I hope you are going to get good advice, Lady A but if I may add one small bit. Ask for your money up front and be insistent about it. You are in business and business is money. By the time you have finished with a guy he is cross eyed and he brain is totally fucked. He can so easily walk out without remembering to pay - leading at least to much embarrassment or at worst to no money.

Personally i have had too many bad experiences with financial advisors..at heart of it you have people who earn commision for selling investment products, irrespective of whether tou recieve any return on investment

To the brokers, nothing personal and no hard feelings but i have learnt hard lessons from experience...

Lady Alexa

Financial planning can be quite intimidating but need not be once you have set certain broad term goals for yourself. These goals should not be set in stone, but be adaptable as your circumstances changes over time. Once you have made good sound investment decisions, stick to them because compound growth is what it is about.

A quote by Albert Einstein :" Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it. He who doesn't, pays it"

A first step into investment one can consider is unit trusts. There are hundreds to choose from, best is to consult with your bank which have divisions and qualified people to help and assist you with decisions and processes.

Remember diversify and do not put all your eggs in one basket!

Only my 10c worth, trust it is a start to a prosperous financial future.

1. Allan Gray Equity fund. 20%
2. Old Mutual investors Fund. 20%
3. Old Mutual Enhanced Income Fund 10%
4. Marriott Property Fund. 30%
5. Investec Global Equity Fund 20%

Don't touch it for st least 7 years.

Most financial advisers are after their own interests and commission. STAY AWAY from insurance and annuity / retirement fund advisers.

Look at reputable sites on the internet where a lot of advice is given for free. You have to be responsible to invest your savings in something like a top 40 index fund and then just leave it there until you are ready to retire. Over a long period (decades) all stock markets have grown, even through multiple crashes. Do NOT use a broker and do day trading - invest yourself in an index fund.

On 2017-11-11 07:31:23 Ben Layden said:
Money:
1. Whence it came.
2. Where it went.

Those are the key questions.

Your money has to pass via a bank account before any reputable financial adviser will help you.

This is a div comment. Completely unhelpful. Respect your input on this forum but this time you've lacked any imagination and simply told a woman "no" when she's trying to improve her lot. In times like these it's best to STFU If you have nothing good to say.

Thank you to everyone for the advise.
I really appreciate it

You are very welcome my lady Alexa.

[Edit]
always have a reserve of cash available for emergencies such as car breakdowns, burst geyser etc so that you do not have to dip into your unit trusts for at least 7 years or longer.

Also create a diversified portfolio. Retirement annuity and provident funds for retirement savings 10 to 15 percent to start with but even 25 percent not excessive if u thinking 15 to 20 years time retirement. Also if u have dependants life cover with disability. Next would be unit trusts which u can stop if u have financial trouble. Fourth would be invest in what u know we all have knowledge on something.

Life cover is a complete waste of money.
Rather invest that money into your unit trust portfolio.