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Hardening rates and the pandemic

09 November 2020 | Straight Talk

Hardening rates and mistrust following non-life insurers’ handling of pandemic-related business interruption claims could make for tough negotiations when commercial non-life insurance brokers sit opposite their small and medium enterprise (SME) clients to renew policies. Recent news flows suggest that the next round of renewals could contain sharp increases across a range of insured perils. Global reinsurer Munich Re recently reported that the combination of a hardening insurance market, ‘lower for longer’ interest rates and larger than forecast pandemic and non-pandemic losses would make insurance covers more expensive, particularly for long term risks in third-party liability and other lines.

Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee…: Analysts trade blows over whether to return offshore capital to South Africa

06 November 2020 | The Stage

There are matters of greater import to South African investors than whether Biden or Trump snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in the 2020 United States Elections boxing match. As the post-pandemic economic order unfolds, we can either leave our capital offshore in an increasingly low yield environment, or risk everything by repatriating our wealth to seek out higher yields and avail of the stellar returns promised by our nth new dawn. The idea of bringing capital back to South Africa after taking so much care to diversify our portfolios offshore seems counterintuitive; but is it something we should be considering?

Financial adviser’s battle cry: My kingdom for a digital solution

28 October 2020 | Straight Talk

In act 5, scene 4 of Shakespeare’s Richard III, King Richard, who had lost his horse on the battlefield, shouted: “My kingdom for a horse”. Financial advice practices that are still writing business and servicing clients on outdated legacy systems, using paper-based processes, are probably just as frustrated. Your 21st Century battle cry should be: “My kingdom for [a practice-fit] digital solution”. The need to incorporate technology in advice practices was highlighted during a panel debate held on the second day of the 2020 Financial Planning Summit, a virtual CPD initiative run by The Collaborative Exchange.

Same policy, different outcome (not): Mass public sector employment not the answer to South Africa’s economic malaise

23 October 2020 | The Stage

The 15 October 2020 ‘Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan’ was littered with contradictions. A prime example was the promise to rein in government expenditure while, in the same instant, finding billions of rand to reverse pandemic-related job losses and part-fund hundreds of infrastructure projects. President Cyril Ramaphosa told the Joint Sitting of Parliament that “extraordinary measures were needed to restore the economy to inclusive [and transformative] growth” before outlining myriad interventions under five broad objectives. We offer our reflections on his presentation under each objective.

quick poll

Question

If you had to hazard a guess, when do you reckon the COFI Bill will be signed into law?

Answer

2026, as promised 2027 looks more likely Impossible to say More consultation needed

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What’s inside… FAnews Magazine October 2020

15 October 2020 | The Stage

O what a tangled web we weave… How fact and reality get sucked into the maelstrom of mainstream thinking

09 October 2020 | The Stage

“Please Sir, I want some more” - Bucket loads of cash needed to fund government’s populist pipe dreams

02 October 2020 | The Stage

Commission procurement clause just one piece of the transformation puzzle

29 September 2020 | Featured Story

UK non-life policyholders find patchy relief

28 September 2020 | Straight Talk

The ‘smoke and mirrors’ deceit: Speculators’ obsession with ‘instant everything’ drives tech shares to ridiculous valuations

20 September 2020 | The Stage

Big data gives local medical scheme an edge in assessing pandemic impact

15 September 2020 | Featured Story

The “lies, damned lies & statistics” pay-line: Why economists say SA’s 51% quarter-on-quarter GDP contraction is no big deal

13 September 2020 | The Stage

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