By Leslie Greyling*
Thinking about retirement when it’s near can give you sleepless nights. You worry about medical bills, home repairs or unplanned costs. That fear can stop you in your tracks.
And when retirement is still decades away? It’s easy to ignore it. You’ve got work, children and daily bills to juggle. Saving for a distant future quickly drops down your list of priorities.
I often hear how hard it is to make retirement saving feel urgent today. That’s why I break the journey down by life stage. Focusing on practical goals gives you clear landmarks to check whether you’re on track.
Use these checklists to guide your progress, boost your confidence or point out areas where you maybe need to catch up. I hope you find both motivation and reassurance as you look at the section for your age group.
Younger readers will also get a taste of what lies ahead. Knowing the expenses you might face in 30 or 40 years helps you set smarter goals today.
Baby boomers (60–79 years)
You’ve built your wealth over decades, but a weakening rand and economic uncertainty can keep you up at night. Your goal now is to protect what you’ve earned and secure a reliable income stream.
- Offshore exposure: hold at least 30% of your portfolio in offshore assets or structures to hedge against rand weakness and local market swings.
- Income stability: ensure at least 50% of your retirement income comes from predictable sources such as annuities or foreign dividends.
- Estate planning: review your will, trusts and beneficiary nominations every two to three years. clarity here avoids costly surprises.
- Medical cover: top up your medical aid with gap cover or international options so rising healthcare costs don’t derail your budget.
- Capital preservation: maintain a conservative mix – about 60% in income-generating assets, 20% in cash or equivalents, and 20% in growth assets.
Generation X (45–59 years)
You’re balancing support for children, ageing parents and your own career goals. In a volatile economy, flexibility matters as much as growth.
- Offshore structures: consider an offshore bond or foreign-domiciled retirement annuity to diversify currency risk. aim for 20–30% offshore.
- Emergency fund: keep two months’ living expenses in a local money-market fund you can access quickly if rand volatility spikes.
- Property versus global equity: own your home but avoid overconcentration. invest around 20% of your portfolio in global ETFs or stocks.
- Education planning: lock in tertiary fees with education policies or savings plans that hedge against currency swings.
- Risk review: revisit your risk profile annually. political shifts or market dips may mean you need to adjust your mix more often.
Millennials (29–44 years)
You’ve grown up during times of change and you expect your money to work hard for you. You seek growth but also safety nets.
- Tax-free savings account (TFSA): max out your annual TFSA allowance with a blend of local and offshore ETFs for tax-free growth and rand protection.
- Home versus offshore: if you’re saving a deposit, split contributions – 80% to your home and 20% to an offshore ETF.
- Retirement contributions: aim to save 15% of your gross income, with at least 25% of that going offshore. automating via payroll keeps you consistent.
- Gap cover and top-ups: healthcare costs keep rising. top up your medical aid with gap or short-term cover that includes emergency evacuation.
- Digital platforms: use reputable online brokers that offer access to global markets, low fees and multi-currency wallets.
Generation z (13–28 years)
You’re starting your financial journey in a world of rand swings and economic headlines. Time and tech are your allies.
- Start early: open a TFSA and invest at least 5% of any earnings into a global ETF. even small amounts grow significantly over time.
- Multi-currency wallet: experiment with a digital multi-currency account. get comfortable holding a bit of foreign currency for emergencies.
- Financial education: follow local advisers and platforms that explain rand risk, offshore structures and basic investing. spend an hour a week learning.
- Emergency buffer: stash R1 000 now, then build up to one month’s expenses. that cushion stops you reaching for high-cost credit.
- Mindful spending: use apps to track your rand spending. seeing how fluctuations affect your budget builds awareness and discipline.
Taking the next step
Choose one benchmark that feels most pressing. set a deadline and mark it in your calendar. review your progress monthly. Small, consistent steps will help you tame uncertainty and turn retirement from a distant worry into a clear plan.
If you’d like advice tailored to your life, let’s talk – I explain everything in plain language and support you every step of the way.
*Leslie Greyling is a financial advisor at Brenthurst Fourways.
Megan joined the Brenthurst Wealth team in March 2026 as an Administrative and Fiduciary Services Assistant at our Val de Vie Office in the Western Cape. Prior to joining Brenthurst, Megan gained three years of experience in the retail sector, where she developed management and client service skills.
I obtained my National Diploma in Financial Information Systems from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in 1999 and have worked in the wealth management industry since January 2000. Over the years, I have gained extensive experience in various roles, including Portfolio Manager Assistant, Planner Assistant, and Paraplanner.
Esmarelda Isaacs-Andreas joined the Brenthurst Wealth Stellenbosch office in October 2025, taking on the dual role of Receptionist and Fiduciary Administrator.
I obtained my National Diploma in Financial Information Systems from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in 1999 and have worked in the wealth management industry since January 2000. Over the years, I have gained extensive experience in various roles, including Portfolio Manager Assistant, Planner Assistant, and Paraplanner.
Ashley joined Brenthurst Wealth in January 2025 as Office Administrative Assistant and Receptionist for the Stellenbosch Office.
René Heystek joined Brenthurst Wealth in November 2023, as receptionist and administrative assistant in the newly established George/Garden Route office.
Michelle Heystek has built a career in the financial services over the last two decades, after obtaining her B.Com degree in Financial Management in 2005. Once she joined Brenthurst in 2006, she continued her academic journey, obtaining her Certificate in Wealth Management from INSETA in 2007, followed by a Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning from the University of the Free State. In 2008, she earned the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation.
Anelle joined Brenthurst Wealth as a Receptionist and Administrative Assistant to Brian Butchart in the Cape Town office in December 2023. She has a wealth of knowledge from working as a liaison between Financial Advisers and clients at TMA and Absa Investment Management Services (Aims) since 1998. She obtained her B. com degree from the University of Port Elizabeth in 1997.
ADMITTED ATTORNEY | FINANCIAL PLANNER & HEAD OF BRENTHURST FOURWAYS
Sanet was appointed in April 2020, joining our Cape Town team as an Executive Administration Assistant to Renee Eagar. She has been in the financial services industry since 1990. Her previous experience includes positions at Sanlam, BJM and ABSA. She spent her last 12 years working at Alexander Forbes Private Client Wealth as a Senior Wealth Management Assistant. She has received numerous accolades over the years which include but not limited to, Alexander Forbes Client Service Excellence – Silver award in 2014,2015 and 2017. Sanet has also obtained her Certificate in Wealth Management (NQF 5) in 2012 and achieved “Best Student of the Year” from Moonstone.
Maria Smit is a Certified Financial Planner® with over 10 years of experience in the financial planning industry.
