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Latest Posts

Dec 02 2024

189 – Retirement and risk cover options for employees

Question I have a business with 20 employees.  I would like to put in some kind of retirement fund for them.  Is this financially feasible for our sized company? If so,...
Dec 02 2024

188 – Finding the right annuity for you takes thought

Question I recently heard someone talking about a with profit annuity.  I only know about living annuities and guaranteed life annuities.  How does a with-profit...
Dec 02 2024

187 – What to do if you get retrenched

Question I have just been retrenched and I'm feeling quite overwhelmed by all the decisions that I need to make.  Do you have any suggestions on what the big pitfalls...
Dec 02 2024

186 – Making the most of a medical aid on a budget

Question I would like to join a medical aid after not being on one for the past two years.  I’m 39 with a young child and can only pay around R3 500 a month. I’m...
Dec 02 2024

185 – To quell chaos, your business needs its own will

Question I recently heard someone talking about a will for a business. How does this work?Answer A will for a business documents what should happen to your interest in...
Dec 02 2024

184 – Products that can give employees peace of mind

Question A colleague has recently been diagnosed with cancer. He is going to be unable to work properly for at least three months.  The company will pay him his basic...
Dec 02 2024

183 – Measures to take to ensure that your offshore assets are protected

Question A friend’s husband passed away earlier this year, and the executor says it will take at least three years for his estate to be wound up because he owns shares...
Nov 20 2024

120 – The new two pot retirement fund

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 20 2024

121 – Why you should have separate offshore wills

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 20 2024

122 – How utilising a living annuity can maximise the financial health of your heirs

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 20 2024

123 – Why cohabiting life partners must get the right will in place

Question My life partner of many years passed away last week. We never got around to drawing up a will.  What happens now?Answer If someone passes away in South Africa...
Nov 20 2024

124 – Discussing the implications of dementia on your finances

Question I am concerned that my mother is showing early signs of dementia. She has several rental properties that provide her with the bulk of her income and these need...
Nov 20 2024

125 – Let’s talk estate duty: how and where to save

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 20 2024

126 – Exploring property investment and alternative income streams post-retirement

Question I will be retiring soon and have an additional R2,000,000 to invest. A friend suggested that I buy a rental property with this money as it will give me a...
Nov 20 2024

127 – Ensuring financial health for your spouse should you pass away

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 20 2024

128 – Using your RA as a vehicle to pay for your grandchild’s education

Question I've been on pension for 10 years during which time I have consistently contributed 27.5% of my income to an existing retirement annuity. This has now grown to...
Nov 20 2024

129 – How to set yourself up for retirement, even if you start a bit late

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 20 2024

130 – Review your finances regularly, but be wary of ill intentions

Question My financial advisor rebrokes my life cover every two years. A friend of mine says that this does not seem right and that he’s probably doing something dodgy. ...
Nov 20 2024

131 – Addressing the financial implication of retrenchment

Question I was recently retrenched and have just received a communication from the company pension fund which says that they will allow me to preserve my retirement...
Nov 20 2024

132 – Trying to time the markets with your investments is not optimal

Question I have a fixed deposit that has just matured and I want to reinvest it.  I don't know where I should invest the money as I am very worried about what is going...
Nov 20 2024

133 – Making sure the ship stays afloat after you’re gone

Question I am concerned that my family will have cash flow problems should I pass away as I heard that it is taking a long time to get an executor appointed. Is it...
Nov 20 2024

134 – Recalibrating your finances when going through a divorce

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 20 2024

135 – Being able to provide for your children should you and your partner pass away

Question We have just had our first child and want to update our will. Are there any special issues should we look out for?Answer The first thing you should consider is...
Nov 20 2024

136 – Familiarise yourself with the tax burden on investment returns

Question I have R4m to invest to provide an additional income to meet my monthly obligations.  I am working and paying 36% in income tax. Where can I invest this money...
Nov 20 2024

137 – Spreading your wealth across various asset classes

Question A lot of my friends have been talking about a potential financial crash in South Africa and that we should move all our assets offshore. I am scared that we...
Nov 20 2024

138 – Helping you choose the right annuities to fit your needs

Question I will be retiring at the end of the year and need to decide on what type of annuity I take. Here are the key details: I have around R4 million available after...
Nov 20 2024

139 – Beware possibility of exhausting the funds from a living annuity

Question I am 81 years old and have a living annuity worth R2.1 million from which I am currently drawing a pension of 15%.  I have just received a notice from the...
Nov 20 2024

140 – Situs tax: a potential thorn in the side if you’re not careful

Question My financial advisor has told me that I could be liable for situs tax on my offshore investments. I have never heard of this before.  Is there such a...
Nov 20 2024

141 – Finding the sweet spot when choosing a medical aid

Question I received an email from my medical aid instructing me to choose the benefit option I want for the new year.  I have no idea what I should look out for.  Do I...
Nov 20 2024

142 – Planning to ease finances for your loved ones upon your death

Question I recently watched a television program about how long it is taking the master’s office to finalize estates. I would like to restructure my affairs so that it...
Nov 20 2024

143 – GETTING TO GRIPS WITH LIFE INSURANCE PREMIUMS

Question I recently applied for some life insurance and received a quotation with three different premiums included.  My broker suggested I take the highest premium...
Nov 20 2024

144 – BEING SAVVY WHEN CHOOSING PORTFOLIOS CAN IMPROVE YOUR PENSION

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 20 2024

145 – CONSIDERING THE TAX AND RISK IMPLICATIONS OF A RETIREMENT PLAN

Question My wife and I are now nearly 80 years old. We have just over R6 000 000 invested in Bonds with 5-year terms. We have a combined monthly income from those...
Nov 20 2024

146 – THINKING CAREFULLY ABOUT RETIREMENT PRODUCTS

Question Many companies are currently promoting retirement annuities. I understand that there are tax benefits to be had from this product however I have also heard...
Nov 20 2024

147 – ENSURING YOUR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD IS TAKEN CARE OF AFTER YOU DIE

Question I have a special needs child who needs permanent care. I am concerned about what will happen to him when my wife and I pass away.  What should we do now to...
Nov 20 2024

148 – HOW TO PAY LESS TAX ON YOUR RETIREMENT INCOME

Question I recently read an article of yours where you discussed the importance of managing the sources of your retirement income to reduce the tax that you pay.   I...
Nov 20 2024

149 – MAKING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR TAX-FREE INVESTMENT

Question Are tax free investments worthwhile?Answer I do a lot of financial planning for people approaching retirement who have investments that they made many years...
Nov 20 2024

