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18 October 2023
Matters of Mind (MM) – October 2023
Hello everyone ASSA has been in existence for 75 years and this year they held their 50th Annual Convention! I felt it appropriate that we touch on some of the…
18 October 2023
Economic matters - Oct 23
Middle East conflict: What are the economic implications? Schroders Senior Emerging Markets Economist - David Rees - assesses the macroeconomic and market implications of renewed tensions in the Middle East.…
18 October 2023
Financial Services Industry - Oct 23
SA needs solutions grounded in both data and human understanding Public interest must trump all other considerations when actuaries deliberate some of South Africa’s most pressing challenges, according to Costa…
18 October 2023
Diversity and Inclusion - Oct 23
Nobel economics prize awarded to Claudia Goldin for work on women's pay Prof Goldin's research uncovered key drivers behind the gender pay gap, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said.…
18 October 2023
Life Insurance - Oct 23
Hollard makes strategic investment in fast growing life insurance disruptor, Simply The Simply deal follows Hollard’s seed investments in Naked and Dotsure, also insurtech market disruptors in their own right,…
18 October 2023
General Insurance - Oct 23
Santam 2023 Insurance Barometer reveals SA’s biggest risks The study, which tracks emerging risk trends in the country, was conducted against the backdrop of the rising frequency and severity of…
18 October 2023
Health Insurance - Oct 23
The Lancet | 200 The Lancet is a Medical Journal which has been going for 200 years! This infographic is a timeline giving the hallmark contributions along the way. It…
18 October 2023
Investments - Oct 23
Balancing risk and return on S.A. government bonds Current market sentiment towards SA government bonds is especially negative. Both local and foreign investors are becoming increasingly concerned about the debt…
18 October 2023
Banking - Oct 23
Stokvels show resilience despite tough economy as savings rise by 42% to R8.3 billion Since November 2019, FNB stokvel customers have continually increased saving via a stokvel surpassing the R8.3…
18 October 2023
Retirement / Pensions - Oct 23
Specialist Just SA highlights unfair annuity pricing for low earners Just SA was responding to the research findings made by Willis Towers Watson (WTW) consulting actuary Joanna Combrink and WTW…
18 October 2023
About YOU - Oct 23
How to stop your mind from wandering Sometimes we just need a nudge to get us back on track, we need to hear the words from someone else who has…
30 September 2023
Matters of Mind (MM) – September 2023 2nd Ed
Hello everyone We are all on the path to achieve great things and the next exam is part of the journey. The quote above may seem counterintuitive for those of…
30 September 2023
Economic matters - Sep 23 2nd Ed
Marginal uptick in headline inflation to 4.8% y/y in August Momentum Investments have released their report based on ‘Marginal uptick in headline inflation to 4.8% y/y in August’ prepared by the…
30 September 2023
Financial Services Industry - Sep 23 2nd Ed
How do you best prepare for Cofi? Don’t focus on the legislation National Treasury aims to promulgate the Conduct of Financial Institutions (Cofi) Bill in the fourth quarter of this…
30 September 2023
Diversity and Inclusion - Sep 23 2nd Ed
Britain Proposes Diversity and Misconduct Rules for Financial Services Firms For those of you who are drawn to work overseas, note that you should be aware of your rights. It…
30 September 2023
Life Insurance - Sep 23 2nd Ed
Stress a key factor in cardiovascular disease, a top cause of mortality across SA Dr Marion Morkel, Chief Medical Officer at Sanlam claims that: stress has a substantial impact on…
30 September 2023
General Insurance - Sep 23 2nd Ed
How to think about climate change risk management in 2023 Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges of our time, and its impacts are being felt around the…
30 September 2023
Health Insurance - Sep 23 2nd Ed
Concern that NHI will widen inequality as comment deadline ends Leading business groups as well as the Institute of Race Relations (IRR) are among the many objectors to the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill…
30 September 2023
Banking - Sep 23 2nd Ed
Discovery Bank charts path to break-even in FY24 Owned by the financial services group − SA’s largest health insurer − Discovery Bank says despite recording a R767 million operating loss…
30 September 2023
Investments - Sep 23 2nd Ed
‘SA assets will outperform because they're much cheaper’ Many South African fund managers are not using the full 45% offshore limit, partly because of the opportunities local assets offer. Keep…
30 September 2023
Retirement / Pensions - Sep 23 2nd Ed
What can employers do to improve South Africa’s low retirement savings rate? Employers in South Africa are not legally required to offer their employees pension funds or retirement savings plans.…
30 September 2023
About YOU - Sep 23 2nd Ed
This is Water by David Foster Wallace (Full Transcript and Audio) "As I’m sure you guys know by now, it is extremely difficult to stay alert and attentive, instead of…
18 September 2023
Matters of Mind (MM) – September 2023
Hello everyone We start this newsletter with the devastating news that the Libyan eastern coastal town of Derna lost over 5000 of its citizens overnight and a quarter of the…
18 September 2023
Economic matters - Sep 23
South Africa in deep financial trouble The National Treasury revealed that South Africa recorded its largest budget deficit since at least 2004, sending the rand crashing and lowering demand for…
18 September 2023
Financial Services Industry - Sep 23
Discovery to use its maths skills to match renewable demand and supply Financial services group Discovery on Wednesday announced the launch of a new renewable energy platform aimed at providing…
