What if You Live Longer Than You Thought You Would?
We spend our whole lives planning for retirement. While nurturing our nest egg, we worry about short-term risks. Things like wars, elections, interest rates, leaking roofs and tax breaks.
But how many of us stop to consider the prospect of living to 90 or 100? People are living longer than ever before. But most of us don’t pay enough attention to longevity when planning for retirement. Read on for some tips on how to have a long and happy retirement.
The “Grey Zone”: It’s Time to Redefine Retirement
Retirement has long been seen as a binary switch: you worked until 60 or 65, and then shuffled off to live off your pension.
But so much has changed. Economic shifts, increased longevity, and the “fractionalisation” of the workplace have birthed a new era: The “grey zone”. In this article, we explore why it’s time to look at retirement in a completely different way.
Your Year-End Tax Checklist: Smart Moves Before 28 February
“The avoidance of taxes is the only intellectual pursuit that still carries any reward. (John Maynard Keynes) 1. Boost your retirement savings Contributing to a Retirement Annuity (RA) before 28 February can reduce your taxable income and grow your long-term wealth. If you haven’t maximised your annual tax deduction for contributions to retirement funds, this […]
The 25x Rule: Busting the Myth of the Magic Number
“The greatest danger in times of turbulence is to act with yesterday’s logic.” (Peter Drucker) For a long time, South Africans have been told to use a simple formula to figure out how much money they will need in retirement: multiply their annual expenses by 25. The “25× Rule” comes from 4% withdrawal guideline of […]
What Divorce Means for Your Pension
“Marriage is the chief cause of divorce.” (Groucho Marx) Retirement savings typically account for a substantial portion of a person’s wealth. When a marriage ends, these savings can become a serious bone of contention. The good news is that, starting 1 September 2024, the definition of pension interest will be standardised across all retirement funds. […]
What is a Power of Attorney and is it Forever?
“The number of cases of dementia is estimated to almost triple by 2050.” (World Health Organisation) Although the actual prevalence per capita of dementia is reportedly on the decline, aging populations ensure that it is becoming more and more of a problem in society – for older people, their families and caregivers. If you or […]
Unlocking the Retirement Future: The Pros and Cons of Life Rights Properties
“Risk comes from not knowing what you are doing.” (Warren Buffett) Choosing a retirement property involves considering location, cost, amenities, and healthcare services. Often, retirees prefer not to deal with the hassle of property maintenance and opt to stay in a property maintained by someone else. This also provides a sense of community. Life Rights […]
The Big Question: Should You Buy a Home or Rent One?
“Home is not a place; it’s a feeling.” (Cecelia Ahern) Deciding whether to buy or rent your home may be one of the most important financial decisions you’ll ever make. Ultimately, the choice comes down to a combination of financial variables and personal factors, which, as we know, fluctuate unpredictably. Rands and cents Let’s start […]
The Two-Pot retirement reform – What members need to know
What was the thinking behind the Two-Pot system? Many South Africans struggled financially through the pandemic because they don’t have “rainy days” funds. The National Treasury came up with the Two-Pot system to provide a way for them to access a portion of their retirement savings for emergencies. But most importantly, to help them preserve […]
Why the Marshmallow Effect Could Derail Your Retirement Plans
“One must learn to give up momentary, uncertain, and destructive pleasure for delayed, restrained, dependable pleasure.” (Sigmund Freud) What is the marshmallow test? The test was devised by Walter Mischel, a Stanford University psychology professor, in the 1960s. While the test has undergone many tweaks over the years, at its essence it is exceedingly simple. […]
