Thriving Financially in Australia: A Guide for South African Australians seeking financial advice
- Norma Falconer
- Jan 24
- 7 min read
Updated: Feb 15
Why Think Capital Advice is the Right Choice for South African Expats
When it comes to addressing the diverse needs of South African expats, Norma Falconer and the team at Think Capital Advice are uniquely equipped to provide solutions that deliver results.
A Lifetime of Financial Advice Dedicated to You
With over 35 years of experience in financial services and dual licensing in both South Africa and Australia, Norma Falconer is uniquely positioned to support your financial journey.
Here’s how her expertise benefits you:
Banking and Wealth Management Expertise for Your Needs: With a background as a banker, investment specialist, and wealth manager, Norma’s deep understanding of South Africa’s financial landscape ensures tailored advice for your financial goals.
Leadership in Insurance and Financial Planning: As the founder of two successful financial planning firms still licensed in South Africa, Norma’s expertise helps you navigate complex financial challenges with confidence.
Staying Current for Your Peace of Mind: As a Certified Financial Planner® with the Financial Planning Institute of South Africa, Norma ensures her knowledge is up-to-date, giving you access to the latest financial strategies and insights.
Norma’s extensive background means she understands the unique challenges you face as a South African expat. Whether it’s optimising cross-border tax strategies or managing dual-country estate planning, she bridges the gap between South African and Australian financial systems—helping you feel secure and in control of your financial future.
Nearly a Decade of Australian Expertise Working for you
Since moving to Australia nearly 10 years ago, Norma Falconer has immersed herself in the financial services industry, building the knowledge and connections needed to guide you confidently through your financial journey.
Here’s how her Australian expertise benefits you:
Experience Across Key Financial Areas: Norma has worked with listed wealth management companies, boutique accounting firms, and mortgage broking businesses. This diverse background ensures she understands the challenges expats face and can provide well-rounded, practical solutions tailored to your needs.
Think Capital Advice — Built for You: In 2019, Norma founded Think Capital Advice, a firm dedicated to providing innovative, bespoke strategies that address the unique financial complexities of South African expats. Under her leadership, the firm has become a trusted partner for individuals seeking financial clarity and growth in Australia.
Comprehensive Knowledge for Your Benefit: Combining her deep understanding of Australia’s financial regulations, taxation systems, and retirement planning structures with her South African expertise, Norma offers integrated solutions that simplify cross-border finances and help you thrive.
Norma’s Australian experience, paired with her South African foundation, ensures you receive the guidance and strategies you need to build wealth, protect your assets, and secure a confident financial future in both countries.
Bespoke Strategies Backed by Expert Collaboration
At Think Capital Advice, our goal is to provide you with financial solutions that align perfectly with your unique needs. Norma Falconer strengthens this personalised approach through her partnerships with a trusted network of Australian specialists, ensuring you receive guidance that is both expert and comprehensive.
This collaborative approach allows Norma to design tailored plans that address the specific financial challenges and opportunities faced by South African expats. By working closely with her network, every aspect of your financial journey is managed with precision and care—helping you achieve financial security and success with confidence.
Norma’s ability to design bespoke strategies is enhanced by her relationships with experienced professionals across Australia, including:
Estate Planning Lawyers: Ensuring your assets are protected and your legacy is preserved across both countries.
Mortgage Brokers: Helping you secure the best financing solutions for your home or investment properties.
Personal Insurance Specialists: Tailoring policies to suit your lifestyle and providing the right coverage for your family’s needs.
General Insurance Specialists : Ensuring that your assets are protected
Tax Advisors: Structuring tax-effective strategies for cross-border financial efficiency.
Investment Professionals: Building investment portfolios that align with your goals and deliver long-term growth.
Retirement Income Specialists: Creating secure and sustainable income plans to support your retirement, whether in Australia, South Africa, or both.
By leveraging this network of experts, Norma delivers personalised strategies that address every detail of your financial plan. This ensures that you not only feel confident in your financial decisions but also secure in knowing that your wealth is being managed by the best minds in the business.
Solving the Challenges You Face
At Think Capital Advice, we understand the unique challenges South African expats face when balancing financial systems across two countries.
Here’s how we can help you overcome these complexities with strategies tailored to your needs:
Aligning Wills and Estate Plans
Managing legal requirements in both South Africa and Australia can feel overwhelming. We work with you to:
Align your wills and inheritance plans to ensure compliance with both legal systems.
