Maya on Money

Your pension fund is likely your biggest asset, but do you know your rights when things go wrong? In this episode of "Know Your Ombud," host Maya Fisher-French interviews Pension Funds Adjudicator Muvhango Lukhaimane.. If your pension fund or employer isn't treating you fairly, you can approach the Pension Funds Adjudicator at no cost – no lawyer needed. They'll even help if you haven't tried reso...

In this episode of "Retirement Reimagined," host Maya Fisher-French engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Lytania Johnson, CEO of FNB Personal Segment about the pressing question: Is retirement planning a luxury only for those with extra cash? Together, they explore how the financial realities faced by many South Africans often push retirement planning to the backseat, overshadowed by imm...

What is good advice? In this episode of "Know Your Ombud," host Maya Fisher-French interviews John Simpson, the FAIS Ombud, about how his office protects consumers when financial advice goes wrong – and what you need to know to protect yourself. Real-Life Cases Simpson shares several cases that illustrate how the FAIS Ombud holds financial advisers to a much higher standard. Advisers cannot assume...

As we dive into July, many of us feel the familiar pang of anxiety that accompanies tax season. In our latest episode, we tackle the ins and outs of tax filing. Joined by tax expert Andre Bothma , we explore why tax can feel overwhelming and how to navigate the process with confidence. One of the key topics discussed is the concept of auto assessments introduced by SARS (South African Revenue Serv...

In this episode of "Know Your Ombud," we examine the complexities of long-term insurance and the common complaints the Ombud receives. Host Maya Fisher-French chats to Sonya Marais, Senior Adjudicator for the Life Insurance Division of the National Financial Ombud (NFO), about the intricacies of insurance claims, particularly focusing on the challenges surrounding non-payment of claims and non-dis...

Welcome to the first episode of “Retirement Reimagined,” a series of conversations exploring the latest FNB Retirement Survey and what it reveals about the average South African’s preparedness and attitude towards retirement. In the first episode of our series, we investigate the findings of the 2024 FNB Retirement Survey with Samukelo Zwane: Product Head, FNB Wealth and Investments and Bheki Mkhi...

In this episode of "Know Your Ombud," host Maya Fisher-French engages with Edite Teixeira-Mckinon, the lead Ombud for non-life insurance, to understand the intricacies of short-term insurance and the common complaints consumers face. This episode aims to empower listeners with essential knowledge about their rights and the processes involved in lodging complaints against insurers. Maya and Edite d...

In the first episode of the second season of the Santam Insure Your Future Money Bootcamp, hosts Mapalo Makhu and Maya Fisher-French explore the emotional aspects of money management. With a focus on financial trauma, they discuss how our upbringing and past experiences shape our relationship with money and the significance of understanding these emotions. How these emotions can either empower or...

In this episode of "Know Your Ombud," host Maya Fisher-French speaks to Howard Gabriels, the head Ombud for credit, to unpack consumer rights when it comes to taking out credit.  This episode aims to empower listeners by clarifying the roles of various Ombud schemes, including the National Financial Ombud, and the importance of lodging complaints against financial institutions. Maya and Howard del...

In this episode of "Know Your Ombud," host Maya Fisher-French chats to Nerosha Maseti , the lead Ombud for banking services at the National Financial Ombud (NFO). This episode aims to empower consumers by shedding light on their rights and the processes involved in lodging complaints against financial institutions. Maya and Nerosha discuss the common grievances that consumers have with banks, part...

Know your Ombud is a series of conversations aimed at helping consumers of financial services understand their rights and where to go if they are not treated fairly.  In this episode of "Know Your Ombud," host Maya Fisher-French sits down with Reana Steyn, the head Ombud and CEO of the amalgamated National Financial Ombud (NFO), to discuss the significant changes in the financial Ombud landscape f...

Know your Ombud is a series of conversations aimed at helping consumers of financial services understand their rights and where to go if they are not treated fairly.  The financial Ombud schemes include the National Financial Ombud, the FAIS Ombud, the JSE Ombud and the Pension Funds Adjudicator, which are all overseen by the Ombud Council. Lodging a complaint with an Ombud is free and you do not...

