Lime Capital
Learn how capital markets work. Understand unit trusts, compare fund performance, and protect your legacy — from your first ETF to estate planning.
Tools & Calculators
Skip the reading. Run your own numbers.
Six free tools on this page. Each one takes a couple of minutes and gives you a number you can act on.
Retirement Goal Calculator
Set the monthly income you want in retirement and see what your current plan actually delivers.
You get: Your monthly shortfall + the SARS refund you're owed
OpenHome Loan Accelerator
Add an extra amount to your bond repayment and watch the term collapse.
You get: Years saved and interest avoided
OpenRA Fee Benchmark
Ten retirement annuities ranked by what they actually cost you, fees first.
You get: The cheapest credible RA for your situation
OpenRisk Profiler
A two-minute scenario quiz on how you'd really react to a falling market.
You get: Your investor profile + ETFs that suit it
OpenFund Comparison
South Africa's top unit trusts against global benchmarks over ten years.
You get: Real long-run numbers, not marketing ones
OpenStarter Baskets
Ready-made portfolio starting points for different budgets and goals.
You get: A first portfolio you can actually build
OpenFrom first investment to legacy protection.
Learn to Invest
Understand unit trusts, ETFs, and how to build your first portfolio from as little as R500 a month.
ExploreCompare Funds
See how SA’s top unit trusts perform against global benchmarks over 10 years — real data, real context.
ExploreWills & Estates
Protect your legacy with a professionally drafted Will — and ensure your assets go where you intend them to.
ExploreKnow Your Risk
Take a 2-minute scenario quiz to find your investor risk profile — and the Satrix ETFs that tend to suit it.
ExploreHow to start investing.
A beginner's guide to building wealth through unit trusts and ETFs — the two most accessible investment vehicles in South Africa.
What is a Unit Trust?
A unit trust pools money from many investors to buy a diversified portfolio of assets. Professional fund managers make the investment decisions. You buy “units” which represent your share of the fund. Minimum investments can be as low as R500/month.
- Professionally managed
- Diversified across assets
- Regulated by FSCA
What is an ETF?
An Exchange-Traded Fund trades on the stock exchange like a share. It tracks an index (like the JSE Top 40 or S&P 500) and offers instant diversification at very low cost. You can buy ETFs through any stockbroker or investment platform.
- Low fees (TER often under 0.15%)
- Trades like a share on the JSE
- Instant diversification
Key Concepts
Compound Interest
Earning returns on your returns. The earlier you start, the more powerful it becomes.
Diversification
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Spread across asset classes, sectors, and geographies.
Time in Market
Staying invested through ups and downs beats trying to time the market. Think decades, not days.
How SA's top funds stack up.
If you had invested R10,000 ten years ago, here's what it would be worth today across four of the most-watched investment vehicles in South Africa.
Growth of R10,000
10-year period · Illustrative data through Dec 2024
Returns are approximate annualized figures. S&P 500 in ZAR includes currency movement. Inflation based on ~5.2% avg SA CPI over 10 years.
The Time Value of Money
A Rand today is worth more than a Rand tomorrow. That's not a saying — it's a financial principle. Because of inflation, money loses purchasing power over time. The R10,000 you hold today will buy less next year, and significantly less in a decade.
In South Africa, inflation has averaged roughly 5.2% per year over the past decade. That means your R10,000 would need to grow to at least ~R16,500just to buy the same basket of goods it buys today. Anything below that line and you've actually lost real wealth — even if the number in your account went up.
This is why investment returns should always be measured against inflation, not against zero. A savings account paying 4% sounds positive — until you realise inflation is running at 5%. Your money grew, but your purchasing power shrank. That's the difference between a nominal return (the number) and a real return (what you can actually buy).
The Inflation Test
Did your investment beat inflation?
Real return verdict
The bottom line
If your investment isn't beating inflation, you're not growing wealth — you're slowly losing it. The red inflation line on the chart above is your real benchmark. Everything below it is a loss in disguise. Everything above it is genuine wealth creation.
