Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Jesse Morgans
I have R225k. What’s the best way to utilise and maximise my capital?
Your Name: Your Email: Send Email To: Keep this field blank I'm 21 and thinking of buying an investment property in the next three to five years. By Jesse Morgans 4 May 2021 00:57 I am 21 years old and am looking for some advice. I have invested about R57 000 since May 2020 and my investment portfolio currently sits at R75 000.
I want to withdraw R55k from my global account. What’s the best way to use it?
Your Name: Your Email: Send Email To: Keep this field blank Reader's options include: investing in a TFSA or EasyEquities account, investing directly offshore, or paying a lump sum into their car loan. By Jesse Morgans 13 Apr 2021 10:00 I have approximately R55 000 sitting in an FNB Global account (denoted in Australian dollars). I did a calculation to determine my growth since investing in November 2017.
When a company is delisted and liquidated, does this trigger a tax event?
Your Name: Your Email: Send Email To: Keep this field blank And could I claim losses against my capital gains in the respective tax year? By Jesse Morgans 10 Feb 2021 00:55 I have managed to step on a few landmines over the past few years, including the likes of Group 5 and Intu. These two companies have gone into business rescue and have been delisted from the JSE, following a spectacular crash in their share prices.
I’m R205k in debt. How do I become debt-free?
Your Name: Your Email: Send Email To: Keep this field blank You may need to consider applying for debt counselling. By Jesse Morgans 22 Dec 2020 00:01 Before Covid-19, I had been self-employed since 2018. I had a business that needed a big cash flow, and constantly; therefore I took out loans to keep the business running and the monthly instalments were affordable for me to pay.
Is it advisable to draw the max from my LA and reinvest the monies offshore?
There are several factors that need to be explored in detail in order to help you with an analysis of your options and the potential risks associated with those options. Due to the scope of this response, I would recommend that you explore this in further detail with a professional financial advisor. There are four main aspects to consider in answering your questions.
Improving pension fund outcomes: a case for hedge funds (Part 2)
Your Name: Your Email: Send Email To: Keep this field blank Research findings show that a portfolio of select hedge funds in a Regulation 28 portfolio can contribute to a better outcome for pension fund portfolios. “Shouldn’t we have more offshore exposure?” Investors continue to express concern regarding the state of South Africa’s fiscal and monetary issues.
Improving pension fund outcomes: a case for hedge funds
Your Name: Your Email: Send Email To: Keep this field blank A portfolio of select hedge funds in a Regulation 28 portfolio can contribute to a better outcome for pension fund portfolios. The much-debated “Regulation 28” restrictions imposed on retirement funds have made investors feel increasingly uncomfortable with having large exposure to either the local economy or the local stock market, despite its large exposure to rand-hedge stocks.
The US election is at it again
Your Name: Your Email: Send Email To: Keep this field blank Be mindful of the risk of increased volatility in the fourth quarter of 2020. The US election is at it again and it promises to be a bumpy ride! From Bill Clinton to Joe Biden, the Democrats certainly can’t be forgiven for their more recent track record of selecting presidential candidates. Unfortunately, given what Biden has suggested on policies which he would like to implement, the market sees more questions than answers.
South Africa’s default trajectory is sadly that of a sinking ship
Your Name: Your Email: Send Email To: Keep this field blank The country has had declining real GDP (growth) since 2011. “Should I take my money offshore?” A question which is often asked by investors who are fearful of the South African deterioration. Without digressing into a lengthy analysis of the pros and cons of offshore investing, let’s rather consider the facts which relate to the underlying issues within the question.
What is the best way to spend my tax refund?
Based on your scenario your question relates to reducing debt, investing the refund or contributing towards an emergency fund. All three options could be considered as well thought out ways to utilise your tax refund. It is important to note that there is no one right or wrong answer to your question as it relates to what may be most appropriate for you in your financial circumstances and your personality type. Reducing debt Interest rates on credit card debt can be relatively high.
Should I use most of my provident fund as capital in a new business?
There are several factors which need to be explored in detail in order to help you with an analysis of your options and the potential risks associated with those options. Due to the scope of this response I would recommend that you explore this in further detail with a professional financial advisor. Assumed tax on withdrawal? In order to try and quantify the gross withdrawal amount that is required to generate the R3 000 000, I have used the Allan Gray withdrawal tax calculator.
Are your investments safe in SA? Some things to consider when going offshore
PREMIUM! There is a very real concern that our fiscal and monetary policy may deteriorate along with the likes of our state-owned enterprises. Jesse Morgans 21 Sep 2020 09:48:41 AM Image: iStock A Moneyweb reader asked: I have R3 million invested in SA earning 8% per annum. I am afraid that with the country’s financial problems, the rand may weaken over the next five to 10 years.
Will a dollar/pound investment safeguard the value of my money?
Without knowing the role that this money plays in your overall financial plan, I will address the considerations around the points that you have raised. Concerns around South Africa A common discussion that we have with clients is around the concerns of keeping your wealth invested in South Africa, be it through investment property, a local business or the local stock market.
Is it wise to invest R1m of my pension in fixed assets for five years?
It’s important to note that your question forms part of a greater whole which is to say, what role does this money play in your long-term financial plan? Without knowing the role that it plays in your overall financial plan, I will address the considerations around using fixed income instruments, as well as the considerations for an investor who is starting out their journey in retirement.
What if you had sold in fear?