In the latest episode of our podcast, host Maya Fisher French engages in an open and honest discussion about insurance, particularly focusing on long-term insurance and the often-overlooked area of employee benefits. Joined by certified financial planners Bryan Nicol and Johann Peens , the episode dives deep into the complexities of insurance coverage, highlighting the importance of understanding...

In this episode of "My Money, My Lifestyle," host Maya Fisher-French welcomes tax expert Andre Bothma to discuss the implications of recent tax proposals on personal finances as the new tax year begins.  Maya and Andre explore the concept of fiscal drag, where taxpayers find themselves paying more due to the lack of inflation adjustments in tax tables. They clarify common misconceptions about sala...

In this episode of "My Money, My Lifestyle," host Maya Fisher-French engages in a deep dive into the complexities of the national budget and its implications for taxpayers with Chris Axelson, the acting head of tax and financial sector policy at National Treasury. As the government navigates the contentious landscape of tax collection, Axelson sheds light on the recent adjustments to the budget, i...

In this episode of "My Money, My Lifestyle," Maya Fisher-French has a thought-provoking discussion with financial expert Hugh Hacking of Momentum Corporate about the recent interest rate cuts and their implications for retirees and investors.  With prime rates dropping from 11.75% to 11%, the conversation unpacks how these changes affect both life and living annuities. This episode explains how an...

In this episode of "My Money, My Lifestyle," host Maya Fisher French interviews Adrian Hope-Bailie , founder of Fynbos Money , a new investment platform designed to simplify and reduce the costs of investing.  Adrian shares his journey of creating a platform that addresses the common question: "Where do I start investing?"  With countless unit trusts and investment options available, it is unsurpr...

In this episode of "My Money, My Lifestyle," host Maya Fisher French chats about side hustles with Willem Gous , author of " Side Hustle Success ." With nearly half of employed South Africans engaging in side businesses, the conversation explores practical strategies for starting a side hustle on a shoestring budget without significant risk. Maya and Willem discuss the importance of testing busine...

Why are so many people who earn a good income, who would be considered high-net-worth individuals, struggling with debt? We all believe if we earned a bit more, our financial issues would disappear, yet this appears not to be the case. In this episode of "My Money, My Lifestyle," host Maya Fisher French is joined by certified financial planner Johan Werth to understand why so many high-net-worth i...

To kickstart 2025 with financial wisdom Maya Fisher French sits down with Fulu Mashapha, author of "Mind Your Cents: A Practical Approach to Financial Freedom."  Fulu wrote her book based on her experiences of money as a young child and as a graduate starting her career. In this podcast Fulu shares with Maya her journey from university to becoming a financially savvy actuary and her experiences of...

Join hosts Maya Fisher French and Mapalo Maku in this special episode as they reflect on the incredible journey of Santam staff members who participated in the six-month Santam Insure Your Future Money Bootcamp. This transformative experience culminated in a final event that celebrated the courageous individuals who opened up their financial lives to scrutiny, embraced change, and achieved remarka...

The Psychology of Financial Decisions In this episode of the "My Money, My Lifestyle" podcast, host Maya Fisher French chats to Rudolph Geldenhuys , the Financial Planner of the Year, about the psychology behind financial decision-making. They discuss the importance of understanding the 'why' behind one's financial actions. Rudolph, who has been in the financial services industry for over a decade...

Welcome to the Santam Insure Your Future Money Bootcamp with Maya Fisher-French and Mapalo Makhu. This series is designed to guide you through essential financial topics, helping you make informed decisions for a secure future.  In our previous episodes we have spoken about building wealth, but what about succession and building intergenerational wealth? How do you protect your family but also tra...

This week Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced the Medium-Term Budget which is tabled every year in October.  Most people only really care about the February budget because that is where the minister announces the changes to taxes. But the medium-term budget is packed with really important information about how government is going to be collecting and spending our money over the next three...

Welcome to the Santam Insure Your Future Money Bootcamp with Maya Fisher-French and Mapalo Makhu. This series is designed to guide you through essential financial topics, helping you make informed decisions for a secure future. In this episode, we delve into the intricacies of retirement planning with Johann Steyn , a certified financial planner at Rainmaker Bluestar by Sanlam. As one approaches r...