South African Financial Advice Hub

Get pre-qualified before house hunting

A bank pre-qualification shows sellers and agents you can afford the property.

Budget for transfer duty and bond costs

Transfer duty, attorney and registration fees can add 5-8% on top of the purchase price.

Compare prime-linked rates across banks

Even a small discount off prime rate makes a large difference over a 20-year bond.

Consider a bond originator

They can submit your application to multiple banks at once to find the best rate.

Claim your full primary rebate

The primary rebate reduces your tax bill directly and rises further after age 65.

Maximise retirement annuity contributions

RA contributions are tax-deductible up to 27.5% of income, capped annually by SARS.

Use your tax-free savings account (TFSA)

Interest, dividends and capital gains inside a TFSA are completely tax-free.

Declare side-hustle and rental income

Provisional tax may apply if you earn income outside your normal PAYE salary.

Use your annual TFSA contribution limit

You can contribute up to the annual limit each year, with a lifetime cap set by SARS.

Know your interest exemption threshold

A portion of local interest income is exempt from tax each year, more for those over 65.

Diversify offshore within allowance limits

South Africans can invest offshore using their annual discretionary and investment allowances.

Start compounding early

Even small monthly unit trust contributions grow significantly over 20-30 years.

Avalanche method saves the most interest

Pay minimums everywhere, then attack your highest-interest debt first.

Check your credit score for free

You are entitled to one free credit report per year from registered bureaus.

Be careful with store cards and credit facilities

These often carry higher effective rates than a standard personal loan.

Consider debt review only as a last resort

It restructures repayments but restricts new credit until you are cleared.

Always take the full employer pension match

It is an instant guaranteed return — never leave matched contributions unclaimed.

Preserve retirement savings when changing jobs

Transferring to a preservation fund avoids tax and keeps your retirement plan on track.

Understand Regulation 28 limits

Retirement funds cap offshore and equity exposure — know how your fund is allocated.

Check your retirement annuity fees

High RA fees can significantly erode long-term growth — compare providers.

Build 3-6 months of essential expenses

Keep it in an easy-access money market or savings account.

Use the 50/30/20 rule as a starting point

50% needs, 30% wants, 20% savings and debt repayment.

Budget for load-shedding related costs

Backup power, data and generator fuel are now common line items in SA budgets.

Audit bank fees and subscriptions quarterly

Bundled bank accounts and unused subscriptions often waste hundreds of Rand a month.