In this episode of Open Books, Pamela Hellig sits down with award-winning financial journalist and author Maya Fisher-French (Maya on Money) to explore the intersections of money, media, and meaning.
Join us to unpack the realities of money, media, and retirement in South Africa. From the dangers of TikTok financial advice and online scams to lifestyle inflation, abusive credit insurance, and the myths around retirement, Maya shares insights from decades of experience helping South Africans make smarter money decisions.
We explore lessons from books like The Behaviour Gap, The Daily Stoic, and The Psychology of Money—and why financial rules of thumb often fail women due to longevity gaps and systemic bias. Maya also talks about her fight against abusive credit insurance, why the lottery is entertainment not a plan, and how financial education through TV, podcasts, and social media can truly change lives.
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:01:01 - Introducing Maya Fisher-French
00:08:55 - Book 1: The Psychology of Money
00:13:07 - Financial Education and Planning
00:15:40 - Book 2: The Behaviour Gap
00:18:59 - Maya's Journey from Economics to Journalism
00:23:04 - The Misconceptions of Being a Celebrity
00:26:40 - Book 3: The Daily Stoic
00:31:21 - Maya's Interest in the Retirement Gap
00:31:32 - High Income Earners and Retirement
00:34:06 - Insurance and Credit Insurance
00:36:36 - Underwriting and Pooled Risk
00:41:46 - Maya's Book Recommendations
00:46:30 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Maya’s book picks:
The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
The Behaviour Gap by Carl Richards
The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday
Kings of Shanghai by Jonathan Kaufman
A Gentleman in Moscow by Novel by Amor Towles
Connect with Maya Fisher-French on these platforms:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayaff/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayaonmoney/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MayaOnMoney
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mayaonmoney4043
Insight LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/insight-actuaries-&-consultants/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insight_za/
Visit our website: https://www.insight.co.za/
