Worldwide Capital merges with GTC, enhancing asset management capability
GTC proudly announces the merging of Worldwide Capital (WWC), an asset management business with core capabilities in the areas of smart beta tracking, indexation and the portfolio construction of bespoke investment products, with GTC. The merger, effective April 2017 sees WWC fully integrated into the asset management capability of GTC. GTC also gains a turnkey Protected Cell Company structure in Mauritius through the transaction. “We’re delighted to have Worldwide Capital join our organisation,” says Gary Mockler, GTC’s Group CEO. “We look forward to offering our clients the additional capability of low-cost algorithmic – or passive – investing, which can be constructed on a tailored basis”. GTC, formerly Grant Thornton Capital, currently provides a wide range of financial advisory, wealth management and employee benefits administration services to more than 2500 private clients; and some 85 000 retirement fund members, managed through a... Read More
South African debt downgraded to ‘junk’ status
What happened? Last week saw S&P and Fitch, two credit ratings agencies responsible for evaluating the credit-worthiness of borrowers and related debt, downgrade the rating of South African Government debt to a status of below investment grade or ‘junk’. This downgrade resulted in a consequential downgrading of South African parastatals and banks. The decision to increase the risk rating of South African debt was largely based on political concerns following the firing of Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and the apparent shift towards populist policies by the government. Why does it matter? The global investment community relies on the credit ratings agencies to evaluate the riskiness of lending borrowers money – the riskier a borrower’s ranking, the higher the interest rate demanded. In effect this raises the cost of debt financing for the South African government, which limits the country’s ability... Read More
To self-medicate or not to? That is the question.
Self-medicating may be harmful to your health. Is it right for us to be doing so and when do we know we have gone overboard? Most people who are on Medical Aid schemes have resorted to self-medication to save on their day- to-day benefits. This is done to cut out the consultation fee, which usually adds up to a lot of money and contributes to depleting the members’ day-to-day benefits. Those who do not have medical aid or cannot afford it, consult with pharmacists and also cut out the consultation with an attempt to cut on costs. The question is, who is diagnosing us and is the diagnosis correct? We are diagnosing ourselves and this undermines the role of our doctors. Self-diagnosing could worsen our conditions and also lead to complications. Although symptoms are vital in identifying an illness, you... Read More
Did you know that just sitting all day could kill you?
Most of us in the working world sit at our desks for most of the day. It’s time to take advantage of the warmer weather and attempt to be more physically active – even at work. Use your lunch break or even your tea break to move around and get your heart pumping. There are many advantages to being physically active. When you can’t get away from your desk, stand, stretch and do some desk exercises. Being active can assist you with avoiding conditions such as breast, prostate, lung and colon cancer. You will reduce your body fat and avoid having issues with your blood pressure and glucose levels. In an era where most people suffer from psychological problems, it is good to know that physical activity can assist in managing conditions such as anxiety, depression and mood disorders. The... Read More
Is it a cold or flu? What is the difference?
I am sure that all of us have experienced a cold and ‘flu at some point in our lives. The question is, do we know the difference? To know the difference means that you know how to treat it, otherwise you could be treating your symptoms the wrong way. Influenza commonly known as ‘flu’ is dangerous as it can kill you if not treated properly. Although the symptoms are similar, there is a difference between the common cold and flu. When you have a cold, your symptoms would be: Sneezing Runny or blocked nose Sore throat Mild cough that could get worse at night or in the morning The symptoms usually last about 4 days A fever is rare in adults, but it does occur when you have the flu. Your symptoms usually are: Fever Chills Headache Sneezing Blocked or... Read More
What do you do in the case of an emergency?
We never think it will happen to us… Ever thought of what you would do, if you found yourself in an emergency situation? It is imperative to always know what to do in such cases, as this could be the difference between life and death. It is important that you communicate the emergency numbers of your medical aid scheme to your family, including your children. Most people have cell phones and can store the numbers so that when they are at work or school they can call for help quickly. Educate your family on what to do should a medical emergency happen to them or someone around them. Medical aid cards and stickers for your car are also very important to have, as they assist in the case of an emergency. If something were to happen to you while driving,... Read More
