It is important that you, as a couple, understand the state of your finances and have a documented plan for where your income streams are going to be coming from. Question: I have always managed the family finances. I am concerned that when I die my spouse could receive the wrong financial advice and run out […]
The second quarter of 2024 painted a diverse picture across global markets, with notable disparities in regional and sector performances. Emerging markets shone brightly, as evidenced by the MSCI EM USD Index’s impressive +5.0% rise (YTD: +7.5%), outpacing the MSCI World USD Index, which posted a +2.6% gain (YTD: +11.8%) for the same period. This […]
Children living abroad who have not officially emigrated might still be regarded as South African tax residents, which has implications when they inherit their parents’ deceased estate. Question: I have children who are living overseas. They did not emigrate officially and are now citizens of the countries where they are resident. They have absolutely no assets […]
Election ANC-xiety The month of May ended with all eyes focused on South Africa’s national elections. In a historic upset, akin to a championship team losing its long-held title, South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) stumbled, losing its majority for the first time since Nelson Mandela’s triumphant post-apartheid victory 30 years ago. The ANC’s decline […]
Question: We left South Africa 10 years ago and eventually ended up in Canada, where we now live. We never officially emigrated. Will this cause problems in years to come? Answer: Many people leave SA to work abroad. What was originally an adventure to get some offshore experience often becomes a permanent arrangement. As they did […]
Putting your offshore assets into an insurance wrapper has the twin benefits of reducing your tax liability and making inheriting easier. Question: A few months ago, you talked about using offshore insurance wrappers to save on inheritance tax. We have some money overseas, from which we occasionally draw to supplement our South African income. If we […]
Throughout the month, the global financial markets have been weaving their way through an intricate tapestry of geopolitical uncertainties, pivotal economic data, and the strategic directions undertaken by central banks. In the United States, the Federal Reserve’s March Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting heralded a wave of optimism. The dovish tone struck by Federal […]
During the month, global financial markets navigated through a complex interplay of economic indicators, geopolitical tensions and central bank policies. In the US, ongoing concerns surrounding the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy stance played a pivotal role. Investors closely monitored signals from the central bank regarding its approach to interest rates and inflation management amidst mounting […]
The year started with financial markets witnessing a shift in sentiment following the gains from the December rally. While the beginning of the month hinted at a pull-back, a reversal occurred as the month progressed, ultimately concluding with global indices finishing in positive territory. In the United States, the focal point of the month was […]
The final quarter of 2023 saw a synchronized rally across global bonds and equities as falling inflation in many economies led central banks to continue to pause or effectively end their interest rate hiking cycles and start to look towards rate cuts, particularly in the US. And, although a growth slowdown is still expected in […]