Maysure Financial Services

01/09/2026

“No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow.” Proverb

A new week. A new month. And a brand-new season. 🌱🌸

Spring has a wonderful way of reminding us that nothing stays the same forever.

Seasons change. Difficult periods pass. New opportunities appear. And sometimes, after months of quietly putting in the work, we finally begin to see things bloom.

As we step into September this is your reminder to make a little room for something new.

A new goal. A fresh perspective. A conversation you've been meaning to have. Or simply a renewed appreciation for how far you've already come.
Here’s to brighter days, fresh possibilities and a beautiful spring ahead.
Happy Spring Day, South Africa! 🌷

31/08/2026

“You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” - Maya Angelou

There is something powerful about looking at an old problem with fresh eyes, sometimes the answer isn't working harder or doing more, it's being willing to think differently, ask a new question, or reconsider something you've always done a certain way.

That applies to our careers, our finances and life in general.

This week, leave a little room for curiosity.

A different way of thinking might be exactly what opens the next door.

26/08/2026

Can you open a new retirement annuity after you have already retired?

According to this Moneyweb Ask an Advisor article, the answer is yes. There is nothing preventing someone from opening a new retirement annuity after retiring from another retirement fund and already drawing an income from a living or guaranteed annuity.

But the more important question is not only “can you?”
It is “does it make sense for your full retirement plan?”

A retirement annuity can still offer tax benefits if you have taxable income in retirement. This may include annuity income, rental income, consulting income, business income or other taxable earnings.

The value of the benefit depends on your personal tax position, your marginal tax rate, your cash flow needs and how the RA fits into your broader estate and retirement plan.

Retirement planning does not stop the day you retire.

Your needs may change. Your income sources may change. Tax rules may still create planning opportunities. And the right structure can make a meaningful difference to how long your money lasts.

But an RA is not a simple “yes or no” product decision.

It affects access to your money, retirement income planning, tax efficiency, beneficiary planning and long-term liquidity. That is why it should be considered alongside your existing annuity income, discretionary investments, emergency funds and estate plan.

The article is a useful reminder that retirement is not the end of financial planning. It is a new phase of it.

Before opening a new RA after retirement, ask:

Do I still have taxable income?
Will I benefit from the deduction?
Can I afford to lock this money into a retirement structure?
How will this affect my income, tax and estate planning?
Do I have enough accessible money outside retirement products?

Used correctly, a retirement annuity can still play a role after retirement. Used without proper advice, it can create unnecessary restrictions.

Read the full article on Moneyweb:
https://www.moneyweb.co.za/qa/advisor-questions/can-i-open-a-new-retirement-annuity-after-retiring-and-still-receive-tax-benefits-part-ii/

A second advisor answers this reader’s question.

24/08/2026

“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” Nelson Mandela

Not every week goes according to plan, sometimes things take longer than expected, plans change, setbacks happen, and occasionally, the best thing you can do is regroup and try again.

Progress isn't about getting everything right the first time. It's about what you choose to do next.

A new week gives us another opportunity to adjust, learn and keep going.

Whatever last week looked like, Monday is a fresh place to begin.

20/08/2026

SARS is preparing for a major shift in how VAT is managed in South Africa and while it may sound like a tax admin update, businesses should not ignore it.

BusinessTech reports that SARS has opened public comment on its proposed Digital VAT Model, which brings together e-Invoicing, an interoperability framework and e-Reporting.
In simple terms, SARS wants VAT information to move closer to real time. Instead of relying so heavily on manual submissions and after-the-fact checks, the long-term goal is for VAT compliance to become part of the systems businesses already use every day.

That could mean:
- Structured digital invoices, not just emailed PDFs
- VAT data flowing more directly between businesses, service providers and SARS
- Pre-filled VAT returns over time
- Faster validation of transactions
- Better fraud detection
- Potentially quicker refunds for compliant vendors

But the article only tells part of the story.

This is not an overnight change. SARS’ consultation paper points to a phased journey, with preparation, solution development, testing, piloting and gradual implementation over several years.

Businesses will need time to get ready, for larger companies, this may mean ERP and accounting system upgrades, and for smaller businesses, the challenge may be more practical: digital literacy, software costs, staff training, process changes and making sure invoices are created in the correct format.

The opportunity is better compliance, fewer manual errors and a more predictable VAT process, but the risk is waiting until the system becomes mandatory before checking whether your business is ready.

If you are VAT-registered, this is a good time to start asking better questions:
- Is our accounting software future-ready?
- Are our invoices structured properly?
- Are our VAT records clean and consistent?
- Do our finance processes rely too much on manual fixes?
- Do we understand what this could mean for cash flow, refunds and compliance?

Digital tax administration is coming. The businesses that prepare early will have a smoother transition than those that only react when SARS forces the change.

Read the full article on BusinessTech: https://businesstech.co.za/news/finance/870719/big-change-for-vat-in-south-africa-as-sars-pushes-new-system/

SARS has called for public comment on the implementation of a new digital VAT system for the country.

18/08/2026

Good news may be coming for South Africa’s inflation outlook, but households should still stay cautious.

BusinessTech reports that economists expect headline inflation to ease when Stats SA releases July’s inflation data, helped mainly by the petrol and diesel price cuts that came through during the month.

That would be welcome relief after inflation rose to 5.0% in June, putting pressure on consumers, businesses and the interest-rate outlook.

