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document.write("<div class=\"article_Comments\">USER COMMENTS >");
document.write("<h5>Or just apply common sense</h5>");
document.write("You need to spend some time on your money. I think it's silly spending lots of money on a financial planner when most of what they'll suggest is common sense.<br /><br />I started off simply by watching what I spend and then trying to reduce my expenses. This is the single biggest thing you can do to increase your wealth.<br /><br />Second, make sure you don't have a lot of money in low-interest current accounts.<br /><br />It goes without saying that you need to kill debt that has a higher interest rate than you can earn on cash.<br /><br />Then buy a book about contributing to a pension.  Best to understand yourself than having to trust anyone else. And by spending a couple of hours on it you're already saving hundreds of rands (in itself benefiting you financially).<br /><br />Then look around for a sensible place to put savings. Bear in mind NOBODY (and I mean NOBODY) can forecast the stock market accurately.  The best you can do is purchase shares that have a market value as low as possible relative to the intrinsic value of the company.<br /><br />Unit trusts that do this are e.g. Investec Value fund, Allan Gray Equity Fund. Go to equinox.co.za to buy these cheaper than through any broker.<br /><br />Cutting costs is step one. Then working on the income side.. Peter");
document.write("<h5>CFP</h5>");
document.write("The rule of thumb \" If you have to pay someone to try and make you wealthy, he will first create his own wealth before worrying about yours \". The entire investment industry is geared towards preying on the illinformed and the gullible. There is enough advive on a daily basis from your immedeate environment as well as enough literature to last a lifetime. You KNOW what the right thing to do is according to your circumstances, take advice from your peers or mentors, back it up with the literature, get your gut feel into motion, and do what you have to do.<br />Personally. RA's, Unit trusts, pensions etc etc etc are the biggest lot of ???? that you can entertain. Stock markets are for people who want to play the lotto. Your best insurance policy / pension fund ever is a profitable business. When you can achieve this, hit the property market and let your money work for you. As for you Henry, are you on drugs, answer the man simply, he accorded you the benefit of a simple question, looks like b....... baffles brains here !!. Ceaser");
document.write("<h5>Comments on article by Henry van Deventer</h5>");
document.write("Well written article. With respect to Ceaser & other respondents they haven't read the article properly otherwise they would appreciate the role of a proper financial planner. If it was so easy (\"buy a few unit trusts\" & \"go into property\" (sic) then why are only 6% of safricans financially independent at retirement? Why is it that when neighbours & even celebrities die they leave a spouse & kids behind who resort to begging through newspapers & school magazines for a 'Trust Fund' to be set up to support them? There are many of those instances. Please...we don't all have the time or the energy or the knowledge to do this. I am a CFP, certainly don't know everything, but have invaluable knowledge to impart which does not cost an 'arm & a leg'. However I am not convinced that the traditional way of paying commission should be replaced by 'fees' This might place financial planning out of the reach ofg 90% of safricans.. David Thomson");
document.write("<h5>Poor house</h5>");
document.write("Ceaser is an idiot.  His \"advice\" will lead you to the poor house.. Johan Bruinders");
document.write("<h5>CFP</h5>");
document.write("Let me guess Mnr.Bruinders, you are either an insurance salesman or a broker ??? Anyway it's worked for me thusfar. Personal circumstances differ according to the individual and the risk you are willing to accept. I am not prepared to take the risk of some 3rd party telling me that my investments have gone down the shute because of Brazil, Russia, Global economic meltdown etc.etc.. Ceaser");
document.write("<h5>Hail Ceasar</h5>");
document.write("Sadly speaks the truth. If you are however looking for a financial planner, try and use someone that comes recommend by someone you know, who has had some success. It's your money, what ever decision you take, you will have to to learn to manage it yourself. But always get rid of debt first, very few investments offer returns above debt, you might not feel wealthier, but you will be. And don't live above your means.. Fred");
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