Rolling black outs are something we've become used to here in SA during the cold winter months. But rolling black outs in March, that's a bit early isn't it. Apparently not. Earlier today, Eskom warned that “seven days of continuous rain have affected [its] power stations in Mpumalanga and is still affecting coal mines”. The result? The production of electricity has come into jeopardy leaving ... ››› more
There's no denying that digital currency, bitcoin, has taken the world by storm. Not just as a trading mechanism, but as a viable investment opportunity too.
But many investors are still sceptical about the currency and how it works.
In the infographic below, we reveal the ins and outs of bitcoin including how it works and how you can use it to make serious money in 2015.
To sha... ››› more
Gold has long been investors favourite asset and there's good reason for this too. After all, investing in gold protects your portfolio from a variety of dangers.
But how do you go about investing in gold and what should you consider before you buy it?
Below, we're sharing an infographic that shows you just that...
If you'd like to share this image on your site, please ... ››› more
Anton Rupert's life is the stuff of legend.
Growing up in the small town of Graaff-Reinet, Rupert had to drop out of medical school because his family didn't have enough money to pay the tuition. But he didn't let this setback stop him from being successful. He started making cigarettes in his garage and, eventually turned this venture into the industrial and luxury branded goods giant that is... ››› more
We've all been there: You sit down at a restaurant you've never been to, confidently open the wine list and then… Disaster strikes: You don't recognise a single red wine on the list!
What do you do?
Should you admit defeat and just order a beer instead?
Not at all. Equipt with the wine picking tip below, you're sure to find a great red wine every time…
Use this essential wine picki... ››› more
Trophies… Country Clubs… Big swings… These are just some of the things South Africans associate with legendary sportsman like Ernie Else.
But if the “Big Easy” isn't a name you automatically associate with top red wines, it should be.
Here's why…
Ernie Els is more than just a golfer; he’s a top winemaker too!
“While men may dream different dreams, they are driven by ... ››› more
When you think winter drinks, we're willing to bet you think red wine. After all, what goes better with meaty stews, thick soups and hearty roasts with all the trimmings?
But wine experts believe it's not the colour of wine that you should base your winter wine selections on, it's actually this one factor instead...
Think red wine is the only wine to choice in winter, think again…
If y... ››› more
If you've always thought you can only drink red wine with red meat… That they always need be inky red in colour, have an oaky flavour and high tannin content, it's time to rethink those ideas. The Winery of Good Hope Reserve Pinot Noir 2012 is fruity… Great with seafood… Fragrant… And it's changing the way wine lovers experience this much loved red wine. Here's why…
Pinot Noir – the... ››› more
Nestled in the Paarl wine lands, lies a true gem. It's the Welgemeend wine estate. For the past 40 years, wine lovers have treasured it for its ability to capture the essence of fine French wines in its local red Bordeaux blends. And now it's released a new red wine vintage to the market…
Bordeaux-blend? What does that mean?
Before we tell you about Welgemeend’s must-have addition to yo... ››› more
When it comes to fine wine, there's nothing better than sipping on a perfectly aged red wine. And waiting long enough to open a bottle of Cabernet, Pinotage and Shiraz can mean the difference between merely enjoying a wine and being blown away by its true potential. But here's the thing: Ageing wine can go horribly wrong. To make sure this doesn't happen to you, follow these essential wine storage... ››› more
There are two big secrets in making rental property work for you. One has to do with the classic “location, location, location” axiom. The other is about the condition of the property you buy. Here's what property expert, Mark Ford says you need to keep in mind when deciding on the right rental property to buy.
When buying rental property, it needs to tick these two criteria
1. Buy prop... ››› more
Let me ask you a quick question: Why are you investing in property? Do you want a quick capital gain? Or are you looking for easy income? Your answer will determine the exact type of finance you need to achieve your property investment goal. And once you know the answer, you'll be able to use this simple checklist to finance your property investment the right way…
How to finance your property... ››› more
As an investor, you're no stranger to investment scams and similar fraud. Now, there's a new type of fraud in town. And it's after your retirement benefits…
Fraudsters target your retirement benefits!
Retirement fund trustees beware, writes persona finance guru, Bruce Cameron. If you’re not careful, you and your dependents could lose all your benefits to a new fraud scheme.
Here’s... ››› more
Most investors think figuring out which is the best unit trust to invest in is the only thing they need to consider. But that's not true! Before getting involved in any investment, you need to consider how the tax on it works. When it comes to unit trust investing, these two taxes apply…
SARS levies two taxes on all forms of unit trust investing
As the experts at Equinox explain, there ar... ››› more
When it comes to buying property, you can easily go it alone. But with hundreds of properties why would you, when there's an easy way to find the best properties available. What is it? Use an estate agent, of course. To do that, however, you need to ensure that you get off on the right foot. And that's where this smart property investing advice can help…
The secret to property investing su... ››› more
When it comes to property investing, the market is heating up. According to the latest stats out of lending group Ooba, we've recently seen “positive growth in the property market, as the result of a combination of lender and buyer confidence.” That's great news if you're considering buying property and getting involved. And there's no better place to start than with fixer upper property…
... ››› more
The first rule of investing is never put all your eggs in one basket. That's what we mean when we talk about asset allocation. And here's the good news for investors who don't want to do this themselves. There's a type of unit trust that'll do it for you: Prudential fund unit trusts.
What is a prudential fund unit trust?
Prudential funds (also known as balanced funds) are among the oldest o... ››› more
If you're as sick as taxes as most South Africans are, you'll love that unit trusts give you the chance to make money from this. How? By investing in the right unit trust of course. And in this case, it all comes down to something called a bond fund unit trust…
What is a bond fund unit trust?
As The South African Investor’s Leon Kok explains: Bond funds are fixed interest funds tailored... ››› more
Drinking wine isn't just for fancy dinners and nights out with your beloved. You can drink it at any meal - even with takeaway pizza. But to make sure you don't ruin the wine, you need to drink the right one. Here are five rules you can follow when pairing wine with pizza.
These five food and wine pairing rules will help you pick the best wine to go with your pizza
Wine pairing rule #1: Con... ››› more
Retirement is tough! You need to live on a tight budget with little hope of generating more income unless you carry on working or invest smartly. But when it comes to the latter, there's no better unit trust for retirees to invest in than an enhanced income fund unit trust. Here's why…
What is an enhanced income fund unit trust and how is it different from an income fund?
Enhanced income ... ››› more