18 September 2023
Diversity and Inclusion - Sep 23
Alpha Female Report 2023: Gender parity progress at a standstill No meaningful progress has been made in increasing the number of female portfolio managers year-on-year, the Citywire Alpha Female Report…
18 September 2023
Life Insurance - Sep 23
Add some “BMT” to your clients’ retirement portfolios In sport, certain players are described as individuals with big match temperament or “BMT”. Players with BMT just seem to have the…
18 September 2023
General Insurance - Sep 23
New Lloyd’s Lab InsurTech cohort to focus on climate, cyber and sustainability in Asia Pacific Lloyd’s, the world’s leading marketplace for commercial, corporate and speciality risk solutions, today announces the…
18 September 2023
Health Insurance - Sep 23
Policy progress needed for healthcare sustainability Phumelele Makatini, CEO of the Health Funders Association, presents an argument for NHI provided the missing pillars of the regulatory framework are installed. She…
18 September 2023
Banking - Sep 23
Why can’t we prevent bank runs? Extraordinary speed. Not only did the bank runs that led to the recent collapses of US-based Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank unfold…
18 September 2023
Investments - Sep 23
Sean Peche: Bad things happen when growth stocks go wrong COMMENT: There’s real pain for investors in highly rated companies that don’t deliver. The argument in this article is that…
18 September 2023
About YOU - Sep 23
Get mentally fit for your exams! Pass code: !8n*J#RF Did you know that any past emotional difficulties we have not dealt with, live in our bodies and can affect the…
28 August 2023
Matters of Mind (MM) – August 2023 Second Edition
Hello everyone The last few days of August give us the opportunity to highlight women in finance, women who are making a difference, the need for women to put their…
28 August 2023
Economic matters - Aug 23 2nd Ed
China's economy is trapped in a downward spiral that authoritarian regimes are doomed to repeat China is suffering from "economic long COVID," Adam Posen wrote in Foreign Affairs. Its sluggish…
28 August 2023
Financial Services Industry - Aug 23 2nd Ed
Through the Eye of the Storm Transformation, not as a destination, but a state of mind in the approach to everyday business. Actualization in transformation is at the heart of…
28 August 2023
Diversity and Inclusion - Aug 23 2nd Ed
Thanks for the breastfeeding rooms, but can we have some assets to manage? The industry is struggling to attract, retain and promote women. It’s time to take a moment to…
28 August 2023
Life Insurance - Aug 23 2nd Ed
Living annuities: Helping your clients understand the impact of different drawdown rates A new white paper on living annuities and the impact of drawdown rates, based on a study of…
28 August 2023
General Insurance - Aug 23 2nd Ed
Will insurtech disruptors topple insurance giants? In an opinion piece released this week, Jerry Anthonyrajah, the chief commercial officer of Old Mutual Insure shared his thoughts on emerging trends and…
28 August 2023
Health Insurance - Aug 23 2nd Ed
What goes into your medical aid premium — and what it means for the NHI Each year, the CMS determines what type of increase is reasonable. But how do medical…
28 August 2023
Banking - Aug 23 2nd Ed
Appeals court rules for banks in Sekunjalo matter - but the fight isn't over This is an article from July 2023 which gives you some background into the case involving…
28 August 2023
Investments - Aug 23 2nd Ed
JSE indices will be less global once Alsi, Swix converge Index tracking is often referred to as ‘passive investing.’ John Bogle, the founder of the Vanguard Group, who is often…
28 August 2023
Retirement / Pensions
Is your umbrella fund’s investment strategy too conservative? To counter the risk of over-conservatism, the employer or management committee must continually monitor the investment strategy to ensure that it meets…
28 August 2023
About YOU - Aug 23 2nd Ed
Understanding the flow state People often enter the flow state when they’re doing something they enjoy. In fact, experts have noted that athletes, musicians, and artists usually perform at their best when…
15 August 2023
Matters of Mind (MM) – August 2023 First Edition
Hello everyone Please take time to read the article in remembrance Lilian Ngoyi and her part in bringing about change in our country. Sadly, she did not live long enough…
15 August 2023
Diversity and Inclusion - Aug 23
Lilian Ngoyi: an heroic South African woman whose story hasn’t been fully told On 9 August 1956, now commemorated as Women’s Day in South Africa, Ngoyi and other woman leaders led an estimated…
15 August 2023
Economic matters - Aug 23
South Africa and China agree to R41.2 billion trade deals The agreements were made at a meeting of a joint economic and trade committee aimed at boosting South African manufacturing…
15 August 2023
Financial Services Industry - Aug 23
Insurance, a Mutually Beneficial Service South Africa is a challenging environment with low growth impacting the financial services industry and our consumers. We are confronted with many challenges that people…
15 August 2023
Life Insurance - Aug 23
Analysing Trends in Life Risk Claims: Insights from Petrie Marx In this interview, Petrie Marx, Product Actuary at Sanlam Risk and Savings, discusses the recent increase in life risk claims…
15 August 2023
General Insurance - Aug 23
Severe Convective Storms Top Insured Natural Disaster Losses in H1: Swiss Re “The above average losses reaffirm a 5%-7% annual growth trend in insured losses, driven by a warming climate…
15 August 2023
Health Insurance - Aug 23
CMS releases guidelines on medical scheme increases for 2024 The circular describes the outlook for the key macroeconomic indicators that will affect the medical schemes industry in 2024: global economic…
15 August 2023
Banking - Aug 23
