EBnet's Industry Insights

In this episode of Industry Insights, Nathalie discusses the biggest challenges facing retirement funds in South Africa right now, with Hazel Hopkins, Principal Consultant at Axiomatic Benefit Consultants. And how the issue of affordability versus adequacy may also present the biggest opportunity.

#Personalisation #Bespoke #InvestmentSolutions​Do we have a misery of choice when it comes to investments with more listed unit trusts than listed JSE stocks, or should we be offering trustees the ability to build bespoke solutions and customise arrangements for members? Most members just select the default offering in any case! EBnet.Stream chats to Preanka Naidoo from Sanlam Investments - Multi Manager about this conundrum – in the end we sort of agree to disagree. #Savings #FinancialConfidence #Investments

Lize de la Harpe, Senior Legal Advisor at Sanlam, shares the practical implications of the Ombud Council’s new rules for the Office of the Pension Funds Adjudicator that were announced in March 2026.

The facts around the growth of gambling in South Africa are undeniable. In the 2024/25 financial year, South Africans wagered about R1.5 trillion on gambling – that’s about 20% of GDP – and works out to R4billion gambled every day. EBnet.Stream chats to Salem Nyati from Momentum about this pandemic – why people are gambling money they don’t have (even their student bursaries) and what better options might be. #Savings #FinancialConfidence #Gambling

John Simpson, the FAIS Ombud, shares with the EBnet community the most common lessons that can be learnt from the cases in their new Complaints Archive – from what is a reasonable advisor and reasonable consumer, to PI cover, to the expected impact of COFI. When it comes to rendering financial advice, like John says, “It’s all fine until it’s not”. Subscribe to EBnet’s newsletter 👉 https://www.ebnet.co.za/subscribe/

The 2025 Profmed Stress Index reveals a marked shift in how South African professionals experience stress, from once-manageable, isolated pressures to a persistent, multi-layered reality. Financial strain, workplace culture, systemic pressures, and lifestyle challenges now intersect, compounding daily stress. Nearly a third of respondents report disrupted sleep and exercise patterns, while 44% say they feel overwhelmed despite using coping strategies. Alarmingly, many acknowledge the health impact of stress but delay seeking support due to cost, time constraints, or unsupportive work environments. EBnet.Stream unpacks these findings with Justine Lacy, Clinical Executive at Profmed and explores tips to manage your stress.

Don't count US markets out just yet. EBnet chats to GinsGlobal CEO, Anthony Ginsburg, about AI (and other) investment opportunities.For more great content like this, click Like and Subscribe and go to www.ebnet.co.za to subscribe to our daily newsletter that will keep you up-to-date on everything related to saving, retirement planning, your retirement fund and the latest political and economic status.

EBnet.Stream chats to Caroline Naylor-Renn to explore whether or not auto-enrolment is a viable solution to SA's savings crisis - and exploring if there are some lessons we can learn from its implementation in the UK pensions industry.For more great content like this, click Like and Subscribe and go to www.ebnet.co.za to subscribe to our daily newsletter that will keep you up-to-date on everything related to saving, retirement planning, your retirement fund and the latest political and economic status.

Do the current geopolitics flip the investment script? Does the narrative of high risk, high return still hold true? And does one investment outcome supercede any of the others? These are the questions Nathalie asks Peter Takaendesa, the Chief Investment Officer at Mergence Investment Managers.For more great content like this, click Like and Subscribe and go to www.ebnet.co.za to subscribe to our daily newsletter that will keep you up-to-date on everything related to saving, retirement planning, your retirement fund and the latest political and economic status.

Ninety One has just celebrated its first TFSA millionnaire. Paul Hutchinson shares how this investor did it, and how you can apply the same lessons to your savings.For more great content like this, click Like and Subscribe and go to www.ebnet.co.za to subscribe to our daily newsletter that will keep you up-to-date on everything related to saving, retirement planning, your retirement fund and the latest political and economic status.

Anne Cabot-Alletzhauser shares what she looks for in a financial planner and how she's just met the perfect one.For more great content like this, click Like and Subscribe and go to www.ebnet.co.za to subscribe to our daily newsletter that will keep you up-to-date on everything related to saving, retirement planning, your retirement fund and the latest political and economic status.

NHI has noble intentions, but there have been some stumbling blocks. EBnet.Stream chats to Karin Mitchelmore, Executive Head of Healthcare Consulting at NMG, for the latest position on healthcare for all South Africans. For more great content like this, click Like and Subscribe and go to www.ebnet.co.za to subscribe to our daily newsletter that will keep you up-to-date on everything related to saving, retirement planning, your retirement fund and the latest political and economic status.

