The end of pension funds for young adults?

Here is a thought that’s less radical than it sounds initially: pension funds are less relevant to a growing number of young South Africans.

Published on:

07 Sept 2021, 5:00 am

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By Johan Burger, CFP®*

Here is a thought that's less radical than it sounds initially: pension funds are less relevant to a growing number of young South Africans.

Johan Burger

This has nothing to do with the youth unemployment crisis and everything to do with changing viewpoints and priorities of younger investors.

Recent financial crises have caused many of the younger generations to question long-held beliefs and attitudes towards money. Throw cryptocurrencies into this mix and it feels like everything we've known about financial markets is no longer relevant.

Traditional financial planning staples like the pension fund are therefore viewed with far greater scepticism, especially in the wake of financial crises over the past 15 years.

These changes in attitude, I believe, will be even more stark in young South Africans who have a whole set of other priorities and concerns about their future.

Here are four key influences that I believe will shape their thinking.

The world is much smaller now

The relative ease with which one can move around the globe allows families to pursue their dreams and passions anywhere they wish. While the restrictions on travel in view of the Covid-19 pandemic are still in place, many countries have started to open borders and people may start to travel again in the months ahead. This is especially appealing to young South African families who face an increasingly uncertain future.

However, this freedom of movement doesn't always extend to South African pension fund investors. Illiquid investments and various pension fund restrictions make it difficult for them to easily uproot themselves.

Which is why I suggest to young adults that they rather invest in more liquid investments that can still help them achieve their long-term goals. There's no shortage of funds and instruments they can use to plan for their future, especially once you include offshore markets.

Risk concentration

Continuing on the theme of a more globalised world view, it's no secret that South African listed shares make up a tiny fraction of what's on offer globally.

So, even though Regulation 28 allows South African pension funds to have up to 30% invested in offshore assets, this is still too restrictive. To my mind, there is too much risk concentration when 70% of your portfolio is exposed to a single market and currency.

And then you have to consider that a 30% exposure to growth stocks compared to 100% in liquid assets will make a massive difference over 20 or 30 years.

Regulation 28 is well-intentioned, but young adults have the luxury of time on their side that allows them to get early exposure to high growth investments. As long they stay invested for the long term they can recover from market corrections over the life of their investment.

Little tax benefit

A much-praised benefit of contributing to a pension fund is the tax deduction based on your monthly contributions.

However, starting salaries for young adults are still quite modest. This means that their tax obligations aren't yet significant, making tax deductions in their early years less of a benefit.

My suggestion to clients in this position is to rather keep their investments liquid, especially because that allows them to invest in any currency and any asset class of their liking.

Flexibility amidst uncertainty

A more flexible approach to pension saving is especially appealing to South African families who are unsure where they'll find themselves in the future.

I suggest that families in this position make an even greater effort to discuss their future and where they see themselves in the near to long term. One big benefit of this approach is that they can develop an investment plan that matches that future.

If emigrating is on the cards, it makes sense to have your assets in an instrument or jurisdiction that makes it easy relocate with ease. That's not currently the case for South African families moving abroad who face a difficult and costly tax experience to offshore their funds.

Any decisions about your future obviously have to be carefully considered and must meet your objectives. Circumstances will differ from one family to the next, but my preference is for liquidity and investments with higher growth opportunities.

And, in reality, that means looking beyond domestic markets to find value and growth opportunities. Offshore investing has grown in popularity due to the few local opportunities struggling because of difficult political and economic circumstances.

Investing offshore isn't nearly as complicated as many people think, although it does pay to partner with expert wealth managers like Brenthurst to navigate this journey. We're able to manage the process of setting up and funding an offshore bank account for your offshore investments.

I'd like to argue that my suggestion to ditch the pension fund is less radical than it is an acknowledgement that change is constant. Lifestyle habits and priorities are always changing, and we need to recognise that this will influence long-term planning.

I, for one, look forward to a time in which investment planners encourage investors to consider new approaches to preparing for their future. Investing for the future must remain a priority, however younger investors need to review the options available to them beyond the traditional retirement investment products.

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