Annualized Returns Comparison
| Fund / Index | 1 Year | 3 Year | 5 Year | 10 Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
AG Money MktMoney Market | 8.4% | 7% | 6.3% | 6.2% |
JSE Top 40Equity Index | 9.8% | 9.5% | 10.1% | 8.5% |
Coronation Balanced PlusMulti-Asset High Equity | 15.1% | 11.2% | 9.8% | 8.8% |
Allan Gray BalancedMulti-Asset High Equity | 14.2% | 11.8% | 9.6% | 9.2% |
S&P 500Equity Index (USD→ZAR) | 32.4% | 16.8% | 17.2% | 18.4% |
SA’s most recognised money market fund. Capital preservation with returns that track interest rates. Near-zero risk of losing money — the benchmark for “do nothing” investing.
The 40 largest companies on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange by market cap. Accessible through low-cost ETFs like the Satrix Top 40.
A flagship South African balanced fund with one of the longest track records. Widely held in retirement funds and retail portfolios alike.
One of SA’s largest and most trusted balanced funds. Known for a contrarian, value-oriented investment style and long-term consistency.
The 500 largest US-listed companies. In Rand terms, returns include both index growth and currency movement — the Rand weakened significantly over 10 years.
Important Disclaimer
All performance data shown is illustrative and based on approximate historical returns. Past performance is not indicative of future results. These figures are for educational purposes only and do not constitute financial advice. Always consult an authorised financial adviser before making investment decisions. Verify current data on the official fund fact sheets linked above. #ThisIsNotFinancialAdvice
What kind of investor are you?
Smart investing starts with knowing your own appetite for risk. Answer six quick scenarios — no numbers, no jargon — and we’ll match you to a risk profile and the kinds of Satrix ETFs that tend to suit it.
When are you most likely to need this money back?
Your time horizon shapes how much short-term risk makes sense.
Educational only — this is not financial advice and Lime Pages is not a registered financial services provider (FSP). The risk profile and Satrix ETF examples are illustrative; tickers and fund details must be verified on satrix.co.za, and you should speak to a licensed adviser before investing. #ThisIsNotFinancialAdvice
Your risk profile, turned into a basket.
Pick a profile — or take the 2-minute quiz to find yours — and explore the Satrix ETFs that tend to suit it. A basket is a starting point for your own research, not a recommendation.
Moderate · A balance of both
You're comfortable with moderate ups and downs in exchange for real growth. You want a balance between income today and building wealth over time.
Educational only — this is not financial advice and Lime Pages is not a registered financial services provider (FSP). The baskets and Satrix ETF examples are illustrative; tickers and fund details must be verified on satrix.co.za, and you should speak to a licensed adviser before investing. #ThisIsNotFinancialAdvice
The government pays you to save. The fee decides how much you keep.
A retirement annuity is the most tax-efficient way to save for retirement in South Africa — SARS refunds tax on every rand you put in, and nothing inside the fund is taxed while it grows. The catch is that RAs are sold, not bought, and the gap between the cheapest and dearest costs you years of retirement.
The 2026/27 tax break
Up to R430 000 a year off your taxable income.
You can deduct 27.5% of the greater of your remuneration or taxable income, capped at R430 000— raised from R350 000 on 1 March 2026, the first increase since 2016. At a 39% marginal rate, a R5 000-a-month contribution hands back about R23 400 a year. Contribute more than the limit and nothing is lost: the excess carries forward and reduces your tax later.
National Treasury — Budget 2026 Tax GuideAccess from
Age 55
Earlier only on permanent disability
Cash out fully below
R360 000
Otherwise two-thirds buys an annuity
Two-pot: you are no longer locked out until 55
Since 1 September 2024, every rand you contribute splits in two. A third goes to a savings component you can draw from once per tax year (minimum R2 000, taxed at your marginal rate). Two-thirds goes to a retirement component that stays locked until you retire. Anything you had before September 2024 sits in a vested component under the old rules.
