Everything Counts is a bi-weekly podcast series that dives into money and financial wellness, hosted by 702’s Motheo Khoaripe. Each episode unpacks practical aspects of personal finance-how to save, spend, invest, and make smart decisions to boost your financial well-being.

In this episode, Motheo is joined by De Wet Taljaard (Technical Advisor at Investec Sustainable Solutions), Kirk Palmer (Director at Solafi), and Andrew Winstone (CEO at Energy LED) to tackle one of South Africa’s hottest topics: solar power and energy efficiency for households.

They break down the current state of the energy crisis in South Africa, the realities of Eskom, and the future of electricity. The panel shares actionable tips on how to reduce your energy bill; from switching to LED lighting to using your geyser smartly and choosing energy efficient appliances.

The panel explains the different types of solar systems, the cost of solar panels for home and how to choose a solar system for your home.

Whether you’re ready to invest in solar or just want to make your home more energy efficient, this episode is packed with expert advice to help you make informed decisions and take control of your energy future.

00:00 Introduction

01:36 The current energy crisis in South Africa

03:05 The Energy Availability Factor (EAF)

04:28 The impact of power failures in municipalities

05:10 How to curb the cost of power failures in your home

05:50 How to use lights to reduce energy consumption and save costs

07:39 Energy efficient options to cut costs in the home

8:36 How to use the energy efficiency metric

09:14 Insulation in the home

10:24 Home solar system costs and the return on investment

12:49 Types of solar systems on the market and the costs involved

14:50 Maintenance and lifespan of solar systems

15:30 Choosing the right solar system

17:32 Sectional titles and body corporates

18:45 Compliance and safety considerations

20:10 Eskom direct connected customer requirements

21:20 Why registration is the responsibility of the business or homeowner

21:52 Meeting the requirements to get your system registered

22:17 Financing opportunities for solar systems

22:45 Funding solutions for Investec clients

23:18 Cape Town versus Johannesburg: feeding back into the grid

25:32 Energy saving tips

26:08 Increasing energy independence and savings for the future

27:20 How can you prepare for South Africa’s growing water crisis? Listen to the whole Everything Counts series on Investec Focus Radio SA Investec Focus Radio SA

In this episode Chris Holdsworth, Chief Investment Strategist, Investec Wealth & Investment International, discusses a general decline in inflation numbers around the world in April, indicating little reason for concern yet. However, uncertainty about policy and tariffs makes forecasting difficult, especially in the US. Investec Focus Radio SA

From a global pandemic to fractured supply chains, energy shocks, inflation spirals, rate hikes, AI disruption, war, and geopolitical realignment - the last four years have been anything but dull. As we celebrate the 100th episode of the No Ordinary Wednesday podcast, we pause the relentless churn of the news cycle to reflect on the macro themes that have defined our world since this show first aired in May 2021. In this episode, we’ve gathered a veritable global panel of Investec leaders from Johannesburg, London, Mumbai, and Dubai to share their insights on what has shaped their regions and the critical forces they will be monitoring in the coming years.

Podcast key moments

00:00 - Introduction

01:37 – How have macro trends influenced the UK

05:14 – What are the most significant factors impacting South Africa’s economy?

08:09 – What macro trends have impacted India?

10:33 – UAE’s story of reinvention

14:09 – What key forces are you watching closely that could shape strategy and opportunity in UK, South Africa, UAE and India?

Read more on www.investec.com/now

Hosted by seasoned broadcaster, Jeremy Maggs, the No Ordinary Wednesday podcast unpacks the latest economic, business and political news in South Africa, with an all-star cast of investment and wealth managers, economists and financial planners from Investec. Listen in every second Wednesday for an in-depth look at what's moving markets, shaping the economy, and changing the game for your wallet and your business. Investec Focus Radio SA

The world’s leading economies are seeing a deceleration in manufacturing activity, although they remain in expansive territory. In the US, earnings are being revised down, largely in response to the fall in GDP growth that this implies. Meanwhile the Fed is keeping rates steady in the face of an uncertain inflation outlook, but China is cutting rates to stimulate its economy. Chris Holdsworth, Chief Investment Strategist, Investec Wealth & Investment International, analyses high frequency data of economic activity across the world. Investec Focus Radio SA

In this episode, Lieze-Marie Brink and Jacques Van Niekerk from the Investec Tax and Fiduciary team dive into the critical aspects of wills and estate planning in South Africa. They explore why having a will is essential, especially in ensuring your assets are distributed according to your wishes, and the importance of establishing trusts.