150 – PENSION CONSIDERATIONS FOR RETIRING TEACHERS

Question I am a school teacher and will be retiring next year after 40 years of service. One of my colleagues mentioned that the government is planning on taking part...
Nov 20 2024

151 – HOW TO GET A BETTER AFTER TAX INCOME

Question I am 68 years old and live on the proceeds of an R8 million divorce settlement.  This is invested in a number of bank deposits from which I currently receive...
Nov 20 2024

152 – UNDERSTANDING DEATH BENEFIT PAYOUTS AND THEIR TAX IMPLICATIONS

Question My wife recently died and our daughter will be receiving a death benefit payout from her company provident fund. (This is in addition to the group life benefit...
Nov 20 2024

153 – BEWARE FINANCIAL ADVICE THAT DOES NOT ADD VALUE

Question I am 28 years old and met with an insurance broker who suggested that I make a regular monthly investment. He gave me a quote on an investment that targets a...
Nov 20 2024

154 – CHOOSING BETWEEN TWO DIFFERENT ANNUITY OPTIONS

Question I am a 70-year-old pensioner and derive my income from a living annuity (from which I draw 2.5% each year) as well as drawdowns from my investment portfolio. I...
Nov 20 2024

155 – MAKING YOUR RETIREMENT INVESTMENTS WORK FOR YOU

Question I am concerned about the safety and security of our investments in South Africa.  We do not intend emigrating but would like to ensure that we protect our...
Nov 20 2024

156 – HOW TO REDUCE THE RISK OF HAVING ALL YOUR INVESTMENTS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Question I am concerned about the safety and security of our investments in South Africa.  We do not intend emigrating but would like to ensure that we protect our...
Nov 20 2024

157 – A LATE STARTER’S GUIDE TO RETIREMENT SAVINGS

Question My father is in his 50s with no retirement savings whatsoever. He wants to retire in 10 years time.  I know that he has left it a bit late and that he will...
Nov 20 2024

158 – GETTING MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK WITH YOUR RETIREMENT MONIES

Question I read with interest your recent article in the DM regarding retirement options. I retired 3 years ago and have the following retirement income sources: ...
Nov 20 2024

159 – ENSURING ALL IS IN ORDER FOR WHEN YOU’RE NO LONGER AROUND

Question My wife and I are in our mid-80s. I am not in very good health, and I would like to leave my affairs in the best possible order should I die before my wife....
Nov 20 2024

160 – TAX-EFFICIENT WAYS OF BEQUEATHING OFFSHORE ASSETS

Question I recently joined a company that has a group retirement annuity scheme. We all have our own retirement annuities, and the company pays the premiums with half...
Nov 20 2024

161 – UPFRONT FEES PLUS COSTS MAKE FOR A BAD INVESTMENT

Question I recently joined a company that has a group retirement annuity scheme. We all have our own retirement annuities, and the company pays the premiums with half...
Nov 20 2024

162 – HOW TO PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENTS FROM THE VOLATILE RAND

Question I have R3 million in retirement savings and am looking for an income of R25 000 a month.  Should I pass away, I would like my wife to receive the same pension...
Nov 20 2024

163 – BEWARE OF THE TAX IMPLICATIONS OF LIVING OVERSEAS

Question I have R3 million in retirement savings and am looking for an income of R25 000 a month.  Should I pass away, I would like my wife to receive the same pension...
Nov 20 2024

164 – HOW TO BALANCE DIFFERENT NEEDS WHEN SETTING UP A RETIREMENT INCOME

Question I have R3 million in retirement savings and am looking for an income of R25 000 a month.  Should I pass away, I would like my wife to receive the same pension...
Nov 20 2024

165 – INHERITANCE IMPLICATIONS FOR CHILDREN LIVING OVERSEAS

Question I have children who are living overseas.  They never emigrated officially, and are now citizens of the countries they are resident in.  They have absolutely no...
Nov 20 2024

166 – SAFEGUARDING YOUR FAMILY’S FINANCIAL WELLNESS

Question I have some questions about Life Annuities - the answer to which would probably be very helpful to other people considering the same decisions. Is it better to...
Nov 20 2024

167 – LIFE ANNUITIES: A CRASH COURSE

Question I have some questions about Life Annuities - the answer to which would probably be very helpful to other people considering the same decisions. Is it better to...
Nov 20 2024

168 – LET YOUR KIDS TAKE OVER YOUR LIFE INSURANCE POLICY

Question I will be retiring soon and have a life insurance policy for about R2.6 million. My monthly premium is R2555 with 7% cover growth and 10% premium growth. I no...
Nov 20 2024

169 – STRATEGISING HOW AND WHERE TO INVEST EFFICIENTLY

Question I will be retiring in 10 years’ time and am currently paying the maximum into my retirement savings. I have extra funds that I can invest. Would you recommend...
Nov 20 2024

170 – OPTIONS FOR GENERATING INCOME FOR A LUMP SUM

Question We recently sold a flat which we used as an investment property as we found the hassle of maintenance and dealing with tenants was becoming a bit much (I am 70...
Nov 20 2024

171 – THE TWO BEST WAYS A YOUNGER PERSON CAN START SAVING FOR RETIREMENT

Question I am 30 years old and earn R 20,000 a month.  I have no savings whatsoever and want to start putting some money away for my retirement. How do I go about doing...
Nov 20 2024

172 – BEATING THE BOON OF SURVIVING RETIREMENT

Question   My wife and I retired seven years ago and are finding it increasingly difficult to come out on our budget. What should we do?Answer There are many...
Nov 20 2024

173 – Life annuities: weighing out the options

Question I’ll be turning 58 in just over a week's time. I have my pension money in a preservation fund until age 65. Herewith are a few questions: 1. I would like to...
Nov 20 2024

174 – Be careful before making any two-pot withdrawals

Question I recently saw a YouTube clip where a financial planner recommended using the two pot system to withdraw funds from retirement savings. This seems to fly in...
Nov 20 2024

175 – Considerations for optimal investment returns

Question I have seen several stories in social media about the imminent collapse of the American economy. We recently had a major collapse in the Japanese market and...
Nov 20 2024

176 – The dangers of drawing from your pension fund

Question I want to withdraw R30,000 from my pension in order to settle some debt. What are the pros and cons of doing this?Answer I have had several questions like this...
Nov 20 2024

177 – How pensioners can grow wealth and pay less tax

Question My wife and I are in our 80s and we each have a R1.8 million investment at the bank which gives us a combined monthly interest of R24,000.  We use R5 000 of...
Nov 20 2024

178 – How life insurance can protect your spouse if you’re the co-owner of a business

Question I founded a successful business 20 years ago with two others. All three of us are actively involved in its day-to-day management. As it is September, I took...
Nov 20 2024

