Welcome to the Santam Insure Your Future Money Bootcamp with Maya Fisher-French and Mapalo Makhu. This series is designed to guide you through essential financial topics, helping you make informed decisions for a secure future. Risk cover can feel like a grudge purchase, especially when budgets are tight, it is also not as exciting as investing, yet it is one of the most important aspects of your financial plan. Very few people understand the various risk products such as income protection and c...
Aug 22, 2024•37 min
Welcome to Life Behind the Numbers, a Discovery Life podcast series where we delve into the trends driving insurance claims and explore how this data can help us improve health outcomes. While many risks are beyond our control, there are steps we can take to mitigate them. By adopting proactive and healthier lifestyles, we can reduce the incidence of severe diseases and even mortality. In this episode, we explore the significant impact of health screenings on severe illness claims, particularly ...
Aug 15, 2024•14 min
Welcome to the Money Bootcamp with Maya Fisher-French and Mapalo Makhu. This is a series of podcasts that you can follow to help create your own money journey. We share our experiences in working with individuals who turned their finances around in just six months. In this episode, we tackle the issue of managing excessive debt, especially in the face of rising interest rates and inflation. Many people are struggling to meet their debt repayments, and we are here to offer practical solutions and...
Aug 08, 2024•34 min
Inflation is a term we hear often, especially when discussing the economy and our personal finances. But have you ever wondered how it's calculated and why it sometimes feels like your expenses are rising faster than the official inflation rate? In our latest podcast episode, I am joined by Sanisha Packirisamy , Economist at Momentum Investments to help unpack the intricacies of inflation calculation in South Africa, shedding light on some common misconceptions. One of the key points discussed i...
Aug 01, 2024•25 min
Welcome to the Santam Insure Your Future Money Bootcamp with Maya Fisher-French and Mapalo Makhu . In previous episodes we have focused on budgeting and living within your means, but at some stage everyone will need to access credit. But how do you do that in a responsible and sustainable manner? We begin with a cautionary tale from Thato, one of our mentees, who illustrates how easily consumer debt can accumulate. From small loans and credit cards to store accounts, many find themselves in fina...
Jul 25, 2024•34 min
Welcome to Life Behind the Numbers, a Discovery Life podcast series where we delve into the latest claim statistics with experts from Discovery Life. In this episode, we explore the fascinating concept of insuring yourself in a hard currency like US dollars. Maya is joined by Discovery Life's Deputy Chief Executive Gareth Friedlander and Head of Market Analytics and R&D, Kashmeera Kanji, to discuss the benefits and mechanics of the Dollar Life Plan. Discover why South Africans are increasing...
Jul 18, 2024•18 min
Welcome to the Santam Insure Your Future Money Bootcamp with Mapalo Makhu and Maya Fisher-French. In this, the third episode in the series, we delve into the financial intricacies of making major purchases, specifically focusing on buying a home and a car. We are joined by Tshiamo, one of our mentees from last year, who shares her eye-opening experience of unexpected costs when purchasing property. From transfer duties and bond initiation fees to the often-overlooked levies and municipal rates, ...
Jul 11, 2024•27 min
With SARS announcing the opening of tax season on 15 July, it's crucial to understand the complexities of filing tax returns and how to maximise any tax breaks. Joining us to unpack this topic is tax expert Andre Bothma and Poobalan Govender, Acting Head of Old Mutual Rewards, who will explain how Old Mutual Rewards members qualify for discounted rates when using digital tax assistant TaxTim . In this podcast Andre Bothma provides essential insights on who should file a tax return and the import...
Jul 09, 2024•17 min
Are you ready to take control of your financial future? The Santam Insure Your Future Money Bootcamp is here to guide you through a transformative journey that will help you understand and master your finances. Hosted by Maya Fisher-French and Mapalo Makhu , this podcast series is designed to help you build a solid financial foundation, no matter where you are on your money journey. In the second episode of the Santam Insure Your Future Money Bootcamp, Mapalo and Maya dive into the topic of budg...
Jun 28, 2024•40 min
Welcome to "Life behind the Numbers," a Discovery Life podcast series. Host, Maya Fisher-French, together with experts from Discovery Life, delve into the latest trends from Discovery Life claims research, highlighting the need for both physical and financial protection against various risks. In this episode, we tackle a topic often overlooked: the importance of child cover and the financial implications of unexpected events affecting our children. Joined by Kashmeera Kanji, Head of Market Analy...
