In this eye-opening episode of My Money My Lifestyle, host Maya Fisher-French delves into the often contentious intersection of love and finance. Maya is joined by Queen Malobane Provincial General Manager at Metropolitan to unpack the complexities of dating and maintaining relationships when partners are in different financial leagues. Queen's recent article on the subject serves as a springboard for a candid discussion about the power dynamics and emotional challenges that arise when one...

In this practical episode of My Money My Lifestyle, host Maya Fisher-French tackles the often-overlooked details of short-term insurance contracts that can have a big impact on your wallet. Maya shares her personal discovery of significant hikes in her insurance policy when it came to excesses - prompting a deep dive into what policyholders can do to navigate these changes. Joined by insurance expert Karen Rimmer from PSG Insure, they explore the trend of insurers adjusting excess fees and...

In this insightful episode of My Money My Lifestyle, host Maya Fisher-French takes you behind the scenes of South Africa's national budget with the expertise of Mr. Edgar Sishi, Deputy Director General of National Treasury and Head of the Budget Office at National Treasury.  As the nation grapples with the impact of financial decisions, Maya and Mr. Sishi dissect the complexities of a R2.37 trillion budget, the daunting reality of debt servicing costs, and the delicate balance of tax...

In this comprehensive episode of My Money My Lifestyle, Maya Fisher-French, a seasoned freelancer herself, delves deep into the world of taxes with tax experts Kagiso Nonyane and Dumisa Sihawu, from BDO South Africa.  They tackle the complexities of tax for freelancers, from understanding why tax may be deducted from your earnings to the intricacies of tax directives and provisional taxpayer status. Are you a graphic designer, writer, or any kind of freelancer juggling clients and projects?...

Why do so many people feel that the financial system is rigged against the average person, that the system is built to benefit the elite at the expense of the average person? In this podcast Maya has a frank discussion with David Buckham, founder and CEO of Monocle Solutions and author of The End of Money, The Age of Menace and Why Banks Fail, about the inherent flaws in the banking system and the reasons behind the erosion of trust across all areas of society – financial and...

Money is not about rands and cents – it is an emotional currency, which is why money conversations are so hard. Money means many different things. It encompasses power dynamics in a relationship, it can symbolise success and status. For some people it reflects care and for others it represents safety. Money and gifts are one of the five love languages. When two people in a relationship have a very different emotional connection to money, those conversations can become loaded and...

When her mother tragically passed away in car accident three years ago, the then 24-year-old Zihle found herself emotionally and financially responsible for her two younger sisters. To make ends meet Zihle turned to credit – what started off as “small loans” soon snowballed into larger and larger debts. The more the repayments ate into her disposable income, the more she relied on further credit to pay the bills.  Maya speaks to 2023 Money Makeover Challenge runner-up Zihle about her...

In this podcast Maya speaks to Johan the winner of the 2023 Absa/City Press Money Makeover Challenge about how he reduced his debt by over R85 000, built up an emergency fund of R42 000 and increased his retirement contributions – all in just six months. Joined by his financial adviser Takalani Badugela, Johan discusses how small day-to-day choices over time created a significant debt burden and about his decision to enter debt review. Johan is an inspirational story of what is possible when...

When you get married or have a child there are so many exciting things to focus on like the wedding dress, invitations, the honeymoon and baby showers. The last thing we want to think about are the financial aspects. Yet it is the finances that will have the most lasting impact on our relationships. This is especially true when it comes to writing up a will. After your marriage contract, this is the most important document to get drawn up. In this conversation Maya and Andrea chat to...

“Money conversations are hard. They are harder than talking about sex or the in-laws. How much money one earns versus how much a partner earns is linked somehow to our perceived value. The person who makes more money has more power unless there is a conscious approach in the relationship. The person who has more money has potential to dominate the conversation and control the flow of the money. Money can also be used to shame - blaming a partner for not earning enough or keeping the family in...

Why two attorneys need to be part of your wedding plan. In this series of conversations, Maya speaks to Andrea Carr about her experience of getting divorced which has led Andrea to question many of the decisions she made as a woman, as a mother, and as wife, when it came to her finances.  It made her realise the importance of taking care of herself, and not only her family. Andrea’s experience is true even if you are in a relationship for life – at some point statistically, as a woman, you...

It is that time of year when our medical schemes inform us how much more we will be paying for our medical cover. With medical costs rising above inflation, the amount we spend on medical services takes a growing bite out of our budgets.  It is important that we spend time understanding our medical plan to make the most of it.  In this podcast I chat to Jillian Larkan, head of healthcare consulting at financial advisor firm GTC to unpack the mysteries of medical cover:  Why have my...

