When you retire, you can take a third of your retirement savings as a single payment or lump sum. The first R500,000 is tax-free. All previous withdrawals are added together and considered when determining the tax liability on the lump sum payment. This is called the principle of aggregation and it means that later benefits ...

In this third part of our two-stage FIRE series, Just One Lapper Kris Naidoo shares three considerations to keep in mind if you want to become part of the FIRE cohort. Next week we'll wrap up the series by sharing a do-it-yourself worksheet to run your own numbers. As a quick recap - the first ...

Quick reminder: Two-stage FIRE is a strategy designed specifically for South Africans who are working to achieve financial independence / early retirement. What makes this strategy uniquely South African, is that it considers mandated retirement ages by local retirement fund providers.  In the previous blog, we looked at the concept behind Kris Naidoo’s two-stage FIRE ...

To be financially free and retire early from the rat race is a goal many of us aspire to. But because retirement products in South Africa can only be accessed at age 55 or 65, what’s an early retiree to do when they want to retire at 45?   Enter the two-stage FIRE (Financial Independence Retire ...

If 2020 taught us anything, it's that we just need something to have our backs when things fall apart: An emergency fund when income dries up or medical insurance when the unthinkable happens. When uncertainty is rife, insurance products can cushion the fall.  In terms of retirement products, guaranteed annuities can provide much-needed assurance. As ...