by SFT | Oct 27, 2025 | Financial Planning, St Francis
Every week we read about how we’re living longer. “Life expectancy hits record high!” the headlines shout, usually accompanied by a photo of two smiling retirees walking on a beach, as if old age were simply an endless holiday.
Yes, we’re living longer. But we’re also dying slower.
The Hidden Gap
The World Health Organisation has another measure beyond life expectancy — health expectancy — the years we live in good health. And here’s the uncomfortable truth: while we’re adding years to our lives, we’re not adding health to those years.
Across developed nations, the average gap between lifespan and healthspan now stretches over a decade. That’s ten years, often spent managing chronic illness or frailty. Modern medicine has extended life; modern lifestyles have quietly shortened vitality.
The Longevity Paradox
We’ve never known more about nutrition, exercise, and mental health, yet we’re more sedentary, stressed, and medicated than ever. For many, retirement is less about freedom and more about navigating fatigue, doctors’ rooms, and prescription renewals.
We’ve succeeded in adding years to life — but not always life to those years.
What This Means for Retirement
When people talk about retirement planning, they often focus on the money — “Will I have enough?” But the real question should be: “Will I have enough good years to enjoy what I’ve built?”
Research shows the most active and fulfilling phase of retirement usually lasts 10–15 years. After that, energy, health, and mobility start to decline. That’s not pessimism; it’s realism. And it should shape how we plan, how we spend, and when we do the things that make us feel most alive.
At Client Care, we call this healthspan planning. It’s not just about funding a long life — it’s about designing one you can actually live.
Healthspan Planning Is part of the New Retirement Planning
True planning goes beyond spreadsheets and returns. It’s about maximising the years where you’re active, independent, and engaged. That means deliberately investing in:
Physical health – strength, balance, and movement.
Cognitive health – curiosity, learning, and challenge.
Emotional health – purpose, connection, and belonging.
Don’t plan merely to last a long time. Plan to live well for as long as possible. Because adding years to your life means little if you’re not adding life to your years.
And that, more than anything, is the real measure of wealth in retirement.
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Dirk Groeneveld, Certified Financial Planner
t. 083 261 9287
e. dirk@clientcare.co.za
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by SFT | Oct 19, 2025 | Financial Planning, St Francis
I got a call this morning from an old friend’s wife. The kind of call that hits you in the gut. He’d been battling cancer, but treatment was going well. There was talk of remission, of more time. And then—just like that—he was gone.
Death seldom arrives on schedule. It is the most final of events, and whatever plans, promises, or intentions we had become instantly meaningless. If we didn’t take action while we were able, then all our good intentions count for nothing.
As a financial planner, I deal with this reality more often than most. And I can tell you, a few things weigh heavier than watching families face the emotional and financial chaos left behind when someone dies without a valid, up-to-date will.
It doesn’t matter how much money you have or how simple you think your affairs are, if your will is outdated, unsigned, or non-existent, the law decides what happens next, not you. And trust me, the law has no sense of compassion or context.
Unintended Consequences
I’ve seen families torn apart by uncertainty and unintended consequences that could easily have been avoided. Assets frozen for months. Children unintentionally disinherited. Executors who are unwilling or unfit for the task. All because someone thought, “I’ll get to it soon.”
Procrastination is one of the most dangerous financial habits there is. We delay the uncomfortable conversations, telling ourselves we’ll sort it out when life calms down. But life seldom calms down, and death doesn’t wait for our paperwork to be in order.
If you’re reading this, please—take this as your cue to act. Having a will, even an imperfect one, is infinitely better than having none. Updating an old will, even if it’s not perfect yet, is better than waiting for the “right time.”
A final act of love
Your will is your voice when you no longer have one. It ensures your loved ones are cared for, your assets distributed as you wish, and your legacy protected. It is a final act of love and responsibility.
So don’t wait. Don’t assume tomorrow will be the day you get around to it. Because none of us know how many tomorrows we have left.
If you’re unsure where to start, reach out. Pop in. We’ll help you get it done properly. Just get it done. For your sake—and for theirs.
Dirk Groeneveld, Certified Financial Planner
t. 083 261 9287
e. dirk@clientcare.co.za
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by SFT | Oct 15, 2025 | Financial Planning, St Francis
For most of our lives, a paycheque meant something. It represented contribution, validation, and proof that someone valued what we did. Then retirement arrives, and that reassuring “you’re still useful” ping in your bank account disappears. What replaces it? A pension payment, an investment drawdown, or a debit from your own savings — which can feel more like depletion than reward.
That’s where playcheques come in.
The Paycheque Problem
For centuries, people didn’t retire — they simply worked until they couldn’t. Work gave us identity, purpose, and a feedback loop of usefulness. The modern idea of retirement broke that loop. We stopped working, but often lost more than income — we lost meaning.
