Planning for retirement starts here

A retirement annuity works best when it’s kept simple; you contribute regularly, costs are controlled, and you give your money time to grow. That’s what this option is designed to do.

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What is a retirement annuity?

A retirement annuity is a long‑term way to save for retirement. It’s a savings plan designed to help you build retirement savings over time, and you generally only access it when you retire. You can usually claim a tax break on contributions (within limits), and your money can grow without tax while it remains invested.
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Is a retirement annuity right for me?

A retirement annuity is a good way to top up your retirement savings, especially if you want a “hands‑off, long‑term” plan that’s built for retirement.

A retirement annuity is usually a good fit if:

  • You already have a pension or provident fund through work, but you want to save more for retirement.
  • You’re thinking long term and want money that’s set aside for retirement, not for day‑to‑day spending.
  • You like the idea of a tax break on what you contribute (within limits).
  • You want your investment to grow without tax while it stays invested.
  • You prefer to build up savings steadily with monthly contributions, and the option to add a lump sum now and then.

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Why choose the Alexforbes Retirement Annuity?

Lower fees means better outcomes

Our ONEfee model keep costs low and transparent, so more of your money stays invested and working for you.

Easy to manage, without the admin

Once you’re set up, you can track, adjust and manage your investment online or on the app.

Guidance when you need it

If you’re unsure at any point, you’re not on your own. You can invest digitally or speak to an Alexforbes adviser for guidance.

Our ONEfee model could change the value of your investment

Vicci pays 78% less in fees with Alexforbes

Traditional investment and retirement products can charge fees of around 3% per year. With the Alexforbes ONEfee, you could pay as little as 0.40% per year.
Lower fees mean more of your money stays invested and working for you.
Your fee is also shown in rands and cents on your statement, not just as a percentage, making the cost simple and transparent.

Learn more about ONEfee

Chart comparing investment value and impact of fees, highlighting how fees can reduce retirement savings

ONEfee Important Information Profiles used are only for illustrative purposes. The examples provided compare our ONEfee to investments applying a 3% per annum fee model. These include fees for advice, administration and fund management. The results are modelled based on a historical growth rate using the asset allocation of the CoreSolutions Moderate fund. Research on fees was conducted by Alexforbes Invest internally. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. All investments are exposed to risk, not guaranteed and dependent on the performance of the underlying investments and excludes the impact of Securities Transfer Tax. Fees may change due to inflation.

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Want to see how your retirement savings could grow?

Use our retirement calculator to estimate how your savings could grow over time. Adjust your contributions, time horizon and expected returns to see how different choices may affect your retirement outcome.

Calculate my retirement estimate

Invest online

Manage your investment online with a simple, guided experience. Open your account, contribute when it suits you, and track your progress from your phone or computer.

Why invest online?

  • Start investing quickly with a simple online process
  • Contribute when you can and adjust contributions if your situation changes
  • Monitor your investment and track your goals online
  • No tax on the returns earned within your tax-free savings account

[Start my investment](https://online.invest.alexforbes.com/Advice/ProductSelection?type=retirementannuity)

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Speak to a financial adviser

If you would like help structuring your investments or want to explore a broader range of solutions, an adviser can guide you.

Our qualified advisers take time to understand your financial goals and help you choose the right investment strategy.

When advice may help:

  • You want help building a long-term financial plan
  • You have multiple investments or complex financial needs
  • You would like guidance on tax-efficient investing
  • You want access to a wider range of investment options and fee structures

Connect with an adviser

The funds behind your investment

Our investment specialists research and select these funds, combining them into diversified portfolios designed to grow your savings over the long term while managing risk. Each fund is continuously monitored to ensure it remains aligned with its investment objective.

This gives you:

  • Institutional-quality fund selection
  • Diversification across asset classes and managers
  • Ongoing oversight from experienced investment professionals
  • Access to leading investment managers

Your retirement savings are therefore supported by a carefully constructed mix of funds designed for long-term outcomes.

Learn more about our funds

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Illustration of two growing plants in pots labeled ‘retirement pot’ and ‘savings pot,’ with money forming leaves and padlock icons indicating secured funds.

Need to access your retirement savings?

South Africa’s two-pot retirement system allows you to access a portion of your retirement savings before retirement, while keeping the rest invested for your future.

You may be able to withdraw from the savings component of your retirement fund if you meet the requirements. Before making a withdrawal, it is important to understand how this could affect your long-term retirement savings and the tax that may apply.

