74 |^ OCTOBER^2019 | WWW.TRUELOVE.CO.ZA
When author, money columnist and
founder of Woman and Finance —
a personal finance blog — Mapalo
Makhu took to the stage at the recent
#JSESheInvests, guests commended
her uplifting style of money talk. The
event, organised by the Johannesburg
Stock Exchange, was geared towards
encouraging women to invest in each
other, as well as sharing pivotal money
and investment lessons. “There are 12
months in a year, so make time to learn
something new about money every
month,” said Makhu, who also kept
reminding attendees that they were not
broke, but pre-rich. You’re Not Broke,
You’re Pre-Rich also happens to be the
title of her debut book, set for release
in early October. The style of writing,
she says, is very conversational. “I hope
that people find it an easy read because
I believe that money education should
be simple. I also think that the financial
industry is to blame because they make
things complicated and intimidating,”
explains the 31-year-old.IN THE BEGINNING
During an unplanned gap year after
matric, Makhu challenged herself
to start reading any and everything
that wasn’t a Mills and Boon novel.
This new resolution saw her reading
Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter’s
Rich Dad, Poor Dad, which she says
altered the course of her life, and
further inspired her to pursue a career
in financial investments instead of
her initial passion, Media Studies. “I
suddenly became interested in learning
how money worked,” she explains. This
was also a path that introduced her to
more finance gurus, so much so that she
aspired to be the Suze Orman of Africa
at one point. “Suze Orman is one of my
financial muses, even though I disagree
with some of her old-school money
theories,” she shares. “For instance, she
believes that it’s impossible to retire at
a young age, whereas experience and
reading up have taught me that with
careful planning and patience, wealth is
very possible.” A lack of patience, Makhu
believes, is what’s standing in our way of
being millionaires.
A self-confessed average student in
high school, she recalls suddenly being
an A student during her University ofMapalo Makhu, Woman and Finance founder,
on making people’s financial dreams a reality
and preaching jargon-free money gospel.
Can we get an AMEN!By KEMONG MOPEDICHASING
PAPER...