Maya on Money

Since March 2001, all South Africans have been legally required to declare and pay tax on their annual worldwide income, irrespective of where they live. So even if you have been living abroad for a few years, you are still considered a resident for tax purposes, unless you can objectively prove to SARS your intention to remain outside the country permanently.  With the introduction of a formal SA...

What is the best blend of investment products that will provide you with a sustainable, tax-efficient income in retirement? While there is no question that the pre-retirement tax benefit from investing in a retirement annuity is significant, to what extent is an RA tax efficient over the full course of your financial plan which includes the 20-odd years you will be drawing a retirement income? In...

“I needed to be braver” is how 2022 Money Makeover runner-up Zinzy described her financial situation when she entered the money bootcamp six months ago. In this open and frank conversation, Zinzy talks about the courage it took to have difficult discussions with people who owed her money and taking her head out the sand to tackle conversations with creditors including SARS. “I was an ignorer of no...

It is possible to turn your finances around in just six months. The Money Makeover Challenge has proven this over and again. The stories from the candidates who enter are testament to the fact that financial freedom is not about miracles, it is about having a plan, a partner and discipline. In this podcast Maya speaks to the 2022 Money Makeover winner, township entrepreneur Mpho along with his big...

Medical scheme membership is expensive and it becomes more expensive every year. The average family pays R6000 or more a month for their medical scheme benefits, yet Andre Jacobs author of “Medical Schemes Explained: Your Ultimate Guide to Using Your Medical Scheme Efficiently” argues that many are paying too much, simply because they do not understand the way their scheme works. In this podcast M...

Earning your first pay cheque and balancing the many financial demands is challenging for any graduate. For those who are the first in their family to become a professional, there are even greater expectations and financial demands. In this podcast Maya speaks to Akhona Modi, a Financial Planner at BDO, about both the practical and emotional aspects of meeting the expectations of family. 

“Many people see the stock market as an exclusive club or that only professionals understand it well enough to succeed, but really investing is more accessible than ever,” says Moroko Modiba, managing director of Fatima Capital and author of “The Wise Investor: The Beginners Guide to making money on the stock market”.  In this podcast Maya and Moroko discuss investment strategies for those startin...

The only thing certain in life is death and taxes and this is particularly true when it comes to our wills. While we can never cheat death, by drawing up a will and doing some basic estate planning we can reduce, and provide for, the fees and taxes, leaving more of our assets as a family legacy. In this podcast Maya speaks to wills and estate specialist Alex Simeonides, CEO of Capital Legacy about...

COVID-19 is here to stay. So how do we best protect ourselves over the long term?  Discovery Life Deputy Chief Executive, Gareth Friedlander, and Chief Medical Officer, Dr Maritha van der Walt, break down the data around the risk factors when it comes to COVID-19, how we can improve our health and protect against unknown diseases. We also unpack the risks of long-covid, how to plan your recovery a...

Cancer can affect anyone, at any age. Across the insurance industry we see cancer as an increasing cause for claims, especially among younger people. Tune in as Discovery Life’s Head of Market Analytics and R&D, Kashmeera Kanji, and Chief Medical Officer, Dr Maritha van der Walt, delve into the statistics and why early detection is your greatest defence against this disease. Every life is uniq...

In this podcast we unpack the strange relationship we as South Africans have with our currency. Why does the value of the rand affect our perception of our country? A strong rand gives us an emotion boost in the same way as our winning sports teams do – and when the rand is weak, we see it as a sign of failure. Is this normal and do people in other countries feel the same way about their currency?...

Every life is unique, and life can be unpredictable. While some of life’s events may be unpredictable, there are ways to both mitigate and protect us from today’s risks. In this podcast series, Life behind the numbers , Maya talks to Discovery Life experts about the kinds of risks we’re all up against – in facts and figures – and how to protect against those risks. In this episode, Maya is joined...