179 – How to decide between a retirement annuity and a tax-free investment

Question I am 55 years old and was thinking of increasing my pension fund contribution at work to 15% from 10%. But having read your article, is it not a better idea to...
Nov 20 2024

180 – Reasons why the setting up of a will is crucial

Question A lot of companies are offering free wills at the moment. What is the catch and is a will really necessary?Answer Take a look at who is offering the free wills...
Nov 20 2024

181 – Buying an investment property? Here are some numbers to crunch

Question I need some financial advice regarding an investment property. I intend selling my existing property for R2m.  I will use R1m as a deposit on a new property...
Nov 20 2024

182 – Tax-savvy tips around estate duty and other fees

Question I am an 80 year old widow and have R5m investment that will be maturing shortly. This provides me with an income of R33 000 a month on which I pay R5 000 in...
Nov 19 2024

1 – Retrenchment

Question I am a computer programmer at a large IT company. I have been notified that I will be retrenched at the end of August. I am 39 years old, divorced with a 10...
Nov 19 2024

2 – Offshore investments

Question I have been hearing a lot of talk about the benefits of investing offshore. Should I do it and if so, how do I go about investing?Answer If you were living...
Nov 19 2024

3 – How to live on interest income if interest rates decline

Question I have money in the bank that I use to provide me with an income. I am finding it difficult to make ends meet because of the decreases in the interest rate....
Nov 19 2024

4. How to save for your retirement – even if you have left it late

Question I am 42 years old, earn R40 000 a month and have not saved anything for retirement. How much do I need to retire on and what should I do about it?Answer The...
Nov 19 2024

5 – Living annuities

Question I am 73 and live off the income from a living annuity. Even though I have not increased my monthly income in two years, the capital value of the annuity has...
Nov 19 2024

6 – Funeral policies

Question My father has just been to a friend’s funeral and wants to buy a funeral policy. Are they worthwhile and how do we go about choosing one?Answer If you had...
Nov 19 2024

7 – Divorce

Question I am getting divorced after 14 years of marriage. I never paid too much attention to my finances in the past. What do I need to do and what should I look out...
Nov 19 2024

8 – How to save

Question I follow your column every week and am very interested in all the investment advice. However, my question is how does someone like me, who does not have a...
Nov 19 2024

9 – How to choose a medical aid

Question I was retrenched last month and need to join a medical aid. I had a look at a couple of websites and am very confused. What should I look out for when choosing...
Nov 19 2024

10 – Pros and cons of an investment property

Question I am thinking of buying some investment properties and using these to provide me with a pension when I get older. It looks good on paper but then there is a...
Nov 19 2024

11 – How not to run out of money when you have a living annuity

Question I am a 69-year-old widow living off a living annuity. I draw a fixed amount from the living annuity each month. I have just received my annual document from...
Nov 19 2024

12 – How to get out of debt

Question During lockdown my salary was cut by 50%. I had some debt to begin with and this increased substantially. I am back on full pay now but am feeling stressed and...
Nov 19 2024

13 – How to spot a scam

Question I am a 73-year-old widow. I own my house and have an investment in an endowment policy. This policy matures in two years’ time and I intend using the proceeds...
Nov 19 2024

14 – Do you need life cover?

Question The coronavirus has made me think about whether my family will be financially secure should I or my husband pass away. What if the unthinkable happens and both...
Nov 19 2024

15 – The pitfalls of owning foreign property

Question We recently sold a property and want to invest the proceeds offshore. Our children are living in England, so we are thinking of buying a property there. We can...
Nov 19 2024

16 – The end of financial emigration

Question I have been living in Australia for the past two years and am in the process of finalising my permanent residence. I’m still a registered taxpayer in South...
Nov 19 2024

17 – Retirement annuities are a great estate planning tool

Question I retired three years ago and receive a passive income from my business. I own a retirement annuity, which is still active. My broker says I should continue...
Nov 19 2024

18 – How to protect your finances from the consequences of a serious illness

Question I’ve heard that critical illness cover is important. I’ve done some internet research into it and have become very confused. Prices and benefits seem to vary...
Nov 19 2024

19 – What to do about the declining fixed deposit rates

Question I have a fixed deposit of R1 million that will be maturing shortly. As interest rates have declined , I will not be renewing it. I am 79 year old widower and...
Nov 19 2024

20 – Death and offshore assets

Question My father has several investments in South Africa and offshore. He wants to be able to transfer wealth as easily as possible to his children and grandchildren....
Nov 19 2024

21. How to set up a pensions scheme for a small business without any schlep

Question I own a small business and am concerned that a number of my older employees have not made any provision for their retirement. I would like to assist them in...
Nov 19 2024

22 – How to reduce estate duty and executor fees

Question I discovered that my parents do not have a will and have done no estate planning. My father says that he does not have enough assets to have to pay estate...
Nov 19 2024

23 – How to protect your income if you have your own business

Question I was retrenched and have set up my own business. It occurred to me that I may run into financial trouble if I am ill and cannot work for an extended period....
Nov 19 2024

24 – An alternative to fixed deposits

Question I am 75 and my husband is 80. We have been using our savings in fixed deposits to provide us with an income. These fixed deposits are coming up for renewal...
Nov 19 2024

25 – Two things to consider if you get retrenched

Question I have just been retrenched and have received some documents from my employer. They talk about in-fund preservation and a continuation option on risk...
Nov 19 2024

26 – 3 Pension options you should consider when you retire

Question You recently proposed a solution to improve a pensioner’s cash flow that involved a living annuity, a life annuity and a discretionary income plan. Can you...
Nov 19 2024

27 – How to save on executor fees

Question I recently went through an estate planning exercise with my financial adviser in which we looked at the capital gains tax, estate duty and executor fees that...
Nov 19 2024

28 – Bitcoin

Question A number of my friends have made a lot of money by investing in Bitcoin. Should I invest in it?Answer If you invested R100,000 in Bitcoin a year ago, it would...
Nov 19 2024

29 – Do you pay off debt or invest?

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 19 2024

30 – Should I donate my assets to my children to avoid estate duty?

