https://www.ezvest.co.za/blog Plain-language guides to investing in South Africa - the JSE, ETFs, TFSAs, macro and more, from EZvest. en-za Mon, 25 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0200 https://www.ezvest.co.za/how-to-start-investing-south-africa https://www.ezvest.co.za/how-to-start-investing-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. Mon, 25 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0200 https://www.ezvest.co.za/how-to-buy-us-stocks-from-south-africa https://www.ezvest.co.za/how-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. Tue, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0200 https://www.ezvest.co.za/cost-of-buying-us-stocks-from-south-africa https://www.ezvest.co.za/cost-of-buying-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. Tue, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0200 https://www.ezvest.co.za/jse-vs-international-stocks https://www.ezvest.co.za/jse-vs-international-stocks Concentration, currency, rand hedges and Regulation 28 - how the JSE and global markets compare, and how to think about the split between them. Tue, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0200 https://www.ezvest.co.za/investment-tax-south-africa https://www.ezvest.co.za/investment-tax-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. Tue, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0200 https://www.ezvest.co.za/safest-investments-south-africa https://www.ezvest.co.za/safest-investments-south-africa Savings accounts, fixed deposits, money market and RSA Retail Savings Bonds compared - and why the safest option can still lose you money. Tue, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0200 https://www.ezvest.co.za/individual-stocks-vs-funds-beginners https://www.ezvest.co.za/individual-stocks-vs-funds-beginners 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. Tue, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0200 https://www.ezvest.co.za/how-to-research-a-stock-before-buying https://www.ezvest.co.za/how-to-research-a-stock-before-buying A repeatable six-step process - understanding the business, reading the numbers, checking the balance sheet, valuation, and writing down what would make you wrong. Tue, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0200 https://www.ezvest.co.za/how-to-follow-financial-news-beginners https://www.ezvest.co.za/how-to-follow-financial-news-beginners 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. Tue, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0200 https://www.ezvest.co.za/investment-portfolio-by-age https://www.ezvest.co.za/investment-portfolio-by-age How allocation typically shifts through your 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and retirement - and why time horizon matters more than your birth year. Tue, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0200 https://www.ezvest.co.za/how-to-rebalance-your-portfolio https://www.ezvest.co.za/how-to-rebalance-your-portfolio Why drift quietly raises your risk, calendar vs threshold methods, and how to rebalance with new contributions to avoid trading costs and CGT. Tue, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0200 https://www.ezvest.co.za/how-to-invest-your-first-salary-south-africa https://www.ezvest.co.za/how-to-invest-your-first-salary-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. Tue, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0200 https://www.ezvest.co.za/how-to-automate-your-investing https://www.ezvest.co.za/how-to-automate-your-investing Why automatic monthly investing beats deciding each month, how rand-cost averaging works, and the annual escalation trick that does most of the work. Tue, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0200 https://www.ezvest.co.za/financial-advisor-vs-diy-investing https://www.ezvest.co.za/financial-advisor-vs-diy-investing 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. Tue, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0200 https://www.ezvest.co.za/lump-sum-vs-monthly-investing https://www.ezvest.co.za/lump-sum-vs-monthly-investing 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. Tue, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0200 https://www.ezvest.co.za/invest-or-pay-off-debt-first https://www.ezvest.co.za/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. Tue, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0200 https://www.ezvest.co.za/is-it-too-late-to-start-investing https://www.ezvest.co.za/is-it-too-late-to-start-investing 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. Tue, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0200 https://www.ezvest.co.za/how-to-start-investing-jse https://www.ezvest.co.za/how-to-start-investing-jse How the Johannesburg Stock Exchange works, what you need to begin, shares vs ETFs, costs and tax, and the first steps to buy your first investment. Wed, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0200 https://www.ezvest.co.za/tfsa-vs-retirement-annuity https://www.ezvest.co.za/tfsa-vs-retirement-annuity How a Tax-Free Savings Account and a Retirement Annuity compare - tax benefits, access rules, limits, and how to choose between them or use both. Wed, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0200 https://www.ezvest.co.za/etf-investing-south-africa https://www.ezvest.co.za/etf-investing-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. Wed, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0200 https://www.ezvest.co.za/how-to-read-earnings-report https://www.ezvest.co.za/how-to-read-earnings-report Revenue, EPS, margins, guidance and beats vs misses explained simply - so you know what actually moves a share when a company reports. Wed, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0200 https://www.ezvest.co.za/what-is-compound-interest https://www.ezvest.co.za/what-is-compound-interest How your money grows on itself over time, why starting early beats investing more later, and the rule of 72 - with South African examples. Wed, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0200 https://www.ezvest.co.za/how-to-build-diversified-portfolio https://www.ezvest.co.za/how-to-build-diversified-portfolio What diversification really means, how to spread across assets, sectors and regions, and how to spot concentration risk. Wed, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0200 https://www.ezvest.co.za/what-moves-the-rand-usd-zar https://www.ezvest.co.za/what-moves-the-rand-usd-zar The global and local forces that push the rand up and down against the dollar - and why the exchange rate matters for investors. Wed, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0200 https://www.ezvest.co.za/inflation-and-interest-rates-explained https://www.ezvest.co.za/inflation-and-interest-rates-explained What CPI is, how the SARB and the repo rate work, why rates rise and fall, and what it means for your money and investments. Wed, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0200 https://www.ezvest.co.za/unit-trusts-vs-etfs https://www.ezvest.co.za/unit-trusts-vs-etfs How unit trusts and ETFs compare in South Africa - cost, trading and management - and how to decide between them, or use both. Wed, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0200 https://www.ezvest.co.za/common-investing-mistakes-beginners https://www.ezvest.co.za/common-investing-mistakes-beginners From panic-selling and chasing hype to ignoring fees and staying in cash - the traps beginners fall into, and how to avoid each one. Wed, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0200 https://www.ezvest.co.za/how-much-to-start-investing https://www.ezvest.co.za/how-much-to-start-investing The honest answer for South Africans - what you can start with, what to sort out first, and how small, regular amounts grow. Wed, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0200 https://www.ezvest.co.za/dividend-investing-explained https://www.ezvest.co.za/dividend-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. Wed, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0200