Every life is unique, and life can be unpredictable. While some of life’s events may be unpredictable, there are ways to both mitigate and protect us from today’s risks. In this podcast series, Life behind the numbers , Maya talks to Discovery Life experts about the kinds of risks we’re all up against – in facts and figures – and how to protect against those risks. This is a four part series on li...

National Treasury released draft legislation around early access to pension funds and the so-called Two Pot system. In this podcast Maya speaks to retirement reform expert Rowan Burger about how the Two Pot system will work. In this podcast they dispel some myths around early access and explain how vested rights will affect your existing retirement assets.

In a recent survey, a debt counselling firm asked financially stressed South Africans “why have you not done something to alleviate your money-stress?”. Nearly 40% of people responded that they “feel stuck”. When faced with what appears to be an overwhelming problem we tend to shut down, sticking our head in the sand. But this obviously doesn’t solve the problem. What we know is that getting ourse...

It is tax filing season and while people look forward to tax season because they can get a rebate, for many of us it can feel a bit overwhelming.  In this podcast Maya speaks to tax expert Reinert van Rensburg, Tax Legal Specialist at Leap Group, about everything you need to know about your 2022 Tax return. He discusses key changes to auto-assessments and why people who have been selected for auto...

Scientists are telling us that soon we will reach an average life expectancy of 100 years old. For some people that may be very exciting, but for others it is simply terrifying. How will we save enough money in 40 years of working to fund 35 years of retirement? In this podcast Maya speaks to financial planner Wynand Gouws about his book “To 100 & Beyond – how to make your money last as long a...

In this podcast Maya speaks to Louis van der Merwe about the biggest transition – death. Whether it is the death of a loved one or contemplating our own mortality, death is a part of life. Maya and Louis discuss how to manage both the fears and practical side of mortality. How to have these conversations with family, how to manage an unexpected death of a loved one or steps to take when you or a l...

The covid pandemic saw many people reflect on their lives. Not only did we stand still for a moment to take stock, but it opened new possibilities, especially with remote working. As result some people made major lifestyle changes. In the second part of a series of conversations around life transitions, Maya (@mayaonmoney) speaks to financial planner Louis van der Merwe of WealthUp on how to appro...

As part of a series of conversations around life transitions, Maya speaks to financial planner Louis van der Merwe of WealthUp about how adult children can support their ageing parents.  Whether you are the adult child of an elderly parent, or even if you are getting older and  starting to think about your future, we need to plan for the reality that as we get older, we become less able. Decisions...

Good financial advice is worth paying for. But do we know how much it is really costing and how do we know we are getting good advice? For years advice was wrapped up into sales commission creating the impression of “free advice” along with a general distrust in the process. The industry is changing with the separation of sales and advice fees.  In this podcast Maya speaks to Rory Brachner founder...

It is a whole new world and with the flexibility around the working environment, many people are looking at either moving or upgrading their spaces.  How do you decide on the right property for your family? If you want to expand your space, how do you finance a renovation and what about the danger of over-capitalization? If you are renovating to sell, what should you be spending your money on?  In...

Stokvels are a truly African solution helping people manage their cashflow and achieve their goals, but are we doing enough to harness the power of group savings? Could stokvels be used to build wealth, fund children’s education and even leave an asset to provide intergenerational wealth? In this podcast Maya speaks to Busi Skenjana about how stokvels can leverage their true power. Skenjana has be...

Maya speaks to financial planner Terence Tobin of Rich Ideas about ways to cut your tax bill whilst growing your investments. They unpack the pros and cons of retirement annuities, how to use a Tax-Free Savings Account for tax planning in retirement and what products to stay clear of. 

Globally stock markets have been on a roller coaster ride, and those who thought crypto assets would offer a safer alternative, well they have been along for the same ride. There are many factors driving this volatility and these are going to be the main themes for 2022. To discuss what you should be doing with your investments, Maya is joined by Kunal Sawhney CEO of independent equity research fi...