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 19 2024

31 – Clever investment structures can save you a lot of money

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 19 2024

32 – What you should do with your pension fund if you emigrate

Question My family is in the process of emigrating to the UK. I am 50 years old and currently have R3-million in my company pension fund. I do not need this money just...
Nov 19 2024

33 – An alternative to Money Market investments

Question I have R3-million in a money market account. The returns have not been that great. I am 75 and my wife is 70, and we use this money to supplement our pensions....
Nov 19 2024

34 – 5 money tips if you are freelancing or working for yourself

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 19 2024

35 – What living longer means for your financial planning

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 19 2024

36 – What you can do if your retirement savings are too low when you reach retirement age

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 19 2024

37 – Medical aid options for a pensioner

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 19 2024

38 – How to successfully find your way through the investment maze

Question I want to start investing but have heard horror stories about high fees, hidden costs and poor returns. How do I go about investing without making these...
Nov 19 2024

39 – Everything you need to know about moving money offshore

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 19 2024

40 – How to get the best pension from your hard-earned retirement savings

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 19 2024

41 – Tread carefully and do your homework on pension funds and early retirement

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 19 2024

42 – Joint life annuities can help pensioners avoid the dreaded drawdown danger zone

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 19 2024

43 – The formula for calculating capital gains tax

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 19 2024

44 – Key issues to look out for on home office tax deductions

Question I am employed by a large company and have been working from home for most of the past year. Am I able to deduct home office expenses from my income tax?Answer...
Nov 19 2024

45 – Tips on how to effectively finalise your estate

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 19 2024

46 – Structure your policies to avoid the drawdown danger zone

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 19 2024

47 – Make sure your estate has liquidity to cover certain costs when you die

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 19 2024

48 – Three principles on money management you can teach your children

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 19 2024

49 – Tax-efficient ways to make up for the shortfall of a defined benefit pension fund

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 19 2024

50 – Key issues to consider to make sure your investments outlive you

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 19 2024

51 – How to protect your finances and estate in case of dementia

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 19 2024

52 – The pitfalls of old-style retirement annuities

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 19 2024

53 – Top tips to secure a smooth inheritance process

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 19 2024

54 – Why income protection cover is a must-have

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 19 2024

55 – Why investing offshore assets in sinking funds and endowments makes financial sense

Question In the past, you have spoken about the benefits of investing your offshore assets in a structure. What are these structures? Are they trusts?Answer I am...
Nov 18 2024

56 – Reasons to keep your life insurance policy

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 18 2024

57 – What should I do with my RA when I turn 55?

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 18 2024

58 – Why it makes sense for pensioners to invest in a retirement annuity

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 18 2024

59 – What you need to consider before committing to a fixed-interest investment

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 18 2024

60 – Issues to consider if you have a property portfolio

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 18 2024

61 – How to manage a retirement annuity pay out

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 18 2024

62 – How to secure a pension-providing business

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 18 2024

63 – Offshore portfolio jitters and a home loan dilemma

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 18 2024

64 – The best way to top up a retirement annuity

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 18 2024

65 – How to check that your financial adviser is legit

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 18 2024

66 – Four ways to plan for a healthy, wealthy future

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 18 2024

67 – Should you cancel life insurance when your bond is paid?

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 18 2024

68 – How to solve offshore asset problems while winding up an estate

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 18 2024

69 – Advice on drawdown rates, and living and life annuities

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 18 2024

70 – How to create a succession plan for your family business

Question I have my own company and want to stop working at the end of the year when I turn 70. I have no retirement savings and intend living off some of the income...
Nov 18 2024

71 – Consider the pros and cons of life and living annuities

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 18 2024

72 – Reap the tax benefits of a carefully constructed succession plan

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 18 2024

73 – Why it’s a good idea to have 40% of assets invested offshore

Question I invested some money offshore last year and saw that it has declined by 8%. Should I cash it in and put the money back in the bank?Answer Before you cash in...
Nov 18 2024

74 – The head vs heart approach to saving for your child’s education

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 18 2024

75 – The taxing question of retirement savings

Question I will be retiring soon and have several assets that I can use to draw an income from. I want to pay as little income tax and estate duty as possible and also...
Nov 18 2024

76 – Find the sweet spot between risk and reward on every investment

Question I am worried about my investments. My local investments are down by 10% and my offshore ones by almost 20%. I am considering taking my money out and keeping it...
Nov 18 2024

77 – It’s easy to invest through a platform, but be aware of the costs

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 18 2024

78 – Beware of costly unintended consequences when drawing up a will

Question My wife inherited some money 20 years ago and we used it to purchase our family home. We have recently drawn up our wills and my wife would like to leave 50%...
Nov 18 2024

79 – Navigating the costs of transferring ownership of inherited property

Question My mother has been living in the same house for 60 years and has left it to me in her will. It is valued at R2.3-million. She is happy to pass on ownership...
Nov 17 2024

80 – How to navigate living annuities, drawdown rates and volatile markets

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 17 2024

81 – A legitimate way to avoid donations tax

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 17 2024

82 – The pros (and cons) of resigning from a defined benefit pension fund

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 17 2024

83 – Here’s a financial game plan to relieve the stress after retrenchment

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 17 2024

84 – How to create a viable succession plan and extract value from your practice

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 17 2024

85 – How to adjust your financial planning before your baby is born

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 17 2024

86 – How to keep your family financially stable during delays in winding up estates

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 17 2024

87 – Intestate succession: where there’s a will, there’s an easier way

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 17 2024

88 – Set up a separate entity for your business to keep it running after you’re gone

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 17 2024

89 – What to consider when calculating the benefits of alternative energy sources

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Oct 15 2024

90 – The pros and cons of investing funds offshore

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Oct 15 2024

91 – A shareholder buy-and-sell arrangement can preserve your business dynamic

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Oct 15 2024

92 – The implications of what used to be called ‘financial emigration’

Question I have been living in Australia for the past five years and have just been granted permanent residence status. I want to emigrate financially and would like to...
Oct 15 2024

93 – The costs of implementing your will and bequeathing your estate

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Oct 15 2024

94 – How to ensure you are making the most of your living annuity

Question I recently received a letter to confirm the drawdown percentage of my living annuity. To keep the same level of income, I had to increase my drawdown to 7%, as...
Oct 15 2024

95 – All you need to know about bequests, marriage in community of property, capital gains tax and more

Question I have a number of questions regarding the abovementioned topics:Answer Correctly structuring your income when you retire is one of the most important...
Oct 15 2024

96 – All you need to know about Islamic marriages, property rights and antenuptial contracts

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Oct 15 2024

97 – How to make sure you enter 2023 with your finances in order

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Oct 15 2024

98 – What to do with your pension fund after changing jobs

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Oct 15 2024

99 – How to ensure that your family benefits from your business

Question During the holidays, I took a good look at my personal finances and realized that I have invested pretty much all my assets in a business that I own with a...
Oct 15 2024

107 – How to make it easy for children who live overseas to inherit

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Oct 15 2024

106 – Be careful of transferring assets before you die

Question I am moving down to Cape Town to retire and wish to buy a property.  The property will not be financed though a bond as I will be using my savings to buy it. ...
Oct 15 2024

105 – How to keep key employees and use your business to generate a pension

Question I recall reading a column that you wrote a couple of years ago about putting a structure in place so that younger employees can buy shares in a company. I...
Oct 15 2024

104 – What to do if your life insurance premiums start doubling every 5 years

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Oct 15 2024

103 – How to get the best pension that lasts for your whole life

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Oct 15 2024

102 – How to make it easy for your heirs to inherit offshore assets

Question I have been doing some estate planning and am looking at how I can make it easier for my children to inherit from me and not pay any unnecessary tax. I have a...
Oct 15 2024

101 – How to choose the right medical product

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Oct 15 2024

100 – How to ensure that your emergency fund grows

Question I retired five years ago and have around R1 million in my bank account that I use as an emergency fund to pay for any unexpected expenses. Since I retired, I...
Sep 24 2024

108 – How to make it easy for your heirs to inherit foreign shares

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Sep 24 2024

109 – What risk cover does a young person need?