Lower fuel prices may help bring the headline number down, while higher electricity tariffs, municipal increases, insurance costs and services inflation may continue to put pressure on household budgets.

In other words, inflation may cool on paper, but many South Africans may still feel the squeeze in real life.

A lower inflation reading would be encouraging, especially if it improves the interest-rate outlook ahead of the Reserve Bank’s next meeting. But one better number does not mean your budget can go onto autopilot.

This is a good time to review where your money is actually going.

Check your transport costs. Look at your electricity spend. Review your insurance premiums. Make sure your debt repayments are still manageable, and, where possible, keep building your emergency fund so that rising costs do not force you into expensive credit later.

Economic seasons change, and some pressure may start to ease. But financial resilience is built by preparing before the next increase arrives.

Read the full article on BusinessTech: https://businesstech.co.za/news/finance/870297/good-news-for-south-africa-expected-next-week/

South Africa's headline inflation is expected to ease when Stats SA reports it next week, helped by a sizeable petrol price cut in July.

17/08/2026

“Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.” - Helen Keller

We spend a lot of time looking ahead at the next goal, the next milestone, or the next thing we want to achieve.

But sometimes it’s worth looking back too.

At the decisions that turned out differently than expected, the challenges that taught us something, the opportunities we almost didn’t take, and even the mistakes that helped us make better choices the next time around.

Not every lesson arrives when we want it to, and not every bit of progress is obvious while it’s happening.

This Monday, take a moment to appreciate not only where you're going, but everything that has helped you get here.

Have a great week ahead.

11/08/2026

The rand has strengthened after weaker-than-expected jobs data from the United States put pressure on the dollar.

According to the article, the rand moved to around R16.15 to the dollar after the US reported a surprise loss of 23,000 jobs in July, instead of the job gains economists had expected. Softer US labour data can reduce expectations of further US interest-rate hikes, which often weakens the dollar and supports emerging-market currencies like the rand.

Gold also rose sharply, showing that investors are still looking for safety while global markets reassess the outlook.

So what does this mean for South African households?

A stronger rand can help ease some pressure, especially where imported goods, fuel and inflation are concerned. But currency moves can change quickly, and one positive shift does not remove the bigger risks.

South Africa’s own jobs data is also due, with unemployment still a major pressure point for the economy. That means the local picture remains complicated.

Our take at Maysure is simple: it is encouraging when the rand gets support, but personal financial planning should never depend on one good currency move.

Use moments like this as a reminder to stay prepared. Keep your budget realistic, manage debt carefully, build your emergency fund, and make long-term financial decisions based on your plan not short-term market reactions.

A stronger rand may help the economy breathe, but financial resilience is still built one household at a time.

Read the full article on BusinessTech: https://businesstech.co.za/news/finance/869536/united-states-shock-gives-huge-boost-to-the-rand/

The rand strengthened late on Friday following shock jobs data from the United States, which softened the dollar and boosted gold.

10/08/2026

"There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.” - Michelle Obama

This Monday looks a little different. 🇿🇦

With Women’s Day falling on a Sunday this year, today gives many South Africans something we don’t always give ourselves enough of: a chance to pause.

So, enjoy the slower morning. Spend time with the people you love. Put your feet up, switch off for a while, and don’t feel guilty about doing absolutely nothing productive.

As we celebrate Women’s Month, it’s worth remembering that success isn’t only about how much we can accomplish. Making space for rest, joy and the things that make life meaningful matters too.

Here’s to the incredible women who do so much, carry so much and contribute so much every day.

Happy Women’s Month, South Africa. 💜🇿🇦

04/08/2026

Bad savings habits are real but they are only part of the story.

This Moneyweb article highlights five common habits that quietly sabotage savings, from spending too freely on payday to saving whatever is left at the end of the month.

These are important points. Paying yourself first, separating your savings from your spending account, and starting with small realistic amounts can all help you build better financial discipline.

But there is a deeper issue we need to talk about too.

Many South Africans were never properly taught how money works. Not at school, not at home, and often not until debt, inflation or retirement pressure has already become a problem.

That is why saving cannot be looked at in isolation.

If you are earning 6% interest on savings but paying 20% or more on debt, your money is still moving backwards. If inflation is rising faster than your savings growth, your money may be losing buying power over time. And if you are saving without a plan, you may not be using the right tools for the right goals.

This is where financial education becomes practical.

Your emergency fund, tax-free investment, retirement annuity and debt repayment plan each have a different job.
- An emergency fund gives you access to money when life happens.
- A tax-free investment can help you grow wealth over the long term, without tax on the growth inside the investment.
- A retirement annuity helps you build for retirement while potentially giving you tax benefits.
- A debt strategy helps stop high-interest repayments from eating away at the progress you are trying to make.

Good savings habits matter. But the real goal is not just to save more, it's to make sure your money is working in the right order.

Start small, but start smart. Pay down expensive debt. Build an emergency buffer. Understand your investment options. Use tax-efficient tools where they fit your plan. And get advice before choosing a product simply because it sounds like the “right” thing to do.

Financial confidence comes from understanding what your money is doing, not just hoping there will be something left at the end of the month.

Read the full article on Moneyweb: https://www.moneyweb.co.za/mymoney/moneyweb-personal-finance/5-bad-habits-sabotaging-your-savings/

Are you your own worst enemy when it comes to saving? Fix these money mistakes and get your finances on the right track.