The paycheque once fed three essential psychological needs: competence (feeling capable), autonomy (having purpose), and relatedness (feeling connected). When it stops, many retirees unknowingly lose all three. The trick isn’t to stop being paid — it’s to start redefining what you get paid for.
Enter the Playcheque
Your playcheque is the return on joy — the “dividend” paid by doing things that light you up: travel, hobbies, volunteering, learning, and adventure. It fuels novelty, connection, and curiosity — the core ingredients of a happy, healthy retirement.
But here’s the real key: retirement works best when you have both.
Paycheques — purpose and contribution, whether that’s through consulting, mentoring, or passion projects that “pay” you in money or meaning.
Playcheques — freedom and fulfilment, the money you deliberately spend on living richly, without guilt or apology.
Without both, retirement starts to wobble. All paycheque and no play, and you never really leave work. All play and no pay, and you risk drifting into aimless leisure — the emptiest kind of freedom.
The Financial Side
Practically, your paycheque income covers life’s non-negotiables — pensions, annuities, or rental income that keep the lights on. Your playcheque comes from the “freedom fund” — the extra you’ve set aside for travel, experiences, and saying “yes” more often.
Separating the two is powerful. When you know your essentials are safely covered, you can spend your playcheque guilt-free. You’re not depleting your wealth — you’re using it as intended.
The Sweet Spot
The goal of good financial planning isn’t just to make your money last — it’s to make your life feel alive. A well-designed retirement has both structure and spontaneity, security and joy, prudence and play.
Because your money is the tool — not the purpose.
And a retirement filled with both paycheques and playcheques?
That’s a life that pays — twice.
Dirk Groeneveld, Certified Financial Planner
t. 083 261 9287
e. dirk@clientcare.co.za
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by SFT | Oct 6, 2025 | Financial Planning, St Francis
Many people imagine that once they reach retirement, life will become simple and straightforward—a peaceful stretch with no major surprises. Some even fear they’ll get bored. Others take comfort in the idea that once they’ve “made it,” the turbulence of life will fade away.
But anyone who has been retired for a few years knows that’s not quite how it works. In fact, retirement often brings more change—both good and bad—than any other life stage before it.
Think about it. During our working years, life follows a rhythm. We’re occupied five or six days a week with careers, raising children, and squeezing in the odd holiday or hobby. We expect certain ups and downs: a promotion here, a job loss there, children growing up, perhaps a divorce or health scare. Life is busy and unpredictable, yet there’s structure to it.
Then retirement arrives, and for a brief moment, it feels like everything might finally slow down. But the truth is, life continues to unfold—with the same capacity for surprise.
Even with financial security—if we’re blessed enough not to worry about money—retirement doesn’t guarantee a smooth track. Families grow, relationships evolve, and new challenges appear. Adult children may face retrenchment, divorce, or health struggles. Grandchildren might require extra attention or financial support. These ripple effects inevitably touch us, emotionally and sometimes financially.
At the same time, we face our own realities—declining health, the loss of friends, or simply the passage of time that makes some activities harder than before. There’s even the growing phenomenon of “grey divorce,” as couples realise their visions for retirement no longer align.
All of this is part of the normal, messy, beautiful process of living. Which is why retirement planning should never be done on autopilot.
Even a well-funded, well-designed retirement plan needs regular review. The numbers may look good on paper, but life has a way of changing the assumptions behind those numbers. What was true five years ago may no longer reflect your reality or your dreams.
Equally, not all change is bad. Retirement can also bring wonderful surprises—new friendships, opportunities to travel, rediscovered hobbies, or even the joy of helping others through volunteering or mentoring.
The point is simple: retirement isn’t a static destination. It’s a dynamic, evolving chapter that requires attention and adaptability.
To get the most out of it, we need to stay engaged, to remain willing to push the reset button when life demands it. That might mean reassessing priorities, adjusting financial plans, or redefining what a fulfilling life looks like as circumstances shift.
True retirement success isn’t about everything going smoothly. It’s about having the flexibility—and courage—to reset, refocus, and keep building a life of purpose and joy with what we have, right now.
Dirk Groeneveld, Certified Financial Planner
t. 083 261 9287
e. dirk@clientcare.co.za
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by SFT | Oct 2, 2025 | Financial Planning, St Francis
If there is one skill that separates successful long-term investors from the rest, it’s not the ability to predict what happens next. It’s the discipline to zoom out and keep perspective on what has already happened—and how it fits into the bigger picture.
Even the most rational investors struggle with this. Our brains are wired to prioritise the immediate and vivid over abstract history. Behavioural economists call this recency bias. It’s why a sell-off feels like the world is ending, while a streak of strong returns makes us believe good times will last forever. Neither is true—it’s just human nature.
The danger comes when investors make permanent changes based on temporary conditions. That can be catastrophic for long-term wealth creation.