Standard Bank to finance R300 billion in renewable projects by 2026 CEO of Standard Bank’s corporate and investment banking division Kenny Fihla told CNBC Africa that the bank is seeing increased demand…
15 August 2023
Investments - Aug 23
Meet wealth manager Nicola Langridge What is keeping you awake at night? I’m concerned about the current socio-political issues affecting the South African economy and the fear it creates in local…
15 August 2023
Retirement / Pensions - Aug 23
Constitutional court overturns ‘deeply disturbing’ retirement fund rule judgment The Constitutional Court has ruled that an amended retirement fund rule cannot be applied to the calculation of a benefit that…
15 August 2023
About YOU - Aug 23
Why you should go to sleep at the same time all week Small differences in sleeping habits between work and rest days could lead to unhealthy changes to the bacteria…
28 July 2023
Welcome to Matters of Mind (MM) – July 2023
Hello everyone We are back with an enhanced version of MM! There are now six distinct categories which cover the actuarial practice areas and a few others which cater more…
28 July 2023
Financial Services Industry - July 23
VIDEO: Everything.Insure aims to demystify SA insurance market After ruffling some feathers in the South African insurance industry, insurtech start-up company Everything.Insure has set its sights on expanding its operations to India.…
28 July 2023
Economic matters - July 23
Interest rate hikes not the only solution to inflation PSG Wealth’s chief investment officer, Adriaan Pask, said interest rate hikes are not the right mechanism for fighting inflation in all…
28 July 2023
Life Insurance - July 23
Life insurers’ claim statistics reflect SA’s high murder rate Last week, Momentum Retail Life Insurance reported an 11% increase in unnatural deaths – including motor vehicle accidents, murder, suicide, and…
28 July 2023
General Insurance - July 23
How to think about climate change risk management in 2023 A must read for this edition. A very well written article answering questions top of mind and how to work…
28 July 2023
Health Insurance - July 23
Council for Medical Schemes taken to task for dragging feet in offering low-cost options THE BOARD of Healthcare Funders (BHF) was successful in its application to the High Court in…
28 July 2023
Banking - July 23
Momint’s new blockchain wallet enables crypto payments Momint, a local tech start-up based in Cape Town, has launched a blockchain wallet that allows South African consumers to spend their crypto…
28 July 2023
Investments - July 23
NFT-based marketplace Momint targets artists, athletes Over R150 000 was raised on Momint for the Bryan Habana Foundation when Momint was launched in May 2021. 3min read. Orbis’ Cutler: Telling…
28 July 2023
Retirement / Pensions - July 23
GEPF and other public sector funds ‘will be part of the two-pot system’ All retirement funds, not only those that fall under the Pension Funds Act (PFA), will be included…
28 July 2023
About YOU - July 23
Unlock the Power of Effective Writing: Insights from Steven Pinker When we know a lot about a topic, it can be difficult to write about it in a way that…
21 April 2023
Welcome to Matters of Mind (MM) – 21 April 2023
“Chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken.” – Warren Buffett We often blame outside forces on why we’re feeling burn…
21 April 2023
International and local economic news - 21 Apr 23
Cost-of-living crisis – SA CPI accelerates to 7.1% in March, food inflation at 14-year high South Africa’s cost-of-living crisis is worsening as winter looms, with consumer inflation still accelerating and food…
21 April 2023
Insurance and related industry highlights - 21 Apr 23
FSCA report details the deregistration of more than 6,700 inactive retirement funds The reason for the inordinately high number of dormant or inactive retirement funds dates back to the late 1990s/early…
21 April 2023
Investments - 21 Apr 23
Includes Banking, Cryptocurrency, ESG and opinions on investing Big jump in profit for Capitec – which counts one-third of South Africans as customers Capitec noted that the 2023 financial year,…
21 April 2023
Fintech, digitisation and AI - 21 Apr 23
Includes Insurtech, blockchain Momentum brings in-app screening to life insurance offering More than 10 000 screenings have been completed using Momentum’s in-app digital screening tool, LifeReturns, since its debut late…
21 April 2023
Cyber and cyber security - 21 Apr 23
ChatGPT Poised to Expose Corporate Secrets, Cyber Firm Warns The fear is that the chatbots could be exploited by hackers to access sensitive corporate information or perform actions against the…
21 April 2023
Climate change - 21 Apr 23
What Insurers Should Know About PFAS A perfect storm of PFAS liability momentum is building in the midst of climate change, social inflation and digital accessibility, observes Lauren Angelina, a…
21 April 2023
Health care and related topics - 21 Apr 23
Palliative care conference calls for closer collaboration with medical fraternity The conference co-organisers state, “Palliative care is holistic care that uses a multi-faceted approach to improve the quality of life…
21 April 2023
About YOU - 21 Apr 23
Burnt Out? Here’s How to Cope Employee burnout is a problem that has been around for a long time. However, due to the pandemic and the increased use of technology,…
14 April 2023
Welcome to Matters of Mind (MM) – 14 April 2023
“In a world of change, the learners shall inherit the Earth, while the learned shall find themselves perfectly suited for a world that no longer exists.” Eric Hoffer To be…
14 April 2023
International and local economic news - 14 Apr 23
4 reasons inflation will stay stubbornly high for some time The global economy is entering a period of permanently higher inflation fuelled by four deeper forces, according to an…
14 April 2023
Geopolitical news - 14 Apr 23
