On Go Freedom we love to talk about how to achieve financial freedom. Or "retirement", if that's what you prefer to call leaving behind a salaried life or business you don't enjoy running. But is it possible to achieve this without paying any income tax in retirement? We did some calculations, and the results are surprising ..read more

Saving tax-free, opening an investment account with only R1, investing offshore without an offshore bank account... None of these things were possible 10 years ago. While we haven't reached investor nirvana yet, there is much progress to celebrate. We look at the 5 biggest game-changers for South African investors over the past decade ..read more

A reader asks, "I’ve chosen the Easy Equities platform for my TFSA. I’m also looking at the Vanguard S&P 500 (VOO) or something similar as my chosen ETF. Can I invest offshore with a TFSA?" And, is it possible to make the S&P 500 70% of my investment and invest the rest more aggressively ..read more

Just when we thought the Finance Minister didn't have much room to maneuvre and hand out any gifts, he surprised us. No transfer duty is payable now on the first R1.1m of any property purchase. And, on retirement, investors can now enjoy zero tax on the first R550 000 of the lump sum amount taken. What about the other taxes and limits that investors need to be aware of ..read more

Low interest rates during lockdown and stimulus handouts in countries such as the US fuelled a bubble in the markets that had to burst at some point. The shimmering orbs imploded spectacularly in 2022 with the S&P 500 down 15% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq down 26% for the year. South Africans with most of their portfolio offshore would have felt the most pain, while those who stuck to local funds can count themselves lucky if their portfolio beat inflation. My own portfolio grew by 7% but most of that came from adding more to the 'pot ..read more

Higher inflation looks like it’s going to be around for at least another year. Unless your earnings grow at the same pace, inflation will eat away at your purchasing power. Fortunately, you are not powerless and there are plenty of ways to soften the blow. Here are the top 6 ways in which I try to inflation proof my life ..read more

Many of us have lost parents, siblings, partners and friends during the pandemic. I know so many people who were not prepared for the backlog at the Master’s Office and for how long it can take for an estate to be wound up. This post is about the very basics of estate planning - creating cash flow for the months following death ..read more

Tax can get complicated, especially when you invest in foreign companies and ETFs. But if you largely steer clear of standard taxable investment accounts, you only need to remember a few things to easily navigate your path through the tax landscape. I share a recent podcast and my tax talk on the Easy Equities 'Invest for your Future' webinar with you ..read more

It's been a good year in the market. Most of my funds gave a return of more than 20%. And when the sun shines in the markets, it shines on everyone. As I suspect was the case for most of you, my portfolio saw a strong growth spurt in 2021. And with my travel expenses contained by the restrictions of a pandemic and the weight of quite a lot of work on my plate, I found myself buoyed closer to financial freedom ..read more

Satrix gave South Africans their first ETF - the Satrix 40 - in 2000, making it possible to own 85% of the SA stock market back then. On 10 November 2021 Satrix launched another ETF - the Satrix Capped All Share ETF - that makes it possible to own even more of the SA stock market. If you already have the Satrix 40 in your portfolio should you switch ..read more