October 2025 Finance Newsletter: Get Financially Future Fit

One Money Move: Check in on your retirement savings. 

Close your eyes and picture yourself one day relaxing in retirement…. no more work stress, just time to do the things you enjoy. Sounds good, right? 

But here’s the truth: Only 6 out of every 100 South Africans will be able to retire comfortably. 

That’s why it’s important not just to focus on your money today, but also to plan for your future. Retirement may feel far away, but waiting too long to start saving can cost you big time.  The earlier you start, the better, even with just a small amount - small savings can grow over time! 

Be careful of accessing funds using the two-pot retirement system, and if you change jobs, don’t cash out your retirement savings, keep it safe and growing for your future. 

One Tip: Start early and check your plan regularly. 

Simply Surviving: Andre and Mari have had a tough time financially. Over the past two years, they used money from their retirement savings just to survive. After meeting with a financial coach, they saw how this could hurt their future. Now they’ve looked at how many years they have left to work and are serious about changing their spending habits. They’re finding ways to start saving for retirement again, and they’ve promised themselves that they will only use retirement savings when they retire. 

Steadily Striving: Zanele’s parents just retired. They thought they were ready financially, but rising costs and health problems have made life stressful and now they worry about every cent they spend and have to change the way they do things. Zanele doesn’t want the same thing to happen to her. She already has retirement savings, but after speaking to a coach, she realised she wasn’t increasing her savings when she got salary increases. She also discovered she could put extra amounts into her retirement annuity when she received a bonus or extra commission. 

Totally Thriving: Mo is ten years away from retirement. He has worked hard to pay off his debt.  He has planned for retirement and knows how much he has saved. After speaking with a coach, he found out he could save on tax by increasing his retirement contributions. He also learned it’s a good idea to check in with his financial adviser more often to see how his retirement funds are performing. 

No matter how old you are or where you are on your money journey, your future matters! Take some time to look at your retirement savings.  Your future self will thank you. 

Chat to a financial coach to get started.