A South African financial independence planning suite — built around honest projections, real SA data, and the full FI journey.
Plainview was built out of frustration with the tools that existed. Free TFSA calculators were too basic — they used generic return assumptions, ignored fees, and only covered one piece of the picture. South Africans planning for financial independence needed something that covered TFSA growth, tax optimisation, FI tracking, annual recalibration, and drawdown planning in one place.
Plainview fills that gap. It uses actual historical ETF performance data, applies realistic adjustments for mean reversion and fees, and is built around SA-specific regulations — SARS tax brackets, FSCA living annuity rules, TFSA lifetime limits, and RA deduction caps. Everything is updated annually after the February Budget Speech.
Why the price is what it is
Plainview is priced at R99/month deliberately. Financial independence planning tools should not be exclusive to people who can already afford a financial adviser. The price is fixed, will not increase for existing subscribers, and is kept accessible as a matter of principle.
Scope
What this calculator is
An honest planning tool built around real South African data and regulations.
An educational planning tool for exploring what-if scenarios
Built on real SA ETF data from EasyEquities Compare (publicly available)
Designed for conservative, realistic projections — fees, mean reversion, and inflation all accounted for
Covers the full FI journey — TFSA, RA, pension, brokerage, drawdown, and tax
A useful starting point for conversations with your financial adviser
Conservative by design
Returns are adjusted downward, fees are deducted, and projections bias toward the safer outcome. The goal is honest numbers, not flattering ones. You should be pleasantly surprised, not disappointed.
Limitations
What this calculator is not
Be clear on what this tool cannot do before relying on it.
Not financial advice — Plainview is not a financial adviser and holds no FAIS licence
Not a recommendation to invest in any specific ETF or asset class
Not tax advice — tax calculations are estimates only; consult a registered tax practitioner
Not a guarantee — past performance does not predict future returns
Not endorsed by EasyEquities or any financial institution
Consult a professional
You must consult a qualified, FAIS-registered financial adviser before making investment decisions. This tool helps you ask better questions — it cannot replace professional advice tailored to your situation.
Data
About the data
Where the numbers come from and what to know about their limitations.
ETF performance data
ETF data is sourced from EasyEquities Compare — a publicly available tool showing historical returns. This source covers most popular SA ETFs and is publicly available for independent verification.
SARS tax data
Tax brackets, rebates, thresholds, and contribution limits are updated annually after the February Budget Speech using figures published at sars.gov.za. Both the Tax & RA tab and the Drawdown tab use the same live data source — they always reflect the same tax year.
My relationship with EasyEquities
Plainview has no commercial relationship with EasyEquities. The full extent of any connection is:
No business relationship or partnership
No endorsement from them
No financial incentive to promote them
Personal information is processed in accordance with POPIA — see our Privacy Policy
Data accuracy
ETF data is manually entered from public sources and may contain errors. Always verify figures independently on official platforms before making investment decisions.
Best practice
Using it responsibly
The tool is most valuable as a preparation tool, not a decision tool.
Explore scenarios — try different ETF mixes, contribution amounts, and retirement ages
Understand the mechanics — TFSA limits, RA deductions, drawdown rates, and how they interact
Generate questions — use the output as a basis for conversations with your adviser
Download a PDF — take the summary report to your adviser meeting
Review annually — update your balances each March after the tax year closes
The ideal use
"I used Plainview to model a few scenarios and I'd like to discuss them with you. Which approach makes the most sense given my risk tolerance and goals?"
That is exactly how this tool should be used — as a starting point for professional conversations, not a replacement for them.
Commercial
Pricing
Simple, flat pricing. No tiers, no increases, no hidden fees.
R99
/month — all features, always
All six tabs — TFSA, Tax & RA, FI Tracker, Annual Review, Drawdown, Summary
Unlimited calculations and PDF downloads
Annual updates after Budget Speech — TFSA limits, tax brackets, RA caps
Cancel anytime — no long-term commitment
The price is deliberately fixed and kept accessible. Financial independence planning should not be a product for wealthy investors only.
Access
Limited availability
User numbers are capped to protect service quality.
The tool is limited to 10,000 users. Once capacity is reached, new signups go onto a waitlist. This is not artificial scarcity — it reflects a genuine commitment to maintaining quality and keeping the tool maintainable as a small operation.
Waitlist
If you are on the waitlist, you will be notified by email when a spot opens. Waitlist position is based on signup order.
Contact
Get in touch
Feedback, bug reports, and feature suggestions are welcome.
If you find a calculation error, spot a data inaccuracy, have a feature suggestion, or just want to share how you're using the tool — reach out through the contact form on the homepage.
Thank you
Thank you for trusting this tool as part of your financial independence journey. Past performance does not guarantee future results — stay curious, stay educated, and always seek professional advice.
Ready to start planning?
Read the Terms of Service and User Guide first, then open the calculator.