It is genuine flexibility, and an expensive habit. A withdrawal is taxed at your full marginal rate rather than the friendlier retirement tables, and the compounding you give up is permanent.
Start with the fee, not the returns
The fee is the only number you know for certain before you sign. Over a 30-year term the difference between 0.9% and 1.9% a year is roughly a quarter of your final pot — not a rounding error, but the difference between retiring and nearly retiring. Ask for the Effective Annual Cost, which providers must publish, and make sure it includes platform admin, the fund's own charges and any adviser fee.
Reg 28 is a floor everyone shares
Every South African RA must comply with Regulation 28 of the Pension Funds Act — max 75% equities, max 45% offshore, no crypto. So "Reg 28 compliant" tells you nothing about whether a product is good. It caps how concentrated your money can get. National Treasury is explicit that it does not, by itself, protect your investment.
Decide if you want to choose funds at all
A ready-made RA puts you in one balanced fund and quotes a single all-in fee — one decision, done. A self-directed platform charges a lower headline fee but you pick the funds and pay their charges on top, and you carry the responsibility for staying Reg 28 compliant. Neither is better; a cheap platform fee just isn't the same number as a cheap all-in fee.
Check the exit before the entrance
Modern RAs let you stop, restart or move without penalty. Older life-wrapped products can charge causal-event penalties when you reduce contributions, and some force an annual contribution increase you can't switch off. Ask one question in writing: what does it cost me to stop contributing, and what does it cost me to transfer out?
Five questions before you sign anything
- What is the Effective Annual Cost, all in?
- Does that include the adviser fee, and is it negotiable?
- What does it cost me to stop contributing?
- What does it cost me to transfer out?
- Is there a compulsory annual contribution increase?
If a provider won’t answer these in writing, that is itself the answer.
What income will your RA actually buy you?
Set the monthly income you want in retirement — in today’s money, so it means something — and see what your current plan delivers, what the gap costs to close, and how much SARS gives back along the way.
Step 01 — where you are
Your position today.
Assumes 11% a year before fees and 5% inflation. Sustainable income uses the 4% rule.
Step 02 — where that lands you
Your retirement, projected.
Same contributions, same returns — only the fee changes. At 0.90% you retire with R12.1m. At 1.94% you retire with R9.1m.
That one percentage point costs you R2.9m — 24% of your fund.
Estimates only, for education. Returns are assumed, not guaranteed, and real markets don’t deliver a smooth 11% a year. At retirement two-thirds of your RA must buy an annuity, so the income shown is a planning approximation rather than a quote. Lime Pages is not a licensed financial services provider — speak to an FSP- licensed adviser before acting.
Every major RA, ranked by what it costs you.
Fees first, performance second — because you can know the fee before you sign and nobody can know the return. Every figure below came off the provider’s own fee schedule or fund factsheet, with the date it was published.
All of them are Regulation 28 compliant — that’s the law, not a feature
Every retirement annuity in South Africa must follow Regulation 28 of the Pension Funds Act, so compliance can never be a reason to pick one over another. What it does is cap how concentrated your money can get. It limits risk; it doesn’t promise a good outcome.
Ready-made — one fund, one all-in fee
Directly comparable
A single Reg 28 balanced fund inside the RA. The cost shown is everything: platform admin plus the fund's own charges. These rows compare like with like.
What makes up the fee
Fund total investment charge 0.64% incl VAT (TER 0.62% + 0.02% transaction costs). Platform admin not separately published for this route
Reg 28
Compliant — mandatory for every SA retirement annuity
Best for
The lowest published fund charge of the ready-made options, with a full 10-year track record behind it.
Penalties
None — the product brochure states 'No causal event fees or penalties'
Versus peers
ASISA category average over the same periods: 12.3% / 12.6% / 11.0%
Watch out
The 0.64% is the fund charge. Confirm what the platform adds on top for your investment route before comparing it to a true all-in number.