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Sep 24 2024

110 – What to do if you get retrenched

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Sep 24 2024

111 – What lump sum should you take from your retirement fund

Question I will be retiring soon and am entitled to take a lump sum of R2 million from our pension fund.   I believe that we can take a lower lump sum in order to get a...
Sep 24 2024

112 – Offshore considerations during estate planning

Question I have been doing some estate planning and am looking at how I can make it easier for my children to inherit from me and not pay any unnecessary tax. I have a...
Sep 24 2024

113 – Should I cancel my medical aid?

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Sep 24 2024

115 – How to invest offshore

Question The recent collapse of the Rand against the dollar has made me feel very unsettled. I think that it is time that I started moving some of my investments...
Sep 24 2024

116 – How to get your small business to provide you with a sustainable income when you retire

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Sep 24 2024

117 – Should I sell my shares?

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Sep 24 2024

118 – How to turn your debt into wealth

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Sep 24 2024

119 – How to pay less tax in a family trust

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Jun 11 2024

114 – How to structure your retirement income to pay the least amount of tax

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...

Retirement Posts

Dec 02 2024

189 – Retirement and risk cover options for employees

Question I have a business with 20 employees.  I would like to put in some kind of retirement fund for them.  Is this financially feasible for our sized company? If so,...
Nov 20 2024

120 – The new two pot retirement fund

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 20 2024

122 – How utilising a living annuity can maximise the financial health of your heirs

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 20 2024

126 – Exploring property investment and alternative income streams post-retirement

Question I will be retiring soon and have an additional R2,000,000 to invest. A friend suggested that I buy a rental property with this money as it will give me a...
Nov 20 2024

129 – How to set yourself up for retirement, even if you start a bit late

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 20 2024

131 – Addressing the financial implication of retrenchment

Question I was recently retrenched and have just received a communication from the company pension fund which says that they will allow me to preserve my retirement...
Nov 20 2024

138 – Helping you choose the right annuities to fit your needs

Question I will be retiring at the end of the year and need to decide on what type of annuity I take. Here are the key details: I have around R4 million available after...
Nov 20 2024

139 – Beware possibility of exhausting the funds from a living annuity

Question I am 81 years old and have a living annuity worth R2.1 million from which I am currently drawing a pension of 15%.  I have just received a notice from the...
Nov 20 2024

144 – BEING SAVVY WHEN CHOOSING PORTFOLIOS CAN IMPROVE YOUR PENSION

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 20 2024

145 – CONSIDERING THE TAX AND RISK IMPLICATIONS OF A RETIREMENT PLAN

Question My wife and I are now nearly 80 years old. We have just over R6 000 000 invested in Bonds with 5-year terms. We have a combined monthly income from those...
Nov 20 2024

146 – THINKING CAREFULLY ABOUT RETIREMENT PRODUCTS

Question Many companies are currently promoting retirement annuities. I understand that there are tax benefits to be had from this product however I have also heard...
Nov 20 2024

148 – HOW TO PAY LESS TAX ON YOUR RETIREMENT INCOME

Question I recently read an article of yours where you discussed the importance of managing the sources of your retirement income to reduce the tax that you pay.   I...
Nov 20 2024

150 – PENSION CONSIDERATIONS FOR RETIRING TEACHERS

Question I am a school teacher and will be retiring next year after 40 years of service. One of my colleagues mentioned that the government is planning on taking part...
Nov 20 2024

154 – CHOOSING BETWEEN TWO DIFFERENT ANNUITY OPTIONS

Question I am a 70-year-old pensioner and derive my income from a living annuity (from which I draw 2.5% each year) as well as drawdowns from my investment portfolio. I...
Nov 20 2024

155 – MAKING YOUR RETIREMENT INVESTMENTS WORK FOR YOU

Question I am concerned about the safety and security of our investments in South Africa.  We do not intend emigrating but would like to ensure that we protect our...
Nov 20 2024

157 – A LATE STARTER’S GUIDE TO RETIREMENT SAVINGS

Question My father is in his 50s with no retirement savings whatsoever. He wants to retire in 10 years time.  I know that he has left it a bit late and that he will...
Nov 20 2024

158 – GETTING MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK WITH YOUR RETIREMENT MONIES

Question I read with interest your recent article in the DM regarding retirement options. I retired 3 years ago and have the following retirement income sources: ...
Nov 20 2024

161 – UPFRONT FEES PLUS COSTS MAKE FOR A BAD INVESTMENT

Question I recently joined a company that has a group retirement annuity scheme. We all have our own retirement annuities, and the company pays the premiums with half...
Nov 20 2024

164 – HOW TO BALANCE DIFFERENT NEEDS WHEN SETTING UP A RETIREMENT INCOME

Question I have R3 million in retirement savings and am looking for an income of R25 000 a month.  Should I pass away, I would like my wife to receive the same pension...
Nov 20 2024

167 – LIFE ANNUITIES: A CRASH COURSE

Question I have some questions about Life Annuities - the answer to which would probably be very helpful to other people considering the same decisions. Is it better to...
Nov 20 2024

171 – THE TWO BEST WAYS A YOUNGER PERSON CAN START SAVING FOR RETIREMENT

Question I am 30 years old and earn R 20,000 a month.  I have no savings whatsoever and want to start putting some money away for my retirement. How do I go about doing...
Nov 20 2024

172 – BEATING THE BOON OF SURVIVING RETIREMENT

Question   My wife and I retired seven years ago and are finding it increasingly difficult to come out on our budget. What should we do?Answer There are many...
Nov 20 2024

173 – Life annuities: weighing out the options

Question I’ll be turning 58 in just over a week's time. I have my pension money in a preservation fund until age 65. Herewith are a few questions: 1. I would like to...
Nov 20 2024

