Sue Torr

The need to revise one’s Will is generally triggered by certain events such as the birth of a child, marriage, divorce, the death of a beneficiary or executor, or gaining property that is not part of your existing will.

As opposed to an investment in property, life rights ownership is an investment in lifestyle, security and peace-of mind, but it is important to understand the legal and financial consequences of buying into such a scheme.

If you have minor children, the other parent will be the legal guardian to your children in the event of your death. However, in the case of simultaneous death or where the other parent is no longer alive, the state

Now is a good time to ensure that your emergency funding is immediately accessible and that your loved ones can access it quickly and with minimal red tape.

As is evident, the process of winding up an estate is lengthy, time-consuming and administratively intensive. It also requires that the Executor has a good understanding of accounting, finance and tax.

When it comes to factoring in Capital Gains Tax it is important to bear in mind that CGT may be applicable to both a unit trust investment and a rental property.

Unlike trading shares, the process of buying or selling is generally quite lengthy and this can cause liquidity problems especially if you need to access your money quickly.

Because women generally live longer than men, there is a very real chance that women will find themselves living alone for a period in their retirement, and this needs to be accounted for in one’s retirement plan.