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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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