Finland joins Nato in a major blow to Putin which doubles the length of the alliance’s border with Russia Throughout the cold war, Finland remained a neutral state – although more due to…
14 April 2023
Insurance and related industry highlights - 14 Apr 23
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) as a case study to explore the relationship between state capture and institutional capacity to address serious and organised crime This project will seek…
14 April 2023
Investments - 14 Apr 23
Includes Banking, Cryptocurrency, ESG and opinions on investing Short-term uncertainty versus long-term certainty “If I asked you what’s the risk in investing, you would answer the risk of losing…
14 April 2023
Fintech, digitisation and AI - 14 Apr 23
Includes Insurtech, blockchain InfoReg examines regulation of ChatGPT, AI in SA South Africa’s Information Regulator is holding internal discussions on how to approach the regulation of viral chatbot ChatGPT and…
14 April 2023
Cyber and cyber security - 14 Apr 23
Which Came First, the Cyber Chicken or the Cyber Egg? Cyber war, cyber catastrophe, systemic cyber risk and other terms have become more widespread as cyber threats increase, but panellists…
14 April 2023
Diversity, equity and inclusion - 14 Apr 23
Includes women in work, finance and STEM The science behind a more meaningful understanding of sexual orientation People who are attracted to others of the same sex develop their orientation before…
14 April 2023
Climate change - 14 Apr 23
Seven ways to recycle heat and reduce carbon emissions Heating of space and water in buildings accounts for about 44% of all energy consumed globally according to the International Energy Agency. This…
14 April 2023
Health care and related topics - 14 Apr 23
Industries can harm health in many ways: here are 3 that aren’t so obvious A recent ground-breaking series of reports in the science journal The Lancet unpacks what commercial determinants of health are,…
14 April 2023
About YOU - 14 Apr 23
Expand Your Horizons by Doing It Anyway “We generate fears while we sit. We overcome them by action.” Dr Henry Link There is nothing like being comfy and cosy in our…
31 March 2023
Welcome to Matters of Mind (MM) – 31 March 2023
"The most important habit is choosing the right habit to work on." James Clear It is the end of the first quarter of 2023 and we have another week of…
31 March 2023
International and local economic news - 31 Mar 23
Why the SA Reserve Bank hike took the market by surprise The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) announced a 50 basis point repo rate increase on Thursday, 30 March –…
31 March 2023
Geopolitical events - 31 Mar 23
Finland clears last obstacle to NATO entry in a blow to Putin (Bloomberg) --Finland is poised to join NATO in a matter of days, bolstering Europe’s security architecture and dealing a…
31 March 2023
Insurance and related industry highlights - 31 Mar 23
Government’s SVB Intervention Saved Insurers From Significant D&O Claims Had the federal government not stepped in to make Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) depositors whole, providers of directors and officers insurance…
31 March 2023
Investments - 31 Mar 23
Includes Banking, Cryptocurrency, ESG and opinions on investing A New Chapter of Capitalism Emerges From the Banking Crisis The idea that finance is an arm of the state is back…
31 March 2023
Fintech, digitisation and AI - 31 Mar 23
Includes Insurtech, blockchain Investment in Telematics, Embedded Insurance Will Help Carriers Compete When Auto Market Shrinks The increasing popularity of electric vehicles (EVs), autonomous vehicles (AVs) and shared-mobility platforms will…
31 March 2023
Diversity, equity and inclusion - 31 Mar 23
Includes women in work, finance and STEM Making mentorship and sponsorship work for women in asset management It’s common knowledge that one of the greatest diversity challenges for South African…
31 March 2023
Climate change - 31 Mar 23
Supercell Storms to Hit South More Often: Study America will probably get more killer tornado- and hail-spawning supercells as the world warms, according to a new study that also warns…
31 March 2023
About YOU - 31 Mar 23
Why do we wake around 3am and dwell on our fears and shortcomings? When I wake at 3am or so, I’m prone to picking on myself. And I know I’m not…
24 March 2023
Welcome to Matters of Mind (MM) - 24 March 2023
On 21 March we celebrated Human Rights Day. Ironically it sits heavy in the hearts of many that they are not free to be themselves. We have made so many…
24 March 2023
International and local economic news - 24 Mar 23
Is The Widely Predicted Recession In The Developed World Still Coming? Economic data prints over the last month have been confusing to say the least – in just three weeks…
24 March 2023
Geopolitical news - 24 Mar 23
Ukraine war: Moldova could be the first domino in a new Russian plan for horizontal escalation One of the consequences of Russia’s war in Ukraine is the fact that the…
24 March 2023
Insurance and related industry highlights - 24 Mar 23
Santam Acquires MTN South Africa Device Insurance Book The acquisition, and alliance, is aimed to support MTN South Africa in broadening the reach of device protection to their clients, in…
24 March 2023
Investments - 24 Mar 23
Includes Banking, Cryptocurrency, ESG and opinions on investing. Secret CEO: Credit Suisse ‘resolution’ has set a dangerous precedent Our columnist argues the way in which the Swiss bank has been…
24 March 2023
Fintech, digitisation and AI - 24 Mar 23
Includes Insurtech, blockchain PayShap must be free – Michael Jordaan Former FNB CEO and venture capitalist Michael Jordaan said that prohibitively high transaction costs will stifle the adoption of PayShap.…
24 March 2023
Diversity, equity and inclusion - 24 Mar 23
Includes women in work, finance and STEM. LGBTQ+ rights: African Union watchdog goes back on its own word The primary human rights watchdog in Africa recently made a decision that departed…
