Most people do not like thinking about death, but every South African family should ask one serious question:

If I died tomorrow, how much would my family actually receive?

Many people assume that because they have a house, a retirement fund, a policy, a business, or some savings, their family will automatically be fine. Unfortunately, that is not always how it works.

When someone dies, their estate can face costs such as executor fees, estate administration costs, possible tax consequences, debt settlement, delays, and sometimes family disputes. This can reduce what your spouse, children, or dependants actually receive.

The biggest danger is not always having too little money. Sometimes the bigger danger is having money in the wrong structure.

For example, if everything is held personally in your name, your family may have to wait while the estate is wound up. If your will is outdated, assets may not flow the way you intended. If your business depends on you personally, your family may inherit confusion instead of income.

That is why estate planning is not only for wealthy people. It is for anyone who has people depending on them.

A good family protection plan should help you answer:


What do I own?
Who depends on me?
What debt do I have?
What happens to my home?
What happens to my business?
Who receives my assets?
How long will they have to wait?
What costs could reduce the inheritance?
What can I legally structure better while I am alive?

Money Secrets SA was created to help South Africans see this picture clearly. The goal is not to make you a lawyer or tax expert. The goal is to help you understand your exposure before it becomes your family’s problem.

The first step is simple: calculate the potential loss. Once you see the numbers, you can start making better decisions.

Use the Money Secrets SA system to calculate what your family could lose and what questions to take to your estate planner, attorney or tax practitioner.
To understand this more clearly, you can also read why estate duty is not the only cost your family should worry about, why a will is not the whole estate plan, and then use the Money Secrets SA calculator to see the numbers for yourself.