If your spouse is named as the beneficiary of a domestic life policy, the proceeds are considered deemed property in your estate. However, Section 4q of the Estate Duty Act allows for a full deduction...
inancial clutter is one of the most common issues we come across when taking on a new client. A client may have several retirement annuities, a handful of unit trust accounts, multiple risk policies, and perhaps a living annuity. Individually,
For many business owners, their share in the business represents a significant portion of their personal wealth and forms an integral part of their estate. As such, it is essential to protect this value against unforeseen events such as death
The idea that ‘to those whom much has been given, much is expected’ speaks directly to stewardship in the realm of philanthropy. Those who find themselves with an abundance of resources carry a responsibility to consider the needs of others.
If you marry without signing an antenuptial contract, your marriage automatically defaults to in community of property with a single, joint estate. In terms of this marital regime, all assets and liabilities acquired both before and during the marriage merge
While it’s common knowledge that medical inflation outstrips consumer inflation year-on-year by around 3% to 4%, these are not the only healthcare costs that should be factored into your post-retirement budget. Depending on your medical aid, you may need to
One of the unique features of a trust is that it never dies. Unlike individuals, who are subject to estate duty and executor’s fees on death, trusts continue seamlessly from one generation to the next. This means that assets housed
Gap cover is short-term insurance that protects medical scheme members from shortfalls between the medical scheme rate and the actual rate charged by specialists during hospitalisation—often as much as five to six times the scheme tariff.
To protect retirement savers from excessive risk, Regulation 28 limits exposure to certain asset classes. Currently, offshore exposure (including Africa ex-SA) is capped at 45%, while exposure to alternative assets such as private equity is limited to 15%.
Living annuities are highly effective succession planning tools because you are free to nominate any beneficiaries you wish. On death, the proceeds are paid directly to those beneficiaries, usually within a short time, once the administrator has been notified and
Few areas demonstrate the price of indecision more clearly than debt. High-interest loans left unconsolidated grow relentlessly as interest compounds. What may once have been a manageable problem quickly escalates into a burden that feels insurmountable.
Another overlooked pitfall of the DIY approach is the failure to account for hidden costs. Taxes, transaction fees, and capital gains implications can significantly erode returns if not carefully managed. From experience, we’ve found that investors are surprised to learn
Despite the financial safety net that inheritance provides, many heirs are determined to carve out success on their own terms, often emphasising that their careers, businesses, or philanthropic pursuits should stand independently of the family legacy. For these individuals, inherited
