All Investment Options
We offer a focused range of investment accounts and unit trusts that are suitable for different financial goals, from saving for longer-term needs, to meeting your shorter-term objectives.
Investment accounts
Underlying unit trusts
hello world!
Just like banks have cheque, savings and credit card accounts, there are different types of investment accounts. Your account determines the rules of your investment, including tax benefits, contribution limits and access to your money. Different types of accounts are suitable for different investment needs. An account on its own does not generate the growth on your investment – that comes from the underlying unit trust(s) that you select
General unit trust accounts
Basic investment
General purpose investment account, suitable for short-, medium- and long-term investment goals.
Key benefit
Full flexibility. You can make changes to your investment whenever you need to and, while we encourage you to invest for the long term, you can withdraw your money at any time.
Key restriction
You may be liable for capital gains tax on withdrawals.
Investment growth
This depends on the underlying unit trust(s) that you choose.
Local investment platform
Access unit trusts from Allan Gray and other investment managers to diversify your portfolio.
Key benefit
Access to a range of unit trusts offered by other investment managers but get one point of contact, consolidated reporting and one online account.
Key restriction
Transactions, for example switches and withdrawals, take a few days longer to process than for our basic investment account.
Investment growth
This depends on the underlying unit trust(s) that you choose.
Basic investment
Invest in foreign currency in a long-term investment account that gives you the option to spread your investment risk across different geographies and sectors.
Key benefit
Your investment is in foreign currency and you get access to industries and companies that may not be available locally.
Key restriction
You will need to obtain tax clearance from SARS for amounts greater than R1 million in any year.
Investment growth
This depends on the underlying unit trust(s) that you choose.
Retirement accounts
Retirement annuity
Invest for your retirement in a tax-efficient way while reducing your taxable income.
Key benefit
Returns are tax-free and contributions reduce your taxable income.
Key restriction
You can only access a portion of your investment once per tax year before retirement, with some specific exceptions.
Investment growth
This depends on the underlying unit trust(s) that you choose.
Preservation fund
If you already have retirement savings elsewhere in a pension, provident or preservation fund, you can transfer these savings to Laviafin to preserve and grow your money until you retire.
Key benefit
Returns are tax-free and the tax benefit(s) of your original fund are preserved.
Key restriction
You cannot continue contributing to a preservation fund.
Investment growth
This depends on the underlying unit trust(s) that you choose.
Living annuity
After you have retired, you can use a living annuity to draw an income from your accumulated retirement savings, sometimes known as a pension.
Key benefit
Manage your income throughout your retirement, and any money left over can be paid to your beneficiaries.
Key restriction
You cannot withdraw your full investment in one go, unless the value of your investment is less than R125 000.
Investment growth
This depends on the underlying unit trust(s) that you choose.
Other accounts
Tax-free investment
Long-term investment account suitable for your longer-term investment goals, given that all returns are tax-free.
Key benefit
Returns are tax-free, benefiting those who are already paying income or capital gains tax.
Key restriction
You can invest a maximum of R36 000 per tax year and R500 000 over your lifetime, with a penalty of 40% for any amount you invest above the maximum.
Investment growth
This depends on the underlying unit trust(s) that you choose.
Local endowment
Specialist long-term savings account that can be used for estate planning purposes.
Key benefit
If your marginal income tax rate is higher than 30%, you can benefit from tax savings.
Key restriction
During the first five years of your investment, known as the restriction period, you may only make one withdrawal.
Investment growth
This depends on the underlying unit trust(s) that you choose.
Offshore endowment
Tax-efficient long-term foreign currency savings account that gives you the option to spread your investment risk across different geographies and sectors.
Key benefit
Tax efficiency if your marginal income tax rate is higher than 30%, and significant estate-planning benefits if you appoint beneficiaries.
Key restriction
Contributions are subject to the 120% rule.
Investment growth
This depends on the underlying unit trust(s) that you choose.
Group savings solutions for employers
Umbrella retirement fund
A simple, transparent, flexible and cost-effective retirement fund for your employees.