Self-directed — you choose the funds
Platform fee only
These are platforms, not funds. The percentage is what the platform charges to hold your RA — whatever fund you pick charges on top, so your real all-in cost is higher than the number shown. Never compare these figures directly against the table above.
Ask hard questions about these
Not ranked with the rest — these are legacy-structured products whose published charges are far above everything above. If you hold one, it is worth asking what you are paying for.
Discovery
Discovery Recurring Retirement Annuity (legacy pricing)
3.565% incl VAT administration, plus fund fees
Roughly four times the cheapest option in the ready-made table, before any fund fee. It also requires a contractual annual contribution increase. Discovery's own Flexible RA, launched March 2026, does the same job far cheaper.
Sanlam
Sanlam Cumulus Echo Retirement Plan
4.20% marketing and administration charge
A life-wrapped legacy structure. Sanlam's page does not state whether the 4.20% is annual or once-off, so we will not publish it as an annual figure — but a charge of that size on any basis deserves a direct question before you sign.
Data last reviewed 03 Aug 2026. Fees and returns change — always confirm against the provider’s current documents before investing. Returns are historical, annualised and net of fees, and do not predict future performance; where products report to different dates their returns are not strictly comparable, so each row shows its own. This is factual product information for education, not advice. Lime Pages is not a licensed financial services provider and receives no commission from any provider listed.
Pay your home loan off years earlier.
Run your home loan through the accelerator. Try an extra monthly contribution and watch the payoff term shorten — and how much interest you save by doing it.
Step 01 — your home loan
What does your home loan look like?
Pays the home loan off in the original 20 years.
Step 02 — what changes
Your repayment, accelerated.
Balance over time
Estimates only. Rates & taxes assume ~0.7% of property value per year. Your actual home loan instalment depends on your bank’s offer, life cover, and any structured fees. Use this as a guide for what extra contributions could unlock, not as a binding quote.
Platform DataWhere people like you
are investing.
Real investment behaviour from 2.6 million South Africans on EasyEquities — what they buy, how they allocate, and what the top performers do differently. Data sourced from Purple Group (JSE: PPE) public filings and reports.
2.6M
Registered investors
R80.7B
Assets on platform
30
Median age
R5.2K
Avg half-year inflow
Top 10 Most-Held Investments
By portfolio weight across all EasyEquities accounts
How They Allocate
Platform-wide asset split
Most-Bought ETFs
Jan–Jun 2024 by value purchased
Satrix S&P 500
7yr People's ChoiceSatrix Nasdaq 100
Satrix Top 40
SA benchmarkThe best-performing accounts allocate 59% to ETFs and 75% hold tax-free savings accounts— primarily invested in S&P 500 trackers.
~40%
of holdings are in tech
Nvidia, Tesla, Apple, and Naspers dominate retail portfolios.
75%
of top performers hold TFSAs
The best-performing 1% invest primarily via tax-free savings accounts.
42%
female investors
Closing the gender gap — up from traditional industry averages of ~25%.
56%
joined via referral
Word of mouth drives more signups than any marketing campaign.
·Source: Purple Group (JSE: PPE) FY2025 annual results, EasyEquities blog, Moneyweb, Daily Investor. Data reflects platform-wide trends and is for educational context only.
Getting Started
Step 01
Choose a platform
Easy Equities, Satrix, Allan Gray, Coronation. Most let you start with as little as R500.
Step 02
FICA & verify
Complete KYC/FICA with your ID and proof of address. Usually done online in minutes.
Step 03
Pick your vehicle
Unit trust for managed investing, ETF for low-cost index tracking. Start with what matches your risk appetite.
Step 04
Set up a debit order
Consistency beats timing. Set up a monthly debit order and let compound interest do the work.
Invest in Startups. Together.
For young professionals with a higher risk appetite — pool your capital with 4 others and invest in early-stage startups through our angel network.
