‘I’ll have a baby when I can afford it.’ How many times haven’t we heard this line or said it ourselves? The problem with this statement is that you’ll never be able to afford it. A sobering thought. We have children even though we can’t afford them. Yet we make it work. All are fed,…
Twelve ambitious women CAs(SA) tell us how they manage their demanding careers and still find the time to be successful sportswomen. Lynn Grala interviewed them. Change starts with small beginnings. These twelve sporty women show us that real change requires more than just good intentions. What is needed is one serious decision followed by a…
Fastest-growing African country for millionaires Mozambique is expected to be the fastest-growing African market for individuals with a net worth of US$1 million or more over the next ten years, followed by Ivory Coast and Zambia, according to the Africa 2015 Wealth Report. South Africa is home to the most people in Africa worth US$1…
Discovery CEO Adrian Gore recently pointed our management team towards a recent article by John Kay, visiting professor at the London School of Economics, in the Financial Times (‘Why our planes are growing safer and our finances are not’, 1 April 2015), who makes a point well worth exploring. Flying is a very low-risk means…
The recent release of the ‘carbon offsets paper’ by National Treasury raises the question of whether carbon offsets are in need of a feasibility reassessment, for the planet and the bottom line. Do they bring profit? By Gary Swartzand Zani Labuschagne South Africa is one of the world’s top 15 greenhouse gas (GHG) emitters. In…
The objective of business forecasting should be to become ‘future ready’. Companies can do this by systematically and rationally assembling information that gives managers forward visibility regarding likely outcomes as well as risks so that they can execute strategy. Greg Bogiages explains Achieving robust performance over the long term requires businesses to develop healthy forecasting…
MISTAKE NUMBER 6: NOT MAKING SURE YOU ARE COVERED FOR HAZARDOUS PURSUITS If you are one of those people who plan to spend weekends engaging in extreme sports, it is crucial to determine if your life insurance and disability policy covers you in the event of an accident arising from these activities. If your leisure…
Here’s a little exercise for you. I’ve often alluded to the importance of budgeting, but let’s break it down and put it into practice. How much do you spend on groceries per week? How much do you want to be spending on groceries every week? (Is it just me, or am I spending more and…
There is a degree of empathy in many people that can understand somebody in desperate need committing a crime, particularly a ‘victimless’ crime like fraud against a large business. Who is really hurt if the secretary is taking home stationery for her kids, or an individual inflates an insurance claim, both within reason? More often…
An annual milestone publication, however well intentioned, is only part of the story and may even be an unfortunate and unintended detraction. By Lindie Engelbrecht CA(SA) and Carl Ballot CA(SA) Informed business leaders generally agree that sustainability is one of the primary moral and economic imperatives for the 21st century and one of the single…