MM Recent Newsletters
18 October 2023
Matters of Mind (MM) – October 2023
Hello everyone ASSA has been in existence for 75 years and this year they held their 50th Annual Convention! I felt it appropriate that we touch on some of the…
18 October 2023
Economic matters - Oct 23
Middle East conflict: What are the economic implications? Schroders Senior Emerging Markets Economist - David Rees - assesses the macroeconomic and market implications of renewed tensions in the Middle East.…
18 October 2023
Financial Services Industry - Oct 23
SA needs solutions grounded in both data and human understanding Public interest must trump all other considerations when actuaries deliberate some of South Africa’s most pressing challenges, according to Costa…
18 October 2023
Diversity and Inclusion - Oct 23
Nobel economics prize awarded to Claudia Goldin for work on women's pay Prof Goldin's research uncovered key drivers behind the gender pay gap, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said.…
18 October 2023
Life Insurance - Oct 23
Hollard makes strategic investment in fast growing life insurance disruptor, Simply The Simply deal follows Hollard’s seed investments in Naked and Dotsure, also insurtech market disruptors in their own right,…
18 October 2023
General Insurance - Oct 23
Santam 2023 Insurance Barometer reveals SA’s biggest risks The study, which tracks emerging risk trends in the country, was conducted against the backdrop of the rising frequency and severity of…
18 October 2023
Health Insurance - Oct 23
The Lancet | 200 The Lancet is a Medical Journal which has been going for 200 years! This infographic is a timeline giving the hallmark contributions along the way. It…
18 October 2023
Investments - Oct 23
Balancing risk and return on S.A. government bonds Current market sentiment towards SA government bonds is especially negative. Both local and foreign investors are becoming increasingly concerned about the debt…
18 October 2023
Banking - Oct 23
Stokvels show resilience despite tough economy as savings rise by 42% to R8.3 billion Since November 2019, FNB stokvel customers have continually increased saving via a stokvel surpassing the R8.3…
18 October 2023
Retirement / Pensions - Oct 23
Specialist Just SA highlights unfair annuity pricing for low earners Just SA was responding to the research findings made by Willis Towers Watson (WTW) consulting actuary Joanna Combrink and WTW…
18 October 2023
About YOU - Oct 23
How to stop your mind from wandering Sometimes we just need a nudge to get us back on track, we need to hear the words from someone else who has…
30 September 2023
Matters of Mind (MM) – September 2023 2nd Ed
Hello everyone We are all on the path to achieve great things and the next exam is part of the journey. The quote above may seem counterintuitive for those of…
30 September 2023
Economic matters - Sep 23 2nd Ed
Marginal uptick in headline inflation to 4.8% y/y in August Momentum Investments have released their report based on ‘Marginal uptick in headline inflation to 4.8% y/y in August’ prepared by the…
30 September 2023
Financial Services Industry - Sep 23 2nd Ed
How do you best prepare for Cofi? Don’t focus on the legislation National Treasury aims to promulgate the Conduct of Financial Institutions (Cofi) Bill in the fourth quarter of this…
30 September 2023
Diversity and Inclusion - Sep 23 2nd Ed
Britain Proposes Diversity and Misconduct Rules for Financial Services Firms For those of you who are drawn to work overseas, note that you should be aware of your rights. It…
30 September 2023
Life Insurance - Sep 23 2nd Ed
Stress a key factor in cardiovascular disease, a top cause of mortality across SA Dr Marion Morkel, Chief Medical Officer at Sanlam claims that: stress has a substantial impact on…
30 September 2023
General Insurance - Sep 23 2nd Ed
How to think about climate change risk management in 2023 Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges of our time, and its impacts are being felt around the…
30 September 2023
Health Insurance - Sep 23 2nd Ed
Concern that NHI will widen inequality as comment deadline ends Leading business groups as well as the Institute of Race Relations (IRR) are among the many objectors to the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill…
30 September 2023
Banking - Sep 23 2nd Ed
Discovery Bank charts path to break-even in FY24 Owned by the financial services group − SA’s largest health insurer − Discovery Bank says despite recording a R767 million operating loss…
30 September 2023
Investments - Sep 23 2nd Ed
‘SA assets will outperform because they're much cheaper’ Many South African fund managers are not using the full 45% offshore limit, partly because of the opportunities local assets offer. Keep…
30 September 2023
Retirement / Pensions - Sep 23 2nd Ed
What can employers do to improve South Africa’s low retirement savings rate? Employers in South Africa are not legally required to offer their employees pension funds or retirement savings plans.…
30 September 2023
About YOU - Sep 23 2nd Ed
This is Water by David Foster Wallace (Full Transcript and Audio) "As I’m sure you guys know by now, it is extremely difficult to stay alert and attentive, instead of…
18 September 2023
Matters of Mind (MM) – September 2023
Hello everyone We start this newsletter with the devastating news that the Libyan eastern coastal town of Derna lost over 5000 of its citizens overnight and a quarter of the…
18 September 2023
Economic matters - Sep 23
South Africa in deep financial trouble The National Treasury revealed that South Africa recorded its largest budget deficit since at least 2004, sending the rand crashing and lowering demand for…
18 September 2023
Financial Services Industry - Sep 23
Discovery to use its maths skills to match renewable demand and supply Financial services group Discovery on Wednesday announced the launch of a new renewable energy platform aimed at providing…
