Retirement Annuities: The Importance of Beneficiary Nominations

Ruvan J Grobler • July 30, 2025

Your estate plan evolves as you get older and regular revision of beneficiary nominations on appropriate investments structures becomes a key planning tool. A holistic financial plan is the roadmap to executing these essential estate planning decisions. Let’s explore the importance of beneficiary nominations on your retirement annuity, pension-, provident or preservation funds.

 

Estate Planning:

  • Availability of funds: If the beneficiary nomination is valid, the death benefit will flow directly from the insurer to the beneficiary. This process can be much quicker than the process of winding up the estate. The death benefit can be paid to beneficiaries before other distributions from the estate is made.
  • Estate related fees: By nominating valid beneficiaries, there is no capital inclusion in the deceased’s estate for estate duty and executor fees. This makes it an effective planning tool in reducing the size of the estate and related fees.

 

Estate duty (SARS): 20% of the dutiable estate after R3.5mil and 25% after R30mil.

Executor’s fees: Maximum of 4.025% (Including VAT) of the deceased estate.

 

Very Important note:

Section 37C of the Pension Funds Act regulates the payment of death benefits. The act aims to identify dependants of the deceased and ensure that death benefit payments are made to them. The trustees appointed by the fund must identify these dependants irrespective of who was nominated by the deceased. The trustees have a duty to conduct a thorough investigation to ensure equitable distribution of death benefits and rely on the financial advisor to provide relevant facts.

 

What if no beneficiaries are nominated?

The above process will still follow but it could then be possible that a determination is made to pay the death benefit to the deceased’s estate. The capital will then form part of the estate for purposes of estate duty and executor’s fees. This may also be an intentional decision in order to provide cashflow in the estate for estate related costs or debt. There are however better options in planning for estate cashflow needs.

 

The above is not financial advice and serves only as factual information. Make sure these nominations align with your long-term financial goals and estate planning by consulting with your financial advisor.

 

Ruvan J Grobler RFP™ (PGDip Financial Planning)

LEEF DOELGERIG AS AFGETREDENE

By Dr Riaan Botha • October 31, 2025
Die regte gesindheid teenoor aftrede verseker dat ons gelukkig aftree. Die nuwe vryheid wat jy beleef as ’n afgetredene is om jou eie tydskedule te bepaal en om te doen wat jy jou hele werkende lewe na gehunker het. Hierdie fase in jou lewe is kosbaar en moet ten volle benut word. Bepaal die doel wat jy as ’n afgetredene moet uitleef. Dit is meer as om net jou belangrikse bate – jou tyd – te gee vir die saak waarin jy ’n verskil wil maak. Gedurende jou werkende loopbaan het jy soveel kundigheid opgedoen om suksesvol te kan wees en om jou doel uit te leef. Hierdie kennis sowel as die lewenservaring wat opgedoen is, stel jou daartoe in staat om ’n verskil te kan maak. Party afgetredenes onttrek uit die besige samelewing en raak stil voor die Hemelse Vader om te bepaal wat die doel is wat uitgeleef kan word. Om hierdie doel uit te leef is dit belangrik om saam met ander afgetredenes te werk. Om te verhoed dat jy na aftrede vereensaam moet jy moeite doen om by mense in te skakel omdat sosiale aktiwiteite baie belangrik is. Doen navorsing om te bepaal by watter groep mense jy graag wil inskakel. Die realiteit in Suid Afrika is dat talle afgetredenes geraak word deur die vertrek van hul kinders na die buiteland. Die ondersteuningsrol van kinders in die lewe van afgetredenes moet nie onderskat word nie veral as die ouers verswak of siek word. Dit is daarom belangrik dat verhoudings met mense gevorm word wat kan help om die afwesigheid van kinders te versag. Om doelgerig te leef is ’n keuse wat jy as afgetredene maak. Om besig te wees met aktiwiteite wat nie net jou eie lewe bevoordeel nie maar ook die lewe van ander, is kosbaar en moet ten volle benut word. Die beloning wat hierdeur ontvang word kan nie in geld terme bereken word nie maar wel deur dankbaarheid en vreugde.  Voorspoed word toegewens aan alle afgetredenes wat die keuse maak om wel ’n verskil in hulle samelewings te maak!

South Africa has been removed from the Grey List.

By PJ Botha • October 30, 2025
South Africa has officially been removed off the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF) grey list as of October 24, 2025. This comes after 33 months of work to strengthen the country's anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism systems. Why Was South Africa Grey Listed in the first place? In February 2023, the FATF placed South Africa on the grey list due to weaknesses in its ability to enforce anti-money laundering regulations. These included ineffective investigations and prosecutions, particularly in severe money laundering and terrorist financing cases. To get off the list, South Africa needed to accomplish 22 action items. By June 2025, the FATF reported that all items had been handled. Although some areas, like as prosecutions, require improvement, this did not prevent the country from being removed from the list. What is the Function of the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC)? The Financial Intelligence Centre helped South Africa achieve FATF regulations. It enhanced how it oversees businesses and professions that deal with money but are not banks, employing stronger risk assessment tools and compliance measures. The FIC also collaborated extensively with law enforcement, promoting the use of financial intelligence in investigations. This resulted in genuine results, such as the freezing of approximately R157 million in suspected illegal funds and the recovery of nearly R144 million in stolen money. What impact did the listing have on the Economy and Investments? Being on the Grey List increased the cost and complexity of foreign transactions. It also harmed investor confidence, particularly while South Africa holds the G20 presidency in 2025. Financial experts predict that now that the country is no longer on the list, investor sentiment will improve. According to PPS Investments, this may lead to: Improved access to global capital. A stronger Rand. Increased interest in South African stocks A better climate for the local property markets. This change contributes to a more favourable view for South Africa's economy and investment landscape. How do South Africa compares to other countries that was grey listed? South Africa's 33-month stint on the grey list is comparable to other countries. Tanzania required 33 months, Nigeria 25 months, Mozambique 37 months, and Burkina Faso 57 months. What's next? South Africa is already planning for the next FATF mutual evaluation, which is scheduled for 2026-2027. The FIC states that, while leaving the grey list is a significant step forward, the country must continue to improve its mechanisms for combating financial crime.