Quick Facts

• One of South Africa’s largest asset managers with R1.2 trillion in assets
• Offers unit trusts, retirement funds, and tax-free savings accounts
• Part of Sanlam Group, founded in 1918
• Recently fined R10.6 million by FSCA for compliance issues (October 2025)
• Scammers are impersonating Sanlam on Telegram – stay alert!

What Is Sanlam Investment Managers?

Sanlam Investment Managers is a major South African company that helps people grow their money.

They manage investments worth R1.2 trillion. This makes them one of the biggest investment companies in South Africa.

Sanlam Investment Managers is part of the larger Sanlam Group. This group has been in South Africa since 1918.

The company is registered with the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA). This means the government watches them to protect investors.

✅ Investment Products You Can Choose

1. Unit Trusts (Mutual Funds)

Unit trusts let many people pool their money together. Professional managers invest this money in shares, bonds, or property.

• Different funds for different goals
• Active management (managers choose investments)
• Index tracking (follows the stock market)
• Can start with small amounts

2. Retirement Funds

Special accounts for when you stop working. Your money grows without tax until you retire.

• Retirement annuities
• Pension funds
• Provident funds
• Tax benefits while you save

3. Tax-Free Savings Accounts

The government lets you save R36,000 per year without paying tax. The lifetime limit is R500,000.

• No tax on dividends or capital gains
• Perfect for long-term savings
• Flexible investment options

4. Multi-Asset Portfolios

These mix different types of investments. This reduces risk because you don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

How to Start Investing with Sanlam

Step 1: Understand Your Options

Decide what you want. Are you saving for retirement? Do you need money in 5 years?

Step 2: Contact Sanlam

Phone: 0861 223 646 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm)

Email: SCClientCare@sanlam.co.za

Website: www.sanlam.co.za

Step 3: Meet with a Financial Adviser

Sanlam will connect you with an adviser. This person must have an FSCA licence. Always ask to see their FSP number.

Step 4: Complete FICA Documents

You need to prove who you are. This is the law. Bring:

• Your ID document or passport
• Proof of address (utility bill less than 3 months old)
• Your bank details

Step 5: Choose Your Investment

Pick the fund that matches your goals and risk. The adviser will help you understand your options.

Step 6: Set Up Monthly Payments

Most people use a debit order. This takes money from your bank account each month automatically.

⚠️ What You Will Pay

All investments have costs. Understand these before you invest.

Fee Type	Typical Cost	What It Means
Annual Management Fee	0.5% to 2.0% per year	Cost to manage your investment
Total Expense Ratio (TER)	0.71% to 1.75% per year	All costs combined
Transaction Costs	0.26% average	Cost to buy and sell shares
Financial Adviser Fee	0% to 1.5% per year	Optional – for advice
Performance Fee	0% to 0.5%	Only if fund beats target

Example: What R1,000 Per Month Costs

If you invest R1,000 monthly with a TER of 1.5%:

• After 1 year: R12,000 invested, about R180 in fees
• After 5 years: R60,000 invested, about R1,200 in fees
• After 10 years: R120,000 invested, about R3,000 in fees

⚠️ Important: Recent Regulatory News (October 2025)

In October 2025, the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) fined Sanlam Collective Investments R10.6 million.

What Happened?

The FSCA found that Sanlam did not follow all the rules in the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA).

• They did not check some customers properly
• Their anti-money laundering systems had gaps
• Some compliance procedures were not followed

What Does This Mean for You?

Good news: Your money is safe. No client money was stolen or lost.

The fine was for administrative problems, not fraud. Sanlam is fixing these issues.

The FSCA suspended R3.6 million of the fine for two years. This means if Sanlam stays compliant, they pay less.

What Sanlam Says

Sanlam admits there were problems. They are working to fix everything. They say clients’ money was never at risk.

🚨 URGENT: Sanlam Impersonation Scams

Scammers are pretending to be Sanlam on Telegram and other social media platforms!

In 2025, criminals have been using fake Sanlam accounts to trick people. Many South Africans have lost money.

How the Scam Works

1. Fake Telegram Groups: Criminals create groups that look like official Sanlam accounts
2. Celebrity Endorsements: They use fake photos of famous people
3. Impossible Returns: They promise to multiply your money by 8 times in 6 days
4. Cryptocurrency Payments: They ask you to pay in Bitcoin so they can’t be traced
5. Fake Documents: They show forged FSCA certificates and use stolen logos

Red Flags – Signs of a Scam

Red Flag	Why It’s Dangerous
Contacted via Telegram, WhatsApp, or Facebook	Real financial companies don’t do business on social media
Promises of 50% to 100% returns in days or weeks	Real investments take years to grow
Asks for payment in cryptocurrency or gift cards	These payments can’t be traced or recovered
Urgency: “Invest now or miss out!”	Scammers create pressure so you don’t think
No proper FICA documents required	Law requires ID verification for all investments
Testimonials from “clients” who got rich quickly	These are fake – actors or stolen photos