Make a two-pot claim

Looking for something else?

Global investments

Invest beyond South Africa with access to international markets and currencies. Diversify your portfolio and pursue long-term growth opportunities worldwide.

Learn more

Preservation funds

If you have left an employer and received a pension or provident fund payout, a preservation fund allows you to keep those savings invested for retirement while maintaining tax advantages.

Learn more

Tax-free investment

Save for long-term goals with a tax-free investment account. Your contributions grow without tax on interest, dividends or capital gains, helping your savings grow faster over time.

Learn more

Frequently asked questions

Who should invest in the Alexforbes Invest Retirement Annuity?
The Alexforbes Invest Retirement Annuity is best suited for those that have a long-term investment objective with the goal of investing to provide an income (annuity) at retirement (after the age of 55).
What are the tax benefits of the Alexforbes Invest Retirement Annuity?

The law allows an investor to deduct contributions to retirement funds (pension, provident and retirement annuities) of up to 27.5% of their taxable income or gross income whichever is higher to qualify for a tax deduction. This 27.5% limit is not per retirement fund but cumulative (aggregated) across all retirement funds.

There is an annual maximum tax-deductible threshold of R430 000, however, all contributions over this threshold can be carried over and used in future years, limited to the applicable restrictions in those years.

What happens to my Alexforbes Invest Retirement Annuity if I die?
A board of trustees is responsible for running the retirement annuity fund and protecting the interests of all members. If you die while still invested in the Alexforbes Invest Retirement Annuity the trustees must trace those that are financially dependent on you and allocate the funds appropriately.
What is this “regulation 28 thing” that applies to retirement annuities?

Basically, Regulation 28 (Reg 28) of the Pension Funds Act, means that you can’t invest more than 75% in equities, 100% in cash, 25% in immovable property, 10% in Commodities (Kruger Rands, gold) or 15% in Hedge funds within a retirement annuity. But you need not worry as all our funds in the Alexforbes Invest Retirement Annuity are Reg 28 compliant.

The intention of Reg 28 is to ensure that investors are not overexposed to unnecessary concentration risk with their retirement money.

What are all these components in my Retirement Annuity?

Your Retirement Annuity will reflect 4 components, being a Retirement, Savings, Vested and Non-vested component.

Your contributions will be split into two of the components. One third will go into the Savings component and the other two-thirds into the Retirement component. The remaining components will only reflect the value of contributions made before 1 September 2024, and growth thereon.

For more information, you can click here.

How much can you contribute annually?
There is no limit as to the amount of money you may contribute to the Alexforbes Invest Retirement Annuity. We accept monthly and lump sum contributions and transfers from other retirement annuities or funds you might have
When can I access my money in the Alexforbes Invest Retirement Annuity?

On retirement

The earliest you can retire from a Retirement Annuity (RA) is age 55 (unless in the event of death, disability or formal immigration). When you retire (as from 1 September 2024) you have the following options from the various components in your RA:

• Non-Vested component

You can take up to 1/3rd of your money in cash subject to tax. You must use at least 2/3rds of your money to purchase an annuity to provide you with an income in retirement.

• Savings and Vested component

You can take the full amount in cash (subject to tax) or use this or a portion towards purchasing an annuity to provide you with an income in retirement.

• Retirement component

You must use your entire amount in your retirement component to purchase an annuity that will provide you with an income.

• Amounts less than R 240 000 at retirement in your RA:

If the full amount in your Retirement component plus 2/3rds of the non-vested component is below R 240 000, you can take the entire amount in cash subject to tax.

When withdrawing

The following applies to withdrawals before you formally retire from an RA (as from 1 September 2024):

• Savings component

Withdrawals from the Saving component can be done once every tax year, subject to tax at your marginal tax rate, subject to a minimum amount of R2 000.

• Vested and Retirement component

You can only withdraw from the Vested and Retirement component if you have formally emigrated, subject to emigration rules and applicable tax.

Is the Alexforbes Invest Retirement Annuity protected from my creditors?
Yes, once your money is invested in the Alexforbes Invest Retirement Annuity it is protected from all your creditors, ensuring you have something to help you retire with one day, even if you were sequestrated.
Can I transfer from other retirement funds to the Alexforbes Invest Retirement Annuity?
Yes, it’s called Section 14 transfer, and we can assist you with the process. The best part is that this transfer is tax-free. Please note that due to the number of parties involved in the process these kinds of transfers can take some time. But not to worry, we will help you every step of the way.