Financial Services Market Research
South African financial services sits at the intersection of Two-Pot reform, FSCA conduct supervision, and cross-border African expansion — a combination that makes off-the-shelf research inadequate. Firms competing for retail and institutional share need primary evidence on fee sensitivity, adviser channel dynamics, and digital substitution patterns that public data simply does not capture. The teams winning mandates are those pairing regulatory fluency with rigorous customer research.
Why Financial Services Research Matters
- Two-Pot withdrawals have rewired retail cash-flow assumptions and product-fit models across retirement, insurance, and banking portfolios.
- FSCA conduct standards (CoFI, TCF) require documented evidence of customer understanding — not inferred from NPS or complaint data alone.
- Retail investor segmentation in SA is shifting faster than syndicated panels track, with EasyEquities and low-cost platforms redefining 'mass affluent'.
- Cross-border growth into SADC and West Africa demands localised competitor mapping that Johannesburg-based research can deliver with on-the-ground fieldwork.
- Adviser, broker, and tied-agent channel economics are being squeezed by direct-to-consumer fintechs, and incumbents need defensible primary data to reprice.
Our Financial Services Research Services
Regulatory and Competitive Landscape Studies
Structured mapping of FSCA, Prudential Authority, and SARB developments against competitor product filings — useful for strategy, compliance, and M&A teams preparing board papers.
Customer and Adviser Research
Qualitative depth interviews and quantitative surveys with retail clients, IFAs, and tied advisers — calibrated for SA's multi-channel distribution reality.
Product and Pricing Diagnostics
Van Westendorp, conjoint, and MaxDiff studies applied to investment products, insurance riders, and banking bundles with FSCA-compliant disclosure framing.
Brand and Trust Tracking
Longitudinal measurement of brand equity, trust, and consideration across SA and selected African markets — designed to integrate with your media mix models.
M&A and Strategic Due Diligence
Commercial and customer due diligence for acquirers and private investors evaluating SA or sub-Saharan financial services targets.
How We Approach Research in This Sector
We combine senior-led desk research with primary fieldwork across SA and selected African markets, drawing on panels, adviser networks, and corporate samples we have built over years. Every engagement is scoped to answer a specific decision — not to produce a generic market report — and we write for audit committees as readily as for marketing directors. Sampling and instrument design follow FSCA and POPIA expectations from the outset.
Why Choose Meraki Research for Financial Services?
- Johannesburg-based with direct access to FSCA, JSE, and Prudential Authority publications, industry bodies, and senior practitioner networks.
- Senior researchers lead every engagement — no junior handoffs on technical regulatory or methodological questions.
- Experience across retail, wholesale, and institutional financial services in SA and sub-Saharan Africa, including Two-Pot transition work.
- Independent and privately held — no adjacent consulting or asset management arm creating conflicts on competitive studies.
What We Deliver
| Deliverable | Format | Typical Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Regulatory landscape report | PDF report plus editable source tables | 3-4 weeks |
| Customer segmentation study | Segment deck, typing tool, interactive dashboard | 6-8 weeks |
| Pricing and product test | Findings deck, pricing simulator workbook | 5-7 weeks |
| Brand and trust tracker | Quarterly report plus live dashboard | Rolling |
| Commercial due diligence | Vendor-ready report, management presentation | 4-6 weeks |