Adviser Newsnotes

We've introduced a new 7-year level initial period option for Just Lifetime Income (JuLI), enhancing income stability and flexibility for retirees. This feature allows clients to receive a higher starting income that remains fixed for seven years before adjusting according to investment performance and selected increase options.

Amidst the massive turmoil in local and global investment markets in the last week, there is good news for pensioners: life annuity rates are up 11% this year. Current conditions provide a good opportunity for retirees to secure income guaranteed for life which is sufficient to cover thier essential expenditure.

Guaranteed life annuities are still offering good value for money, despite the recent reduction in annuity rates. The income a retiree can secure is what really matters. Starting income is determined by the combination of the market value of retirement savings and the annuity rate at any point in time, not the annuity rate alone. 

Just introduces JuLIA (JuLI Advance), a new with-profit annuity feature to address current market anomalies. JuLIA’s starting income will be much higher than a comparable with-profit annuity in exchange for participation in the six-year average investment returns (after asset management fees) in excess of 15% per annum.

South African life insurers are currently offering annuity rates at highs rarely seen over the past 20 years, which is good news for retirees looking to buy a guaranteed income for life with their retirement savings.

Life annuities have made quite a comeback in the 2020s. We believe there are three main reasons, and we explore these reasons in our latest Just In Adviser Newsnote.