Minimise tax liabilities, protecting more of your wealth for your loved ones.
Provide peace of mind knowing your estate is structured effectively across borders.
Optimising Superannuation and Investments
The rules for superannuation and investments in Australia differ greatly from South Africa, but we make it simple. With our expertise, you can:
Maximise the tax advantages available in both countries.
Build a diversified investment portfolio tailored to your goals and risk tolerance.
Implement bespoke strategies designed specifically for your cross-border circumstances.
Tailored Insurance Solutions
Having the right health, life, and income protection insurance is essential for your peace of mind. We help you:
Choose insurance policies that meet your lifestyle and financial goals.
Avoid unnecessary costs by identifying coverage you truly need.
Secure your family’s financial future with a comprehensive protection plan.
Hybrid Retirement Planning
For expats who want the flexibility of living in both South Africa and Australia during retirement, we design customised strategies that:
Create sustainable income streams from superannuation, annuities, and investments.
Balance financial considerations across both countries to meet your unique retirement goals.
Ensure you can enjoy a secure and fulfilling retirement, wherever life takes you.
With Think Capital Advice, you’ll gain clarity, confidence, and a roadmap to address your financial challenges while building a secure future for you and your family.
A Real-Life Example of Financial Confidence
A South African couple who had relocated to Australia wanted to maintain a hybrid lifestyle during retirement, splitting their time between both countries.
With a clear focus on their unique needs, a comprehensive financial plan was developed to address their goals:
Superannuation Optimisation: Contributions in Australia were maximised, ensuring tax efficiency while maintaining access to their South African assets.
Cross-Border Investments: Their portfolio was diversified, blending growth-oriented Australian investments with income-generating assets in South Africa.
Tailored Insurance and Estate Planning: Insurance coverage and wills were aligned to provide protection and ensure compliance across both legal systems.
Retirement Income Layering: Income streams were structured using superannuation, annuities, and Age Pension benefits in Australia, complemented by proceeds from South African investments for a reliable and sustainable retirement income.
This tailored approach gave the couple the confidence to enjoy their retirement, knowing their financial security was intact no matter where they choose to spend their time.
Your Journey to Financial Confidence
At Think Capital Advice, we understand the challenges South African expats face when adapting to Australia’s financial system.
That’s why we’re here to guide you every step of the way, helping you:
Manage your wealth with clarity and confidence.
Protect your assets across borders.
Create a secure financial plan tailored to your unique goals—whether you choose to stay in Australia, return to South Africa, or embrace a hybrid lifestyle.
Your financial journey doesn’t have to feel overwhelming.
We provide practical, personalised solutions to give you peace of mind and set you on the path to achieving financial independence.
Take the first step today. Contact us to see how we can help you turn your financial goals into a reality.
At Think Capital Advice, we believe in empowering our clients with tailored financial strategies to achieve their goals. Curious to know more about who we are and what drives us? Visit our About Us page to learn about our mission, values, and how we’re committed to delivering prudent advice, practical solutions, and progressive results. Let’s create a better financial future together!
 | Norma Falconer is a Business Owner, Entrepreneur, Financial Planner, Portfolio and Invesment Manager, Personal Insurance Specialist and Estate Planner, in Australia, renowned for her prudent advice, practical solutions, and progressive results. As the Founder of Think Capital Advice, Norma combines deep technical expertise with a compassionate, personalised and client-centric approach. Norma specialises in guiding high-income-earning business owners, professionals and their families toward achieving their version of financial independence. Her dedication to excellence is matched by a commitment to making complex financial concepts accessible and actionable for her clients. She is Professionally Licensed, FASEA-accredited, a Tax (Financial) Adviser, and holds multiple qualifications, including a Post-Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning and certifications in results coaching. Beyond her professional achievements, Norma is an advocate for community empowerment and has served on various boards, including Swan City Youth Service and the Business Women’s Association. She is also a recognised speaker and media contributor, sharing insights that simplify the path to financial independence. Leveraging over 35 years of working with high-net wealth families, the team at Think Capital Advice excel in working with you to improve financial stability through maximising cashflow, growing wealth, utilising tax-effective strategies, and ensuring that your legacy is protected. Learn more at Think Capital Advice. |
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