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.
I recently signed up for one of my bucket list items, the demanding Comrades Marathon. It’s something that I always had in the back of my mind, and I said to myself that if I ever where to take on the 87km beast, I am going to be prepared. So, as I successfully entered and received my number, I immediately did 2 things: 1) I got a coach: Someone who is experience and can guide me week by week, month by month leading up to the Ultra Marathon 2) I got a training partner : After using all my persuasion skills, I convinced a friend to join me on this journey. Not only for the comradery, but more as an accountability partner, to make sure I show up for training even though I might not feel like it For many of us, we want to make sure 2026 is our best year yet, not just physically, but financially as well. How can we be more productive and make more money or at least manage it better? In his Book Atomic Habit, James clear writes about the ‘Commitment device’ in chapter 14. A Commitment device, also referred to as the ‘ Ulysses pact’ is a choice you make in the present, that controls your actions in the future. It is a way to lock in future behaviour, bind you to good habits and restrict you from the bad ones. Some examples include: - Eating out of smaller plates – to limit calorie intake. - Unsubscribe to emails and apps – to waste less time - Setting up an outlet timer, to cut off the Wi-Fi at 9pm per night - to limit social media or series binging. - Keep your phone in another room when working – to avoid distractions When it comes to your finances here are a couple of things you can try to make 2026 you most financially rewarding year yet. - Automate your investments: Remove the temptation to spend your money by setting up debit order for the money to be invested as soon as it hits your bank account - Appoint a financial partner – this can be an advisor, friend or spouse: his person must be strict and diligent and keep you to your goals. Schedule quarterly calls to go through your investment accounts to see how much it has grown - Buy groceries only twice a week: We almost always buy things we don’t need – limit your number of visits to the store - Let you partner hide your credit card during the week and have an x amount of cash available. This might sound harsh but can be extremely effective as we swipe or tab often without thinking. There’s so many examples of how we can adjust our behaviour by setting up ‘ Commitment devices. I’d like to hear your favourites so please send them through to geo@bovest.co.za and let’s help each other to make 2026 memorable and profitable. Geo Botha CFP® Marketing Director
Dearest clients and colleagues. While I was contemplating about this month’s topic, I felt led to share the following testimony with all of you. I really hope it will encourage you and call you to action. Before I begin, I am sure you will get enough information about the markets and politics from my colleagues, so I am happy to divert and continue my story. Just a bit of background. I have been on diamond Vitality status with Discovery for many years. I have faithfully done my yearly check ups every year and also the specific tests that Discovery requests. I slipped up after Covid with my mammogram and pap smear and I didn’t know I had to do a colonoscopy. Just before my birthday in July, I had severe stomach pain. I am not a person who likes to visit a doctor but here I certainly learned a lesson. If you have pain, your body is telling you there is something wrong, so don’t be tough, just go and check it out. I was diagnosed with colon cancer. EVERYTHING changes in an instant. The way you look at life, your values, how you see people, your relationship with your Creator and Saviour. Everything happened so fast and I had to go in for major surgery. After 10 days in ICU, fighting for my life and a couple more days in the surgical ward, I was discharged. So many things were going through my mind. Will I see Christmas again? Will I ever be strong enough to enjoy life again? Will I see my children and grandchildren again? Will I have to go for chemotherapy and radiation? Doubt and fear started to slowly enter my mind. The battle is in the mind. Then breakthrough! My tests came back and I was clear. No cancer in my body. Surgery was successful. Oncologist was happy. I do have to be monitored regularly, but praise God? Here I must elaborate. I have a strong support group who carried me in prayer. I have faith in our Almighty God who still heals today. Bovest as a company also supported me phenomenally. Thank you to all 🙏 My message for all of you is the following: please go to the doctor if you have pain or discomfort. Please do your mammogram, pap smear, prostate and colonoscopy tests regularly. Prostate test now is just a blood test. Please make sure your severe illness and income protection cover is in place. You really need it. Speak to your advisor about it. Don’t be like an ostrich, prevention is far better than cure. Surround yourself with positive people. Spend time in the Word. It is alive and it is healing to your body, soul and spirit. You are welcome to reach out to me anytime. May you have an amazing 2026 and please look after yourself. Kind regards Yvonne