Jump to topics of interest:

00:00 Introduction

01:00 Marriage and wills in South Africa

02:50 Life partnerships and wills

03:30 Divorce and wills

04:30 Estate planning after having children

05:30 Testamentary trusts and risk

09:00 Laws of intestate succession

10:30 Adding failing provisions to your will

12:30 The value of trusts and wills

15:00 Do you need an offshore will for offshore assets?

16:00 Example: UK-based investment

17:00 Example: Property ownership in France (forced heirship laws)

20:00 What happens if your beneficiaries move abroad? Listen to the whole Everything Counts series · Investec Focus Radio SA

Despite the tariff turmoil last month, US equities overcame the initial Liberation Day turmoil to end higher over the month. However, as Chris Holdsworth, Chief Investment Strategist, Investec Wealth & Investment International, points out, the rest of the world has been outperforming the US. Investec Focus Radio SA

Post the tariff turmoil, investors are reconsidering their exposure to the US market. In this episode of No Ordinary Wednesday, Annelise Peers, Chief Investment Officer at Investec Switzerland, and Richard Cardo, Portfolio Manager and Head of Single Manager Investments at Investec, who oversees the Investec Global Leaders Fund, delve into the macroeconomic and market dynamics reshaping global asset allocation. Investec Focus Radio SA

In this episode, Lieze-Marie Brink and Jacques Van Niekerk from the Investec Tax and Fiduciary team discuss the key aspects of estate planning and drafting a will in South Africa. They cover what should be included in a will, how to get started, and the importance of updating it after major life changes.

Jump to topics of interest

00:00 Introduction

01:30 Why wills are important

02:45 The cost of a will

03:35 What happens if you don’t have a will

04:15 The laws of interstate succession

05:00 What makes a will valid in South Africa?

08:00 Where to start with drafting a will in South Africa

08:45 How often do you need to update your will

12:30 Consider your marriage regime when drafting your will

14:30 Religious provisions in your will

15:10 Joint wills

17:00 Will vs letter of wishes

19:00 Offshore assets and jurisdiction

21:30 Where should wills be kept?

23:00 The importance of talking to your loved ones about deceased estate administration Everything Counts podcast series · Investec Focus Radio SA

Where are investors seeking refuge amid uncertainty? And will the recent rebound in global stocks last? In this episode of No Ordinary Wednesday, Investec Wealth and Investment International's Chief Investment Strategist Chris Holdsworth, and investment strategist Osa Mazwai explore the ongoing impact of US President Donald Trump’s tariff policies.

Podcast key moments:

00:00 – Introduction

01:09 – What’s been the market reaction since Trump’s tariff about turn?

01:46 – Why was there a huge bond sell-off?

03:05 – What does the US bond market turbulence mean for SA?

04:21 – Is the US still a go-to safe haven?

05:26 – What other safe havens are investors looking to?

06:58 – Can China rely on domestic demand to drive growth?

08:39 – How does the tariff pause on SA impact investor sentiment?

10:11 – What are markets watching regarding the GNU?

12:05 – Currency expectations?

13:09 – Recession in the US?

14:37 – How are tariffs disrupting global supply chains?

Read more on www.investec.com/now

Hosted by seasoned broadcaster, Jeremy Maggs, the No Ordinary Wednesday podcast unpacks the latest economic, business and political news in South Africa, with an all-star cast of investment and wealth managers, economists and financial planners from Investec. Listen in every second Wednesday for an in-depth look at what's moving markets, shaping the economy, and changing the game for your wallet and your business. Investec Focus Radio SA

US markets have been behaving unusually of late, with Treasury yields rising (weakening) even as the US dollar weakens. Chris Holdsworth, Chief Investment Strategist, Investec Wealth & Investment International, argues that this reflects a sizeable negative shift in perceptions about the US economy, with US assets failing to exhibit their usual safe haven qualities in times of trouble. Investec Focus Radio SA