By: Sydney Sekese, CFP® professional and member of the Financial Planning Institute “A week is a long time in politics” The above quote is commonly used to depict the fast pace of the political landscape, which changes drastically just over a single week. I would like to adopt this quote and remind readers how fast paced the events of last year (since March 2020) have been.…
Is there is an opportunity to spend with impunity?
By Sydney Sekese, CFP® professional and member of the Financial Planning Institute The month of February is often eventful and filled with activities ranging from “Valentine’s day celebrations” to the finance minister’s budget speech. This year we also saw the release of national matric results in February. The budget speech was delivered against the backdrop…
One Swallow Does Not Make a Summer (or Spring)
By: Sydney Sekese, CFP® professional and member of the Financial Planning Institute I am adopting this month’s article from a well-known expression. This expression was in use in the middle of the 4th century BC. It is related to a fable, which goes something like this: “A young man spends all his money on gambling and…
Fixing the Black Friday Hangover
Sydney Sekese, CFP® professional and member of the Financial Planning Institute The day finally arrived and quickly disappeared. By the time you read this article, most consumers would have stood in long queues for Black Friday bargains. The effects of excessive spending during this period could be likened to a hangover. Just like a hangover…
Vote for Your Financially Fit Future – Know Your Numbers
Sydney Sekese, CFP® professional and member of the Financial Planning Institute An election for the president of the United States happens every four years. At the time of writing, the next presidential election would have been on November 3, 2020. Staying informed and up to date with the latest political news is paramount to every…
Where there’s a Will there’s a Way
By Sydney Sekese, CFP® professional and member of the Financial Planning Institute I am adopting the phrase: “Where there’s a Will there’s a Way” to challenge readers to intentionally think about creating a will. Followers of my articles will recall that last month we touched on the topic of sanitising your finances during Spring. Now…
Sanitise your finances in September and beyond
By :Sydney Sekese, CFP® professional and member of the Financial Planning Institute South Africa conventionally celebrates Spring Day on September 1 each year. I am dedicating this article to the arrival of this season. A famous grandma’s quote states that “A cold and rainy winter does not last forever. Summer eventually follows and life tends…
Ways in which women can regain their financial confidence
By Sydney Sekese, CFP® professional and member of the Financial Planning Institute As we enter women’s month of August, the purpose of this article is to provide some tips on how women can regain their financial confidence. A common, local legend assumes that women have a special gift of multi-tasking and completing several projects/tasks on…
Being financially aware can be rewarding
By Sydney Sekese, CFP® professional and member of the Financial Planning Institute I am writing this article as we say goodbye to the youth month which is celebrated uniquely due to limited social interactions compared to the past. Another unprecedented event that would be facing South Africans at the time of writing, is that government…
Social circles are not ideal places for investment advice
By Sydney Sekese, CFP® professional and FPI 2016 Media Award Winner Females are generally more sociable than their male counterparts. They are talented in arranging social events ranging from tea parties, stokvels, weddings and church meetings. It is in such places where most engagements, chit-chats and advice take place. This begs the question – Should…