18 September 2023
Diversity and Inclusion - Sep 23
Alpha Female Report 2023: Gender parity progress at a standstill No meaningful progress has been made in increasing the number of female portfolio managers year-on-year, the Citywire Alpha Female Report…
18 September 2023
Life Insurance - Sep 23
Add some “BMT” to your clients’ retirement portfolios In sport, certain players are described as individuals with big match temperament or “BMT”. Players with BMT just seem to have the…
18 September 2023
General Insurance - Sep 23
New Lloyd’s Lab InsurTech cohort to focus on climate, cyber and sustainability in Asia Pacific Lloyd’s, the world’s leading marketplace for commercial, corporate and speciality risk solutions, today announces the…
18 September 2023
Health Insurance - Sep 23
Policy progress needed for healthcare sustainability Phumelele Makatini, CEO of the Health Funders Association, presents an argument for NHI provided the missing pillars of the regulatory framework are installed. She…
18 September 2023
Banking - Sep 23
Why can’t we prevent bank runs? Extraordinary speed. Not only did the bank runs that led to the recent collapses of US-based Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank unfold…
18 September 2023
Investments - Sep 23
Sean Peche: Bad things happen when growth stocks go wrong COMMENT: There’s real pain for investors in highly rated companies that don’t deliver. The argument in this article is that…
18 September 2023
About YOU - Sep 23
Get mentally fit for your exams! Pass code: !8n*J#RF Did you know that any past emotional difficulties we have not dealt with, live in our bodies and can affect the…
28 August 2023
Matters of Mind (MM) – August 2023 Second Edition
Hello everyone The last few days of August give us the opportunity to highlight women in finance, women who are making a difference, the need for women to put their…
28 August 2023
Economic matters - Aug 23 2nd Ed
China's economy is trapped in a downward spiral that authoritarian regimes are doomed to repeat China is suffering from "economic long COVID," Adam Posen wrote in Foreign Affairs. Its sluggish…
28 August 2023
Financial Services Industry - Aug 23 2nd Ed
Through the Eye of the Storm Transformation, not as a destination, but a state of mind in the approach to everyday business. Actualization in transformation is at the heart of…
28 August 2023
Diversity and Inclusion - Aug 23 2nd Ed
Thanks for the breastfeeding rooms, but can we have some assets to manage? The industry is struggling to attract, retain and promote women. It’s time to take a moment to…
28 August 2023
Life Insurance - Aug 23 2nd Ed
Living annuities: Helping your clients understand the impact of different drawdown rates A new white paper on living annuities and the impact of drawdown rates, based on a study of…
28 August 2023
General Insurance - Aug 23 2nd Ed
Will insurtech disruptors topple insurance giants? In an opinion piece released this week, Jerry Anthonyrajah, the chief commercial officer of Old Mutual Insure shared his thoughts on emerging trends and…
28 August 2023
Health Insurance - Aug 23 2nd Ed
What goes into your medical aid premium — and what it means for the NHI Each year, the CMS determines what type of increase is reasonable. But how do medical…
28 August 2023
Banking - Aug 23 2nd Ed
Appeals court rules for banks in Sekunjalo matter - but the fight isn't over This is an article from July 2023 which gives you some background into the case involving…
28 August 2023
Investments - Aug 23 2nd Ed
JSE indices will be less global once Alsi, Swix converge Index tracking is often referred to as ‘passive investing.’ John Bogle, the founder of the Vanguard Group, who is often…
28 August 2023
Retirement / Pensions
Is your umbrella fund’s investment strategy too conservative? To counter the risk of over-conservatism, the employer or management committee must continually monitor the investment strategy to ensure that it meets…
28 August 2023
About YOU - Aug 23 2nd Ed
Understanding the flow state People often enter the flow state when they’re doing something they enjoy. In fact, experts have noted that athletes, musicians, and artists usually perform at their best when…
15 August 2023
Matters of Mind (MM) – August 2023 First Edition
Hello everyone Please take time to read the article in remembrance Lilian Ngoyi and her part in bringing about change in our country. Sadly, she did not live long enough…
15 August 2023
Diversity and Inclusion - Aug 23
Lilian Ngoyi: an heroic South African woman whose story hasn’t been fully told On 9 August 1956, now commemorated as Women’s Day in South Africa, Ngoyi and other woman leaders led an estimated…
15 August 2023
Economic matters - Aug 23
South Africa and China agree to R41.2 billion trade deals The agreements were made at a meeting of a joint economic and trade committee aimed at boosting South African manufacturing…
15 August 2023
Financial Services Industry - Aug 23
Insurance, a Mutually Beneficial Service South Africa is a challenging environment with low growth impacting the financial services industry and our consumers. We are confronted with many challenges that people…
15 August 2023
Life Insurance - Aug 23
Analysing Trends in Life Risk Claims: Insights from Petrie Marx In this interview, Petrie Marx, Product Actuary at Sanlam Risk and Savings, discusses the recent increase in life risk claims…
15 August 2023
General Insurance - Aug 23
Severe Convective Storms Top Insured Natural Disaster Losses in H1: Swiss Re “The above average losses reaffirm a 5%-7% annual growth trend in insured losses, driven by a warming climate…
15 August 2023
Health Insurance - Aug 23
CMS releases guidelines on medical scheme increases for 2024 The circular describes the outlook for the key macroeconomic indicators that will affect the medical schemes industry in 2024: global economic…
15 August 2023
Banking - Aug 23
