There was a time you could rely on a quote for dental work. They used a code with a set price and a description of the procedure. But not any more. They still use the codes, such as “Code 8370 for resin 4 surfaces...
Who should act as trustee for a family trust? A family member, a professional independent trustee, or both? This is one of the biggest decisions to be made in estate planning – and it’s a decision which can have...
Dealing with other people’s money carries a fiduciary duty and responsibility. When making decisions regarding fund managers in whom to place your trust, it is important to assess them carefully and with due diligence...
Regularly reviewing financial policies and contracts is vitally important, even in the engineering and construction sector. In order to ensure one is always in a positive financial situation, it is important to...
It is probably fair to say that most of us would like to be saving more. However, by the time we get to the end of the month it may seem that there isn’t all that much left to save.
For this reason, says...
The rand might be weak, but the South African passport has strengthened in terms of the global passport rankings, according to the Henley & Partners Visa Restrictions Index 2014. The Index is an annual global...
Owning a home is one of the most important investments you’ll ever make. Once you’ve overcome all the hurdles and red tape of purchasing a home, you should want to protect your investment by making sure it is insured...
Exercise boosts the diversity of the bacteria found in the gut, indicates the first study of its kind published online in the journal Gut. This may have implications for overall long term health, says the author of a...
Anyone can make money on the stock exchange by trading online, but it is a never-ending learning curve and investors should be prepared to make mistakes – many of them. This is according to a 70-year-old client of...
Being involved in an accident can be both scary and stressful. It’s important to remain calm and collect the necessary information should you need to make an insurance claim, says MiWay Head of Online Marketing, Rory...
Are generic medicines or 'imitator' products as good as the real thing? Many people, especially in South Africa, still feel generic medicines are inferior because they are cheaper than the branded or 'innovator'...
Keeping safe on the road is not only about being an alert and cautious driver, it is also about making sure that your car is always in tip-top condition, says Rory Judd, MiWay head of online marketing. “An essential part of that is ensuring that...
When it comes to applying for and managing credit, women face some unique challenges. The best weapon against nasty financial surprises is to empower yourself with the correct information in order to take control of your finances. This is...
When it comes to obtaining credit for that new car you’ve always wanted, consumers often fall for bankers debt tricks. For example, advertisements and promotions promising attractive offers such as 0% interest or cash...
There is usually an increased risk of a geyser bursting in winter due to the colder and more extreme changes in weather. Most domestic risks of this nature are covered in the standard homeowner’s insurance policy (...
Many articles have been written about retirement reform and even more have speculated on the possible consequences that this would have on the retirement fund industry. These articles tend to be complex and rightly so, as retirement reform in its...
Have you spoken to your clients about the estate duty implications of their buy-and-sell agreements and the life insurance policies funding these agreements? It is important to have this discussion to clarify any...
South Africa’s new vehicle market continues to decline, with price increases and interest rate hikes causing consumers to look at used cars for better value.
These are the findings of the 26th edition of...
Lightstone, provider of comprehensive data, analytics and systems on automotive, property and business assets, has revealed that out of the five main provinces in South Africa, Gauteng has the highest number of fire...
Discovery Life paid out close to R2 billion in claims to South Africans or their estates in 2013, and more than R10.3 billion to date since Discovery Life was established in 2000. More than half of the pay outs last...
Cybercrime is becoming a major concern for businesses worldwide. Fraudsters are becoming increasingly sophisticated in the techniques they employ to hack into private information. In June police exposed an...
The Law Commissions are about to produce in a final bill, bringing into effect their long-awaited proposals for reform of insurance law. They have been working on these reforms for eight years and are now striving to...
The outlook for South African inflation and growth (with upside risks to inflation and downside risks to growth in the coming year) has a major bearing on local investment returns. Rising inflation and interest rates...
With tax filing season upon us, the annual tax-related cyber fraud feeding frenzy has begun, warns Fortinet.
“The Receiver of Revenue, financial institutions and security firms have been issuing the same...
In June Mercer announced that it had entered into “a definitive agreement” to acquire a 34% stake in South Africa-based Alexander Forbes Group Holdings Limited, becoming a key strategic shareholder in the upcoming...
After growing by just 1.9% in 2013, the South African economy proceeded to shrink in the first quarter of 2014. “Expectations are that the economy will grow by only 2% this year – and that’s if we’re lucky,” comments...
The South African investment outlook remains fraught with uncertainty.
Ursula Maritz, Chief Investment Officer at Southern Charter, says that the biggest concern is the state of the South African economy...
MMI Holdings has acquired, subject to relevant regulatory approval, the CareCross Health Group, including a majority share in Occupational Care South Africa (OCSA). It says the acquisition fits perfectly with the...
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