If you allow yourself to get too carried away, that spring in your step may come to a sobering halt when the heat of Janu-worry’s financial struggles hits your pocket. FNB’s Product Head for Integrated Advice Ester Ochse shares some simple yet effective pointers to help you stretch your rands this season

The South African economy stumbled in Q3 2024, with GDP contracting by 0.3% quarter-on-quarter—a surprising setback given the optimism earlier this year. However, Reza Hendrickse, Portfolio Manager at PPS Investments, presents a contrarian yet informed perspective:

In South Africa, economic dependence is a key factor trapping women in abusive relationships. Financial advisers have a vital role in breaking these cycles by empowering women to take control of their finances and build independent futures

Therèse Havenga, highlights a critical financial lesson: the true cost of taking shortcuts when planning for a holiday. By comparing three scenarios for funding a R30,000 holiday, Havenga paints a clear picture of why saving upfront is not just smarter—it’s significantly cheaper in the long run.

DataEQ has published its 2024 South African Banking Sentiment Index, which, this year, placed Discovery Bank first overall, ranking first in both operational and reputational performance.

Bertie Nel, Head of Financial Planning and Advice at Momentum, highlights the importance of understanding one’s "money personality" in managing spending habits. Research by Paul Nixon, Momentum’s Head of Behavioural Finance, shows that traits like prudence, anxiety, and prestige influence how we spend, save, and invest.