It actually is complicated One of the unintended consequences of all the new two-pot legislative rules is that members' options when they withdraw from a pension or provident fund following their exit from employment have become fairly complicated. The...
Companies

Auto-enrolment is the next logical step towards retirement reform in South Africa
What comes next after the two-pot system? Auto-enrolment is the next logical step towards retirement reform in South Africa, says Michelle Acton, Chief Customer Officer at Old Mutual Corporate. The two-pot system marks a transformative step, potentially...
What do board members use AI for? And how do they do so safely?
A useful way to illustrate how boards use artificial intelligence is through a Star Trek analogy: Before AI Picture the scene: The Bridge of the USS Enterprise (Captain Kirk sits confidently in his command chair, glancing around the bridge crew. He leans...
Self-insurance unpacked
Most retirement funds in South Africa provide their members with lump sum death and disability benefits, in addition to the retirement savings. These benefits can be in the form of an income or a lump sum amount. These additional benefits are normally called...
The evolving role of actuaries: Navigating complexity and driving strategic value
In the complex world of finance and risk management, actuaries have historically been viewed as the quiet guardians of risk, primarily tasked with evaluating and managing financial uncertainties. Traditionally, their expertise was rooted in valuation and...
Providing for minor children upon the death of a parent – An overview of approved and unapproved benefits
I am often amazed at the assumptions people make about how the financial needs of their minor children will be cared for in the event of their death. The treatment of financial benefits varies depending on the type of benefit. In this article we touch on two...
Living annuity bucketing approach and best practices
If you have not yet heard about the bucketing strategy, it has little to do with Johannesburg's recent water crisis and plenty to do with solving the longevity conundrum for living annuity clients. The bucketing strategy involves dividing a client's...
The psychology of retirement planning and preparing members while in their retirement fund
As someone deeply immersed in the world of retirement planning, I've seen firsthand how retirement is not just a financial event but a deeply personal and psychological journey. Retirement in South Africa, with its unique socio-economic challenges and...
Estate planning for Joe Public
Estate Planning should be and is a crucial step in every individual financial planning process, that should be placed very high on one's priority list. In many societies, where we experience strong familial ties and bonds, with a deep desire to improve the...
Time to look at the bigger picture
As a financial planner, I've noticed that people often think of employee benefits and personal finance as separate. However, as you'll see in the examples below, the two are not only related, but are in fact parts of a bigger picture. By taking a step back...