Standard Bank to finance R300 billion in renewable projects by 2026 CEO of Standard Bank’s corporate and investment banking division Kenny Fihla told CNBC Africa that the bank is seeing increased demand…
15 August 2023
Investments - Aug 23
Meet wealth manager Nicola Langridge What is keeping you awake at night? I’m concerned about the current socio-political issues affecting the South African economy and the fear it creates in local…
15 August 2023
Retirement / Pensions - Aug 23
Constitutional court overturns ‘deeply disturbing’ retirement fund rule judgment The Constitutional Court has ruled that an amended retirement fund rule cannot be applied to the calculation of a benefit that…
15 August 2023
About YOU - Aug 23
Why you should go to sleep at the same time all week Small differences in sleeping habits between work and rest days could lead to unhealthy changes to the bacteria…
28 July 2023
Welcome to Matters of Mind (MM) – July 2023
Hello everyone We are back with an enhanced version of MM! There are now six distinct categories which cover the actuarial practice areas and a few others which cater more…
28 July 2023
Financial Services Industry - July 23
VIDEO: Everything.Insure aims to demystify SA insurance market After ruffling some feathers in the South African insurance industry, insurtech start-up company Everything.Insure has set its sights on expanding its operations to India.…
28 July 2023
Economic matters - July 23
Interest rate hikes not the only solution to inflation PSG Wealth’s chief investment officer, Adriaan Pask, said interest rate hikes are not the right mechanism for fighting inflation in all…
28 July 2023
Life Insurance - July 23
Life insurers’ claim statistics reflect SA’s high murder rate Last week, Momentum Retail Life Insurance reported an 11% increase in unnatural deaths – including motor vehicle accidents, murder, suicide, and…
28 July 2023
General Insurance - July 23
How to think about climate change risk management in 2023 A must read for this edition. A very well written article answering questions top of mind and how to work…
28 July 2023
Health Insurance - July 23
Council for Medical Schemes taken to task for dragging feet in offering low-cost options THE BOARD of Healthcare Funders (BHF) was successful in its application to the High Court in…
28 July 2023
Banking - July 23
Momint’s new blockchain wallet enables crypto payments Momint, a local tech start-up based in Cape Town, has launched a blockchain wallet that allows South African consumers to spend their crypto…
28 July 2023
Investments - July 23
NFT-based marketplace Momint targets artists, athletes Over R150 000 was raised on Momint for the Bryan Habana Foundation when Momint was launched in May 2021. 3min read. Orbis’ Cutler: Telling…
28 July 2023
Retirement / Pensions - July 23
GEPF and other public sector funds ‘will be part of the two-pot system’ All retirement funds, not only those that fall under the Pension Funds Act (PFA), will be included…
28 July 2023
About YOU - July 23
Unlock the Power of Effective Writing: Insights from Steven Pinker When we know a lot about a topic, it can be difficult to write about it in a way that…
21 April 2023
Welcome to Matters of Mind (MM) – 21 April 2023
“Chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken.” – Warren Buffett We often blame outside forces on why we’re feeling burn…
21 April 2023
International and local economic news - 21 Apr 23
Cost-of-living crisis – SA CPI accelerates to 7.1% in March, food inflation at 14-year high South Africa’s cost-of-living crisis is worsening as winter looms, with consumer inflation still accelerating and food…
21 April 2023
Insurance and related industry highlights - 21 Apr 23
FSCA report details the deregistration of more than 6,700 inactive retirement funds The reason for the inordinately high number of dormant or inactive retirement funds dates back to the late 1990s/early…
21 April 2023
Investments - 21 Apr 23
Includes Banking, Cryptocurrency, ESG and opinions on investing Big jump in profit for Capitec – which counts one-third of South Africans as customers Capitec noted that the 2023 financial year,…
21 April 2023
Fintech, digitisation and AI - 21 Apr 23
Includes Insurtech, blockchain Momentum brings in-app screening to life insurance offering More than 10 000 screenings have been completed using Momentum’s in-app digital screening tool, LifeReturns, since its debut late…
21 April 2023
Cyber and cyber security - 21 Apr 23
ChatGPT Poised to Expose Corporate Secrets, Cyber Firm Warns The fear is that the chatbots could be exploited by hackers to access sensitive corporate information or perform actions against the…
21 April 2023
Climate change - 21 Apr 23
What Insurers Should Know About PFAS A perfect storm of PFAS liability momentum is building in the midst of climate change, social inflation and digital accessibility, observes Lauren Angelina, a…
21 April 2023
Health care and related topics - 21 Apr 23
Palliative care conference calls for closer collaboration with medical fraternity The conference co-organisers state, “Palliative care is holistic care that uses a multi-faceted approach to improve the quality of life…
21 April 2023
About YOU - 21 Apr 23
Burnt Out? Here’s How to Cope Employee burnout is a problem that has been around for a long time. However, due to the pandemic and the increased use of technology,…
14 April 2023
Welcome to Matters of Mind (MM) – 14 April 2023
“In a world of change, the learners shall inherit the Earth, while the learned shall find themselves perfectly suited for a world that no longer exists.” Eric Hoffer To be…
14 April 2023
International and local economic news - 14 Apr 23
4 reasons inflation will stay stubbornly high for some time The global economy is entering a period of permanently higher inflation fuelled by four deeper forces, according to an…
14 April 2023
Geopolitical news - 14 Apr 23
