Throughout South Africa, people are faced with various decisions with regard to planning for their future, but more so in planning for their retirement. It happens quite often that these investment decisions are postponed until only a few years before retirement, whether it is because of personal circumstances (cash flow restrictions) or changing employment. A number of people simply forget to plan for their retirement. Investment for retirement has become increasingly complex because of the great number of investment choices available and therefore this research attempts to identify and evaluate the most commonly used retirement investment opportunities in the market with their respective advantages and disadvantages. The research focuses on investment opportunities from a savings point of view and also evaluates each option from a South African income tax point of view which includes the cash inflows and outflows at the different stages (during the investment period as well as the maturity/retirement period). A number of investing options might seem very attractive at the initial phase, but may be less attractive at retirement or maturity date (especially looking at the tax benefits). This study focuses on both the current and newly proposed legislation as presented during the recent budget speech by the current Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan. AFRIKAANS : Regoor Suid-Afrika word mense gekonfronteer met besluite ingevolge die beplanning vir hul toekoms asook die beplanning vir hul aftrede. Dit gebeur gereeld dat hierdie beleggingsbesluite uitgestel word as gevolg van persoonlike omstandighede (wat kontantvloeibeperkings insluit) asook as gevolg van verandering van werkgewers. Party mense laat eenvoudig na om vir aftrede te beplan. Om te belệ vir aftrede word toenemend moeiliker as gevolg van die hoeveelheid beleggingsopsies beskikbaar. Hierdie navorsing poog dus om die mees algemene beleggingsopsies wat beskikbaar is, te identifiseer tesame met elkeen se individuele voordele en nadele. Die navorsing fokus op beleggingsgeleenthede vanuit „n besparingsoogpunt asook die Suid-Afrikaanse inkomstebelasting gevolge van elk van die opsies. Die Suid-Afrikaanse inkomstebelasting gevolge sluit in die kontantinvloeie en -uitvloeie tydens die duur van die beleggings asook by aftrede. Baie beleggingsopsies lyk aantreklik op die beleggingsdatum maar kan nadelig wees by aftrede. Die belastingontleding fokus op beide die huidige wetgewing asook die voorgestelde verandering in die wetgewing soos voorgestel tydens die begrotingsrede deur die huidige Minister van Finansies, Pravin Gordhan. Copyright 2011, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. Please cite as follows: Kokott, J 2011, The evaluation of different retirement investment options as savings and tax planning tools, MCom dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-03262012-124429 / > F12/4/182/gm / Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Taxation / unrestricted

We examined military retirement. We sought to determine if preretirement planning, having knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) that are readily transferable, and being committed to, and/or identifying with, the Navy would affect the retirement satisfaction and adjustment of a retired naval officers sample. Results indicated that both planning and transferability influenced retirement satisfaction and adjustment, while organizational commitment and identification did not. Implications of our findings, as well as a brief overview of some general retirement issues are included.

In der Bundesrepublik hat sich die Überzeugung durchgesetzt, angesichts des bevorstehenden demographischen Wandels sei eine Stärkung kapitalgedeckter Elemente in der Altersvorsorge notwendig. Die Riestersche Rentenreform des Jahres 2001 stellt einen Schritt in diese Richtung dar. Zunächst wird dargelegt, dass die demographisch induzierten Schwierigkeiten der gesetzlichen Rentenversicherung (GRV) wahrscheinlich ebenso überschätzt werden wie das Problemlösungspotential einer verstärkten privaten Vorsorge. Daher wird anschließend untersucht, wie sich die Gewissheit von der Notwendigkeit kapitalgedeckter Vorsorge politisch durchsetzen konnte. Hierbei wird auf theoretische Ansätze einer Wissenssoziologie der Politik zurückgegriffen. Anhand ausgewählter rentenpolitischer Bundestagsdebatten der Jahre 1957 bis 2001 werden die Deutungen politischer Akteure hinsichtlich der Probleme der GRV, der Problemlösungen und der dabei vorgesehenen Rolle kapitalgedeckter Elemente untersucht. Gezeigt werden soll, dass die Rentenreform 2001 nicht einfach auf Grund demographischer oder ökonomischer Zwänge verstanden werden kann. Entscheidend sind vielmehr die politischen Deutungen solcher Sachverhalte und deren langfristiger Wandel. Erst aus der Verknüpfung von spezifischen Deutungen der langfristigen demographischen Entwicklung, der kurzfristigen Wirkung der Lohnnebenkosten auf die Arbeitslosigkeit und der Funktionsgrundlagen der GRV ergibt sich im politischen Prozess die „Notwendigkeit“ einer zusätzlichen privaten kapitalgedeckten Altersvorsorge.:Einleitung; Alterssicherung – demographische Alterung und Finanzierungsverfahren; Die Akteursebene – wissenssoziologische Grundlagen; Die Konstruktion eines demographischen Problems der GRV in Konkurrenz mit anderen Problemen; Die Bearbeitung des demographischen Problems bis zum RRG 1999; Die Rolle kapitalgedeckter Altersvorsorge; Resümee

There are ongoing discussions about a new reform of the mandatory fully funded individual accounts in the Swedish public pension system. Since the initial round in 2000, several funds have been excluded from the platform due to deceptive, and sometimes criminal, behavior towards the consumers. This paper analyzes which individuals that have invested in these funds, examines possible explanations for this, and sheds light on the current structure of the Premium Pension Scheme. By using a rich dataset on 650,000 individuals that consist of both those who have been in six particular dubious funds and a random sample of the rest of the Swedish pension savers, the variables of interest are evaluated in a logistic setting. The results show that individuals who are men, unmarried, divorced, in their older-middle age, have lower-incomes, live in rural areas, and the North of Sweden are more likely to have invested in one of the dubious funds. The results also reveal that some funds have clearer target-groups, while others have targeted more randomly. The study emphasizes the need for improving people’s financial decision-making through improved information.

