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A Fin24 user writes:
I'm 32, married and my wife is pregnant. We're now thinking how best we should save for the child's education (high school and university).
We have a money market account, a standard savings account with our bank and various on and offshore investments.
Is it best for us to put aside a monthly contribution to a savings account, open a Fundisa account or take out an education policy (or any other options)?
Jaco Gouws, product marketing manager at Old Mutual, responds:
Like the Fin24 reader, people are increasingly recognising the importance of a good education and are also aware of its escalating costs.
Education inflation historically runs at about 3% per year above the inflation (CPI) figure, so the cost of education is generally increasing at a more rapid pace than our salaries.
It is important to know that a money market fund provides returns close to inflation, but more important to consider investments exposed to growth assets e g equities and property that should provide returns well above inflation and education inflation.
These typically are available in balanced funds or growth funds, which can be accessed via education policies and unit trusts.
Saving need not be restricted to a bank account.
Cash in the bank is good for a rainy day but may not be the most effective vehicle for longer-term goals, given that in the current low-interest rate environment the return on cash barely matches inflation over time.
A savings plan requires taking the appropriate risk to deliver long-term inflation-beating returns.
Unit trusts and investment policies provide ideal vehicles to use as part of an education savings plan, depending on your savings behaviour and requirements.
• Unit trusts offer many benefits if you require flexibility and early access to your money.
• The benefit of an education policy is that you have a more structured savings plan, with limited access during the first half of the term.
However, it has the added advantages of value in the full term, access to leading asset managers, benefits for your child on your death or disability and access to funds that offer guarantees on your savings.
Investing in a Fundisa Fund account, offered by government, depends on what you want to gain from the investment.
First consider the facts:
• To receive the maximum bonus of R600, the investor will need to save R2 400 in total in that year.
• Government and unit trust companies have agreed to support a three-year pilot project to see whether you have what it takes to save for your childrens' education. The bonus is therefore allocated to investors on a "first come, first to receive the reward" basis.
Those who are first to save money through a Fundisa Fund account will be first in line to get the reward, as the bonus pool for the pilot project is limited.
• The bonus money does not belong to you - it can only be used by the learner whose education you are saving for.
• If you need to take money out of your Fundisa Fund account you may do so, but then you will lose the 25% bonus you would have received.
It will take two working days for you to get your money from the unit trust company or bank where you opened your Fundisa Fund account.
• If the learner chooses not to study further, you will lose the bonus money unless you can choose to fund another learner.
• If the bonus is not used to pay towards any learner's studies, you will lose it.
The above shows that a Fundisa account is aimed at the lower-income market and may not be sufficient for someone who wants to send their child to a private or model C school plus tertiary education.
That takes us to how much you should be saving for your child’s education.
Most children are ready for school at age seven. If your child is born today, you will be required to save R3 800 per month to send your child to private school and university to do a three-year business degree.
This is if you increase your premium with education inflation every year.
Remember that your salary may go up every year with inflation too. However, if you keep your premiums level, you will be required to save R8 100/m.
If you plan to send your child to public school and university to do a three-year business degree and you increase your premium with education inflation, you will only be required to save R1 500/m.
If however you keep your premium level without increasing it yearly as your salary goes up, you will be required to save R3 200/m.
So to summarise the answer to the reader’s question:
1. Education inflation is higher than education and a money market account won't have good enough returns to keep up with it.
2. A bank account is not a good option because interest rates are low and you may get returns below inflation.
3. Look at growth assets through balanced funds to grow your savings by more than inflation to keep up with school fees .
4. Look at a unit trust or endowment, depending on your needs.
5. Speak to a financial adviser who can assess your requirements and look at our calculators to see how much you should be saving each month if you want to invest in unit trusts or in an education policy.
- Fin24
Disclaimer: Fin24 cannot be held liable for any investment decisions made based on the advice given by independent financial service providers.
Under the ECT Act and to the fullest extent possible under the applicable law, Fin24 disclaims all responsibility or liability for any damages whatsoever resulting from the use of this site in any manner.
