SARS pays back R10bn, but some taxpayers’ refunds are being withheld

Taxpayers should inform SARS if they have been unemployed for a full year or longer, to avoid being flagged as non-compliant.

Find the cost of Freedom*

If you don’t know what it costs to deliver your service, you don’t know your business… Johnny Grohovaz Most advisory businesses are quite content, as long as the amount of commissions and fees coming […]

Square Peg in a Round Hole

Moonstone was intimately involved in developments in the industry since the publication of the FAIS Act of 2002 which became effective in 2004. We acted as recognised body for the licensing process from […]

Where are we with TCF?

All the talk, or rather, the lack of talk about TCF, has a left a lot of us in the lurch as to just where we stand with this initiative. The one bit […]

Shakespeare, FFS and Providing Value…

It is not about what you want; it’s about what the customer values. A pivotal concept in FFS is understanding what value clients see in the services you provide. Hence, knowing your client […]

Quo Vadis, Training?

The Financial Intermediaries Association (FIA) raised a number of issues in a recent article, published in FAnews. These concerns include: The introduction of a Super Regulator Measures to provide the Regulator with indemnity […]

Wealth Management Certification

Moonstone Training August Moonstone will run a three day training session in Cape Town on 27, 28 and 29 August. This module forms part of the SAQA approved “Further Education and Training Certificate […]

Managing the practice’s biggest cost: Staff

Staff costs in the advisory practice are usually the largest expense by far. Remuneration for sales, base monthly salaries, admin staff, retirement and medical fund contributions all add up. Even for the single […]

Third Party Disclosures to SARS

We came across this article in the June edition of the Logista newsletter. The 2011 Tax Administration Act indicated that SARS would be looking to third parties, such as banks, medical aids etc, […]

Fees for Service – ASISA Views

In response to our article of 25 June regarding the CoreData Research survey on Fees for Service, ASISA commented as follows: ASISA’s understanding of the pending Retail Distribution Review is that changes are […]

What TCF is NOT

When does Treating Customers Fairly (TCF) become a reality? In the original planning, January 2014 was indicated as the planned date for implementing legislative changes envisaged in the regulatory framework. If this is […]

Professionele Vrywaring en Jou Regte

Ons moes nogal kopkrap oor wat “Professional Indemnity” in Afrikaans is. Bogenoemde is volgens die regsmense en taalkundiges die korrekte term, hoewel professionele indemniteit skynbaar ook korrek is. Dit mag so wees, maar […]

Fee for Service in Australia

Due to new laws, the Australian Financial Advisory Industry is in a severe state of turmoil. Known as FOFA (Future of Financial Advice), this legislation was passed by the Australian parliament in March […]

2013 – 2014 Tax Season Opens

When I lived on the West Coast, the first day of the crayfish season was a joyous occasion. Somehow, I do not share the same elation when I read about the opening of […]

Correction to Moonstone Article on Licensing

We were approached by the Registrar regarding some of the information contained in an article titled “FSB Licensing – Part I”. The FSB pointed out certain statements in the article which are incorrect, […]

Tax Practioner Registration Deadline Looms

All tax practitioners are required to register with SARS. Those not registered yet, have until 1 July 2013 to register. If you are already registered, you are not required to re-register with SARS […]

Sales, Service and Financial Advice…

Around the financial advisory world, firms are moving from product-based commission to a servicing revenue model. This underlying shift has become widely known as “fee-for-service”, hereafter referred to as FFS. In certain jurisdictions, […]