Key benefit
Simplified admin, personalised service, no governance responsibilities and value for money.
Key restriction
A curated, smaller range of investment portfolios available.
Investment growth
This depends on the underlying investment portfolio(s) that you choose.
Group retirement annuity
Allows employers to make a retirement savings solution available to their staff based on individual membership.
Key benefit
Fund managed on a group basis, while your employees get all the benefits of having their own retirement annuity.
Key restriction
Employees can only access a portion of their investment once per tax year before retirement, with some specific exceptions.
Investment growth
This depends on the underlying unit trust(s) that you choose.
hello world!
A unit trust is the underlying investment in your account, and the growth on your investment comes from the unit trust(s) you choose. A unit trust is a type of investment that provides you with easy and affordable access to financial markets. There are different types of unit trusts that are suitable for different goals and timeframes.
Our core unit trusts
Equity Fund
Higher growth, many ups and downs
Invests in listed shares and aims to achieve long-term capital growth.
At least 5 years, ideally longer
Since inception 18.9% per year
Best performance year 125.8%
Worst performance year -24.3%
Current offshore exposure 43.8%
Balanced Fund
Steady growth, some ups and downs
Invests in a mixed selection of assets to achieve steady, long-term growth.
At least 3 years, ideally longer
Since inception 14.8% per year
Best performance year 46.1%
Worst performance year -14.2%
Current offshore exposure 37.1%
Stable Fund
Lower growth, fewer ups and downs
Invests in a mixed selection of assets to preserve capital over any two-year period.
At least 2 years
Since inception 11.2% per year
Best performance year 23.3%
Worst performance year -7.4%
Current offshore exposure 28.9%
Interest Fund
Low growth, very few ups and downs
Invests in a mix of South African interest-bearing securities to offer capital stability and higher returns than bank deposits and traditional money market funds
6 months to 1 year
Since inception 8.1% per year
No offshore exposure
Our rand-denominated offshore unit trusts
Global Equity Feeder Fund
Invests in stock markets around the world to achieve long-term capital growth.
More than 5 years
Since inception 14.5% per year
Best performance year 78.2%
Worst performance year -29.7%
100% offshore
Global Balanced Feeder Fund
Invests in a mixed selection of assets around the world to achieve long-term growth.
More than 5 years
Since inception 11.4% per year
Best performance year 11.4%
Worst performance year -13.7%
100% offshore
Global Optimal Fund of Funds
Seeks long-term positive returns higher than foreign currency bank deposits in a low risk global portfolio.
At least 2 years
Since inception 7.6% per year
Best performance year 39.6%
Worst performance year -12.4%
100% offshore
Our specialist unit trusts
Our specialist unit trusts allow more experienced investors to diversify their investment portfolios and risk by investing in selected shares or interest-bearing securities.
SA Equity Fund
Invests in shares on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) to outperform the South African equity market over the long term, without taking on greater risk.
More than 5 years
Since inception 7.8% per year
Best performance year 57.3%
Worst performance year -32%
No offshore
Optimal Fund
Invests in selected shares to deliver positive long-term returns higher than those available in the money market sector, irrespective of stock market conditions.
At least 3 years
Since inception 6.1% per year
Best performance year 18.1%
Worst performance year -8.2%
No offshore
Bond Fund
Invests in South African interest-bearing securities to deliver returns that exceed inflation and cash returns over the long term, without taking on undue risk.
At least 3 years
Since inception 9.0% per year
Best performance year 22.0%
Worst performance year -2.6%
No offshore
Income Fund
Invests in a mix of South African interest-bearing securities, with limited exposure to offshore interest-bearing securities, to deliver returns that are superior to traditional money market funds.
Approximately 1 - 2 years
Since inception 9.9% per year
Current offshore 0%
Money Market Fund
Low growth, very few ups and downs
Invests in cash to offer stability with higher returns than bank deposits.
Up to 6 Months
Since inception 7.7% per year
Best performance year 12.8%
Worst performance year -4.3%
No offshore Exposure