The purpose of this study was to determine if East Tennessee State University provides its employees appropriate financial planning services. In particular, it is unknown to what degree employees of East Tennessee State University have actively engaged in financial planning. The research was conducted during June and July, 2005. Data were gathered by surveying faculty, staff, and retirees of the university. Ten percent of the population responded to the study. The survey instrument covered the areas of retirement, other financial planning services, and attitudes toward financial planning. The results of the data analysis gave insight into what degree employees of East Tennessee State University have actively engaged in financial planning. For example, over 20% of the respondents encouraged employees to start early in order to achieve the benefit of time value of money. Fifteen percent of the respondents suggested financial planning workshops be offered on a more frequent basis. Approximately 10% of the respondents preferred an instructor to be independent, instead of a financial salesperson. The study provided an increase in the body of knowledge on financial planning for the ETSU employee and established a historical database for the various programs offered within the ETSU system.

The thesis is concerned with optimal retirement pension planning in the framework of the Czech pension system. The work proposes an unavoidable reform in order to compensate for adverse demographic trends. Subsequently, it introduces mathematical methods for future old-age pension determination in private pensions. Equally, the thesis deals with optimal pension strategies: when the benefits of individual old-age insurance outgrow those of institutionalised pension insurance and vice versa. A particular aspect of the reform where participants can partially opt out from the compulsory pillar and become part of the new system is discussed with emphasis on the opt-out accompanying factors.

Retirement is a complex undertaking that is influenced by many factors. The variables influence the retirement experience either alone or in combination. Because the factors are intertwined, it is sometimes difficult to determine which are the most significant. The complex nature of retirement often leads to people being under prepared for the challenges they are likely to confront. Despite the importance of the retirement enterprise, there has been little research on the subject among black retirees in South Africa. This is especially true when it comes to the case of retired migrant workers. The purpose of the present study is to explore the experience of life satisfaction during retirement and adjustment to retirement of migrant workers when they return back to their communities of origin in the Eastern Cape Region, South Africa. Research participants for the study were retired persons (N=54) who were selected through snowball sampling method. The data for the study was collected using a Biographical Questionnaire, the Life Satisfaction Index-A, Adjustment Scale and Open-ended Interview Questions. Retired non-migrant workers were also included in the study in order to determine whether there are differences on these measures compared to retired migrant workers. The results of the study indicated that: retired migrant workers had significantly lower levels of life satisfaction and encountered more adjustment problems in retirement than retired non-migrant workers; retired migrant workers had less choice in their decision to retire than retired non-migrant workers; retired migrant workers did not participate in sufficient financial planning for their retirement; and financial situation significantly affects adjustment to retirement and life satisfaction during retirement. / Psychology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Psychology)

With an increasing proportion of older people in the Australian population and increasing health and longevity, paid work after the age of 65 years may become an option or a necessity in the future. The focus of this research is on Australian women of the baby boom generation, their working futures, and the work-retirement decision. This is explored both from the viewpoint of women and from a social policy perspective. The research draws on Considine�s model of public policy, futures studies, and Beck�s concept of risk society. The research comprises three studies. Using focus group research, Study 1 explored the views of Australian women of the baby boom generation on work after the age of 65 years. Study 2 aimed to explore current thinking on the research topic in Australia and overseas. Computer-mediated communication involving an Internet website and four scenarios for the year 2020 were used for this study. Study 3 consists of the analysis of quantitative data from the Healthy Retirement Project, focusing on attitudes towards retirement, retirement plans, and the preferred and expected age of retirement. The importance of choice and a work � life balance emerged throughout the research. Women in high-status occupations were found to be more likely to be open to the option of continuing paid work beyond age 65 than women in low-status jobs. However, the women were equally likely to embrace future volunteering. The research findings suggest that policies for an ageing female workforce should be based on the values of inclusiveness, fairness, self-determination, and social justice, and address issues of workplace flexibility, equality in the workplace, recognition for unpaid community and caring work, opportunities for life-long learning, complexity and inequities of the superannuation system, and planning for retirement. Further, providing a guaranteed minimum income for all Australians should be explored as a viable alternative to the current social security system.

With an increasing proportion of older people in the Australian population and increasing health and longevity, paid work after the age of 65 years may become an option or a necessity in the future. The focus of this research is on Australian women of the baby boom generation, their working futures, and the work-retirement decision. This is explored both from the viewpoint of women and from a social policy perspective. The research draws on Considine�s model of public policy, futures studies, and Beck�s concept of risk society. The research comprises three studies. Using focus group research, Study 1 explored the views of Australian women of the baby boom generation on work after the age of 65 years. Study 2 aimed to explore current thinking on the research topic in Australia and overseas. Computer-mediated communication involving an Internet website and four scenarios for the year 2020 were used for this study. Study 3 consists of the analysis of quantitative data from the Healthy Retirement Project, focusing on attitudes towards retirement, retirement plans, and the preferred and expected age of retirement. The importance of choice and a work � life balance emerged throughout the research. Women in high-status occupations were found to be more likely to be open to the option of continuing paid work beyond age 65 than women in low-status jobs. However, the women were equally likely to embrace future volunteering. The research findings suggest that policies for an ageing female workforce should be based on the values of inclusiveness, fairness, self-determination, and social justice, and address issues of workplace flexibility, equality in the workplace, recognition for unpaid community and caring work, opportunities for life-long learning, complexity and inequities of the superannuation system, and planning for retirement. Further, providing a guaranteed minimum income for all Australians should be explored as a viable alternative to the current social security system.