174 – Be careful before making any two-pot withdrawals

Question I recently saw a YouTube clip where a financial planner recommended using the two pot system to withdraw funds from retirement savings. This seems to fly in...
Nov 20 2024

176 – The dangers of drawing from your pension fund

Question I want to withdraw R30,000 from my pension in order to settle some debt. What are the pros and cons of doing this?Answer I have had several questions like this...
Nov 20 2024

177 – How pensioners can grow wealth and pay less tax

Question My wife and I are in our 80s and we each have a R1.8 million investment at the bank which gives us a combined monthly interest of R24,000.  We use R5 000 of...
Nov 20 2024

179 – How to decide between a retirement annuity and a tax-free investment

Question I am 55 years old and was thinking of increasing my pension fund contribution at work to 15% from 10%. But having read your article, is it not a better idea to...
Nov 19 2024

1 – Retrenchment

Question I am a computer programmer at a large IT company. I have been notified that I will be retrenched at the end of August. I am 39 years old, divorced with a 10...
Nov 19 2024

2 – Offshore investments

Question I have been hearing a lot of talk about the benefits of investing offshore. Should I do it and if so, how do I go about investing?Answer If you were living...
Nov 19 2024

3 – How to live on interest income if interest rates decline

Question I have money in the bank that I use to provide me with an income. I am finding it difficult to make ends meet because of the decreases in the interest rate....
Nov 19 2024

4. How to save for your retirement – even if you have left it late

Question I am 42 years old, earn R40 000 a month and have not saved anything for retirement. How much do I need to retire on and what should I do about it?Answer The...
Nov 19 2024

5 – Living annuities

Question I am 73 and live off the income from a living annuity. Even though I have not increased my monthly income in two years, the capital value of the annuity has...
Nov 19 2024

11 – How not to run out of money when you have a living annuity

Question I am a 69-year-old widow living off a living annuity. I draw a fixed amount from the living annuity each month. I have just received my annual document from...
Nov 19 2024

21. How to set up a pensions scheme for a small business without any schlep

Question I own a small business and am concerned that a number of my older employees have not made any provision for their retirement. I would like to assist them in...
Nov 19 2024

22 – How to reduce estate duty and executor fees

Question I discovered that my parents do not have a will and have done no estate planning. My father says that he does not have enough assets to have to pay estate...
Nov 19 2024

26 – 3 Pension options you should consider when you retire

Question You recently proposed a solution to improve a pensioner’s cash flow that involved a living annuity, a life annuity and a discretionary income plan. Can you...
Nov 19 2024

32 – What you should do with your pension fund if you emigrate

Question My family is in the process of emigrating to the UK. I am 50 years old and currently have R3-million in my company pension fund. I do not need this money just...
Nov 19 2024

35 – What living longer means for your financial planning

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 19 2024

36 – What you can do if your retirement savings are too low when you reach retirement age

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 19 2024

40 – How to get the best pension from your hard-earned retirement savings

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 19 2024

41 – Tread carefully and do your homework on pension funds and early retirement

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 19 2024

42 – Joint life annuities can help pensioners avoid the dreaded drawdown danger zone

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 19 2024

46 – Structure your policies to avoid the drawdown danger zone

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 19 2024

49 – Tax-efficient ways to make up for the shortfall of a defined benefit pension fund

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 19 2024

50 – Key issues to consider to make sure your investments outlive you

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 19 2024

52 – The pitfalls of old-style retirement annuities

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 19 2024

54 – Why income protection cover is a must-have

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 18 2024

57 – What should I do with my RA when I turn 55?

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 18 2024

58 – Why it makes sense for pensioners to invest in a retirement annuity

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 18 2024

61 – How to manage a retirement annuity pay out

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 18 2024

62 – How to secure a pension-providing business

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 18 2024

64 – The best way to top up a retirement annuity

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 18 2024

69 – Advice on drawdown rates, and living and life annuities

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 18 2024

71 – Consider the pros and cons of life and living annuities

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 18 2024

75 – The taxing question of retirement savings

Question I will be retiring soon and have several assets that I can use to draw an income from. I want to pay as little income tax and estate duty as possible and also...
Nov 17 2024

80 – How to navigate living annuities, drawdown rates and volatile markets

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 17 2024

82 – The pros (and cons) of resigning from a defined benefit pension fund

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Oct 15 2024

94 – How to ensure you are making the most of your living annuity

Question I recently received a letter to confirm the drawdown percentage of my living annuity. To keep the same level of income, I had to increase my drawdown to 7%, as...
Oct 15 2024

98 – What to do with your pension fund after changing jobs

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Oct 15 2024

105 – How to keep key employees and use your business to generate a pension

Question I recall reading a column that you wrote a couple of years ago about putting a structure in place so that younger employees can buy shares in a company. I...
Oct 15 2024

103 – How to get the best pension that lasts for your whole life

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Sep 24 2024

111 – What lump sum should you take from your retirement fund

Question I will be retiring soon and am entitled to take a lump sum of R2 million from our pension fund.   I believe that we can take a lower lump sum in order to get a...
Sep 24 2024

116 – How to get your small business to provide you with a sustainable income when you retire

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Jun 11 2024

114 – How to structure your retirement income to pay the least amount of tax

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...

Estate Planning Posts

Nov 20 2024

125 – Let’s talk estate duty: how and where to save

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 20 2024

127 – Ensuring financial health for your spouse should you pass away

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 20 2024

128 – Using your RA as a vehicle to pay for your grandchild’s education

Question I've been on pension for 10 years during which time I have consistently contributed 27.5% of my income to an existing retirement annuity. This has now grown to...
Nov 20 2024

132 – Trying to time the markets with your investments is not optimal

Question I have a fixed deposit that has just matured and I want to reinvest it.  I don't know where I should invest the money as I am very worried about what is going...
Nov 20 2024

133 – Making sure the ship stays afloat after you’re gone

Question I am concerned that my family will have cash flow problems should I pass away as I heard that it is taking a long time to get an executor appointed. Is it...
Nov 20 2024

134 – Recalibrating your finances when going through a divorce

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 20 2024

135 – Being able to provide for your children should you and your partner pass away

Question We have just had our first child and want to update our will. Are there any special issues should we look out for?Answer The first thing you should consider is...
Nov 20 2024

136 – Familiarise yourself with the tax burden on investment returns

Question I have R4m to invest to provide an additional income to meet my monthly obligations.  I am working and paying 36% in income tax. Where can I invest this money...
Nov 20 2024

137 – Spreading your wealth across various asset classes

Question A lot of my friends have been talking about a potential financial crash in South Africa and that we should move all our assets offshore. I am scared that we...
Nov 20 2024

