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PROFIDA, a leading provider of underwriting software solutions for the financial and insurance industries, today announced a significant security enhancement for its document generation system. PROFIDA has officially upgraded its PDF encryption standard from the 40-bit RC4 protocol to the advanced 256-bit AES encryption standard.

CIO, John Gilchrist and Senior Analyst, Gavin Rabbolini at PSG Asset Management The dominant narrative surrounding China remains largely unchanged. Investors continue to focus on slowing economic growth, a struggling property sector, weak consumer confidence, adverse demographics and rising geopolitical tensions. Taken together, these challenges have left many investors questioning whether to invest in China at all.

Atang Matebesi, CEO of Santam Client Solutions Against a backdrop of persistently high living costs, insurance is often perceived as a significant yet unavoidable expense, with little visible benefit during claim-free periods and limited recognition for responsible behaviour.

Andile Jonas, Head of Marketing at Momentum Savings, compares a talk with your financial adviser to a doctor’s visit. Some people are lucky and enjoy excellent health. Others have it so hard that our hearts can only bleed for them. Then, in between, most people must visit a doctor ever so often for say the flu. Sometimes we must also discuss something embarrassing – even a stomach playing up is not the kind of conversation we usually enjoy.

With the 2026 tax-filing season around the corner, taxpayers are urged not to assume that submitting a return will be a straightforward administrative exercise, particularly if a withdrawal has been made from the savings component of a retirement fund during the past tax year. “The tax-filing process may feel familiar, but taxpayers should not approach it on autopilot," says Lihle Khumalo, Allan Gray tax specialist.

After a volatile start to the year, gold now faces a pivotal second half that will be shaped by unpredictability from geopolitics, rates, and investor sentiment, according to the Gold Mid-Year Outlook 2026 released by the World Gold Council today. Gold set more than 12 all-time highs and reached a record US$5,405/oz in late January before pulling back sharply to a low of US$4,002/oz in June, a swing that resulted in a 7% year-to-date drop in price and an increase in average volatility to 30%.

New research from Liberty and the University of Cape Town Liberty Institute of Strategic Marketing has revealed major shifts in how mid-career South Africans view long-term security in the face of intensifying financial and personal pressures. The Messy Middle: A focus on mid-careers 35 to 55 highlights a move away from traditional thinking around wealth, retirement, health, work, and long-term financial security.

Izak Odendaal, Old Mutual Wealth Investment Strategist The 2026 FIFA World Cup has been a welcome distraction, but the “Football Unites the World” motto is a stretch. The world seems more divided than ever, and more uncertain. The US, a co-host, remains at war with Iran, though a fragile ceasefire has allowed oil supplies to start normalising and energy prices have declined rapidly.

By Joleen John, Masthead Group Managing Director COFI will bring significant changes to the way financial institutions are licensed, moving towards an activity-based framework. Here’s what financial institutions need to know about the proposed changes, what they could mean for existing licences and why understanding your activities now is key to a smoother transition.

Cedric Masondo, CEO, PSG Insure The first half of 2026 has marked a clear shift in the short-term insurance risk landscape, with weather-related catastrophes emerging as the largest force on claims costs, says PSG Insure CEO, Cedric Masondo. He notes that what was a comparatively benign catastrophe environment a year ago has moved into an elevated phase, with the frequency and severity of floods, storms and wildfires all rising.