5 Investors
R10,000 each
R50,000
Combined angel round investment
How It Works
Express Interest
Register your interest in joining an angel syndicate. No commitment required.
Get Matched
We match you with 4 other investors to form a 5-person syndicate.
Review Deals
Your syndicate reviews pre-vetted startup opportunities from our angel network.
Invest Together
Each member contributes R10,000 for a combined R50,000 angel round investment.
Access Angel Deals
Get into startup rounds typically reserved for investors with R50K+ minimums.
Shared Due Diligence
Five perspectives are better than one. Evaluate deals as a group with diverse expertise.
Portfolio Approach
Spread your risk across multiple startups instead of concentrating on a single bet.
Guided by Experience
Led by an active angel investor with direct access to SA’s startup ecosystem.
Limited to 30 founding syndicate members
Ready to back the next generation
of African startups?
Express your interest below. No commitment — we'll reach out with details on upcoming deals and how syndicates are structured.
#ThisIsNotFinancialAdvice · Angel investing carries significant risk including loss of capital.
Prefer Lower Risk?
Explore the Lehumo Community Trust
Not ready for angel investing? Lehumo pools community capital into regulated, diversified investment vehicles — from as little as your monthly contribution. No minimum check size needed.
Why every adult needs
a valid Will.
A Will is a legally binding document that lets you choose who inherits your assets, who looks after your children, and who manages your estate when you're no longer here. Without one, the law decides for you.
Did you know?
If you die without a Will in South Africa, your estate is distributed under the Intestate Succession Act — your partner, children, or family may not receive what you intended.
You choose who inherits
Without a Will, your estate is distributed according to the Intestate Succession Act — which may not reflect your wishes at all.
Protect your children
Nominate a legal guardian for your minor children. Without one, the court decides — and the process can take months.
Appoint your executor
Choose a trusted person or firm to manage your estate. Otherwise, the Master of the High Court appoints one for you.
Minimise disputes & delays
A valid Will speeds up the administration process and reduces the chance of costly legal disputes between family members.
Draft your Will in 4 simple steps.
Powered by our partnership with Simelane Attorneys Inc (PSA Law) — professional, affordable, and fully compliant with South African law.
Consultation
A 30-minute session with PSA Law to understand your assets, dependants, and wishes. In-person at their Bryanston offices or virtual.
Will Drafting
Your Will is drafted by a qualified attorney — legally compliant, clear, and tailored to your specific situation.
Review & Sign
You review the draft, request changes if needed, then sign in the presence of two competent witnesses (14+ years old).
Safekeeping
Your signed Will is stored securely. You receive a copy and can request a free annual update to keep it current.
Exclusive PackageComprehensive Estate Planning
Will drafting + estate advisory — one package, one price
once-off · incl. VAT
What's Included
What happens to
your estate?
Estate administration is the legal process of winding up your affairs after death. A valid Will with a nominated executor makes this process significantly faster, cheaper, and less stressful for your loved ones.
Professional estate administration handled end-to-end — from reporting to final distribution. Your family won't have to navigate the legal process alone.
Reporting
Death is reported, documents gathered, and the estate is lodged with the Master of the High Court.
Executor Appointed
The nominated executor receives Letters of Executorship and notifies creditors.
Liquidation
Debts are settled, tax returns filed, and a Liquidation & Distribution account is prepared.
Distribution
Assets are transferred and inheritance paid out to beneficiaries as directed by the Will.
Simelane Attorneys Inc
A 100% black-owned boutique law firm based in Bryanston, Sandton. We've partnered with PSA Law to offer professional Will drafting and estate planning services — qualified, experienced, and committed to making this process accessible for every South African.
- Professionally drafted Wills
- Secure document safekeeping
- Full estate administration
- Annual Will review & updates
Knowledge is the first
investment.
Whether you're buying your first ETF or planning your estate — we help you understand what you're getting into before you commit your capital.
#ThisIsNotFinancialAdvice · All content is for educational purposes only