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Be sure you understand all the implications before you cede a life policy as security for a loan, and be particularly aware of how the cession affects the nomination of beneficiaries to the policy.

If you cede a life assurance policy with an investment value as security for a debt, be aware that the bank may not only call in that security if you die, but also if you cannot repay the debt.

This week we deal extensively with the problems of cessions of life assurance policies to provide security for loans. It is a complex issue and one that can become a great deal more complex if you do not have a will.

The asset and income thresholds for social grants will increase by between four and seven percent from April 1, when the social grant increases also take effect.

The financial services ombud, Charles Pillai, wants all financial products regulated, greater co- ordination between regulators, and the more determined prosecution of people stealing money from investors to stop the ongoing plunder.

This week we publish reports on our front page on three different cases where individuals have been stung by people operating in the financial services industry.

If you are an Absa homeowner's insurance client and the company increased your policy value and premiums in December last year without your express permission, you can have the increased portion of your premiums refunded.

A court challenge that could affect how much your medical scheme pays your healthcare provider may remain unresolved for months, with the threat of a large increase in the guideline tariffs hanging over medical schemes and members.

In a fine balancing act, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has let inflation help him balance the Budget without raising taxes in nominal (before-inflation) terms. Instead, he has resorted to borrowing money to balance his maiden Budget, which aims to help lower-income earners and the destitute.

The new tax rates announced by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan are effective from Monday, March 1 and should therefore affect your March pay cheque. If you earn a salary, however, you should also prepare for a few other changes that were announced in previous Budgets and that could affect your pay cheque and your tax deductions from March 1.

Every year you get tax breaks in the Budget that are aimed mainly at helping you to save but also at alleviating the financial pressures on the elderly.

Motorists are expected to queue up to fill their tanks on Tuesday, April 6 - the day before the increase in the fuel levy announced in the Budget this week takes effect.

South Africans could be facing the harsh reality of lower returns and higher inflation. This is particularly bad news for people who are near or in retirement and for those who delay saving for retirement.

You have two weeks left in which to take advantage of Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan's annual tax break, which will help you to fill up your retirement coffer at a big discount.

In two more rulings related to the Leaderguard foreign currency scam, Charles Pillai, the Ombud for Financial Services Providers, recently ordered two Welkom brokers to reimburse their clients. This brings to nine the total number of ombud rulings against brokers who promoted the forex scam.

Retirement fund administrator Alexander Forbes has made a "substantial" offer to resolve a R950-million claim against it for its role in the allegedly fraudulent stripping of surpluses of retirement funds in the 1990s, reducing the retirement benefits of thousands of members and pensioners.

Finally Alexander Forbes has come to its senses and, for the first time, has genuinely attempted to put its sordid past behind it. It is a puzzle why it has taken it so long to do what Edward Kieswetter, its new chief executive, says is "the right thing to do" .

The Financial Services Board (FSB) came down hard on Orange Insurance this week, suspending the company's financial services provider (FSP) licence with immediate effect until its management can quantify the company's liabilities and settle all the outstanding claims against it.

The principal officer of the country's third-largest medical scheme, the Bonitas Medical Fund, has resigned and its board of trustees is expected to offer to resign after the scheme became the subject of a court application to place it under curatorship following irregularities involving millions of rands of members' money.

Allan Gray won the coveted Raging Bull Award for the Domestic Management Company of the Year for the second year in a row at this week's Raging Bull Awards.