What are the most important factors to consider when choosing your medical aid plan? How do medical schemes set their premiums and benefits? And is the industry actively trying to manage the pricing? Yashtil Moodley, Chief Product Officer at Discovery Health shares insights.For more great content like this, click Like and Subscribe and go to www.ebnet.co.za to subscribe to our daily newsletter that will keep you up-to-date on everything related to saving, retirement planning, your retirement fund and the latest political and economic status.

Will management committees or joint forums in umbrella funds be considered Key Persons under COFI? And if yes, what are the implications of that? We discuss the potentially extended role and responsibilities of manco’s with Elio E’silva Product Head Alexforbes One & Direct Corporate Solutions, at Alexforbes.For more great content like this, click Like and Subscribe and go to www.ebnet.co.za to subscribe to our daily newsletter that will keep you up-to-date on everything related to saving, retirement planning, your retirement fund and the latest political and economic status.

Is your advisor independent? Or tied to a product house? Is this even important to know? EBnet.Stream discusses the pro’s and con’s of independent vs tied advice with Tishalan Pillay, Executive Director of Sales, Marketing and Distribution at ASI Financial Services.For more great content like this, click Like and Subscribe and go to www.ebnet.co.za to subscribe to our daily newsletter that will keep you up-to-date on everything related to saving, retirement planning, your retirement fund and the latest political and economic status.

In the month of love, Nicola Langridge, Wealth Manager at Private Client Holdings, and the 2025 FPI Financial Planner of the Year, shares the when and the what of important money conversations to have with your special someone. Your relationship may be exclusive, but are your finances?For more great content like this, click Like and Subscribe and go to www.ebnet.co.za to subscribe to our daily newsletter that will keep you up-to-date on everything related to saving, retirement planning, your retirement fund and the latest political and economic status.

Paul Nixon, Head of Behavioural Finance at Momentum, explains the findings of the 2025 Sci-Fi report. In a year where markets rewarded investors so handsomely, why were investors switching and what were the consequences, or behaviour tax, they paid? (Extreme gains are no longer reserved for the gym)

Many employers mistakenly think that once they have decided to “park” their company’s retirement fund into an umbrella fund, they have no further duties or responsibilities, and importantly liabilities. Niki Giles, Head of Strategy at Prescient Fund Services, shares why this thinking is flawed.

EBnet.Stream catches up with Siphamandla Buthelezi, COO and Head of Platforms at NMG Benefits to discuss the legislation that is impacting administrators now and in anticipation of COFI.

Johan Minnie, CEO of Consult by Momentum, unpacks his thinking behind his recent article “Wake up and smell the COFI”. Does COFI mean different things for tied agents vs independent financial advisors? And how does one “prove” conduct?

Conduct Standard 2 of 2025 for Pension Benefit Administrators introduces a number of changes to businesses that administer retirement funds. These changes dig deep into the culture of the organisation and broadly across all staff who touch members’ lives. Nazlie Seegers, Chief Experience Officer at Salt Employee Benefits, shares her expertise on where to focus your efforts.

Just Share recently published their inaugural Asset Manager Responsible Investment Benchmark Survey. In this episode of Industry Insights, EBnet.Stream chats to Karishma Bhoolio senior climate risk analyst at Just Share to surface the reasons why South African asset managers have scored so poorly.For more great content like this, click Like and Subscribe and go to www.ebnet.co.za to subscribe to our daily newsletter that will keep you up-to-date on everything related to saving, retirement planning, your retirement fund and the latest political and economic status.

EBnet.Stream chats to David Shochot, Head of Corporate Solutions at 10X Investments, on the multiple layers of fees in retirement funds. And which of these are negotiable.For more great content like this, click Like and Subscribe and go to www.ebnet.co.za to subscribe to our daily newsletter that will keep you up-to-date on everything related to saving, retirement planning, your retirement fund and the latest political and economic status.

One of the conversations getting a lot of airtime right now is the role that AI will play in financial planning. EBnet.Stream reaches out to Roné Swanepoel, Head of Distribution Morningstar Investment Managers South Africa, to discuss the highlights of Dr Danielle Labotka’s presentation at the recent Morningstar Investment Conference. As a Behavioural Scientist for Research and Investments at Morningstar, Dr Labotka explored a critical theme: how advisers can deliver the human touch in an increasingly tech-forward world, and Roné shares their latest research and experience.

Following a recently published article on mashonisas on www.ebnet.co.za, EBnet.Stream catches up with Salem Nyati, Financial Education Specialist at the Momentum Group Foundation, to chat in more detail about the risks of these loans and explores other safer solutions out there for consumers.Follow this podcast series, leave a comment, and share with others that may be interested. Go to www.ebnet.co.za to subscribe to our daily newsletter that will keep you up-to-date on everything related to saving, retirement planning, your retirement fund and the latest political and economic status.

