Fees are one of those things that we, as South Africans, hate to talk about. Have you ever noticed that whenever a service provider is pitching for business, the slide about fees ends up being the very last slide? It also gets the least time and the least...
Time in the market and investment growth do most of the heavy lifting required to secure a comfortable retirement. However, the level of contributions made throughout a member’s working life is equally important for achieving the desired retirement outcomes....
For years, the debate around cryptocurrency has largely focused on innovation, decentralisation, financial inclusion and freedom from traditional banking systems. Supporters argue that blockchain technology represents the future of finance and that...
We picture a data breach as something cinematic. A hooded figure, green code scrolling down a black screen, a genius somewhere overseas cracking our firewall at three in the morning. It makes for good television. It also, quietly, lets us off the hook,...
For much of the past few decades, the retirement debate has been framed as a choice between two broad models: Defined benefit (DB) funds offered members greater certainty and pooled many retirement risks but placed considerable financial risk on the...
For more than two decades, South Africa’s retirement industry has been trying to solve the same problem: too few people retire with enough savings to maintain their standard of living. Despite countless interventions, stronger governance, improved product...
For more than two decades, the retirement industry has pursued a singular objective: providing members with greater investment choice. The logic appears sound. More choice should allow individuals to select solutions that reflect their circumstances and...
The sale signs on a Thursday. Champagne in the boardroom, the founder’s signature drying on a tome of an agreement. By Friday the founder’s trust is wealthy for three generations, the two executives who held equity, for one. When the room empties, a greying...
Asset Liability Matching (ALM) is a critical risk management tool that ensures an organisation’s assets are aligned with its liabilities so that obligations can be met when they fall due. The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) in March 2023 provides a...
One of the most important responsibilities entrusted to retirement fund trustees is the exercise of discretion under Section 37C of the Pension Funds Act, yet it remains one of the most complex and misunderstood aspects of trusteeship. While much attention...