Jun 20, 2024•17 min
Created by consumer financial journalist Maya Fisher-French and financial coach Mapalo Makhu, the Santam Insure your Future Money Bootcamp is a podcast designed to help you create your own financial money journey. In this special series, we bring you the transformative journey of financial education. Over the next six months, through 13 episodes, we will guide you step-by-step on how to take control of your finances. The podcasts will be realised every second week and you can follow the various ...
Jun 13, 2024•25 min
In this episode of My Money My Lifestyle, host Maya Fisher-French delves into the financial complexities of divorce with financial planner Kirsten Smit of Citadel Investments. They explore the alarming rise in divorces, particularly in the post-Covid era and among those over the age of 50. Kirsten shares insights on the financial upheaval that divorce brings, from splitting assets to managing two households, and the challenges women face during this transition. Listeners will gain a comprehensiv...
May 30, 2024•25 min
Wondering how to navigate the chaos of today's economic climate? Dive into our latest podcast episode where host Maya Fisher French and investment expert Debra Slabber from Morningstar South Africa explore the eight principles of successful investing. Discover why simplicity is your ally, how your savings rate impacts your financial future more than you think, and why the best action in a turbulent market might be inaction. The key to investment success lies not in chasing the latest trends or c...
May 16, 2024•32 min
In this episode of My Money My Lifestyle, host Maya Fisher-French is joined by financial advisor Munya Shumba to address a critical yet often neglected aspect of financial planning: prioritising your own financial future over solely focusing on your family's needs. They explore the delicate balance between generosity and self-preservation, highlighting the need for parents and young professionals alike to establish firm financial boundaries. Listeners will gain insights into how to navigate fami...
May 02, 2024•28 min
In this episode of My Money My Lifestyle, host Maya Fisher-French and financial planner Kirsty Scully tackle the daunting reality of expenses for young graduates entering the workforce. With salaries that seem substantial on paper, they break down the sobering truth of the cost of living, from rent and groceries to utilities and transportation. Kirsty brings invaluable insights on the financial hurdles faced by those in their early career stages, discussing the potential pitfalls of home ownersh...
Apr 04, 2024•33 min
In this eye-opening episode of My Money My Lifestyle, host Maya Fisher-French delves into the often contentious intersection of love and finance. Maya is joined by Queen Malobane Provincial General Manager at Metropolitan to unpack the complexities of dating and maintaining relationships when partners are in different financial leagues. Queen's recent article on the subject serves as a springboard for a candid discussion about the power dynamics and emotional challenges that arise when one partn...
Mar 21, 2024•33 min
In this practical episode of My Money My Lifestyle, host Maya Fisher-French tackles the often-overlooked details of short-term insurance contracts that can have a big impact on your wallet. Maya shares her personal discovery of significant hikes in her insurance policy when it came to excesses - prompting a deep dive into what policyholders can do to navigate these changes. Joined by insurance expert Karen Rimmer from PSG Insure , they explore the trend of insurers adjusting excess fees and how ...
Mar 07, 2024•22 min
In this insightful episode of My Money My Lifestyle, host Maya Fisher-French takes you behind the scenes of South Africa's national budget with the expertise of Mr. Edgar Sishi, Deputy Director General of National Treasury and Head of the Budget Office at National Treasury. As the nation grapples with the impact of financial decisions, Maya and Mr. Sishi dissect the complexities of a R2.37 trillion budget, the daunting reality of debt servicing costs, and the delicate balance of tax collection. ...
Feb 23, 2024•40 min
In this comprehensive episode of My Money My Lifestyle, Maya Fisher-French, a seasoned freelancer herself, delves deep into the world of taxes with tax experts Kagiso Nonyane and Dumisa Sihawu , from BDO South Africa. They tackle the complexities of tax for freelancers, from understanding why tax may be deducted from your earnings to the intricacies of tax directives and provisional taxpayer status. Are you a graphic designer, writer, or any kind of freelancer juggling clients and projects? Then...
