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Three leading unit trust fund managers say you should expect local and global equity markets to stay volatile, but they are still finding shares they expect will earn good returns for you.

Insurance can be confusing. Many people do not understand the difference between long-term and short-term insurance. In the second part of our "How to" series on life assurance, we explain the differences between the two, and some of the ins and outs of long-term insurance.

The Financial Services Board (FSB) has suspended the licences of 500 financial services providers (FSPs). This is an overwhelming record number of suspensions since the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services (FAIS) Act was fully implemented in October 2004.

The use of cellphone banking in South Africa has grown by leaps and bounds, overtaking internet banking, but it has yet to reach its full potential, according to a recent study by market research company World Wide Worx and the South African Mobile Marketing Association.

In the first of our "How to manage life assurance" series, we look at why you need life assurance. Life assurance enables you to face the risks of life with greater confidence in the knowledge that, if anything happens healthwise to prevent you from earning an income, you and your dependants will be able to maintain your standard of living.

Listed property has been the top-performing asset class over the past 12 months to June this year, and most property analysts are positive that the sector will continue to perform well in the year ahead, although one investment company remains cautious (see "Taking a different point of view", right).

Property historically has been the next best-performing asset class after equity markets, so it makes sense to include property in a balanced investment portfolio.

The use of cellphone banking in South Africa has grown by leaps and bounds, overtaking internet banking, but it has yet to reach its full potential, according to a recent study by market research company World Wide Worx and the South African Mobile Marketing Association.

In the first of our "How to manage life assurance" series, we look at why you need life assurance. Life assurance enables you to face the risks of life with greater confidence in the knowledge that, if anything happens healthwise to prevent you from earning an income, you and your dependants will be able to maintain your standard of living.

Listed property has been the top-performing asset class over the past 12 months to June this year, and most property analysts are positive that the sector will continue to perform well in the year ahead, although one investment company remains cautious (see "Taking a different point of view", right).

Property historically has been the next best-performing asset class after equity markets, so it makes sense to include property in a balanced investment portfolio.

Mainline active asset managers are increasingly moving into the passively managed investment space, which is becoming ever more popular with investors.

Tax return filing season began this week with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) announcing some improvements that should assist you when filing your return, paying what tax you owe or collecting a refund.

The Council for Medical Schemes Appeal Committee will be asked to reconsider the obligation on medical schemes to pay claims related to the prescribed minimum benefits (PMBs) in full regardless of the rate charged by a healthcare provider.

The choice of passively managed exchange traded funds (ETFs), particularly those that track indices and what amounts to derivatives of those indices, is becoming increasingly more complex.

Mainline active asset managers are increasingly moving into the passively managed investment space, which is becoming ever more popular with investors.

Tax return filing season began this week with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) announcing some improvements that should assist you when filing your return, paying what tax you owe or collecting a refund.

The Council for Medical Schemes Appeal Committee will be asked to reconsider the obligation on medical schemes to pay claims related to the prescribed minimum benefits (PMBs) in full regardless of the rate charged by a healthcare provider.

The choice of passively managed exchange traded funds (ETFs), particularly those that track indices and what amounts to derivatives of those indices, is becoming increasingly more complex.

It has been nearly five years since the life industry agreed to lower its penalties if you stop or reduce payments on its savings products, and a year since the Pension Funds Adjudicator decided Old Mutual could not impose the maximum penalty more than once on a single policy. We report on the latest developments.