We all have reasons for not investing.
“I don’t have the money.”
“It’s too hard to understand.”
“I’ll start when things settle down.”
At ETFSA, we’re on a mission to make wealth creation simple. Together with Gugu Mfuphi, on Kaya 959, our team has been helping South Africans discover the ease and opportunity of excuse-proof investing.
What is an ETF?
An Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) is one of the simplest and smartest ways to start investing. Think of it as a ready-made basket of shares or bonds that you can buy on the JSE, just like a single stock. Each ETF tracks an index, giving you instant diversification and professional management at a fraction of the cost.
Smart investing
ETFs offer a mix of diversification, flexibility, and cost efficiency. With one ETF, you gain access to a range of assets, spreading risk while keeping costs low. Listed on the JSE, they’re easy to buy or sell, giving you both liquidity and transparency.
Compounding
ETFs adapt easily as your goals change. You can start small, add more when you can, and stay invested through life’s ups and downs. Compounding is what makes that consistency so powerful. When your returns start earning their own returns, your growth accelerates over time.
Nerina Visser, CFA and ETF Strategist at ETFSA, highlights the impact of this strategy:
“I cannot overemphasise the value of time. If you start at 20 and put away R1 000 a month for 10 years, and then never add another cent, by 65 you’ll have more than R6.5 million.”
Nerina Visser | Three barriers stopping investors
Excuse-proof investing
That’s why we created the Excuse-Proof Investing Starter Pack: a simple, affordable way to invest from just R1 000 per month. You don’t need to have experience in finance or investing. Each portfolio is thoughtfully designed, easy to understand, and supported by ETFSA’s trusted team of professionals.
The Managing Director of ETFSA, Mike Brown, explains:
“We’ve got very low-risk portfolios and others that grow much faster. For instance, our Wealth Enhancer portfolio grew by around 18 to 19% last year, and it’s continuing to perform strongly this year. We provide carefully managed ETF portfolios designed to meet long-term objectives and deliver consistent performance over time.”
Mike Brown | Unpacking the power of Retirement Annuities
Account choices
Not all investment accounts are the same. ETFSA helps you understand how they differ and how each can help you reach your goals.
- Retirement Annuities (RAs): Long-term savings with tax-deductible contributions (up to 27.5% of taxable income, capped at R350 000 per year).
- Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs): More flexible: withdraw anytime and never pay tax on the growth, within annual contribution limits.
- Discretionary Investments: Complete freedom to invest or withdraw whenever you want, but without tax advantages.
Reiterating the tax benefits of an RA, ETFSA’s Manager for Retirement Products, Suzan Ramotshabi, explains:
“Retirement funds are one of the biggest tax advantages we have in South Africa, together with tax-free investments. We often forget that the country gives us these benefits, contributing to an RA and receiving tax deductibility is a major opportunity.”
When you invest through ETFs, benefits multiply, giving you low-cost access to local and global markets in one simple product.
Suzan Ramotshabi | Why time in the market drives long-term wealth
Three RA facts
- Tax breaks: Contributions to an RA reduce your taxable income, saving on tax now while investing for your future self.
- Long-term focus: You can’t access your RA before 55 (except in limited cases). That discipline ensures a healthy retirement fund.
- Diverse exposure: ETFSA’s RAs use ETFs to give you access to multiple asset classes and markets.
ETFs open access to property, banks, commodities, and offshore markets. At ETFSA, we help you find the right mix, building confidence and keeping your investment goals on track.
Long-term investment wins
When you invest for the long run, three forces work in your favour:
- Compounding: Returns that build on returns.
- Tax efficiency: Less drag on your growth.
- Discipline: The patience to stay invested.
Investment Executive, Gareth Stobie, shares why many South Africans put off investing, and how ETFSA is helping to change that:
“We’re pretty good at coming up with excuses, aren’t we? No time, not enough money, not wealthy enough, don’t know where to start. But the answers do exist. ETFSA helps people build that delayed-gratification muscle that turns small steps into lasting success.”
Gareth Stobie | Your journey to financial freedom starts from just R1,000 per month
Life is busy, and investing can feel daunting, but the Excuse-Proof Investing Starter Pack makes it simple and within reach. The sooner you start, the more time your money has to grow. A consistent R1 000 per month can become life-changing over time.
No more excuses.
You’re one click away from a wealthier future.