Guaranteed investment products from life insurers and banks both offer capital protection but carry different risk profiles. Life insurer GIPs rely on the insurer’s financial health and regulatory capital, while bank GIPs depend on the bank’s creditworthiness and deposit insurance limits.

Choosing the right investment for long-term financial security is a challenge many face. Two popular options often come up: property investment and retirement annuities.

Investing through traditional financial advisors often means focusing on stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. While these options serve many investors well, they can limit your portfolio’s potential. Alternative investments, which are not typically offered through standard advisory channels, provide opportunities to diversify, reduce risk, and potentially increase returns.

When dealing with investments in South Africa, understanding the legal terms that affect your assets is crucial. Two common terms you may encounter are absolute cession and collateral cession. Both involve transferring rights over your investment, but they serve very different purposes and carry distinct implications. Knowing the difference can help you protect your financial interests and make informed decisions.

When planning for retirement in South Africa, many people consider retirement annuities (RAs) as a way to save money and reduce their current tax bill. The appeal is clear: contributions to an RA are tax-deductible up to certain limits, which means you pay less tax today. But the catch is that when you retire and start withdrawing from the annuity, the income you receive is taxed. This raises a key question: Is a retirement annuity really beneficial if you get tax relief now

Saving for retirement requires more than just setting money aside. The fees you pay on your investments can quietly chip away at your nest egg over time. Even a small reduction in annual fees, such as paying 0.50% less, can have a significant impact on your retirement outcome. This post explains how cutting costs on fees can help your savings grow faster and offers practical examples to illustrate the difference.

When planning for retirement, many focus on how much to save and where to invest. Yet, one crucial factor often overlooked is the effect of investment fees on the final amount of retirement capital. Even small fees can significantly reduce your savings over time, affecting your financial security in retirement. This post explains why fees matter, how they affect your investment growth, and what you can do to minimize their impact.