Your Name: Your Email: Send Email To: Keep this field blank A realistic scenario illustrating selling into a falling market. Following the sharp and distressing fall on the JSE in the first quarter of 2020, investors were asking themselves whether they should sell their investments and go to cash or other safe-haven assets. The risk at this point is making a financial decision based on our cognitive biases. “In a highly uncertain world, we crave certainty.
Does the low Brent crude price make oil stocks a buy?
Are oil stocks a buy? The fall in the oil price has unfortunately come at a time when the world is adjusting to the global coronavirus pandemic. In March Opec+ failed to reach an agreement on reduced output in the production of oil. Russia most notably refused the proposal that would see it cut its production. This sent the price of oil well below what is needed for the producers to cover their operational costs.
Is putting my pension in a money maximiser account best?
Your question is very important however, it encompasses an array of factors which shouldn’t be taken lightly nor answered in a brief response. I would urge you to seek comprehensive advice from a qualified professional financial advisor, to be fully informed on your options and what possibilities may be appropriate for you. When investing your retirement savings, there are several aspects which need to be considered to know what the appropriate investment options are.
Should I keep my life savings in my bond?
The question of paying off debt or contributing to retirement savings is something that must occur to many South Africans. The answer is unfortunately neither simple nor can it be easily applied in a generalised manner as there are too many factors to consider. Each case should be carefully considered with the help of a professional financial advisor. Your question raises three unique points to consider.
Are higher long-term returns worth the volatility?
Your Name: Your Email: Send Email To: Keep this field blank The financial rewards for being comfortable as an investor are the same as the physical rewards for sitting on the couch. Equity markets are inherently volatile. That’s the price one pays for the higher returns offered by growth assets. You can’t enjoy the benefits of exercise without some sort of discomfort, because being out of breath, sore, or tired is the sign that you’ve put in enough effort to deserve a reward.
Was cash king in 2019?
Your Name: Your Email: Send Email To: Keep this field blank Staying the course is vital. Looking back to where we stood this time last year, cash had outperformed all other major asset classes in 2018. The annualised 3-year return of the JSE All Share Total Return Index at the end of 2018 was in line with that of cash over the same period.
Are income funds risk free?
Your Name: Your Email: Send Email To: Keep this field blank There are several risks a management team must consider when constructing a portfolio of income-yielding instruments. Cash has become the ‘safe haven’ for investors who have opted out of multi-asset funds due to the poor return of growth assets over the past several years.
Can I get tax benefits from contributing to my kids’ RAs?
Anyone who contributes to a pension fund or retirement annuity (RA) is entitled to claim a deduction for tax purposes based on their contribution, subject to the limitations applicable at the time of the contribution. However, the fund or annuity must be in their name. So while you can contribute to an RA in the name of your child, you would be unable to claim a tax deduction on the contribution. How can you still claim the tax deduction?
How can I reduce the costs of my living annuities?
Unfortunately, local investors have had to face the low-return environment over the past several years, with many investors fleeing to cash after such an extended period of volatility. Over the last five years up to March 22, the South African multi-asset high equity or ‘balanced fund’ peer group average annual return was 5.65%, according to ProfileData. Over the same period, the daily annualised average of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 4.91% according to ProfileData.
How do I start a share portfolio?
Investing in one’s own portfolio of carefully-selected shares is something that can be very exciting – particularly for a relatively young investor with a long time frame. I run my own virtual share portfolio on EasyEquities as an exciting experiment to see if I can outperform my investment, which is managed by what I consider to be the top local fund managers, based on their top stock pick ideas.
How can I invest for good returns, but with low risk?
The question is probably one that most investors ask themselves if they are saving for a deposit on a house, car or business venture with a short- to medium-term time frame. However there are a few points that need to be noted before an objective opinion can be given. Over the short-term, a unit trust with a great manager may underperform its peers, because they took a lower degree of risk than their peers.
‘My husband managed our finances’
Traditionally the role of managing the family finances was the responsibility of the husband/father of the household. This included budgeting, insurance payments, remaining up-to-date with taxes and paying rates and other bills. Eventually this trend could include the management of a couples retirement funds. Unknowingly this trend could arguably cause financial phobia for the spouse. Spouses should both be involved in financial decision-making wherever possible.
Can I retire from just one RA?
Sadly, the older RAs provided by life assurance companies, while providing tax benefits on contributions, were not investor-friendly. They typically had high costs, poor investment options and large penalties for discontinuing them or making them paid up. Fortunately, modern RAs provided by some respected investment houses as opposed to life assurance companies, don’t carry these burdens. To answer your question: yes, you can retire from any one RA independently of any other retirement fund.
Estate planning: Should I transfer my farm to company or trust?
When it comes to the use of trusts from an estate planning perspective, there are many factors that can have an effect on one’s decision as to how to structure one’s affairs. It takes a number of meetings to iron out the best solution based on an individual’s circumstances.
Don’t be emotional about the markets
The worry on the minds of offshore investors is the concern that offshore markets are expensive. For value managers countries such as India and the US have very high PE ratios. A related concern that is apparent among global fund managers is whether or not the global market is headed for a correction. The general feel among the managers is divided between a bear market case and a bull market case going forward.
Investing for escalating education expenses
Q: What is the best investment strategy to save for our children’s future education expenses (nursery to high school) from birth and, if you’re starting to invest late, for those already in school?
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Jesse
Contact Jesse, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack