Custom Courses Human Resources and Training

Retirement Preparation Training

SAQA US AATICD-0243 | NQF 5 | Credits 10 | Duration 5 Days
From $1,242 per delegate

Description

This course equips employees approaching retirement with the knowledge and skills to plan and manage a successful transition from full-time employment to retirement. It covers financial planning, lifestyle adjustments, legal considerations, and emotional preparedness to ensure a fulfilling post-retirement life.

Learning Outcomes

  • Apply principles of retirement planning to assess personal financial readiness.
  • Analyze lifestyle options and identify strategies for maintaining well-being in retirement.
  • Evaluate legal and financial instruments available for retirement income management.
  • Design a personalized retirement plan that addresses financial, social, and health needs.
  • Implement a transition plan that includes phased retirement options and estate planning.
  • Demonstrate awareness of emotional and psychological aspects of retirement adjustment.

Target Audience

This course is designed for employees who are within five years of retirement, human resources professionals involved in retirement planning, and anyone seeking to understand the retirement process.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment.

Course Outline

Day 1: Understanding Retirement and Financial Planning

Objectives:
• Define retirement and its implications for personal financial planning
• Identify the key components of a retirement plan
• Explain the role of compound interest and inflation in retirement savings
• Describe the different retirement funding options available in South Africa
• Assess personal retirement readiness using basic tools

Topics:
• Introduction to retirement concepts and terminology
• The retirement landscape in South Africa: legal and social context
• Time value of money: compound interest, inflation, and purchasing power
• Overview of retirement funding vehicles: pension funds, provident funds, retirement annuities
• Employer-sponsored vs. individual retirement plans
• Tax implications of retirement contributions and withdrawals
• Introduction to the retirement planning process
• Self-assessment: current financial position and retirement goals

Day 2: Investment Strategies and Risk Management

Objectives:
• Differentiate between asset classes and their roles in retirement portfolios
• Apply risk tolerance assessment to investment selection
• Explain the principles of diversification and asset allocation
• Evaluate investment products suitable for retirement savings
• Understand the impact of fees and charges on retirement fund growth

Topics:
• Asset classes: equities, bonds, cash, property, and alternatives
• Risk and return: understanding volatility and investment risk
• Risk tolerance profiling: questionnaires and interpretation
• Asset allocation strategies for different life stages
• Retirement-specific investment products: living annuities, guaranteed annuities
• Fees and charges: management fees, administration costs, and their effect
• Ethical and responsible investing options
• Case study: building a sample retirement portfolio

Day 3: Retirement Income Planning and Annuities

Objectives:
• Compare different annuity types and their suitability
• Calculate projected retirement income needs and shortfalls
• Explain the role of government pensions (e.g., old-age grant) in retirement planning
• Understand the implications of drawdown rates and longevity risk
• Develop a strategy for converting retirement savings into sustainable income

Topics:
• Retirement income needs assessment: budgeting for retirement
• Types of annuities: living annuities vs. guaranteed annuities
• Compulsory annuitisation rules in South Africa
• Government old-age pension: eligibility and integration
• Drawdown strategies: sustainable withdrawal rates
• Longevity risk and how to mitigate it
• Tax on retirement income: lump sums and regular payments
• Practical exercise: calculating retirement income shortfall

Day 4: Estate Planning, Tax, and Legal Considerations

Objectives:
• Outline the key elements of a valid will and estate plan
• Understand the tax implications of retirement fund death benefits
• Explain the role of trusts and nominees in retirement planning
• Identify legal documents required for retirement preparation
• Describe the impact of divorce on retirement benefits

Topics:
• Wills and estate planning: importance and process
• Estate duty, executor fees, and capital gains tax
• Retirement fund death benefits: Section 37C of the Pension Funds Act
• Nominations: beneficiary nomination forms and their effect
• Trusts in retirement planning: inter vivos and testamentary
• Divorce and retirement benefits: pension interest and splitting
• Power of attorney and living wills
• Case study: developing a basic estate plan

Day 5: Implementing and Monitoring the Retirement Plan

Objectives:
• Create a personalised retirement action plan
• Understand the role of financial advisors and fiduciary duty
• Monitor and review retirement plans periodically
• Adjust plans in response to life changes and market conditions
• Apply knowledge through a comprehensive case study

Topics:
• Steps to implement a retirement plan: from theory to action
• Selecting and working with a financial advisor
• Monitoring investment performance and rebalancing
• Life events: job change, health issues, marriage, and their impact
• Regulatory changes affecting retirement planning
• Ethical considerations in retirement advice
• Comprehensive case study: end-to-end retirement plan
• Course review and assessment

Practicals

No practicals for this training.

This course is made up of exercises and case studies delivered alongside the theory — no separate practical sessions are required to complete it.

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course and a final summative test at the end.

Daily Exercises — 30%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 30% to the final total.

Final Test — 70%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 70% to the overall mark.

Final Total
Component Out of Weight
Daily Average (multiple choice) 100% 30%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice) 100% 70%
Final Total 100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

Certificate of Completion

Awarded to delegates who achieve an overall mark of 50% or higher on the Final Total (Daily Average 30% + Final Test 70%).

How it works
  • Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
  • Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
  • You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
  • If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.
Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.

Upcoming Training Sessions
Online training — attend live sessions from anywhere via our virtual classroom.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Mon 07 Sep 2026 Fri 11 Sep 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 21 Sep 2026 Fri 25 Sep 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 05 Oct 2026 Fri 09 Oct 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 07 Dec 2026 Fri 11 Dec 2026 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 04 Jan 2027 Fri 08 Jan 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 01 Feb 2027 Fri 05 Feb 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 01 Mar 2027 Fri 05 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 07 Jun 2027 Fri 11 Jun 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 21 Jun 2027 Fri 25 Jun 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 05 Jul 2027 Fri 09 Jul 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 06 Sep 2027 Fri 10 Sep 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 20 Sep 2027 Fri 24 Sep 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 04 Oct 2027 Fri 08 Oct 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 06 Dec 2027 Fri 10 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 20 Dec 2027 Fri 24 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 03 Jan 2028 Fri 07 Jan 2028 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,242 Register
On-Campus training — face-to-face sessions at our training venues across Africa and beyond.
Showing all 424 sessions across 26 venues
Start End Venue Season Price Action
Mon 10 Aug 2026 Fri 14 Aug 2026 Durban, South Africa Winter 2026 $2,916 Register
Mon 10 Aug 2026 Fri 14 Aug 2026 Abu Dhabi, UAE Winter 2026 $5,238 Register
Mon 17 Aug 2026 Fri 21 Aug 2026 Harare, Zimbabwe Winter 2026 $3,078 Register
Mon 17 Aug 2026 Fri 21 Aug 2026 Shenzhen, China Winter 2026 $7,398 Register
Mon 24 Aug 2026 Fri 28 Aug 2026 Bangkok, Thailand Winter 2026 $6,318 Register
In-House training — we bring the trainer to your organisation, tailored to your team.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Mon 14 Sep 2026 Fri 18 Sep 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 28 Sep 2026 Fri 02 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 12 Oct 2026 Fri 16 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 14 Dec 2026 Fri 18 Dec 2026 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 11 Jan 2027 Fri 15 Jan 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 08 Feb 2027 Fri 12 Feb 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 08 Mar 2027 Fri 12 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 14 Jun 2027 Fri 18 Jun 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 28 Jun 2027 Fri 02 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 12 Jul 2027 Fri 16 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 13 Sep 2027 Fri 17 Sep 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 27 Sep 2027 Fri 01 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 11 Oct 2027 Fri 15 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 13 Dec 2027 Fri 17 Dec 2027 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 27 Dec 2027 Fri 31 Dec 2027 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 10 Jan 2028 Fri 14 Jan 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,615 Register
Training Discounts
Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% off per 5 delegates, up to 40% for 100+

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