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South African pension transfers demystified

By March 24, 2014October 24th, 2023Policies

South African pension transfers demystified

March 24, 2014

The word pension was first recorded in the 1520’s, meaning: a “regular payment in consideration of past service.” As a youngster I recall it was the older generation – people like my grandfather – who earned a pension.

In the same way Hoover became the generic for a vacuum cleaner, the word pension stands in for a host of retirement investment products such as retirement annuities, preservation funds, living annuities, government and corporate pensions, superannuation, QROPS and more …

The common features and benefits: these are all retirement-based investments with the generic purpose to provide members a ”regular payment in consideration of past services.” All South African approved pension products comply with the regulations of the Financial Services Board of South Africa.

As a South African living overseas you too may be of the opinion transferring my pension offshore is impossible. If the truth’s to be known it can be done – there are pension products that can be transferred to wherever you’re living now – irrespective of your predetermined retirement date.

Pension payments are intended to provide for peoples’ one day. When I grow up I also want to enjoy “regular payment in consideration of past service.” just like my grandfather. Wouldn’t you?

The moral of the story – no pension fund or insurance company wants to dictate where their members or investors want to live or retire. As South Africans we’re welcome to live and invest wherever we choose – as long as we do so within the rules and stay within the law.

finglobal.com is an authorized South African financial services provider. FSP #42872. The  company has assisted thousands of clients living in over 105 countries to successfully transfer their South African pensions offshore. For more information: www.finglobal.com

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