Nathalie chats to Nondumiso Ntshangase, a Senior Legal Advisor at the Office of the Pension Funds Adjudicator, about the changes that COFI might bring to both the scope of complaints and the process of lodging them. Nondumiso cautions retirement funds that complaints need to be more than just recorded.Follow this podcast series, leave a comment, and share with others that may be interested. Go to www.ebnet.co.za to subscribe to our daily newsletter that will keep you up-to-date on everything related to saving, retirement planning, your retirement fund and the latest political and economic status.

The 2025 Mercer CFA Global Pensions Index is on EBnet’s Publications Podium at www.ebnet.co.za. EBnet.Stream asked Belinda Sullivan, Head of Corporate Consulting Strategy at Alexforbes, to share her insights into the global pensions outlook and how the South African industry compares. There are some surprises – good ones!Follow this podcast series, leave a comment, and share with others that may be interested. Go to www.ebnet.co.za to subscribe to our daily newsletter that will keep you up-to-date on everything related to saving, retirement planning, your retirement fund and the latest political and economic status.

Kerry King, a financial advisor from Citadel, shares what you should be thinking about when making your decisions around living annuities. One of the first things to think about: your investment strategy, and is your retirement fund aligning to your goals?Follow this podcast series, leave a comment, and share with others that may be interested. Go to www.ebnet.co.za to subscribe to our daily newsletter that will keep you up-to-date on everything related to saving, retirement planning, your retirement fund and the latest political and economic status.

Following a recent article we published on EBnet (When likes become liability: Hidden cyber risks at work), we catch up with Carey Van Vlaaderen and Allan Juma from ESET to uncover the latest trends threat actors are deploying to get breach your security. Add this conversation as part of your regular cyber awareness campaigns.Follow this podcast series, leave a comment, and share with others that may be interested. Go to www.ebnet.co.za to subscribe to our daily newsletter that will keep you up-to-date on everything related to saving, retirement planning, your retirement fund and the latest political and economic status.

As commercial umbrella funds become the chosen option of many employers, what, if any, are the responsibilities of the management committee? Nathalie and Monique explore the functions of the joint forum, the responsibilities to members of the fund but also the ability to exert influence upwards on the umbrella fund’s governance and product frameworks and structures. And, will COFI change any of this?Follow this podcast series, leave a comment, and share with others that may be interested. Go to www.ebnet.co.za to subscribe to our daily newsletter that will keep you up-to-date on everything related to saving, retirement planning, your retirement fund and the latest political and economic status.

EBnet.Stream chats to Niki Giles, Head of Strategy at Prescient Fund Services about their reasoning for publishing their recent ETF Evolution report. ETF’s are gaining momentum as attractive investment products for both retirement funds and individual investors. Even Nathalie has dipped her toe in the water!Follow this podcast series, leave a comment, and share with others that may be interested. Go to www.ebnet.co.za to subscribe to our daily newsletter that will keep you up-to-date on everything related to saving, retirement planning, your retirement fund and the latest political and economic status.

This conversation on employment prospects for graduates in an AI world is a must listen for all parents of teens and young adults. Nkosinathi Mahlangu, Youth Employment Portfolio Head at Momentum, and Nathalie discuss how AI is impacting what courses and what skills the graduates of tomorrow will need.Follow this podcast series, leave a comment, and share with others that may be interested. Go to www.ebnet.co.za to subscribe to our daily newsletter that will keep you up-to-date on everything related to saving, retirement planning, your retirement fund and the latest political and economic status.

Leon is joined by John Anderson to discuss the recently launched ASSA Climate Index, its intent and purpose and how to practically use it. Will it result in higher insurance premiums? Will it help save lives? Who will use it and for what? Find out more in the interview. More details can be found at - https://www.actuarialsociety.org.za/assa-climate-index/Follow this podcast series, leave a comment, and share with others that may be interested. Go to www.ebnet.co.za to subscribe to our daily newsletter that will keep you up-to-date on everything related to saving, retirement planning, your retirement fund and the latest political and economic status.

A great catch up with Sanisha Packirisamy, Chief Economist at Momentum Investments, on where we are right now in both local and global investment markets. What are the big themes? And is it wise to go all in on SA Inc?Follow this podcast series, leave a comment, and share with others that may be interested. Go to www.ebnet.co.za to subscribe to our daily newsletter that will keep you up-to-date on everything related to saving, retirement planning, your retirement fund and the latest political and economic status.