Other Common Investment Scams in South Africa

• Ponzi Schemes: Pay old investors with new investors’ money (e.g., MTI Bitcoin scam – R30 billion lost)
• Pyramid Schemes: You make money by recruiting others (e.g., Crowd1, MMM Global)
• Fake Cryptocurrency: Africrypt scam stole R54 billion in 2021
• Binary Options Trading: Gambling disguised as investing
• Advance Fee Scams: “Pay R5,000 to unlock your R50,000 investment”

✅ How to Check If It’s Really Sanlam

Step 1: Check the FSCA Register

Go to: www.fsca.co.za

Click on “FSP Search” on the homepage

Search for: Sanlam Collective Investments

Verify the FSP number matches official documents

Step 2: Use Official Contact Methods Only

Contact Method	Official Details
Phone	0861 223 646 (call yourself, don’t accept calls)
Email	SCClientCare@sanlam.co.za
Website	www.sanlam.co.za (type it yourself)
WhatsApp	0861 223 646 (only for queries, not transactions)

Step 3: Ask These Questions

• “What is your FSP number?” – Write it down and verify with FSCA
• “Can I meet you at an official Sanlam office?” – Get the physical address
• “Can you send me an official email from @sanlam.co.za?” – Check the email domain
• “What are the risks of this investment?” – Real advisers explain risks
• “Where can I read the fund fact sheet?” – These are public documents

Step 4: Never Trust These

• Links sent via Telegram, WhatsApp, or SMS
• Emails from Gmail, Yahoo, or other free services
• Facebook or Instagram groups claiming to be Sanlam
• Anyone asking for payment in cryptocurrency
• Investment opportunities “too good to be true”

Official Contact Information

Sanlam Client Care

Phone: 0861 223 646

Email: SCClientCare@sanlam.co.za

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm

Website: www.sanlam.co.za

Sanlam Head Office

Physical Address: 55 Willie van Schoor Avenue, Bellville, 7530

Postal Address: PO Box 1, Sanlamhof, 7532, Western Cape

Report Problems or Complaints

Sanlam Complaints: Use the form at www.sanlam.co.za/contact/complaints

FSCA (Financial Regulator): 0800 110 443

FSCA Website: www.fsca.co.za

Report Investment Scams

FSCA Scam Hotline: 0800 110 443

FSCA Email: info@fsca.co.za

South African Police (SAPS): 10111 (emergency) or your nearest police station

Report Online: www.fsca.co.za (click “Report a Scam”)

Consumer Protection

ASISA (Association for Savings & Investment SA): 010 020 0222

ASISA Website: www.asisa.org.za

Your Rights as an Investor

You Have the Right To:

• See all fees and costs in writing before you invest
• Get a cooling-off period (usually 30 days to change your mind)
• Receive regular statements showing how your money is doing
• Ask questions and get clear answers in simple language
• Choose your own financial adviser
• Complain if service is poor
• Move your money to another company (subject to notice periods)

Your Adviser Must:

• Be registered with the FSCA
• Show you their FSP certificate
• Explain all risks clearly
• Recommend products that suit your needs
• Tell you how they get paid
• Give you documents to take home and read
• Not pressure you to decide immediately

Cooling-Off Period

You usually have 30 days to change your mind after signing. You can cancel and get your money back.

Some admin fees may apply. Read the contract carefully.

✅ Top 10 Tips for Safe Investing

1. Start small: Don’t invest money you need for rent or food
2. Be patient: Good investments take 5 to 10 years to grow
3. Diversify: Don’t put all your money in one place
4. Check FSCA registration: Only invest with registered companies
5. Read everything: Never sign papers you don’t understand
6. Ask about fees: Know what you’re paying for
7. Get it in writing: Keep copies of all documents
8. Monitor regularly: Check statements every quarter
9. Ignore pressure: Take time to think and research
10. Trust your gut: If something feels wrong, walk away

Sanlam Investment Managers is a legitimate and established company. They manage R1.2 trillion in assets for South Africans. They are one of the country’s largest investment managers.

However, recent FSCA fines show even big companies can have problems. The October 2025 R10.6 million fine was for compliance failures. Your money was not at risk, but it’s a reminder to always check everything carefully.

Scammers are actively impersonating Sanlam on social media. Never trust investment offers that come to you via Telegram, WhatsApp, or Facebook. Always contact Sanlam yourself using their official phone number: 0861 223 646.

Before you invest with anyone: Check the FSCA register. Ask to see their FSP certificate. Read all documents. Ask about fees. Get advice from an independent person you trust.

Remember: Good investments grow slowly over years. Anyone promising to double your money in days or weeks is a scammer. Protect yourself. Ask questions. Take your time.