Wealth Management
True wealth starts with how you spend today.
A journey doesn't need a massive leap
Many people think that financial planning is a once off event that starts with the numbers and ends with investments and pie charts, but that’s not what true financial planning is about.
Financial planning is a comprehensive, ongoing approach that starts with helping you define your dreams, developing a plan to help you get there, then tracking your progress along the way and recommending changes where needed.
No matter what stage of your life you have reached, the best step you can take for the security of your financial future is to consult a financial planning specialist.
AFKEN uses six steps to map a personalised plan to identify and address your financial needs effectively, to overcome any financial or planning shortfalls, and to achieve your goals successfully:
- Step 1: Establish and define a professional relationship with you as an individual
- Step 2: Gather your financial information and set your unique individual financial planning goals
- Step 3: Analyse and evaluate your current financial position
- Step 4: Make personalised financial planning recommendations
- Step 5: Implement these recommendations
- Step 6: Monitor your unique portfolio and make annual adjustments
Our Solutions
- Local & Global Investments
- Retirement Plan
- Trusts
- Estate Planning
- Wills
- Education Plans
- Preservation Funds
Investing for tomorrow
In an uncertain financial landscape, where volatile markets and credit chaos are becoming facts of life, handling dramatic change with calm and confidence is essential.
Afken offer a wide range of investment planning products and solutions. Our approach to investment planning is based on our overall wealth planning approach: each individual is very different from the other and requires products and solutions specific to his/hers situation and investment objectives.
We place a lot of emphasis on understanding all our investors risk profile and their short, medium and long term objectives.
Retirement Planning
Our Retirement Annuities give you more than conventional retirement solutions. Whether you invest a lump-sum or pay in monthly contributions, we have a plan that’s right for you.
Save towards retirement in a tax efficient way !
- Tax Benefits- Contributions paid will reduce the amount of tax you pay. Returns earned while invested are tax free
- Safeguard your investment -Your retirement funds will be safe from creditors
- Business Owners
- Shareholders
- Property Owners
- High Net Worth Individuals
Estate Planning
Your estate refers to everything you own and owe, from property and cars to investments and debts. Proper estate planning will ensure that your estate is set up in a tax-efficient way that benefits you during your lifetime and your beneficiaries after you die.
A properly structured estate ensures that:
- There is enough cash to pay outstanding debts
- There is an income (and capital if required) for your dependants
- The estate is distributed according to your wishes
- Your business interests are protected
- Taxes are minimised (e.g. estate duty and income tax)
- Your estate is flexible enough to accommodate changes in the economic and legal environment, as well as your personal financial circumstances
Estate planning is a complex process and there are a number of different estate planning vehicles available. The key is to establish your priorities – do you want to settle debts, provide an income for your spouse or protect your business interests for your heirs?
Wills
Your last will and testament is one of the most important documents you will ever sign during your lifetime as it stipulates how you want your assets dealt with upon your death. A Will is therefore an essential part of estate planning. As it is a crucial area of financial planning, it is worth getting professional advice if you are drawing up a Will. If you do not have a valid Will, you die intestate and the laws of intestate succession apply. In other words, the law of the land designates beneficiaries according to specific kinship. The two key elements of a Will are:- To ensure that your estate is distributed according to your wishes.
- To ensure that your estate is effectively administered.
- If you wish to leave your assets to your spouse and children, it is not a good idea to divide them amongst them equally – except if your estate consists of cash only. To transfer a home into the names of both the spouse and children’s names, may lead to practical problems and family disputes, especially if the children should marry. To transfer a car into the names of six people for example is also not practical.
- If you have minor children, you should consider appointing someone as their guardian in your Will.
- Appoint an executor of your Will. The executor will administer your estate according to the stipulations of your Will and it is their responsibility to look after the best interest of your heirs.
- Keep your Will up to date by revising it regularly when your circumstances change.
- Make provision for the protection of minor heirs by setting up a testamentary trust.
- Heirs must be clearly identified by full names, surname, relationship and identity number to avoid ambiguity.
- Avoid using vague terms, for example “cash”, as this can lead to confusion and, ultimately, litigation
- Ensure that you understand each clause in the drafted document and that the Will accurately reflects your wishes.
- When you plan the distribution of your estate, plan as if you were to die today. Assuming that the plan you put in place today will only come into effect 40 years later could create havoc if you die at a younger age. Rather review and amend your Will regularly, so that it reflects your current situation at all times.
FAQs
- Marriage
- Divorce
- Birth of a child
- Changes in your financial situation
- After any changes in legislation which could affect you
- Who you have nominated as your executor
- That your executor should be notified immediately in the event of your death
- The whereabouts of your Will
- Your wishes regarding funeral arrangements
- Who to contact if you have chosen to donate organs or tissues, as time is of the essence in such cases.
The place and date of signing must be written in at the end of the document. Witnesses should be people who have no interest in the Will, and their signatures merely acknowledge that they saw the Testator sign. They do not have to know the content of the document.
When you sign your Will, it is preferable not to ask family members or anyone else who could be an heir or the spouse of an heir to sign as a witness.
Investing in the future
Invest in your child’s future. An education allows them choices in today’s competitive world. Will there be enough funds for private education , special needs or to study abroad?
Preservation Fund
This is a retirement fund designed specifically to invest the proceeds of your pension or provident fund. You may transfer your proceeds to such a fund in the event you are dismissed, retrenched, or you resign. This preserves both your retirement investment and the tax benefits.