138 – Helping you choose the right annuities to fit your needs

Question I will be retiring at the end of the year and need to decide on what type of annuity I take. Here are the key details: I have around R4 million available after...
Nov 20 2024

139 – Beware possibility of exhausting the funds from a living annuity

Question I am 81 years old and have a living annuity worth R2.1 million from which I am currently drawing a pension of 15%.  I have just received a notice from the...
Nov 20 2024

142 – Planning to ease finances for your loved ones upon your death

Question I recently watched a television program about how long it is taking the master’s office to finalize estates. I would like to restructure my affairs so that it...
Nov 20 2024

144 – BEING SAVVY WHEN CHOOSING PORTFOLIOS CAN IMPROVE YOUR PENSION

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 20 2024

146 – THINKING CAREFULLY ABOUT RETIREMENT PRODUCTS

Question Many companies are currently promoting retirement annuities. I understand that there are tax benefits to be had from this product however I have also heard...
Nov 20 2024

147 – ENSURING YOUR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD IS TAKEN CARE OF AFTER YOU DIE

Question I have a special needs child who needs permanent care. I am concerned about what will happen to him when my wife and I pass away.  What should we do now to...
Nov 20 2024

149 – MAKING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR TAX-FREE INVESTMENT

Question Are tax free investments worthwhile?Answer I do a lot of financial planning for people approaching retirement who have investments that they made many years...
Nov 20 2024

150 – PENSION CONSIDERATIONS FOR RETIRING TEACHERS

Question I am a school teacher and will be retiring next year after 40 years of service. One of my colleagues mentioned that the government is planning on taking part...
Nov 20 2024

151 – HOW TO GET A BETTER AFTER TAX INCOME

Question I am 68 years old and live on the proceeds of an R8 million divorce settlement.  This is invested in a number of bank deposits from which I currently receive...
Nov 20 2024

152 – UNDERSTANDING DEATH BENEFIT PAYOUTS AND THEIR TAX IMPLICATIONS

Question My wife recently died and our daughter will be receiving a death benefit payout from her company provident fund. (This is in addition to the group life benefit...
Nov 20 2024

153 – BEWARE FINANCIAL ADVICE THAT DOES NOT ADD VALUE

Question I am 28 years old and met with an insurance broker who suggested that I make a regular monthly investment. He gave me a quote on an investment that targets a...
Nov 20 2024

154 – CHOOSING BETWEEN TWO DIFFERENT ANNUITY OPTIONS

Question I am a 70-year-old pensioner and derive my income from a living annuity (from which I draw 2.5% each year) as well as drawdowns from my investment portfolio. I...
Nov 20 2024

155 – MAKING YOUR RETIREMENT INVESTMENTS WORK FOR YOU

Question I am concerned about the safety and security of our investments in South Africa.  We do not intend emigrating but would like to ensure that we protect our...
Nov 20 2024

156 – HOW TO REDUCE THE RISK OF HAVING ALL YOUR INVESTMENTS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Question I am concerned about the safety and security of our investments in South Africa.  We do not intend emigrating but would like to ensure that we protect our...
Nov 20 2024

158 – GETTING MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK WITH YOUR RETIREMENT MONIES

Question I read with interest your recent article in the DM regarding retirement options. I retired 3 years ago and have the following retirement income sources: ...
Nov 20 2024

159 – ENSURING ALL IS IN ORDER FOR WHEN YOU’RE NO LONGER AROUND

Question My wife and I are in our mid-80s. I am not in very good health, and I would like to leave my affairs in the best possible order should I die before my wife....
Nov 20 2024

160 – TAX-EFFICIENT WAYS OF BEQUEATHING OFFSHORE ASSETS

Question I recently joined a company that has a group retirement annuity scheme. We all have our own retirement annuities, and the company pays the premiums with half...
Nov 20 2024

162 – HOW TO PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENTS FROM THE VOLATILE RAND

Question I have R3 million in retirement savings and am looking for an income of R25 000 a month.  Should I pass away, I would like my wife to receive the same pension...
Nov 20 2024

164 – HOW TO BALANCE DIFFERENT NEEDS WHEN SETTING UP A RETIREMENT INCOME

Question I have R3 million in retirement savings and am looking for an income of R25 000 a month.  Should I pass away, I would like my wife to receive the same pension...
Nov 20 2024

165 – INHERITANCE IMPLICATIONS FOR CHILDREN LIVING OVERSEAS

Question I have children who are living overseas.  They never emigrated officially, and are now citizens of the countries they are resident in.  They have absolutely no...
Nov 20 2024

166 – SAFEGUARDING YOUR FAMILY’S FINANCIAL WELLNESS

Question I have some questions about Life Annuities - the answer to which would probably be very helpful to other people considering the same decisions. Is it better to...
Nov 20 2024

167 – LIFE ANNUITIES: A CRASH COURSE

Question I have some questions about Life Annuities - the answer to which would probably be very helpful to other people considering the same decisions. Is it better to...
Nov 20 2024

168 – LET YOUR KIDS TAKE OVER YOUR LIFE INSURANCE POLICY

Question I will be retiring soon and have a life insurance policy for about R2.6 million. My monthly premium is R2555 with 7% cover growth and 10% premium growth. I no...
Nov 20 2024

169 – STRATEGISING HOW AND WHERE TO INVEST EFFICIENTLY

Question I will be retiring in 10 years’ time and am currently paying the maximum into my retirement savings. I have extra funds that I can invest. Would you recommend...
Nov 20 2024

170 – OPTIONS FOR GENERATING INCOME FOR A LUMP SUM

Question We recently sold a flat which we used as an investment property as we found the hassle of maintenance and dealing with tenants was becoming a bit much (I am 70...
Nov 20 2024

171 – THE TWO BEST WAYS A YOUNGER PERSON CAN START SAVING FOR RETIREMENT

Question I am 30 years old and earn R 20,000 a month.  I have no savings whatsoever and want to start putting some money away for my retirement. How do I go about doing...
Nov 20 2024

172 – BEATING THE BOON OF SURVIVING RETIREMENT

Question   My wife and I retired seven years ago and are finding it increasingly difficult to come out on our budget. What should we do?Answer There are many...
Nov 20 2024

173 – Life annuities: weighing out the options

Question I’ll be turning 58 in just over a week's time. I have my pension money in a preservation fund until age 65. Herewith are a few questions: 1. I would like to...
Nov 20 2024

175 – Considerations for optimal investment returns

Question I have seen several stories in social media about the imminent collapse of the American economy. We recently had a major collapse in the Japanese market and...
Nov 20 2024

180 – Reasons why the setting up of a will is crucial

Question A lot of companies are offering free wills at the moment. What is the catch and is a will really necessary?Answer Take a look at who is offering the free wills...
Nov 20 2024

