News and Views

Citywire article: Bjorn Ladewig spoke to Citywire SA's Ruan Jooste about Just SA’s case for a renewed drawdown mindset for retirement. It necessitates a shift from short-term thinking to a more sustainable, longevity-aware approach. Advisers should help clients understand the real risks of longevity and guide them toward income strategies that last a lifetime.

The first 16 days of April 2025 were a scary time for investors, magnifying the impact of market volatility on retirement finances. For those retirees that want income certainty and flexibility, the optimal solution is to blend a lifetime income within a living annuity. This can cushion the blow of market fluctuations. 

We believe that everyone deserves a better later life - to age with dignity, security, and happiness. By addressing these needs, Just SA and YEI are trying to make a positive impact on society and create a world where the 60-plus community is valued, respected, and supported.

Trump’s decisions are often a moving target and news outlets continually report on these announcements, which causes uncertainty. And if there is one thing that investment markets do not tolerate, it is uncertainty. It results in volatility, which can be a problem for pensioners.

Navigating any landscape begins with knowing where you are, where you want to go and what your perspective is. The same concept applies when choosing a retirement income solution that will see you through the rest of your days.  

Retirement is probably the only time you can justify spending your life’s savings. With current laws requiring that pensioners buy a living or life annuity product with at least two thirds of their retirement savings when they retire, it’s also likely to be a gift that you buy yourself and may not be wrapped as you would expect.

Retirement income specialist Just SA and discretionary fund manager MitonOptimal have collaborated to create a managed retirement solution that includes a guaranteed life annuity for advisers and clients - a first of its kind in South Africa.

Just SA introduces an Advance feature for its with-profit annuity solution, Just Lifetime Income (JuLI). This innovation is designed to better suit clients’ retirement risk profiles. With JuLI Advance you can enjoy a higher starting income which never decreases and continues for life — no matter how long you live. 

Inflation is like rust on a car. At first, you might not notice it. Over time, it slowly spreads, and by the time you see it, the damage is more extensive than you realised. Just like rust, inflation can creep up on you, causing significant issues if not addressed early.

While assumptions are a necessary part of retirement planning, do pay attention to them and consider how your circumstances might evolve over time and whether they are, in fact, ‘best guesses’.