Investing, without the jargon.
Straight-talking guides to investing in South Africa - the JSE, ETFs, tax-free accounts and more - written for real people, with local context and no finance-speak.
The EZvest investing glossary
152 investing terms defined in plain language, including the 35 South African ones a global glossary leaves out - Regulation 28, the two-pot system, STT, Strate and the rest.
Open the glossary -> Getting startedHow to start investing in South Africa
The full path in order - clearing expensive debt, the emergency fund, which account wrapper to use, what to buy first, what it costs, and how to set up a monthly debit order.
Read the guide -> Getting startedHow to buy US stocks from South Africa
The three routes South Africans can use to buy US shares, what you need to open an account, the W-8BEN form, and exactly how to place your first order.
Read the guide -> Getting startedWhat does it cost to buy US stocks from South Africa?
Forex spreads, brokerage, custody fees, fund TERs and dividend withholding tax - the full cost stack, and which parts actually eat your returns.
Read the guide -> PortfolioJSE vs international stocks: where should a South African invest?
Concentration, currency, rand hedges and Regulation 28 - how the JSE and global markets compare, and how to think about the split between them.
Read the guide -> Tax & accountsHow investment tax works in South Africa
Capital gains tax, dividends withholding, tax on interest and foreign income - the four things that get taxed, and how a TFSA or RA changes each one.
Read the guide -> Investing basicsWhat are the safest investments in South Africa?
Savings accounts, fixed deposits, money market and RSA Retail Savings Bonds compared - and why the safest option can still lose you money.
Read the guide -> Investing basicsIndividual shares or funds: what should a beginner buy?
How single-share risk really works, what the evidence says about stock picking, and the core-and-satellite approach that gives you room to learn.
Read the guide -> ResearchHow to research a stock before you buy it
A repeatable six-step process - understanding the business, reading the numbers, checking the balance sheet, valuation, and writing down what would make you wrong.
Read the guide -> ResearchHow to follow financial news as a beginner
Which news actually moves markets, which is noise, where to get it in South Africa, and how to read a scary headline without acting on it.
Read the guide -> PortfolioInvestment portfolio by age: how your mix should change
How allocation typically shifts through your 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and retirement - and why time horizon matters more than your birth year.
Read the guide -> PortfolioHow to rebalance your portfolio without paying high fees
Why drift quietly raises your risk, calendar vs threshold methods, and how to rebalance with new contributions to avoid trading costs and CGT.
Read the guide -> Getting startedHow to invest your first salary in South Africa
The order of operations for your first paycheck - emergency fund, debt, employer match, TFSA - plus how much to invest and what to buy first.
Read the guide -> Getting startedHow to automate your investing with a debit order
Why automatic monthly investing beats deciding each month, how rand-cost averaging works, and the annual escalation trick that does most of the work.
Read the guide -> Getting startedFinancial adviser or DIY investing: how to decide
How advisers charge in South Africa, what they genuinely add, when DIY makes more sense, and the six questions to ask before you sign anything.
Read the guide -> Getting startedLump sum or monthly: how to invest a large amount
Should you invest a bonus all at once or spread it out? What the evidence says, why regret matters more than maths, and a practical middle path.
Read the guide -> Getting startedShould you invest or pay off debt first?
The interest rate test that answers most cases, where home loans and student loans fit, and a clear order of operations for South Africans.
Read the guide -> Getting startedIs it too late to start investing in your 30s, 40s or 50s?
What actually changes when you start late, why your horizon is longer than you are counting, and the levers that matter most at 35, 45 and 55.
Read the guide -> Getting startedHow to start investing on the JSE: a beginner's guide
How the Johannesburg Stock Exchange works, what you need to begin, shares vs ETFs, costs and tax - and the exact first steps to buy your first investment.
Read the guide -> Tax & accountsTFSA vs Retirement Annuity: which is right for you?
How a Tax-Free Savings Account and a Retirement Annuity compare - tax benefits, access rules, limits, and how to decide between them or use both.
Read the guide -> Investing basicsWhat is an ETF, and how do I buy one in South Africa?
A beginner's guide to Exchange Traded Funds - how they work, why they're low-cost, TFSA eligibility, and how to buy your first ETF step by step.
Read the guide -> ResearchHow to read a company's earnings report
Revenue, EPS, margins, guidance and beats vs misses explained simply - so you know what actually moves a share when a company reports.
Read the guide -> Investing basicsWhat is compound interest, and why does it matter so much?
How your money grows on itself over time, why starting early beats investing more later, and the rule of 72 - with South African examples.
Read the guide -> PortfolioHow to build a diversified investment portfolio
What diversification really means, how to spread across assets, sectors and regions, and how to spot the concentration risks that quietly build up.
Read the guide -> MacroWhat moves the rand? Understanding USD/ZAR
The global and local forces that push the rand up and down against the dollar - and why the exchange rate matters even if you never trade currencies.
Read the guide -> MacroInflation and interest rates explained
What CPI is, how the SARB and the repo rate work, why rates rise and fall, and what it all means for your money and investments.
Read the guide -> Investing basicsUnit trusts vs ETFs: which is right for you?
How unit trusts and ETFs compare in South Africa - cost, trading and management - and how to decide between them, or use both.
Read the guide -> Getting started9 common investing mistakes beginners make
From panic-selling and chasing hype to ignoring fees and staying in cash - the traps beginners fall into, and a simple way to avoid each one.
Read the guide -> Getting startedHow much money do you need to start investing?
The honest answer - you can start with as little as R50-R100. What to sort out first, and why small, regular amounts grow over time.
Read the guide -> Investing basicsDividend investing explained
What dividends are, how dividend yield works, the key dates and tax, reinvesting for compounding, and how dividends fit a long-term portfolio.
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