On 1 March 2024 there will be a radical change affecting everyone who is a member of a retirement fund.  This is known as the Two-Pot Retirement System and applies to any member of an employer pension/provident fund, a retirement annuity or a preservation fund as well as members of the Government Employees Pension Fund. There have been many questions and complaints about how the new system will work, especially when it comes to withdrawals.  In this podcast Maya speaks to Mr. Basil Maseko...

Many South Africans are finding themselves supporting their aging parents, thanks to the combination of a tough economy and insufficient retirement funding. But it’s critical to plan this key transition carefully to ensure your own finances stay on track and to maintain a healthy relationship with your parents. In this podcast Maya speaks to Stian De Witt, Executive Head of Financial Planning at NMG Benefits about how to have these conversations and financial implications to consider.

September is wills month and in this podcast we discuss how to use a will to protect your child’s legacy. Maya speaks to Alex Simeonides CEO of Capital Legacy to help parents navigate the complexity of estate planning. This podcast was sponsored by Capital Legacy.

An important aspect of financial wellness is mental wellness. Financial stress can cause emotional stress, it impacts our relationships and our workplace. When it comes to managing money, we need to be aware of our money emotions -  what makes us spend, why does money make us so anxious?  While financial pressure can impact our mental wellbeing, our mental wellbeing could be causing our financial challenges. For example, if you are feeling stressed you overeat, you are more likely to make...

As banks improve security around identification and biometrics are introduced, fraudsters are finding that the easiest way to get into your bank account is to get you to help them!  In this podcast Maya shares the story of how her husband nearly fell victim to a vishing attack.  “I often write about these scams and we are all aware of them. We think it will never happen to us because we are savvy, we are aware – but these scamsters are so good and they know how to push the emotional...

If you are about to retire, you need to start thinking about how to invest your lump sum to provide you with an income for life. According to an article by the Actuarial Society of SA, there is a window of opportunity for retirees to lock in some of the highest rates in 20 years. With inflation peaking and the cost of living rising, this is an opportunity not to be missed. In this podcast Maya speaks to Deane Moore, CEO of the Just Group about how to use a guaranteed annuity to boost your...

The 2023 City Press/Absa Money Makeover Challenge has begun. This is the seventh year where Maya Fisher-French together with a team of Absa financial advisers work with six individuals to turn around their finances in just six months.  In this podcast Maya chats to Sarah Nkwana of Absa about the candidates, why they were selected and the challenges they face. Everyone following the Makeover Challenge will find someone they can identify with. You can follow their journey online at:...

Welcome to the finale of the Emotions and Money podcast series, where we explain concept of the Money Fingerprint.  Join host Maya Fisher-French and Paul Nixon, head of Behavioral Finance at Momentum, as they take you on a journey of self-discovery and financial empowerment. The Money Fingerprint isn't just another run-of-the-mill personality test. It's a diagnostic tool, created in collaboration with Pretoria University, that weaves together the core themes explored throughout this podcast...

Are you aware that our ability to accurately assess risk is flawed? Think about those posters that surround the shark tanks at aquariums that compare the statistics of shark-related fatalities with seemingly innocuous household items like toasters or even the act of simply falling off a chair. Surprisingly, the numbers reveal that toasters and chairs pose a greater threat to our safety than sharks. Yet, why does the mere thought of a shark strike terror in our hearts, while a toaster fails to...

Did you know that shedding tears isn't just an emotional release, but also a fascinating biological phenomenon? Emotional tears actually flush out cortisol, the stress hormone, while containing traces of oxytocin, the powerful trust and bonding hormone. Join us on the captivating Emotions and Money podcast as we delve into the connection between our emotions and financial decisions. Tune in as renowned host Maya Fisher-French and guest Paul Nixon, the brilliant mind behind Behavioral Finance...

On 24 April 2023, seemingly out of the blue, SARS updated its "Manage Your Compliance Status” webpage and announced a “new enhanced” TCS application form. This meant that a South African who was wishing to invest more than R1 million offshore would have to follow the same financial audit process as a person applying for a tax non-resident status. In this podcast Maya speaks to Thomas Lobbin, head of Cross-Border Taxation at Tax Consulting South Africa to understand what this means for...

Emotions and Money is a six-part podcast series where we unpack the psychology behind our investment decisions and how our emotions could be sabotaging our financial outcomes.   What makes a good investor? In discussion with Maya Fisher-French, Paul Nixon, head of behavioural finance at Momentum Investments identifies the key behaviours that lead to successful financial outcomes and the impact Covid has had on how we invest. Emotions and Money is a podcast series in partnership with...

Emotions and Money is a six-part podcast series where we unpack the psychology behind our investment decisions and how our emotions could be sabotaging our financial outcomes.   In this episode Maya Fisher-French and Paul Nixon, head of behavioural finance at Momentum Investments discuss the different personality types and how your personality could be affecting the way you manage your money. Emotions and Money is a six-part podcast series in partnership with Momentum Investments.