Are all of your financial bases covered? The past few years have been challenging for many South Africans as the unexpected has become reality for many of us. Whilst you cannot control the circumstances that take place around you, the great news is that you can take control of your finances and take practical steps to ensure your bases are covered. Let’s take a look at how you can do this…   Staying the course We live in a challenging world. Consumerism is rife, it’s never been easier to access quick loans to purchase anything you want (large or small) and it’s become tricky to sta ..read more

The importance of having the correct insured value for your property & household contents With the recent April / May 2022 storms and the devastation that ensued, we would like to highlight two very pertinent points that need to be considered and reviewed annually to safeguard oneself in the event of a claim. In these times we can all understand reducing expenses wherever we can, especially on something as intangible as comprehensive insurance cover on our fixed property. It’s a case of “we don’t want to pay for something we don’t perceive as obligatory, until we realize we need it ..read more

How to determine if your assets are properly covered by insurance You’ve finally splashed out on that smartwatch you’ve been saving up for, received a beautiful set of gold earrings for your birthday, bought a smart TV, or joined the growing ranks of drone owners. You can’t wait to start using or wearing your exciting new item, but how do you make sure it is adequately covered?   Step #1: Ask the right questions The first question you should ask yourself when assessing your cover is: Will I wear or carry my new gear outside my home?  If you answered no, and your items will neve ..read more

Which Medical Aid should you choose for 2022? With 18 open medical schemes and hundreds of plan options to choose from, making a decision can be overwhelming. It’s also that time of year when medical aid members are able to make changes to their plan options for the upcoming year. It is important that this decision is made wisely as it can have a large financial impact.  Before a successful decision can be made regarding the best medical aid scheme for your needs, understanding the industry-specific jargon and terminology is key. In this article we unpack some of the terms you will ..read more

Information that is vital to obtain at the scene of an accident Often at the scene of an accident, adrenaline is racing and those involved are left fumbling at the scene, unsure of what to do next. In the unfortunate event that you are ever involved in an accident, it is vital to be prepared ahead of time with a list of what you need to obtain so that you are able to quickly and efficiently wrap things up and make your way either home or to the nearest police station to report the incident.   Tips for anyone involved in an accident: Advice we give our clients is to remain as calm a ..read more

Your retaining wall might not be covered on your insurance policy At Reid Raetzer Robsons, we pride ourselves on sharing key industry expertise with our clients so that they are not caught in the unfortunate event of being denied a payment from their insurer for something they thought they were covered for. One such cover that most of our clients believe they are automatically covered for within their household insurance policy is that pertaining to their retaining wall, but in reality, cover for retaining walls under the storm, wind, water, hail, snow peril is specifically excluded from ..read more

Have Low Risk investments turned into High Risk investments? By Wesley Moodie, Financial Advisor at Reid Raetzer Robsons At the start of 2020, South Africa had extremely high real rates (interest rate less inflation rate) compared to the rest of the world. This gave local investors an alternative to investing in the local stock market that has moved sideways for six years. With interest rates now dropping 2.25% in just a few months, and scope for further rate cuts, this means that money in the bank is no longer as attractive as the gap has closed between the local interest rate and the i ..read more

New Positions Available for Financial Advisors Reid Raetzer Robsons is one of the largest independent insurance brokerages in South Africa and we have a proud legacy of diligently serving our clients since 1969. We are seeking dynamic financial advisors to join our growing team committed to excellence and impeccable customer service.   About Us Built on a strong heritage of nurturing sustainable relationships, we have been guiding our clients on their journey to financial freedom for over 50 years. Since the day we opened our doors, our vision has been to be a guiding light to our c ..read more

Is South Africa becoming Zimbabwe? “Is South Africa becoming Zimbabwe?” Is a question we are all too familiar with in South Africa. However, I am writing that on behalf of UK citizens this time. The Bank of England recently announced that they will directly fund (print money) for the UK government’s spending needs on a “temporary” basis. While these measures will likely have a more long term effect on the value of currency, if they become permanent, investors should be made aware of the risks that these measures pose and be reminded that we are living in unusual times where governments a ..read more

Questions investors should be asking themselves By Wesley Moodie, Financial Advisor at Reid Raetzer Robsons With certain companies and markets brushing aside the recent COVID-19 pandemic as if it were just your common cold, there are certainly enough investors worldwide that are now breathing a sigh of relief in response to the recent market bounce. A favourite trade among global fund managers for many years now has been to pile into the US equity markets – and for local managers not only has this paved the way for investments into some of the biggest companies in the world, it has also ..read more