Feb 08, 2024•44 min
Why do so many people feel that the financial system is rigged against the average person, that the system is built to benefit the elite at the expense of the average person? In this podcast Maya has a frank discussion with David Buckham , founder and CEO of Monocle Solutions and author of The End of Money , The Age of Menace and Why Banks Fail , about the inherent flaws in the banking system and the reasons behind the erosion of trust across all areas of society – financial and political. They ...
Jan 25, 2024•41 min
Money is not about rands and cents – it is an emotional currency, which is why money conversations are so hard. Money means many different things. It encompasses power dynamics in a relationship, it can symbolise success and status. For some people it reflects care and for others it represents safety. Money and gifts are one of the five love languages. When two people in a relationship have a very different emotional connection to money, those conversations can become loaded and challenging. In ...
Dec 12, 2023•32 min
When her mother tragically passed away in car accident three years ago, the then 24-year-old Zihle found herself emotionally and financially responsible for her two younger sisters. To make ends meet Zihle turned to credit – what started off as “small loans” soon snowballed into larger and larger debts. The more the repayments ate into her disposable income, the more she relied on further credit to pay the bills. Maya speaks to 2023 Money Makeover Challenge runner-up Zihle about her personal jou...
Dec 11, 2023•23 min
In this podcast Maya speaks to Johan the winner of the 2023 Absa/City Press Money Makeover Challenge about how he reduced his debt by over R85 000, built up an emergency fund of R42 000 and increased his retirement contributions – all in just six months. Joined by his financial adviser Takalani Badugela, Johan discusses how small day-to-day choices over time created a significant debt burden and about his decision to enter debt review. Johan is an inspirational story of what is possible when you...
Dec 05, 2023•19 min
When you get married or have a child there are so many exciting things to focus on like the wedding dress, invitations, the honeymoon and baby showers. The last thing we want to think about are the financial aspects. Yet it is the finances that will have the most lasting impact on our relationships. This is especially true when it comes to writing up a will. After your marriage contract, this is the most important document to get drawn up. In this conversation Maya and Andrea chat to fiduciary e...
Nov 30, 2023•29 min
“Money conversations are hard. They are harder than talking about sex or the in-laws. How much money one earns versus how much a partner earns is linked somehow to our perceived value. The person who makes more money has more power unless there is a conscious approach in the relationship. The person who has more money has potential to dominate the conversation and control the flow of the money. Money can also be used to shame - blaming a partner for not earning enough or keeping the family in a ...
Nov 17, 2023•31 min
Why two attorneys need to be part of your wedding plan. In this series of conversations, Maya speaks to Andrea Carr about her experience of getting divorced which has led Andrea to question many of the decisions she made as a woman, as a mother, and as wife, when it came to her finances. It made her realise the importance of taking care of herself, and not only her family. Andrea’s experience is true even if you are in a relationship for life – at some point statistically, as a woman, you will b...
Nov 02, 2023•34 min
It is that time of year when our medical schemes inform us how much more we will be paying for our medical cover. With medical costs rising above inflation, the amount we spend on medical services takes a growing bite out of our budgets. It is important that we spend time understanding our medical plan to make the most of it. In this podcast I chat to Jillian Larkan, head of healthcare consulting at financial advisor firm GTC to unpack the mysteries of medical cover: Why have my premiums increas...
Oct 19, 2023•35 min
On 1 March 2024 there will be a radical change affecting everyone who is a member of a retirement fund. This is known as the Two-Pot Retirement System and applies to any member of an employer pension/provident fund, a retirement annuity or a preservation fund as well as members of the Government Employees Pension Fund. There have been many questions and complaints about how the new system will work, especially when it comes to withdrawals. In this podcast Maya speaks to Mr. Basil Maseko a Direct...
Oct 05, 2023•34 min
Many South Africans are finding themselves supporting their aging parents, thanks to the combination of a tough economy and insufficient retirement funding. But it’s critical to plan this key transition carefully to ensure your own finances stay on track and to maintain a healthy relationship with your parents. In this podcast Maya speaks to Stian De Witt, Executive Head of Financial Planning at NMG Benefits about how to have these conversations and financial implications to consider....
Sep 21, 2023•32 min
September is wills month and in this podcast we discuss how to use a will to protect your child’s legacy. Maya speaks to Alex Simeonides CEO of Capital Legacy to help parents navigate the complexity of estate planning. This podcast was sponsored by Capital Legacy.
Sep 07, 2023•24 min
