Market Update: Why Markets Keep Finding Their Way Back to the Same Place

This year, just about everything that could go wrong has gone wrong. But despite the turmoil markets have shown remarkable resilience. Time and again, investors have been confronted with events that seemed destined to derail global growth, only for fundamentals to reassert themselves.

As wars, technology, and economic policy continue to pull markets in different directions, one question remains: why do markets keep ending up in almost exactly the same place?

Why Are More People Building ‘Career Insurance’?

For a long time, a second income was a nice-to-have: a “side hustle” that brought in some extra spending money, or was a way to express your interests and creativity outside of work.

But it is increasingly becoming something entirely different: ‘career insurance’.

In this article we look at a profound shift in how people think about a second income, and why it is becoming more critical.

When Risk No Longer Feels Risky

After years of market turbulence followed by surprisingly resilient recoveries, many investors are asking an unexpected question: “Am I being too cautious?”
Let’s look at how recent experience shapes our perception of risk, why discipline still matters, and the role thoughtful financial advice plays in keeping emotions from driving investment decisions.

Is Private Healthcare Becoming Unaffordable?

For many South Africans, the annual medical scheme increase has become one of the most dreaded notifications of the year. As healthcare costs continue to outpace inflation and salaries, more families are questioning whether private healthcare is still affordable.

Before making decisions to downgrade or cancel your cover, it’s worth speaking to your financial adviser about balancing affordability with the protection your family needs.

Economic and Market Overview – July 2026

An Economic and Market overview of June 2026 from Chrome.

Market Update: While Wall Street Wobbles, South Africa Gains Momentum

Since the year dot, narratives have driven investor sentiment. June’s narrative was largely positive for South Africa as investors uprated our investment potential, but it was decidedly rocky for US investors, with chipmakers leading stock markets to heady highs before driving them down to disconcerting lows.

In June, the performance gap between the JSE and developed markets narrowed amid positive sentiment, and, for the first time in years, the investment case for South Africa was being made not by local optimists but by global institutional investors.

What Does Financial Planning Look Like if You Don’t Have Kids?

For generations, financial planning followed a familiar script: build a career, buy a home, raise a family and, eventually, pass wealth on to the next generation. While that path still resonates with many, modern lives are far more diverse.

The reasons for not having kids may differ, but the financial question is often the same: if your wealth is not destined for children, how can it best enrich your life, reflect your values and leave a meaningful legacy long after you are gone?

The Highest Return on Investment May Not Be Financial

We all know investing is about building wealth over time. By saving consistently and investing prudently, we aim to lay the groundwork for long-term financial wellbeing.

But the most fulfilled people are not always those who have accumulated the greatest amount of wealth. More often, they are those who feel that their skills, resources and experiences have become part of something larger than themselves.

Making the Most of Your First Paycheck

Earning a first paycheck is a big step in anyone’s life. The value of that money in your bank account goes well beyond just the financial. It’s a significant psychological shift.

It is a moment of great opportunity, but also one fraught with challenges. In this article we look at how to navigate your first salary and to optimise it for your future like a seasoned financial architect.

Economic and Market Overview – June 2026

An Economic and Market overview of May 2026 from Advantage.

Higher-for-Longer: Navigating Inflation, Interest Rate Uncertainty

The uncomfortable reality is starting to sink in. Interest rates are going higher, not lower as expected earlier this year, and that the era of cheap money is not returning any time soon.

As Warren Buffett has pointed out, the government can’t print oil. That means investors need to consider how inflation may affect their portfolios, without panicking.

Markets Are Easy to Access. Wisdom Isn’t

Advances in technology have opened financial markets up to anyone who owns a smartphone. But easy access does not necessarily translate to stellar investment outcomes.

While online platforms have made investing easier than ever, long-term success still depends on discipline, structure, and avoiding costly mistakes. Much of the value financial advisors add comes from helping investors stay focused on

Why South Africans Are Better Investors Than We Think

With all the turmoil in South Africa, you could be forgiven for thinking it’s not the best place to be an investor.
On the contrary, the qualities developed here often translate remarkably well into investing. South Africans tend to think practically. We are adaptable, emotionally resilient and generally capable of functioning through changing circumstances without completely losing momentum. Read on to feel good about yourself.

The Ultimate Gift: Maximising Your Child’s TFSA from Day One

They say that nothing comes for free, but for South African investors there is an exception. Tax-free savings accounts give investors tax-free growth on their money, making them a powerful wealth creation tool.

They are most powerful when they are given time to work their compounding magic. In this article, we examine just how incredible the results can be if you open one for a child the day they are born.

Economic and Market Overview – May 2026

An Economic and Market overview of April 2026 from Chrome.

Death and (Capital Gains) Taxes: Don’t Get Caught Out

Capital Gains Tax (CGT) is not a flashy, Ferrari-driving, Gucci-wearing kind of tax. Instead, it quietly goes about its business in the background, day in and day out. This doesn’t make it any less consequential.
Many estates that appear financially secure can come under unexpected pressure from Capital Gains Tax at death. The good news is that there are several relief mechanisms within the tax system that, with careful planning, can meaningfully reduce this impact.

Why Every South African Also Needs a “Digital Will”

Estate planning in South Africa has followed a well-trodden path: we draft a will, appoint an executor, and ensure our physical assets – the house, the car, the Krugerrands – are accounted for.

However, in an era where our lives are increasingly hosted in the cloud, a significant portion of our estates is becoming invisible. Without a “digital will” or a comprehensive folder, your heirs may find themselves locked out of your financial, sentimental, and professional life.

What if You Live Longer Than You Thought You Would?

We spend our whole lives planning for retirement. While nurturing our nest egg, we worry about short-term risks. Things like wars, elections, interest rates, leaking roofs and tax breaks.

But how many of us stop to consider the prospect of living to 90 or 100? People are living longer than ever before. But most of us don’t pay enough attention to longevity when planning for retirement. Read on for some tips on how to have a long and happy retirement.

Climbing a “Wall of Worry” on an Unstable Footing

Global markets are currently climbing a classic “wall of worry”, stubbornly rising against a persistent backdrop of uncertainty.

However, this rally is increasingly viewed as fragile, driven more by positioning and narrative than by a fundamental assessment of the real risks arising out of the Iran war.

Is SA’s Investment Tide Changing?

For over a decade, the best you could say about South African markets was that there was a lot of unrealised potential. At worst, there was a sense of structural decay.

But could a shift be underway? In this article, we look at the changing sentiment towards South Africa and what it might mean for local investors.