Why Longer Horizons Matter
The best way to fight recency bias is to deliberately extend the timeframes you look at. One year’s performance is just a snapshot. When you look at five, ten, or twenty years, events that once felt earth-shattering shrink into minor blips. What felt like a new normal is revealed as just one chapter in a longer story.
Investment returns don’t arrive neatly each year. Strong periods are followed by quieter ones. Volatility isn’t a flaw—it’s the price of admission for long-term wealth creation.
Today’s Context
Consider where we stand right now. The South African market delivered more than 20% in the past year and has doubled over the past five years. Exceptional by any measure. But here’s the trap: when success like this happens, it starts to feel normal. Investors begin to assume the future will look the same.
History reminds us otherwise. Above-average returns are rare, and they never last forever. Markets move in cycles. Strong runs are always followed by quieter stretches—or declines. Zoomed in, that feels unsettling. Zoomed out, it’s just the rhythm of investing.
Linking Strategy to Your Life
This is why having a long-term investment strategy is critical. And more importantly, that strategy must be tied directly to your personal financial plan. A plan that reflects your family’s needs and wants—not just abstract return targets.
Your portfolio should serve your life, not the other way around. It’s there to fund your retirement, support your children and grandchildren, and give you confidence to live the life you want without fear of running out.
Final Thoughts
Building the habit of zooming out isn’t easy. But it’s the surest way to avoid mistakes that come from reacting to temporary noise. Investors who stay anchored to their plan—rather than headlines—are the ones who compound wealth over decades.
As planners, our role is to help you keep that perspective, especially when it feels most difficult. Because true wealth isn’t built on quick reactions, but on wise, steady responses over time.
Dirk Groeneveld, Certified Financial Planner
t. 083 261 9287
e. dirk@clientcare.co.za
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by SFT | Sep 30, 2025 | Financial Planning
When most people think about retirement planning, their minds go straight to income: Will my money last? How much can I draw? While these are important questions, a complete plan goes further. It also asks: What happens to my assets, my income streams, and my legacy when I’m gone?
Estate planning isn’t just about what happens after death. It’s about making sure that during your lifetime and afterwards, your family is protected, your wishes are honoured, and your wealth is used wisely. In South Africa, this is especially important because of the legal, tax, and practical complications that arise when family members live abroad.
Why it matters more in retirement
By the time you reach retirement, your financial affairs are often at their most complex. You may hold retirement funds, living annuities, property, and discretionary investments. At the same time, you might want to provide for a spouse, support grandchildren, or leave a legacy to charities or trusts. Without a clear plan, these good intentions can easily be lost to delays, disputes, or unnecessary tax.
For South Africans with children or beneficiaries in other jurisdictions, the picture becomes even more complicated. Different countries have different inheritance laws and tax regimes. What may be straightforward locally can trigger unexpected tax bills or administrative headaches abroad. For example, an inheritance left to a child in the UK or the US may face estate duty in South Africa as well as inheritance or income taxes in that country. This so-called “double taxation” can erode the value of your legacy if not properly planned for.
The essentials of a sound estate plan
A current will: This is the cornerstone of any estate plan. Too many retirees still have outdated wills that don’t reflect their wishes or the realities of their family circumstances. If your children live overseas, your will should be clear on how assets are to be transferred and whether a local or foreign executor is best suited to handle them.
Updated beneficiary nominations: Retirement funds and annuities often bypass your will and go directly to nominated beneficiaries. If these aren’t updated, trustees may allocate benefits differently from what you intended, creating confusion and possible conflict.
Cross-border considerations: Where children live abroad, it may be necessary to consider offshore wills, trusts, or structures that comply with the laws of the relevant jurisdiction. Professional advice here is crucial.
Liquidity: Your heirs may inherit valuable assets but no cash to settle debts, estate duty, or ongoing expenses. Building liquidity into your estate—whether through life cover, accessible investments, or a trust—helps prevent unnecessary hardship.
Tax efficiency: Estate duty, capital gains tax, and foreign taxes can all diminish what you leave behind. Structuring your estate properly can reduce this burden and ensure more of your wealth reaches your family.
The human side
Estate planning isn’t just a technical exercise—it’s about family harmony. Too often we’ve seen disputes arise between siblings or delays in transferring assets because no one thought through the practicalities. Clear communication, proper documentation, and professional guidance can spare your loved ones unnecessary stress at an already difficult time.
A final thought
Retirement is about more than making sure you will be okay. It’s also about ensuring your family is looked after and your legacy preserved when you’re no longer here. For South Africans with children abroad, estate planning is not optional—it’s essential. Done well, it protects not only your wealth but also your family relationships, sparing them conflict and ensuring that your hard work truly benefits the people you love.
Dirk Groeneveld, Certified Financial Planner
t. 083 261 9287
e. dirk@clientcare.co.za
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