FAQ

Investment

How long does it take before I receive a Return on my Investments?

The expected return on an investment depends on the type of investment and the market for that investment at the specific time.

The Alpha Team aims to diversify our clients' portfolios in order to ensure safe investing and the best possible return within our clients' specific financial goals.

What is Alpha's Investment Mission and Strategy?

The period of your investment is determined by the type of investment, the return that you are expecting on that investment and your specific investment profile.

This determination can only be made during an in-depth consultation with a Financial Adviser.

I invested money and I wish to withdraw some of it. Is it possible?

Whether it is possible to withdraw funds from investments is determined by the type of investment. However, we do not encourage the withdrawal of funds as this deters your long term Returns.

We recommend that you consult with your Financial Adviser before making any decisions as to the disinvestment of funds. A Financial Adviser draws up a plan that assists you meet your financial goals, whether long term of short term, based on your very own circumstances. Disinvestment may have an impact on your financial goals and your plan may need revision by your Financial Adviser for the best possible future outcome.

Insurance

Can I take out Life Insurance on a person's life when I am not related to him/her?

No, you cannot obtain life insurance on a person to whom you are not related. Insurance companies require there be an insurable interest between the person on whose life insurance was obtained and the person who takes out the insurance at the inception of the policy. If you obtain life insurance on the life of a person to whom your are not related to and there is no insurable interest, you run the risk of the life insurance policy not paying out.

Can I be under-insured and what are the consequences thereof?

You are under-insured when the value of your property or item specified in terms of your insurance policy is less than its replacement value at the time of the damage thereto or the loss or theft thereof.

For example:

The replacement value of your house is R800 000.00, but your insurance policy states that it is only insured for R600 000.00.

Therefore, you are under-insured by 25%. This will result in your insurer only paying out 75% of your damage to property or loss thereof should a claim be submitted.

May my Insurer refuse to pay out once I have submitted a claim?

Yes, an Insurer may refuse to pay out your claim. The refusal to pay out a claim refers to the repudiation of a claim. The Insurer may refuse to pay a claim for one of the following reasons: The insurance contract did not cover the event which led to the loss or damage; You contravened a provision of the insurance contract, for example: You did not report the loss within a specified time period as stipulated; The loss or damage of the property being claimed was not insured under the insurance contract; or The insurance contract was terminated by either the insurer or yourself,l or by law, before the event that led to a claim could occur. Contact us if you are not sure whether your Insurer will accept or reject your claim: admin@mudzusi.com

Will the Alpha Team assist me to read and understand my Insurance Contract?

Yes, the Alpha Team is more than willing to assist you! Not only does our team consist of Certified Financial Planners (CFP®), but we also use qualified and admitted Attorneys to assist you in the reading and interpretation of your Insurance Contracts. As an Alpha client, you will have the benefit of having these professionals at your service. Contact us for assistance: admin@mudzusi.com

I am currently paying too much for insurance. Can I pay less for the same coverage?

Yes, you can. Most people are paying too much for their insurance due to the lack proper and professional financial advice. The Financial Services Board has instituted the role of qualified Financial Advisers in the financial industry in order to protect the public against persons who wish to detriment them for their own financial gain. A qualified Financial Adviser will obtain all the relevant information from you regarding your insurance wants and needs, and will recommend products which are suitable for you and your family. Contact us to consult with a Financial Adviser: admin@mudzusi.com

Financial Planning

What is the difference between an Insurance Broker and a Financial Planner?

An Insurance Broker normally sells you an insurance product, even if it is not suitable for you. He/she does not take an in-depth look at your financial needs or future financial goals. He/she is being paid a commission by the product provider for selling the product to you.

Financial Advisers, on the other hand, provide a service: giving financial advice tailored to your financial wants and needs. They construct a plan to help you meet your wealth goals. This advice does not necessarily lead to you buying an insurance product. The client bears the cost of the service rendered by the Financial Adviser; however, where there is a recommendation for you to buy an appropriate insurance product and you choose to follow the recommendation, the commission is payable by the product provider. The fees payable by the client for the service rendered by the Financial Adviser may be set off against the commission received from the product provider.

For more information, contact us: admin@mudzusi.com

How is Financial Planning done?

Financial planning done by a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) involves the six step approach in order to ensure that the CFP® has obtained every detail necessary to provide a client with sound and well-tailored financial advice that creates the probability of clients meeting their financial goals in their chosen time frame. These six steps are as follow:

Establish and define the relationship with the client;
Collect the client's information;
Analyse and assess the client's financial situation;
Develop the financial planning recommendation and present them to the client;
Implement the client's financial planning recommendations; and
Monitor and review the client's financial plan on an ongoing basis.
The Alpha Team takes pride in our job to help you meet your financial needs and create your future financial well-being.

