Aftrede is ’n Lewensreis
Riaan Botha • May 2, 2025
Afgetredenes se behoeftes verskil na aanleiding van hul ouderdom. Die behoeftes van ‘n 66-jarige verskil met dié van ‘n 86-jarige. Dr Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, ’n Amerikaans-Switserse sielkundige het die vyf fases van die lewensreis van aftrede so opgesom:
- Die fase van verbeelding. Hierdie periode dek 15 jaar of meer voor aftrede waartydens mense begin verbeel of visualiseer hoe hul aftrede eendag gaan lyk en hoe hulle dit gaan geniet. Dit is wanneer daar aktief beplan word oor watter finansies nodig gaan wees om hul beplande aftrede te kan geniet.
- Die fase van afwagting. Hierdie periode begin ongeveer vyf jaar voor aftrede. Opgewondenheid neem toe met die naderende datum van aftrede en meer spesifieke planne word beraam oor hoe om dit te geniet. Reise word geïdentifiseer en ’n moontlike aftree-adres word bespreek. Afsprake word gemaak met ’n finansiële adviseur om te bepaal of daar genoegsame aftree-geld beskikbaar gaan wees vir die beplande aftrede.
- Bevryding. Die beplande dag van aftrede het aangebreek en daar bestaan gemengde gevoelens oor die vryheid van aftrede, die verlies aan sekuriteit van ’n vaste werk met ’n inkomste en jou afhanklikheid van jou aftree-inkomste. Daar word gereken dat die opgewondenheid van die nuwe vryheid wat met aftrede gepaard gaan so ongeveer twee jaar duur.
- Die fase van reoriëntasie. Gedurende hierdie periode word die nuwe lewensomstandighede en nuwe geleenthede tydens aftede geniet. Hierdie nuwe uitdagings bring nuwe geluk. Alhoewel gesondheids- en finansiële kwessies opduik, geniet die meeste afgetredenes hierdie periode, wat ongeveer 15 jaar duur.
- Die fase van aanpassing: Gedurende die daaropvolgende aantal jare word daar aangepas en aanvaar dat die toename in siektes en die beperking van beweging deel is van die ouderdomsbeperkings. Die afsterwe van geliefdes neem toe en die gevolglike hartseer en verlange word deel van jou bestaan. Die nalatenskap van mense se welvaart geniet meer aandag.
Aftrede is nie ’n solo-reis sonder die familie nie
Die ouer-wordende afgetredenes veroorsaak dat selfs vier geslagte families met ouers, kinders, kleinkinders en agter-kleinkinders meer algemeen voorkom. Multi-geslag-families in dieselfde stad of dorp of selfs huishouding verseker dat ouer-wordende gesinslede nie geïsoleer word of vereensaam nie. Dit verhoed dat aftrede ’n solo-reis sonder sosiale ondersteuning is.
Die realiteit dat groot getalle jongmense Suid Afrika verlaat om in ’n gevestigde ekonomie internasionaal te werk, het tot gevolg dat talle plaaslike afgetrede ouers se kinders in ander lande woon. Die gevorderde digitale era waarin ons leef, maak dit gelukkig maklik om kontak te hou met oorsese familie, maar dit vervang nie persoonlike familie-sorg nie.
How to invest in a volatile market: 3 Principles to keep in mind ‘In the short term, markets can be very volatile depending on which news story makes headlines. However, over the longer-term investors are always rewarded for staying invested and riding out the waves.’ We know this by now, we have heard it many times before and historical data proves it. Yet it’s easier said than done. When it gets to our own money we are emotionally involved and there is a part of us that believes that this time, it might indeed be different. What if the markets never recover and I suffer permanent capital loss. And with the increase power of AI and social media, it feels like my portfolio hangs on the thread of a single Tweet. In this article Stephen Bernard, an actuarial analyst form our partner Allan Gray share his views, backed by statistics and historical evidence: Read the article here: https://www.allangray.co.za/latest-insights/markets-and-economy/how-to-invest-in-a-volatile-market/
In an increasingly interconnected global economy, South African investors are finding compelling reasons to look beyond local borders when building long-term wealth. Offshore investing offers access to broader, more resilient markets, particularly in developed economies with stronger currencies and more stable political environments. Given South Africa’s constrained economic growth, fiscal uncertainty, and the rand’s vulnerability as an emerging market currency, allocating a portion of your portfolio offshore can serve as both a growth engine and a hedge. Investing offshore provides exposure to world-leading companies, industries, and fund managers that are often unavailable in the local market. It allows investors to participate in innovation-led growth in sectors like technology, healthcare, and clean energy, which are typically underrepresented on the JSE. Most importantly, it supports diversification—not just across asset classes, but across geographies, currencies, and economic cycles—reducing concentration risk tied to the South African economy. Key Reasons to Invest Offshore: Diversification: Reduce reliance on South African markets and benefit from a broader global opportunity set. Currency Hedge: Protect your wealth against rand depreciation by investing in hard currencies. Global Access: Gain exposure to top-tier international asset managers and world-class investments. Growth Potential: Participate in faster-growing economies and industries driving global expansion. Important Considerations for South African Tax Residents Before investing offshore, it’s essential to evaluate how your investment aligns with your broader financial planning, particularly around access, succession, taxation, and estate planning: Flexibility: Will you have access to your funds when needed? What types of investments can you hold? Succession Planning: Can your investment be transferred to your heirs? Will Capital Gains Tax (CGT) apply? Tax Compliance: Is the structure tax-efficient, and what must be declared on your tax return? Estate Structuring: Will your investment attract foreign estate duties? Is an offshore executor required? An Efficient Offshore Solution: The Offshore Wrapper A tailored offshore wrapper can simplify many of these complexities, offering a cost-effective and administratively streamlined solution. Key benefits include: No exposure to offshore estate duties No South African executor fees on death No inheritance tax in the offshore jurisdiction Ability to nominate beneficiaries directly for smooth succession Creditor protection for assets held within the structure Consolidation of various investments (e.g., share portfolios, funds) under one structure Minimum investment from $25,000 Tax Treatment The offshore wrapper also provides significant tax efficiency: Taxes are calculated and settled annually by the platform—no action required by the investor CGT is capped at 12%, and income tax at 30% Taxes are applied to USD returns, meaning rand depreciation is not taxed Reach out to me at ruvan@bovest.co.za for more information. Ruvan J Grobler RFP™ (PGDip Financial Planning)
