Sue Torr
Approved retirement funds include occupation funds offered as a result of one’s employment, being provident and pension funds, and retirement annuity funds which are taken out in one’s individual capacity. Simply speaking, contributions made to any of these funds are
Regulated by the Divorce Act, Pension Funds Act and Income Tax Act, the purpose of the pension interest calculation is to allow divorcing spouses, where applicable, to share in each other’s retirement benefits at the date of divorce without having
If you have a foreign Will in place to deal with assets held in a foreign jurisdiction, this can also result in the winding up of your estate. Applying for foreign probate, especially in civil law jurisdictions or where language
Disability insurance is one of the most complex when it comes to the long-term insurance industry, so ideally seek the advice of an independent advisor when it comes to analysing your income protector. Understanding the nuances of your cover and
For income tax purposes, your worldwide income will be subject to income tax in South Africa. Remember, with effect from 2016, your executor will be required to file a pre-date of death assessment as well as a post-date of death
If there are specific assets in your estate that you intend bequeathing to your minor children, it is important that you provide for this carefully in your Will. Remember, in terms of our law, children under the age of 18
Remember, your severance benefit will be taxed as per your retirement benefit with the first R500 000 being tax-free. When calculating your tax-free portion, bear in mind that SARS will take into account all previous taxable withdrawals, retirement benefits and
The type of trust you intend to register will hinge on the estate planning objectives that you hope your trust will achieve. For instance, a family trust can be used to house and protect property or assets intended for future
Determining what you could realistically expect in terms of divorce settlement means understanding what assets your spouse has. In a particularly acrimonious divorce, a spouse could attempt to hide assets in a living trust or move assets offshore in the
While trustees are able to outsource the accounting functions of the trust, keep in mind that they remain responsible for the management of the trust assets. This includes keeping separate records of the trust assets, preparing annual financial statements, investing
