Jenny Gordon, Head: Technical Advice at Alexforbes, explains the rules around your South African retirement savings when you emigrate. South Africans are a mobile nation. Many people build their careers abroad or decide to relocate permanently for...
It is a depressing reality in South Africa that most people can only afford to retire comfortably at age 80 – if at all. In our latest Money Bootcamp episode, we unpack these figures and consider whether retirement at age 65 is even possible in...
“Know your ombud” episode 8 For many South Africans, their pension fund represents their largest financial asset, yet countless members remain in the dark about their rights when things go wrong. In the latest episode of our Know Your Ombud series,...
Bongani Msimango, Wealth Manager at Alexforbes, explains why aligning your retirement date with the tax year makes sense. One of the key principles that a wealth manager needs to understand is that although many things are beyond our control – like...
We all spend a lot of time thinking about how much we should be saving for retirement, and what the best strategy is for those investments. But we often don’t spend much time thinking about what the best strategy is for using this money after we...
The Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) has confirmed that it will start processing payments for those members who have made applications to withdraw from their savings pot as part of the implementation of the new two-pot retirement system....
Despite all of the articles written explaining the new two-pot retirement system, there still seem to be some common misunderstandings around the system. Confusion on how much you can withdraw each year Many people confuse the R30 000 limit on the...
Anyone who intends to withdraw from the savings pot of the two-pot retirement system from 1 September 2024 must be registered for tax. Those who are not registered must register before they apply to their relevant fund. If a person is not...
Ahead of the implementation of the two-pot retirement system on 1 September, many people are surprised to discover how much tax they will pay on any withdrawal of funds from their new savings pot. Many are planning on withdrawing the once-off...
This is the third video in a four-part educational series on the two-pot retirement system for GEPF members. Watch the first video here and the second video here. This video and article look at things to consider before you withdraw your pension...
While there are many fears around the imminent introduction of the two-pot system for retirement funds, members of these funds will be significantly better off due to the changes. Firstly, you will have access to your retirement funds without having to resign. Many...
With less than two months to go before the new two-pot retirement system is implemented, you may be disappointed to realise you are unable to immediately withdraw money from your savings pot. Many employees are banking on being able to withdraw some money from their...
With 100 days to go until implementation of the “two-pot system” for retirement, Keith Peter, Advice Manager at Old Mutual Personal Finance, says that the best approach is to maintain your current strategy and avoid prematurely accessing the savings pot as far as...
The current draft bill does allow a savings pot component for preservation fund members. There are several steps that still need to be taken to bring the so-called “two-pot retirement system” into law. Although the National Council of Provinces approved the Pension...
I’m thinking about resigning so I can cash out my pension and rather invest the funds myself. What are the pros and cons of doing this? Maya's Answer Some people feel more in control if they can manage their own investments, however, this is not necessarily a good...
New actuarial research identifies how different investment strategies may prevent capital erosion in living annuities. Adopting an aggressive investment strategy in retirement seems counterintuitive. But new actuarial modelling shows that most living annuity investors...
On 1 March 2024 there will be a radical change affecting everyone who is a member of a retirement fund, with the implementation of what has come to be known as the “two-pot retirement system”. Update: The two-pot system will now be implemented on 1 September 2024....
The so-called two-pot retirement system will be implemented from 1 March 2024. There is still a lot of confusion around the system and exactly how it will work, and we are awaiting further clarity from Treasury on some of the details surrounding the system. In the...
Roné Swanepoel, Business Development Manager at Morningstar South Africa, provides compelling evidence that trying to time the market invariably has disastrous results. Let’s start with a thought experiment. If you look back on your investment journey to date, and the...
While financial independence is a goal many people aspire to, it means different things to different people. For some people, financial independence means having enough capital to provide an income that covers their expenses. This is the goal behind the FIRE...