Preparing to retire
Retirement savings that work for you
Once you reach retirement, it’s time to draw on the savings you’ve been putting away over the years. If you’ve chosen a retirement annuity as the investment vehicle for your retirement savings, you’ll need to decide how to manage it in order to ensure that the funds you have are able to support you throughout your retirement years.
Here are four important questions to ask yourself before withdrawing your retirement savings.
- Do you have enough to retire?
It's important to have a clear idea of what you've saved over time and what you can expect as a monthly income.
- Do you plan to withdraw a lumpsum?
You have the option of withdrawing one-third of your retirement annuity as a lump sum when you retire. While this can be helpful, bear in mind that it will also reduce the income you receive from your retirement annuity or retirement income solution.
- How will you invest your retirement savings?
You may or may not decide to make a lump-sum withdrawal from your retirement annuity, but regardless of your choice, South African law requires that two-thirds of your retirement savings be invested in an income-generating solution like a living annuity or life annuity.
- How will you manage your income over time?
Depending on which income-generating solution you choose, you may be able to adjust the amount you withdraw each year. And if you need help with your decision-making, our financial advisers will be there to guide you every step of the way.
What should you do with your retirement savings?
The funds in your retirement annuity, preservation fund, pension or provident fund must be transferred into an income-generating solution when you're ready to start using them to finance your retirement. In South Africa, you have three main options available to you.
Security
Provides you with a lifelong income that can increase every year - either by a percentage you choose or in line with inflation.
Pays your nominated beneficiary (a second life insured) an income for life after your death.
Flexibility
Pays out remaining funds to your nominated beneficiaries when you die.
Allows you to choose the underlying investment funds and adjust your income once a year.
Provides the means to protect the purchasing power of your income - by exposing the source of your income to market returns, you have the opportunity to let it keep pace with or beat inflation.
Best of both
Allows you to provide for your dependants after your death.
Provides a guaranteed income for life.
Enables you to benefit from potential income growth over the long term thanks to investment growth.
The Living Annuity income can be adjusted to counter worse-than-expected investment returns.
Need help choosing the right solution?
Our advisers are here to help you understand your needs and how you can ensure that they’re met as you head into retirement.
What about savings in other investments?
Investing any discretionary investments you have in an investment plan or endowment policy, together with your lump sum should you choose to withdraw it, is a good way to ensure that your savings keep growing. An investment plan gives you the freedom to choose the underlying investments and to add or withdraw funds at any stage, while an endowment policy offers you a long-term investment with additional benefits like tax efficiency and estate planning. An accredited financial adviser will be able to help you make the most of any additional retirement savings you may have.
Speak to an expert
If you need help deciding what your next steps should be, speak to a Sanlam adviser who can help you make the best choices for you and your loved ones.