Editor's Thoughts.

R50 billion. R1.5 trillion. Two people sharing a home.

Numbers grab attention. But what makes us stop scrolling is what they mean for our lives.

Johann Els (PSG Financial Services) says South Africa’s tax revenue overrun could reach R50 billion or more, with the budget deficit potentially narrowing to around 3.5% of GDP. Encouraging news, for sure, but like any economist there's a healthy dose of caution: beware of treating a partly cyclical windfall as permanent progress.

Bertie Nel (Momentum) brings us closer to the household budget: South Africans wagered an eye-watering R1.5 trillion in 2024/25, up 31.3% on the previous year. More than half of stokvel savers surveyed had gambled because of financial distress. That’s a conversation about pressure and support, not simply discipline. Or another newsletter on a net replacement ratio.

Then there’s the couple moving in together. Ilse Smuts and Heather Muller (FNB) ask what happens when one partner pays the bond while the other covers groceries, school fees and everyday expenses. Both contribute, but are they building financial security together?

Which brings us to today’s Industry Insights with John Manyike, Head of Financial Education at Old Mutual: how do we grab people’s attention and grow financial literacy? By making it meaningful to their life stage.

Moving in together. Supporting a family. Managing debt. Planning for retirement. Start with the moment people are living, not the information we want to deliver.

That’s the connection to our EBnet Evolutionaries Conference theme: Benefits Activated. Moving beyond information shared to understanding gained and (informed) action taken. Join the 100's of your colleagues and clients who have already said they'll be there by registering here.

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