Allan Gray Kaya Biz

With the end of the tax year approaching, now is the time to take advantage of the tax benefits made available through retirement products and tax-free investments. We are joined by Carrie Norden, senior tax specialist at Allan Gray, to tell us how we can make the most of tax benefits. Kaya 959 Website · Kaya 959

The first few weeks of a new year can feel like a clean slate and a good time to give our finances a fresh start. Research suggests that we are most motivated to achieve the goals we set when we action them at the start of a new period – be it a new week, new month, new year or at a special occasion such as a birthday. This cognitive phenomenon is known as the “fresh start effect”. Allan Gray’s No...

Netflix’s smash hit show Squid Game may not be for everyone due its shock factor and gruesome violence, but it is a relatable story that hits close to home for many over-indebted households. Allan Gray’s Cedrick Pila joins Kaya Bizz to share some of his favourite lessons from the series Kaya 959

Siyasanga Mlozana joins us to talk about how we can use our bonuses to give our retirement savings a much need boost. The new COVID-19 variant reminds us that we are not out of the woods just yet – even though some indicators suggest that our economic activity is showing encouraging signs of recovery. One thing the pandemic has taught us is that we should save for the future – and this rings true...

After 18 months of lockdowns and the easing of travel restrictions, optimism is finally returning to many South Africans who have had to halt their dreams of dashing off to far-off destinations or taking a well-deserved break closer to home. If you are planning to travel, there are a number of important things to keep in mind to ensure that you don’t derail your long-term financial plans. Allan Gr...

The market tends to proceed in a random fashion over the short term, but there are a few themes driving activity at present. Jacques Plaut, portfolio manager at Allan Gray, joins Kaya Biz to take us through some of the themes that local investors should keep an eye on. Kaya 959 Website · Kaya 959

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) continues to focus on introducing online and digital services, simplifying the tax-filing process, and making it easier for us as taxpayers to comply. Tax season is officially underway and filing returns provokes anxiety in many of us. Carla Rossouw, Tax lead at Allan Gray, joins Kaya Biz to help us figure out if we need to file a tax return and discusses h...

Many of us are still reeling from the effects of COVID-19 on our lives, our health and even our investments. History reveals the only asset class that has consistently delivered returns in excess of inflation is equities. But after the rollercoaster ride of the past year, many investors are understandably feeling somewhat punch drunk, and are grappling with how to position their portfolios when th...

As a young professional, it is easy to get sucked into focusing on your career, the immediate needs of supporting a family, and working towards your various goals. As a result, we often overlook the importance of building a firm financial foundation that can sustain us through life’s various seasons and ensure that our needs are provided for in retirement. Phiko Peter, client relationship manager...

In recent years, social media platforms have become a popular source for personal finance information and advice – with users sharing tips on everything from the latest stocks to buy and products to consider, to behavioural hacks to help you manage your monthly budget and more. But can you trust everything you see online? The recent FinTok craze on TikTok has demonstrated how scammers and fraudste...

Lower interest rates are a life jacket for those who are in debt or paying off home loans, but they have negative consequences for savers. The repo rate is currently at 3.5%, the lowest in the country’s history, but with members of the South African Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee subtly altering their collective stance on rates at their March meeting, it’s worth asking “where to from her...

Most of us are familiar with what inflation means for our pockets – we can all attest to how inflation has affected the cost of goods and services over time – but inflation also has numerous implications for the markets and our investments. A great reflation versus inflation debate dominated discourse in global fixed income markets during the first quarter of the year, and “where to from here for...

Although we all have different circumstances, we all want the income we receive in retirement to be sustainable for life and to be enough to maintain our standard of living. Ideally, we also want our income to keep pace with inflation each year. However, the reality is that less than 10% of South African retirees have saved enough money to retire comfortably. As life expectancy goes up, it is even...

Risk-averse investors fled the market in droves as the COVID-19 crisis hit, opting for the security of money markets, rather than suffering through the volatility. However, it seems the appetite for equities has returned now that the markets are flying. While this behavior is understandable, it is also counter-productive for long-term investors. Many who followed this pattern would have locked in...

The COVID-19 pandemic has sent global divorce rates soaring by up to 30% over the last year, adding to the life-altering trauma that many families have experienced as a result of the virus. Even though some estimates suggest that over 40% of marriages end in divorce, most couples aren’t prepared for the range of challenges that may arise when filing for divorce. In addition to its emotional impact...

With thousands of investments to choose from, many investors unwittingly reduce their returns over time by switching in and out of investments, being swayed by the prevailing market sentiment and letting their emotions take over. Building wealth is a long-term endeavour and those who manage to do it successfully have mastered a number of key habits that set them apart. Nomi Bodlani, head of Strate...

Set against a backdrop of lower overall returns, it is important to ensure that you are incorporating tax-efficient strategies in your broader long-term financial plan which make the most of the existing vehicles and products on offer. Tamryn Lamb, head of Retail distribution at Allan Gray, joins Kaya Bizz to help us understand how to get the most out of our tax-free investment accounts – a timely...

The final month of the tax year is upon us, prompting us to review our finances ahead of filing our returns later this year. This tax year has been particularly challenging for most South Africans, and many of us have had to dip into multiple income streams. Whether you have always had multiple sources of income or have tapped into additional income streams this year, you need to make sure that th...

Last year was really challenging for most South Africans. We were reminded that life is unpredictable and that our financial circumstances can change at any time, which is why good financial planning is extremely important. The good news is that It’s a new year and we have a new opportunity to take charge of our finances. Allan Gray’s Noluyolo Betela joins Kaya Bizz to tell us how we can give our...

2020 has been a difficult year for South African households: COVID-19 has meant that many of us have lost some or all of our income, placing additional strain on a country with high levels of debt and unemployment, and a poor culture of saving. As Black Friday approaches, kicking off the annual festive season spending splurge, Tamryn Lamb, head of Retail Distribution at Allan Gray, joins KayaBizz...

While the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for emergency savings as a buffer against tough times, it has also created anxiety for investors who are worried about their income security and market volatility. As a result, many investors who have been fortunate enough to retain their income streams during the lockdown period are sitting on some extra cash which they may have invested. Nomi...

We have undoubtedly entered a difficult period for money market funds. The overnight repo rate of 3.5% is the lowest in South Africa’s history, and offers only a marginal uplift relative to inflation of 3.1% year on year for August 2020. Other market forces are also at work in keeping money market returns low. Thalia Petousis, portfolio manager at Allan Gray, joins Kaya Bizz to explain what this m...

It is financial planning week – which always serves as a useful reminder to make sure that our financial plans are on track. This year, this task is especially important when we consider that the pandemic has meant that many things haven’t gone according to plan. Investors who are financially resilient are more likely to overcome unexpected hurdles and achieve success in the long run. Marise Beste...

Today is the September equinox - the official start of the new season. Over time it’s easy to accumulate bad financial habits and lose sight of your long-term goals, but the fresh season brings with it an opportunity to spring clean your finances, get your financial house in order and make sure that you are on track. Noluyolo Betela, client relationship manager at Allan Gray, joins us to discuss w...

Today, cautious investors are allocating ever-increasing amounts of their capital to fixed income, including money market, bond and income funds. This is an understandable reaction to a five-year period of poor real equity returns and the increasing uncertainty we face as we live through the COVID-19 pandemic. But is there still a place for real assets in your conservative portfolio? Sean Munsie,...