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BLUECHIPOn the moneyMaking waves this quarterPlanning for tomorrowINVESTING IN THE FUTUREOne of the most powerful tools for driving gender equality is financialfreedom, eg women taking control of their financial futures throughinvesting, trading and wealth-building strategies. Women remainunder-represented in investing and trading. A recent study showsthat women are more likely to save but less likely to invest, oftendue to risk aversion and the perception that financial markets aremale dominated. Fortunately, more accessible financial platforms andtailored education programmes are breaking down these barriers,making financial markets more accessible than ever. Women whounderstand financial markets, cash-flow management and investmentstrategies are better positioned to take on leadership roles. Strongfinancial acumen allows them to make informed decisions, negotiatebetter deals and drive business growth with greater certainty.A long-term planFinancial confidence is not just about immediate business success.Think about it as providing long-term stability. Women statisticallylive longer than men, making financial planning and wealth creationeven more critical. A strong investment portfolio ensures financialsecurity well into retirement, reducing dependence on externalfinancial support.Building financial confidence starts with education. Womenmust have access to financial literacy programmes that simplifyinvesting, risk management and markettrends, enabling them to make informeddecisions. Financial institutions andbrokers have a responsibility to createinclusive, user-friendly platforms thatprovide transparency, security and ease ofuse. Mentorship and community supportalso play a vital role in encouraging womento participate in financial markets.By Zihaad Israfil, CEO, CFI FinancialsSouth AfricaSECOND SURGE OF SAVINGS POT WITHDRAWALSSince the start of the new tax year on 1 March 2025, Alexforbes has seen asecond wave of interest from retirement fund members in checking theirbalances and submitting savings pot claims. Fund members may accesstheir savings pots once every tax year with over 400 000 having done sovia Alexforbes between September 2024 and February 2025 during thefirst wave of withdrawals.With the start of the tax year, an initial four-day surge saw 33 000withdrawal claims sparking concerns that South Africans were dippingback into their savings pots at the same rate as before. However, the dailyvolume of claims has since tapered off. To date, Alexforbes has successfullypaid 55 000 claims, while the remaining claims continue to progressthrough the claims cycle.While many members are making withdrawals, it is encouragingto see that a large proportion of those eligible have chosen not to doso. Instead, they are keeping their savings pots invested for retirementor emergencies – the original purpose of the savings pot component.This suggests that the significant efforts by employers, trusteesand the industry to educate and support members is havinga positive impact. While the savings pot offers membersflexibility to manage financial emergencies, Alexforbes urgesretirement fund members to carefully assess the long-term consequencesof such withdrawals. Members should consider:Preserving retirement savings. Withdrawals reduce the amount availablefor retirement. Funds should only be accessed in cases of genuinefinancial emergencies.Understanding tax implications. All withdrawals are subject to taxation,which could impact a member’s overall tax liability.Cybersecurity awareness. With heightened withdrawal activity,cybercriminals may increasingly target retirement fund members. Tostay protected:• Only use official channels for transactions.• Never share banking details, OTPs or login credentials.• Authenticate any withdrawal-related communication.Currently, retrenched members can access their vestedand savings components provided they have not alreadydone so within the same tax year, but not theretirement component as this remains preserveduntil retirement.By Vickie Lange, Head: Best Practice, Alexforbes10 www.bluechipdigital.co.za

BLUECHIPOn the moneyMaking waves this quarterFortifying the future of financeSHAPING TOMORROW’S FINANCIAL LEADERSDriven by technological advancements and constant regulatory change, the financialservices landscape is constantly evolving, and the need for sound financial advice isgreater than ever.At Milpark Education, we pride ourselves on offering innovative financial planningqualifications tailored to equip graduates with the essential knowledge and skills tonavigate this volatile industry. We ensure that our teaching is relevant by integratingArtificial Intelligence (AI) across undergraduate modules and introducing industrysoftware at the postgraduate level.As most of our lecturers are CFP® professionals, students can access the latestindustry-specific expertise and learn from practical application.Choose Milpark Education to make your mark in the financial services industry.Leanne Ferreira, CFP®, Head of Department,School of Financial Services, Milpark EducationNEW HEAD FOR SCHRODERS CAPITAL SOLUTIONSSchroders Capital, the .3-billion private markets business ofSchroders, has appointed Vikram Bhandari to the newly createdrole of head and chief investment officer (CIO) of Schroders CapitalSolutions. Bhandari will help drive business growth and leadSchroders Capital’s private markets solutions strategy and execution.The senior appointment reflects the firm’s client-centric approachand will further leverage its private markets solutions capabilitieson a global scale.Schroders is already a market leader in offering structureswhich provide greater access to private markets through its rangeof listed vehicles, as well as semi-liquid and illiquid structures.The firm introduced the UK’s first Long-Term Asset Fund (LTAF),Climate+, followed by the UK’s first LTAF exclusively dedicated torenewable energy and energy transition infrastructure, in responseto increasing demand from defined contribution clients to accessthe benefits that private markets investment can offer.BALANCING LIABILITY RISK IN AN UNCERTAIN ECONOMIC CLIMATEIn Aon’s latest Global Risk Management Survey, legislative changesmade it into the top 10 risks that the financial sector is faced with.“Complying with a wide variety of complex laws and regulationsis ongoing, challenging and administratively burdensome,” saysSam Varela, senior legal risk advisor at Aon South Africa.“Anything from employee fraud, incorrect advice and thesubsequent financial loss can have dire financial repercussions if aclaim is lodged. This is where Professional Indemnity (PI) insuranceis essential in providing financial institutions and independentfinancial advisors with indemnity in respect of legal liability arisingout of the practice of their profession,” says Varela. “Professionalliability doesn’t just arise from compiling a proposal for a client,but exists in the advice given, which can lead to a liability claim fordamages arising out of errors, omissions or negligent acts whilerendering – or failing to render – a professional service. Any clientwho suffers harm as a result may claim against you.”PI cover may include the professional’s own legal costs, as wellas any damages and legal costs that are due to the claimant, upto a defined limit.“If a PI claim is lodged againstyou or your business, an appropriatepolicy will mitigate both the financialand business impact. Claims aretypically long-tailed by nature,taking years and huge legal costsbefore being finalised, highlightingthe critical role that PI insuranceplays in protecting your reputationand ability to work as a professional,”concludes Varela.www.bluechipdigital.co.za11