Finland joins Nato in a major blow to Putin which doubles the length of the alliance’s border with Russia Throughout the cold war, Finland remained a neutral state – although more due to…
14 April 2023
Insurance and related industry highlights - 14 Apr 23
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) as a case study to explore the relationship between state capture and institutional capacity to address serious and organised crime This project will seek…
14 April 2023
Investments - 14 Apr 23
Includes Banking, Cryptocurrency, ESG and opinions on investing Short-term uncertainty versus long-term certainty “If I asked you what’s the risk in investing, you would answer the risk of losing…
14 April 2023
Fintech, digitisation and AI - 14 Apr 23
Includes Insurtech, blockchain InfoReg examines regulation of ChatGPT, AI in SA South Africa’s Information Regulator is holding internal discussions on how to approach the regulation of viral chatbot ChatGPT and…
14 April 2023
Cyber and cyber security - 14 Apr 23
Which Came First, the Cyber Chicken or the Cyber Egg? Cyber war, cyber catastrophe, systemic cyber risk and other terms have become more widespread as cyber threats increase, but panellists…
14 April 2023
Diversity, equity and inclusion - 14 Apr 23
Includes women in work, finance and STEM The science behind a more meaningful understanding of sexual orientation People who are attracted to others of the same sex develop their orientation before…
14 April 2023
Climate change - 14 Apr 23
Seven ways to recycle heat and reduce carbon emissions Heating of space and water in buildings accounts for about 44% of all energy consumed globally according to the International Energy Agency. This…
14 April 2023
Health care and related topics - 14 Apr 23
Industries can harm health in many ways: here are 3 that aren’t so obvious A recent ground-breaking series of reports in the science journal The Lancet unpacks what commercial determinants of health are,…
14 April 2023
About YOU - 14 Apr 23
Expand Your Horizons by Doing It Anyway “We generate fears while we sit. We overcome them by action.” Dr Henry Link There is nothing like being comfy and cosy in our…
31 March 2023
Welcome to Matters of Mind (MM) – 31 March 2023
"The most important habit is choosing the right habit to work on." James Clear It is the end of the first quarter of 2023 and we have another week of…
31 March 2023
International and local economic news - 31 Mar 23
Why the SA Reserve Bank hike took the market by surprise The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) announced a 50 basis point repo rate increase on Thursday, 30 March –…
31 March 2023
Geopolitical events - 31 Mar 23
Finland clears last obstacle to NATO entry in a blow to Putin (Bloomberg) --Finland is poised to join NATO in a matter of days, bolstering Europe’s security architecture and dealing a…
31 March 2023
Insurance and related industry highlights - 31 Mar 23
Government’s SVB Intervention Saved Insurers From Significant D&O Claims Had the federal government not stepped in to make Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) depositors whole, providers of directors and officers insurance…
31 March 2023
Investments - 31 Mar 23
Includes Banking, Cryptocurrency, ESG and opinions on investing A New Chapter of Capitalism Emerges From the Banking Crisis The idea that finance is an arm of the state is back…
31 March 2023
Fintech, digitisation and AI - 31 Mar 23
Includes Insurtech, blockchain Investment in Telematics, Embedded Insurance Will Help Carriers Compete When Auto Market Shrinks The increasing popularity of electric vehicles (EVs), autonomous vehicles (AVs) and shared-mobility platforms will…
31 March 2023
Diversity, equity and inclusion - 31 Mar 23
Includes women in work, finance and STEM Making mentorship and sponsorship work for women in asset management It’s common knowledge that one of the greatest diversity challenges for South African…
31 March 2023
Climate change - 31 Mar 23
Supercell Storms to Hit South More Often: Study America will probably get more killer tornado- and hail-spawning supercells as the world warms, according to a new study that also warns…
31 March 2023
About YOU - 31 Mar 23
Why do we wake around 3am and dwell on our fears and shortcomings? When I wake at 3am or so, I’m prone to picking on myself. And I know I’m not…
24 March 2023
Welcome to Matters of Mind (MM) - 24 March 2023
On 21 March we celebrated Human Rights Day. Ironically it sits heavy in the hearts of many that they are not free to be themselves. We have made so many…
24 March 2023
International and local economic news - 24 Mar 23
Is The Widely Predicted Recession In The Developed World Still Coming? Economic data prints over the last month have been confusing to say the least – in just three weeks…
24 March 2023
Geopolitical news - 24 Mar 23
Ukraine war: Moldova could be the first domino in a new Russian plan for horizontal escalation One of the consequences of Russia’s war in Ukraine is the fact that the…
24 March 2023
Insurance and related industry highlights - 24 Mar 23
Santam Acquires MTN South Africa Device Insurance Book The acquisition, and alliance, is aimed to support MTN South Africa in broadening the reach of device protection to their clients, in…
24 March 2023
Investments - 24 Mar 23
Includes Banking, Cryptocurrency, ESG and opinions on investing. Secret CEO: Credit Suisse ‘resolution’ has set a dangerous precedent Our columnist argues the way in which the Swiss bank has been…
24 March 2023
Fintech, digitisation and AI - 24 Mar 23
Includes Insurtech, blockchain PayShap must be free – Michael Jordaan Former FNB CEO and venture capitalist Michael Jordaan said that prohibitively high transaction costs will stifle the adoption of PayShap.…
24 March 2023
Diversity, equity and inclusion - 24 Mar 23
Includes women in work, finance and STEM. LGBTQ+ rights: African Union watchdog goes back on its own word The primary human rights watchdog in Africa recently made a decision that departed…