Southwood Financial Planning

05/08/2026

https://www.southwood.co.za/over-coffee-market-economic-commentary-july-2026

SA INFLATION South Africa’s annual inflation rate accelerated to 5.0% in June 2026, its highest level since June 2024. | SA RATES The SARB left interest rates unchanged, surprising markets that had anticipated a rate hike. Click the link above to read more.

30/07/2026

Mid-Year Financial Review
We're halfway through the year.

Now is the perfect time to ask:

• Are you still on track to meet your financial goals?
• Have your circumstances changed?
• Are your investments aligned with your objectives?
• Have you reviewed your retirement planning?
• Is your estate plan still up to date?

A small adjustment today can make a significant difference by year-end.

23/07/2026

SARB keeps rates steady. What does this mean for you?

The South African Reserve Bank's Monetary Policy Committee has left the repo rate unchanged at 7.00%, meaning the prime lending rate remains at 10.50%. For homeowners, investors and anyone planning their financial future, this decision provides continued stability in an uncertain global environment. While interest rates remain unchanged, it's always a good time to review your financial plan and ensure you're still on track to achieve your long-term goals.

At Southwood Financial Planning, we're here to help you make informed financial decisions, whatever the market brings.

📞 If you'd like to discuss how the current interest rate environment affects your finances, we'd love to hear from you.

23/07/2026

https://www.southwood.co.za/have-we-become-too-comfortable
The New Normal Isn’t Normal

In today’s investment and financial planning landscape, information is abundant – insight scarce. Every day brings a new headline or prediction and so with it a reason to feel anxious or optimistic. At Southwood Financial Planning we believe our greatest value lies in not reacting to every headline and in helping clients to identify the signals that truly matter, allowing decisions to be guided by evidence, perspective and long-term objectives rather than short-term emotion.

The following article by Jared Bartholomew speaks directly to this challenge, we trust that you will find it as thought provoking as we did. Enjoy!

The New Normal Isn’t Normal In today’s investment and financial planning landscape, information is abundant – insight scarce. Every day brings a new headline or prediction and so with it a reason to feel anxious or optimistic. At Southwood Financial Planning we believe our greatest value lies ...

18/07/2026

Today, on Mandela Day, we're proud to support the incredible work Greenpop is doing to create greener, stronger communities. Every small act of service helps grow a brighter future. Thank you to the Greenpop team and every volunteer giving their 67 minutes today. 💚🇿🇦

14/07/2026

https://www.southwood.co.za/spacex-ipo-deep-dive-the-hype-the-price-and-the-opportunity

We dig into the potential scope of the Starlink market, SpaceX’s impact on the industrial gas investment space, and our perspective on xAI and orbital computing. Click on the link to read more.

We dig into the potential scope of the Starlink market, SpaceX’s impact on the industrial gas investment space, and our perspective on xAI and orbital computing. WRITTEN BY: Nicolas Owens | Equity Analyst, Aerospace & Defense, Suryansh Sharma | Director of Equity Research, Industrials and Krzyszto...

03/07/2026

https://www.southwood.co.za/over-coffee-market-economic-commentary-june-2026

SA INFLATION | Annual inflation rose to 4.5% in May, the highest level since July 2024, marking the third consecutive monthly increase. SA TRADE BALANCE | South Africa recorded a ZAR 1.8bn trade deficit in May, its first monthly deficit since January 2025. Click the link above to read more.

30/06/2026

https://www.southwood.co.za/who-wants-to-be-a-millionaire
Becoming a millionaire is often associated with luck – winning a game show or the national lottery, inheriting wealth, or making a single exceptional investment. However, for most investors, wealth accumulation is far less dramatic and far more predictable. Click on the link to read more.

23/06/2026

Thinking about investing offshore? The 2026 Budget introduced an exciting change for South African investors.

Single Discretionary Allowance (SDA):
2025: R1 million per year
2026: R2 million per year

That is an increase of R1 million annually without needing prior SARS tax clearance!
Why does this matter?

● You can now invest up to R2 million offshore each year using your SDA, making global diversification more accessible than ever.
● The increased allowance means less paperwork and fewer administrative hurdles for investors looking to build wealth beyond South Africa's borders.
● Remember that your SDA covers all foreign spending, including overseas travel and credit card purchases. This means it's important to plan accordingly.
● Each South African resident aged 18 and older receives their own allowance, creating additional planning opportunities for households and families.

Diversifying internationally can help spread investment risk, provide access to global markets and reduce reliance on a single economy or currency. The key isn't investing offshore simply because you can, it's ensuring your investment strategy aligns with your long-term financial goals.

If you'd like to discuss whether offshore investing forms part of your financial plan, we'd be happy to help.

16/06/2026

While we often think about education, opportunity and guidance, financial security also plays an important role in shaping future possibilities.

Whether it's saving for education, teaching healthy money habits, creating generational wealth or simply leading by example, the financial decisions we make today can influence the opportunities available to our children tomorrow.

The greatest gift is not necessarily money. It's providing a foundation from which future generations can thrive. Happy Youth Day, South Africa.