181 – Buying an investment property? Here are some numbers to crunch

Question I need some financial advice regarding an investment property. I intend selling my existing property for R2m.  I will use R1m as a deposit on a new property...
Nov 20 2024

182 – Tax-savvy tips around estate duty and other fees

Question I am an 80 year old widow and have R5m investment that will be maturing shortly. This provides me with an income of R33 000 a month on which I pay R5 000 in...
Nov 19 2024

15 – The pitfalls of owning foreign property

Question We recently sold a property and want to invest the proceeds offshore. Our children are living in England, so we are thinking of buying a property there. We can...
Nov 19 2024

17 – Retirement annuities are a great estate planning tool

Question I retired three years ago and receive a passive income from my business. I own a retirement annuity, which is still active. My broker says I should continue...
Nov 19 2024

20 – Death and offshore assets

Question My father has several investments in South Africa and offshore. He wants to be able to transfer wealth as easily as possible to his children and grandchildren....
Nov 19 2024

22 – How to reduce estate duty and executor fees

Question I discovered that my parents do not have a will and have done no estate planning. My father says that he does not have enough assets to have to pay estate...
Nov 19 2024

27 – How to save on executor fees

Question I recently went through an estate planning exercise with my financial adviser in which we looked at the capital gains tax, estate duty and executor fees that...
Nov 19 2024

28 – Bitcoin

Question A number of my friends have made a lot of money by investing in Bitcoin. Should I invest in it?Answer If you invested R100,000 in Bitcoin a year ago, it would...
Nov 19 2024

30 – Should I donate my assets to my children to avoid estate duty?

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 19 2024

47 – Make sure your estate has liquidity to cover certain costs when you die

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 19 2024

51 – How to protect your finances and estate in case of dementia

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 19 2024

53 – Top tips to secure a smooth inheritance process

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 19 2024

55 – Why investing offshore assets in sinking funds and endowments makes financial sense

Question In the past, you have spoken about the benefits of investing your offshore assets in a structure. What are these structures? Are they trusts?Answer I am...
Nov 18 2024

73 – Why it’s a good idea to have 40% of assets invested offshore

Question I invested some money offshore last year and saw that it has declined by 8%. Should I cash it in and put the money back in the bank?Answer Before you cash in...
Nov 18 2024

79 – Navigating the costs of transferring ownership of inherited property

Question My mother has been living in the same house for 60 years and has left it to me in her will. It is valued at R2.3-million. She is happy to pass on ownership...
Nov 17 2024

81 – A legitimate way to avoid donations tax

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 17 2024

86 – How to keep your family financially stable during delays in winding up estates

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 17 2024

87 – Intestate succession: where there’s a will, there’s an easier way

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Oct 15 2024

90 – The pros and cons of investing funds offshore

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Oct 15 2024

95 – All you need to know about bequests, marriage in community of property, capital gains tax and more

Question I have a number of questions regarding the abovementioned topics:Answer Correctly structuring your income when you retire is one of the most important...
Oct 15 2024

96 – All you need to know about Islamic marriages, property rights and antenuptial contracts

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Oct 15 2024

107 – How to make it easy for children who live overseas to inherit

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Oct 15 2024

106 – Be careful of transferring assets before you die

Question I am moving down to Cape Town to retire and wish to buy a property.  The property will not be financed though a bond as I will be using my savings to buy it. ...
Oct 15 2024

102 – How to make it easy for your heirs to inherit offshore assets

Question I have been doing some estate planning and am looking at how I can make it easier for my children to inherit from me and not pay any unnecessary tax. I have a...
Sep 24 2024

108 – How to make it easy for your heirs to inherit foreign shares

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...

Business Posts

Dec 02 2024

189 – Retirement and risk cover options for employees

Question I have a business with 20 employees.  I would like to put in some kind of retirement fund for them.  Is this financially feasible for our sized company? If so,...
Dec 02 2024

185 – To quell chaos, your business needs its own will

Question I recently heard someone talking about a will for a business. How does this work?Answer A will for a business documents what should happen to your interest in...
Dec 02 2024

184 – Products that can give employees peace of mind

Question A colleague has recently been diagnosed with cancer. He is going to be unable to work properly for at least three months.  The company will pay him his basic...
Nov 20 2024

178 – How life insurance can protect your spouse if you’re the co-owner of a business

Question I founded a successful business 20 years ago with two others. All three of us are actively involved in its day-to-day management. As it is September, I took...
Nov 19 2024

21. How to set up a pensions scheme for a small business without any schlep

Question I own a small business and am concerned that a number of my older employees have not made any provision for their retirement. I would like to assist them in...
Nov 19 2024

22 – How to reduce estate duty and executor fees

Question I discovered that my parents do not have a will and have done no estate planning. My father says that he does not have enough assets to have to pay estate...
Nov 19 2024

23 – How to protect your income if you have your own business

Question I was retrenched and have set up my own business. It occurred to me that I may run into financial trouble if I am ill and cannot work for an extended period....
Nov 19 2024

34 – 5 money tips if you are freelancing or working for yourself

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 19 2024

44 – Key issues to look out for on home office tax deductions

Question I am employed by a large company and have been working from home for most of the past year. Am I able to deduct home office expenses from my income tax?Answer...
Nov 18 2024

62 – How to secure a pension-providing business

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 18 2024

70 – How to create a succession plan for your family business

Question I have my own company and want to stop working at the end of the year when I turn 70. I have no retirement savings and intend living off some of the income...
Nov 18 2024

72 – Reap the tax benefits of a carefully constructed succession plan

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 17 2024

84 – How to create a viable succession plan and extract value from your practice

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Nov 17 2024

88 – Set up a separate entity for your business to keep it running after you’re gone

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Oct 15 2024

91 – A shareholder buy-and-sell arrangement can preserve your business dynamic

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Oct 15 2024

97 – How to make sure you enter 2023 with your finances in order

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...
Oct 15 2024

99 – How to ensure that your family benefits from your business

Question During the holidays, I took a good look at my personal finances and realized that I have invested pretty much all my assets in a business that I own with a...
Oct 15 2024

105 – How to keep key employees and use your business to generate a pension

Question I recall reading a column that you wrote a couple of years ago about putting a structure in place so that younger employees can buy shares in a company. I...
Sep 24 2024

112 – Offshore considerations during estate planning

Question I have been doing some estate planning and am looking at how I can make it easier for my children to inherit from me and not pay any unnecessary tax. I have a...
Sep 24 2024

116 – How to get your small business to provide you with a sustainable income when you retire

Question I retired three years ago, with half my income coming from my company pension fund and the other half from interest from investments. I am paying tax at a rate...

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