|
June 2008
This issue includes:
Full edition in PDF format (409Kb)
As a new editor coming from a purely investment management background, I initially found the idea of working on an employee benefits newsletter quite daunting. But after reading the first article, I was immediately hooked on the exciting world of employee benefits. As luck would have it, my first edition coincides with the annual retirement fund industry survey. The survey, which has run for 15 years, is one of South Africa's most comprehensive and longest-running surveys and boasts a 100% response rate. It also receives extensive media coverage. In our first article Danie van Zyl, Head of Guaranteed Investments at Sanlam Structured Solutions, highlights some of the key findings of this survey. With just under half of the respondents in the annual retirement fund survey indicating that they make use of risk capping, Paul Myeza, Managing Director of Sanlam Group Risk, explains why funds cap their risk and the effect that capping has on costs.
In their continuous effort to ensure that consumers are empowered with the knowledge to make sound retirement decisions, Sanlam Umbrella Funds, in conjunction with the Consumer Education Department of the Financial Services Board, has launched a publication in which they pose 21 important questions to ask when selecting an umbrella fund. David Gluckman, Managing Director of Sanlam Umbrella Funds, sheds some light on the rationale behind this initiative.
If you have ever wondered how Sanlam Structured Solutions ensures that retirement funds do not underdeliver on their promise, read Steven Rosenberg and Dawie de Villiers's article entitled "Meeting the pensioners' promise", where he demystifies the processes involved and the importance of dynamic hedging. The proposed National Social Security System (NSSS) is said to be a complete revision of South Africa's social welfare system. Should it go ahead, it will impact the lives of all South Africans. But will it benefit all South Africans? In his article Elias Masilela, Chief Strategist for financial sector developments with Sanlam Employee Benefits, discusses why the NSSS might struggle to help low income earners.
Armien Tyer, Managing Director of Sanlam Investment Management, discusses the implications of Finance Minister Trevor Manuel now allowing pension funds to take 20% of their investments offshore. We once again end this issue with Basil Rajah, Legal Adviser and Head of Coris Capital South Legal Service, discussing a recent Pension Fund Adjudicator determination affecting the employee benefits industry. A special thank you to all the contributors for the knowledge you have so eagerly shared with us. If you have any comments or suggestions please let me know. I'm looking forward to the next edition of Insight, and I sincerely hope that together, we'll make Insight one of the most-read publications in the industry.
Thaniah
Send your suggestions or questions to:
Thaniah Toefy
Editor: Insight
Sanlam Investments
Private Bag X8
Tyger Valley 7536
Tel: (021) 950 2547
Fax: (021) 950 2955
Email: thaniaht@sim.sanlam.com
Additional options
Insight is also available as a printed version sent to you via normal mail or you can be notified when the online version on the web has been updated.
Printed version via normal mail
Click on the appropriate link below:
Email notification
Click here to subscribe to a notification that the online version of Insight has been published on the web.
Please note:
PDF documents are viewable using the Adobe® Acrobat Reader.
You can download Acrobat Reader free of charge directly from Adobe (All platforms). |
