I want to tell you about a goat.
Many years ago there was a policeman whose prized possession was Billy – a goat. The policeman was the only one allocated to the township of Tarkastad. He was very proud of his goat. One day Billy disappeared…
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Retirement: what you should know and what you can do about it
The thought of getting old leaves many of us cold. We use euphemisms like Golden Years and Senior Citizens and Mature to make it sound appealing, but there is no getting around the fact that ageing is generally painful. But here you are, brave and ready to get ready for it!
Debt – coaxing the monster out from under the bed
Financial monsters: As a Financial Advisor, I can sense the palpable fear and desperation when some people come to see me for the first time. It takes courage to come and, like the dentist, I am avoided until the pain of debt and fear of financial ruin become too much.
Will an Insurance Policy Really Protect Your Lifestyle?
The day I announced to my family that I was going to sell insurance, my dad shook his head sadly. ‘You are going to embarrass this family’, he stated. I guess I understand where he is coming from – almost everyone I know has had a fight with their insurance company.
The Financial and Personal Implications of Paying Ubuntu Tax
The meaning of the word ‘Ubuntu’ is deeply rooted in African philosophy and ideology. A Nguni term, ‘Ubuntu’ roughly translates to ‘human kindness’ and often encompasses greater aspects of humanity and human essence, largely in relation to other people.
At Northwood Financial Services cc, we use the word ‘ubuntu’ with our clients to describe a situation that develops when our extended family expects us to be kind, even if their demands are unaffordable.
Continue reading “The Financial and Personal Implications of Paying Ubuntu Tax”
Fees vs Commission Based Financial Planning for Property
Earlier this month, a representative from an insurance company (that will not be named) had sent me an email. Assuming that I was an Estate Agent, the email presented me with a sales tactic that would drastically increase my income from house sales had I been a property agent. Highlighting a paragraph from the email, this is how the information was presented, word for word:
“Mr. Andrew (age 45) and Mrs. Adel (age 44) Smith have just bought a R 3 million house, and their request for a home loan has just been approved. So even through transfer has not yet happened, they have now met all suspensive conditions, and hence have become liable for the full purchase value of the home.
At this time you could sit down and assist with a Mortgage Protection Cover for the Smiths. Continue reading “Fees vs Commission Based Financial Planning for Property”
Your Relationship with Money
Money has many uses.
Hundreds of years ago, if you were a corn farmer and wanted some meat, you could have easily gone to the market place and barter exchanged your produce for different goods. If not, you would have needed to keep trading your produce until you had found alternate goods that the meat supplier would have been happy to purchase. In a nutshell; your product only had value if someone wanted it.
Once money was invented, and started being used as a medium of exchange, it became possible to buy what you needed. Or, you could have simply stored and accumulated your wealth until you were ready to spend. As the corn farmer, your produce now became more useful as it could be exchanged for money.
Northwood Planning Sessions – How they help you to grow your net worth
When it comes to retirement planning and achieving financial independence, your net worth can never be too big. No matter how much you earn or what your financial goals are, a net worth that grows each year is a sign that you are on the right track – and Northwood can help you to get there. Continue reading “Northwood Planning Sessions – How they help you to grow your net worth”
My Financial Life – A South African Financial App With a Difference
Budgeting is the first step towards wealth creation, and software companies have been quick to develop apps that help people to save money each month. Until recently, South Africans were using foreign-designed apps to manage their budgets – until Nedbank’s My Financial Life was launched. Continue reading “My Financial Life – A South African Financial App With a Difference”
Standard Bank’s UCount Programme – Will It Benefit You?
In a previous article we discussed the details of Standard Bank’s new UCount programme – a credit card rewards system that pays up to 10% cash back on grocery purchases, among other benefits. Continue reading “Standard Bank’s UCount Programme – Will It Benefit You?”