I'm 32, married and my wife is pregnant. We're now thinking how best we should save for the child's education (high school and university).
We have a money market account, a standard savings account with our bank and various on and offshore investments.
Is it best for us to put aside a monthly contribution to a savings account, open a Fundisa account or take out an education policy (or any other options)?
Jaco Gouws, product marketing manager at Old Mutual, responds:
Like the Fin24 reader, people are increasingly recognising the importance of a good education and are also aware of its escalating costs.
Education inflation historically runs at about 3% per year above the inflation (CPI) figure, so the cost of education is generally increasing at a more rapid pace than our salaries.
It is important to know that a money market fund provides returns close to inflation, but more important to consider investments exposed to growth assets e g equities and property that should provide returns well above inflation and education inflation.
These typically are available in balanced funds or growth funds, which can be accessed via education policies and unit trusts.
Saving need not be restricted to a bank account.
Cash in the bank is good for a rainy day but may not be the most effective vehicle for longer-term goals, given that in the current low-interest rate environment the return on cash barely matches inflation over time.
A savings plan requires taking the appropriate risk to deliver long-term inflation-beating returns.
Unit trusts and investment policies provide ideal vehicles to use as part of an education savings plan, depending on your savings behaviour and requirements.
• Unit trusts offer many benefits if you require flexibility and early access to your money.
• The benefit of an education policy is that you have a more structured savings plan, with limited access during the first half of the term.
However, it has the added advantages of value in the full term, access to leading asset managers, benefits for your child on your death or disability and access to funds that offer guarantees on your savings.
Investing in a Fundisa Fund account, offered by government, depends on what you want to gain from the investment.
First consider the facts:
• To receive the maximum bonus of R600, the investor will need to save R2 400 in total in that year.
• Government and unit trust companies have agreed to support a three-year pilot project to see whether you have what it takes to save for your childrens' education. The bonus is therefore allocated to investors on a "first come, first to receive the reward" basis.
Those who are first to save money through a Fundisa Fund account will be first in line to get the reward, as the bonus pool for the pilot project is limited.
• The bonus money does not belong to you - it can only be used by the learner whose education you are saving for.
• If you need to take money out of your Fundisa Fund account you may do so, but then you will lose the 25% bonus you would have received.
It will take two working days for you to get your money from the unit trust company or bank where you opened your Fundisa Fund account.
• If the learner chooses not to study further, you will lose the bonus money unless you can choose to fund another learner.
• If the bonus is not used to pay towards any learner's studies, you will lose it.
The above shows that a Fundisa account is aimed at the lower-income market and may not be sufficient for someone who wants to send their child to a private or model C school plus tertiary education.
That takes us to how much you should be saving for your child’s education.
Most children are ready for school at age seven. If your child is born today, you will be required to save R3 800 per month to send your child to private school and university to do a three-year business degree.
This is if you increase your premium with education inflation every year.
Remember that your salary may go up every year with inflation too. However, if you keep your premiums level, you will be required to save R8 100/m.
If you plan to send your child to public school and university to do a three-year business degree and you increase your premium with education inflation, you will only be required to save R1 500/m.
If however you keep your premium level without increasing it yearly as your salary goes up, you will be required to save R3 200/m.
So to summarise the answer to the reader’s question:
1. Education inflation is higher than education and a money market account won't have good enough returns to keep up with it.
2. A bank account is not a good option because interest rates are low and you may get returns below inflation.
3. Look at growth assets through balanced funds to grow your savings by more than inflation to keep up with school fees .
4. Look at a unit trust or endowment, depending on your needs.
5. Speak to a financial adviser who can assess your requirements and look at our calculators to see how much you should be saving each month if you want to invest in unit trusts or in an education policy.
- Fin24
Disclaimer: Fin24 cannot be held liable for any investment decisions made based on the advice given by independent financial service providers.
Under the ECT Act and to the fullest extent possible under the applicable law, Fin24 disclaims all responsibility or liability for any damages whatsoever resulting from the use of this site in any manner.
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