OUTLAWING GAP COVER WON'T AID MEDICAL SCHEMES OR MEMBERS. SAY OLD MUTUAL

April 2012: Draft legislation released recently by National Treasury will, if implemented, outlaw gap cover and mostly likely lead to a simple loss of benefits for members, without helping medical schemes.

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OLD MUTUAL PLATINUM PENSION 2003 WITH-PROFIT ANNUITY DECLARES POSITIVE BONUS FOR 2012

April 2012: For the ninth successive year, Old Mutual Corporate has declared positive bonus rates across all pricing interest rate categories for its Platinum Pension 2003 with-profit annuity.

 SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTING TO BECOME KEY ISSUE FOR RETIREMENT FUNDS

March 2012: Social Responsible Investing (SRI), or Responsible Investing (RI) as it is now known, will become a larger focus for government in the near future and may even become regulated in the retirement industry. This is according to Windall Bekker, Head of Investment Consulting at OMAC Actuaries & Consultants, who says that amendments made to Regulation 28 of the Pension Funds Act as well as the recent introduction of the Code for Responsible Investing in South Africa (CRISA) highlight the growing importance of SRI when it comes to retirement fund investing.

EFFECTIVE OFFSHORE INVESTMENT STRATEGIES REQUIRE INFORMED TRUSTEE DECISION -MAKING

February 2012: For many trustees of retirement funds, offshore investing is becoming an integral component of their investment strategies. This trend is increasing following the announcement that National Treasury has increased funds’ foreign assets limit from 20% to 25%, with a further 5% being available for investment in Africa. The amendments to Regulation 28 of the Pension Funds Act now allows for collective investment schemes asset managers and life companies to invest up to 35% of their total assets offshore.

AIDS PROGRAMMES BEAR FRUIT IN THE WORKPLACE

December 2011: Though group disability claims due to Aids have continued to rise over the past decade, latest figures by Old Mutual show that the duration of Aids-related claims have remained short as a result of improved treatment plans and workplace Aids policies which enable claimants to return to work.

RETIREMENT INVESTORS WARNED OF TOUGH TIMES AHEAD

November 2011: With volatile economic conditions expected to prevail for the next 12 – 24 months, it is crucial that trustees and members of retirement funds proactively manage their investment risk by making use of the various protection mechanisms that are available.

OMAC ACTUARIES AND CONSULTANTS ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH OFFSHORE INVESTMENT SERVICE

November 2011: To significantly enhance its offshore investment manager research and product capabilities, OMAC Actuaries & Consultants has entered into a cooperation agreement with a London based data provider, CAMRADATA Analytical Services Ltd.

INVESTING DURING THE AGE OF TURBULENCE

October 2011: The past few weeks have seen significant market volatility across the globe - leaving many trustees and members in a state of confusion. However, trustees can protect themselves and their members from significant financial loss by paying close attention to the details of their particular fund.

 SMES HOLD THE KEY TO INCREASING SOUTH AFRICA'S SAVINGS RATE

September 2011: Small to Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs) have a major role to play in increasing South Africa’s savings rate, which is a crucial step towards boosting our economic growth rate and bringing it closer to that of other major emerging markets.

RETIREMENT REFORM PLACES ONUS ON TRUSTEES TO INCREASE DISCLOSURE

September 2011: For trustees of retirement funds, potential retirement reforms currently under discussion by the government legislation will result in extra responsibilities to ensure a minimum level of disclosure to members.