Editor's Thoughts.

Today’s episode of Health Hack SA tackles a question many of us put off until we really need the answer: how do you choose a medical aid option that fits both your health needs and your budget? It turns out, I’ve been doing it wrong all these years. And I think my decision comes from a position of fear. Damian McHugh (Momentum Health) explains the process, the factors to take into account and the questions to ask, to give you the confidence to choose the right plan, rather than simply choosing the cheapest premium or the most comprehensive-sounding option.

That same “real life first” approach runs through today’s reading. As SA acknowledges Wills week, Gareth Friedlander and Harry Joffe (Discovery Life) remind us that drafting a will is only the beginning: it needs to be correctly signed and safely stored. Discovery’s data shows that incentives can make a meaningful difference in helping people complete that final, vital step. I attended yesterday’s webinar hosted by Discovery Life where they shared their insights on this research, and TBH I didn’t realise that there was a correct storage protocol for one’s will.

Staying in the insured benefits lane for a moment, Claudelle Jacobs (Bidvest Life) makes the important case for protecting the income that underpins all your choices. Don’t let the reference to women give you the out to skip this article – protecting your ability to earn an income (medical cover) and protecting that income (income replacement cover) is a corner stone of a financial plan. And it’s crucial to be specific about what your/your client’s/your fund member’s financial and life goals are.

And Nerosha Maseti of the National Financial Ombud Scheme looks at the growing risk of fraud-linked debt. Plus she gives practical guidance on how to deal with this if it happens to you and all the contact details to make this process easy.

Different topics, same message: a little planning today can prevent a lot of pressure later.

Upcoming Events.

Most Recent Reads.

Quick Links.