Fortunately the abysmal performance of the local property sector is not the symptom of a global problem. The CoreShares S&P Global Property (GLPROP) exchange-traded fund (ETF) offers property lovers an opportunity to enjoy the security of a physical investment and steady income in developed economies. Unlike local ETFs that invest heavily in commercial real estate ...
Podcast: Help me help my parents!
The financial services industry has done nobody any favours. Not only were many of our parents sold retirement products with exorbitant fees, they are also offered the same awful choices now they’ve reached retirement age. They have learned the hard way you can spend your life doing everything right and still lose because of bad ...
ETF: Understanding the CoreShares S&P 500
For investors in a market with only 153 listed companies, access to an index tracker that gives one instant access to 500 companies is a boon indeed. When that tracker costs only 0.39% of your investment—as the CoreShares S&P 500 (share code: CSP500) does—all the better. The S&P 500 index has been around since the ...
Podcast: Workplace pensions vs RAs
You may not be very happy with your workplace pension fund. In this week’s episode, we think through some of the things you can do to remedy that situation. Pension funds, like all other retirement products, have to be Regulation 28-compliant. That means you don’t have much control over what’s inside. However, you can control ...
ETF: Bond ETFs, yields and junk status
With a wider variety of bond ETFs available, local investors can tinker with asset class exposure down to the region. But the relationship between price and income can be confusing. In this post, we explore what bonds are, the relationship between price and yield and how South Africa’s sovereign debt downgrade affected these instruments.
Podcast: The medics tribute show
There seems to be a battle for dominance raging between medical professionals and engineers on this show. This week we happened to receive emails from four healthcare professionals. Considering what’s happening in our hospitals at the moment, we decided to dedicate this week’s show to these heroes. Listen/download here. Subscribe to our RSS feed here. Subscribe or ...
ETF: Finding the right ETF
"What should I buy?" This is the question we hear most often from first-time investors. It's an understandable impulse to leave the choice up to somebody else, but it matters that you make this decision on your own. Investing is about your financial security. You work for your money, and then your money works for ...
Podcast: The two-stage FIRE approach
If you went into formal employment straight out of university or school, odds are you have some sort of pension fund or retirement annuity. You may since have realised the idea of working until you’re 65 is entirely optional. If you’ve already allocated a large part of your income towards your retirement, you need to ...
ETF: Satrix China in IPO
ETF issuer Satrix is in the process of listing a new Chinese exchange-traded fund (ETF). Until 14 July 2020, ETF investors seeking access to the Chinese economy can pick up ETF units at no brokerage cost in the initial public offering (IPO). Considering China is the second-largest economy in the world, gaining access to that ...
Podcast: Investing in China
If you listened to this episode on a single ETF strategy, you know my investment philosophy. This simple approach to investing saves me a lot of drama. When a new product comes to the market, I ask myself if it fits with my original philosophy. If it doesn’t, I can satisfy my curiosity about the ...


