreadsheet errors are causing massive losses on a global scale according to various reports. All industries are affected, not least the actuarial world of insurance risk and premium determination. And if...
Many companies are outsourcing their staff pension funds to umbrella funds. These are pension or provident funds that multiple employers can join. In turn the staff is enjoying greater individual choice in how they...
Retirement fund governance in South Africa is unacceptable. Although there has been improvement in all areas of since Deloitte’s first survey was published in 2001, it is simply not enough.
The goal of...
I recently booked a flight to England and was given an electronic ticket. No explanation, no reference to Conditions of Carriage. All very pleasant, especially when they lose your baggage, give you food poisoning on...
Auto & General recently has embarked on a drive to educate consumers about short-term insurance and its possible pitfalls.
Says Leon Vermaak, the company’s CEO, “Clients invariably apply their minds...
The premise, “the more you know the less likely you are to be surprised,” is particularly relevant to personal lines insurance, says Gari Dombo, a senior executive at Alexander Forbes Personal Services.
...
The reason why insurance policies require prompt notification of a claim is to enable the company to investigate the cause and consequences of an event as soon as possible and to allow it to assist the insured in...
Know Your Client requirements were imposed last year in terms of the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA). It was part of South Africa’s cooperation with the international fight against money laundering. Stanlib...
During 2004 the Ombudsman for Long-Term Insurance received 8 010 complaints, a record number, up 5% on the previous year (see graph). Complaints have almost doubled in four years.
Comments the Ombudsman,...
South Africans should not ignore the possibility of natural disasters occurring in this country. Tsunamis in Indonesia, heavy flooding in India, or devastating fires in California may grab the headlines, but disasters...
Unity Insurance, the black-owned short-term insurance company, reports that its country wide road show introducing its products and services to financial services brokers has been a resounding success.
...
More than R11 billion flowed into unit trusts in the March quarter as investors remained bullish on prospects for equity markets. This was nearly double the December quarter’s inflow.
Di Turpin chief...
Many have read with some scepticism recent media reports and statements from both government and the insurance industry that vehicle crime is coming down.
However, the figures according to Tracker’s own...
Consumer confidence is continuing to underpin South Africa’s strong economic performance. Indeed, it is doubtful the economy has been in such a good state of health since 1961 when the country transformed from a...
Auto & General says it is bringing a cost-effective user-friendly small business insurance product to the market. Its Business Insurance solution was available from 6th May 2005 through the company’s network of...
Santam has launched a stand-alone motor insurance product called MultiMotor.
Chief Executive Steffen Gilbert says it is in response to observations of overseas trends and the South African consumer market...
If you haven’t read your insurance policy, nor had strong words with your broker about it then you may well be heading for rough waters. I am fond of saying that insurance is the one product that you can’t see, feel...
Despite the King II recommendations on good corporate governance, many companies are ignoring risks that could put them out of business. Mpumi Tyikwe, Executive Head of Corporate Lines at Santam says, “Since its...
The South African Insurance Association (SAIA) has set aside R4 million to fund consumer education, having clinched a partnership deal with the Financial Services Board (FSB).
SAIA corporate affairs...
View Nigel Benetton's profile