How does Financial Planning and Estate Planning relate to one another?

Financial Planning is a large component of Estate Planning. The two go hand-in-hand and cannot be seen in isolation. Estate Planning also entails other components such as Tax Planning, the Law of Succession, Trust Law, the Companies Act and many other components. A Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) is qualified to draft an Estate Plan suitable for your short and long term wants and needs. Contact us for more information: admin@mudzusi.com

Can Financial Planning be of benefit to my Business?

Yes, businesses also require Financial Planning as a component of Business Planning. Financial Planning for businesses commonly include:

1. Key person policies;

Key person policies are generally taken out on the life of business partners or employees who possess a skill that is very difficult to replace. This policy will pay out to the remainder of the partners in order to ensure that they are put in funds to acquire the insured's share in the business upon his/her death. In case of an "irreplaceable" employee, the policy will pay out to cover any damages to the business that may arise from his/her death for the time being to replace him/her or train another employee to do his/her job.

2. Third party insurance; and

Third party insurance covers possible claims against the business by a third party for any damage caused on business premises, whether it is to their property or their person.

3. Short-term insurance.

This includes insurance for buildings belonging to the business, equipment and assets belonging to the business that is needed to render services.

How does my Financial Planning have an influence on the Income Tax that I pay?

Some financial products entail Income Tax Deductions.

For example, there's a limited deduction from Income Tax for interest earned each financial year depending on the age of the Taxpayer, and certain contributions to Pension Funds are also deductible for purposes of Income Tax.

Legal

Why should I have a Will?

You should have a valid Will for the following reasons: 1. To ensure that the people who you want to benefit will inherit from your estate and avoid intestate succession; 2. To reduce Estate Duty payable upon the administration of your estate; 3. To ensure that your beneficiaries' spouses cannot claim what your beneficiaries have inherited from you; 4. Where you still have a minor child or children or a disabled child(ren), to ensure that a guardian is appointed for them; and 5. Where you still have a minor child or children or a disabled child(ren), to ensure that the inheritance you leave to him/her/them, goes to a Testamentary Trust to be invested for their benefit. This is not a closed list of reasons to have a Will, but a list of the most common reasons to have a Will. Contact us to consult with an expert in the field of succession: admin@mudzusi.com

Why should I have a professional draft my Will?

There are many considerations to be taken into account when drafting a Will. These include: 1. The requirements for a valid Will; If your Will does not meet all the requirements of a valid Will, it may result in the application of the law of intestate succession upon your passing, or a costly Court Application by heirs to have it declared valid. 2. The practical executability of your wishes; There are many practical considerations for administrative purposes and for the purpose of the heirs. For example, in terms of the Subdivision of Agricultural Land Act, no agricultural land may be subdivided without the consent of the Minister. In other words, a farm cannot be bequeathed to more than one person or entity. 3. Tax provisions; and Benjamin Franklin said: "In this world nothing can be certain, except death and taxes". An expert is up-to-date on the most recent tax laws, more specifically Estate Duty and can advise you on legally acceptable mechanisms to reduce Estate Duty liability. 4. The legality of the provisions of your Will. If a provision of your Will is not legally acceptable, then you stand a chance of having the provision being declared invalid and the law of intestate succession being applicable. An expert can give you the best possible advice whilst taking the considerations into account. To consult with an expert, contact us: admin@mudzusi.com

Can the Alpha Team help me with the drafting of my Will?

Yes, an expert of the Alpha Team is willing to assist you with the drafting of your Will. For assistance in drafting a Will, contact us: admin@mudzusi.com

I have minor children. How do I protect their Best Interests in my Will?

This question has a two-fold answer: 1. Appointment of a guardian of your choice for the minor child; and 2. Testamentary Trust to see to the investment of funds to the benefit of the minor child. If a Testamentary Trust is not created, funds are paid over the the Guardian's Fund. The funds could be invested by Trustees to ensure a better return in the future, which is ultimately in the best interest of the child. Contact us to consult with a professional today: admin@mudzusi.com

I have a lot of debt. Do I still need a Will and how do I protect my Heirs from my Debtors?

Yes, you still need a Will regardless of your indebtedness. We have had clients who deemed it pointless to have a Will if their homes are still subject to a mortgage bond and their vehicles still under financing. This is not true. Some institutions insist that debtors take out credit life insurance to cover the debt made with them upon death. Other institutions, however, do not require same and this could lead to a liquidity problem within your estate. We recommend that you see a Financial Adviser to advise you on the liquidity of your estate in order to ensure that heirs are not prejudiced and that sentimental assets don't need to be sold to see to the settlement of your debt. Contact us to consult with a Financial Adviser: admin@mudzusi.com