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RFS
For the many...
Retirement Fund Solutions Namibia
(Pty) Ltd: Exceptional group pension fund administration for larger companies and institutions. Click here >>
Benchmark
For the few...
Benchmark Retirement Fund: High quality pension fund investments for high net worth individuals and smaller entities. Administered by Retirement Fund Solutions Click here >>

Benchmark Retirement Fund: News & Updates

Benchtest Monthly - May 2009
On the basis of fundamentals, it would seem that global markets are now in more stable and sustainable territory. In May the average prudential balanced portfolio returned 4.69% (2.33% in April). Best and worst performance for the month was delivered by Allan Gray (5.82%) and Sanlam (3.76%), respectively. Only one period measured still reflects negative returns for the average prudential balanced portfolio, namely the 12 months to 31 May 2009. This should offer some relief to investors. More>>

Benchtest Quarterly - Q1 2009
For the more investigative investor, the Benchtest Manager Review for the first quarter of 2009 is now available. In this edition we investigate the reasons for the performance differential between top performing Stanlib and Prudential at the bottom of the log for the quarter. For more information, click here>>

Retirement Fund Solutions: News & Updates

The trustee's code of ethics
A code of ethics is something that the dedicated trustee considers on a day-to-day basis, Find a concise article from June 2008 Pensions World to remind trustees of their duties and responsibilities here>>

The challenge of death benefits
The disposition of lump sum death benefits is without doubt one of the most challenging responsibilities of trustees. Who is a dependant and how far do you go to assess dependency? Read more in the article from June 2008 Pensions World here>>

Company news

All of us...
The entire RFS and Benchmark team gathered for a photograph, recently, on the rooftop of our offices in Windhoek's CBD. Here we are...


Benchmark Retirement Fund: Need-to-know
Benchmark Financial Statements and Actuarial Report 2007
The Benchmark Retirement Fund has received a clean bill of health from its independent auditors and actuaries. Download an extract from the 2007 financial statements, here>> And download the actuaries' report, here>>
Pensioner and deferred pensioner rules summaries
Pension fund investors should note that revised rules are now in force. Download a PDF of the latest deferred pensioner rules summary here>> And if you have already retired, download the most recent pensioner rules summary here>>
Find out about Benchmark
The Benchmark Retirement Fund is a highly flexible retirement investment product that provides a range of risk and return profiles for individuals and the funds of smaller organisations. Download the brochure for more information. Click here>> (PDF) And download a membership application, here>> (PDF)

Retirement Fund Institute of Namibia

April 2009 - RFIN has announced the appointment of Nanna Lewins as general manager. Read more on latest developments at the Institute here>>
Useful information on legal matters
The Namibia Law website contains useful information on labour law and handling of disputes with updates from time to time . Visit the website here>>
The RFS Pension Calculator V1.02
How much capital will you have at retirement? The RFS pension calculator has been updated to include a range of retirement ages and other important variables. Download the calculator (an Excel sheet), to work it out. Click here>>

Find a short archive on Namibian pension fund legislation, here>>
Find out what our clients have to say about us, here>>
Recent posts
March 2009 - Investment choices & the folly of trying to time the market: A scientific analysis shows that trying to time the market has a success rate of only 8%, i.e. a failure rate of 92%! Find an article that recently appeared in Personal Finance, here>>

February 2009 - Crime can pay: When Peter Ghavalas was arrested in August 2005 for masterminding a complex financial fraud we were sure he’d face jail time. But it’s not to be. Sapa reports that Ghavalas entered a plea bargain with the state earlier this week in terms of which he will pay ‘compensation’ of R18.6m to the pension funds he defrauded. FA News' Gareth Stokes reports...

Find more interesting articles and information pieces on the RFS blog, here>>

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Guidelines for Retirement
Pensioner Rules Summary
The Benchmark Retirement Fund
An overview for pensioners
MS Word document: Click here >>
Benchmark
For the few...
Benchmark Retirement Fund: High quality pension fund investments for high net worth individuals and smaller entities. Administered by Retirement Fund Solutions Click here >>
Sind Sie Fit Für Die Rente?
Eine umfassende Beleuchtung Ihrer Möglichkeiten wenn Sie in den Ruhestand treten möchten. Hier klicken >>
Deferred pensioner rules
Deferred Pensioner Rules Summary
The Benchmark Retirement Fund
An overview for members who wish to preserve their pension capital post retirement or on resignation
MS Word document: Click here >>
Forethought
Considerations for investment of capital
MS Word document: Click here >>
Knowledge
Fund performance, practice notes, links to fund websites, financial institutions, research organisations & the press. Click here >>
Benchtest Performance Surveys

Benchtest Monthly - April 2009:
At the beginning of March 2006, we considered markets to be at unsustainable levels and moved to more conservative investment vehicles At the end of April 2009, we have moved back into the prudential balanced portfolios in the belief that markets have corrected and should be around the trough. More>>

Benchtest Monthly - March 2009: Fortunes of the average prudential balanced portfolio improved considerably from minus 6.97% in February to 4.24% in March. The steps governments have taken to address the global financial crisis aimed at pumping billions into the financial systems to stimulate demand will have medium to long term consequences that we cannot foresee at this stage. We expect that they will impact positively on global financial markets though. As the result we believe it is time to expand local equity exposure. A stronger Rand approaching fair value relative to the US Dollar also offers an opportunity for global risk spreading again. More>>
Social responsibility
Project Lilie: A unique project where private initiative supports education – is the hub of our social responsibility engagement. Read about it here >> Lesen Sie mehr, hier >>

Life is full of uncertainties. Future investment earnings and interest and inflation rates are not known to anybody. However, I can guarantee you one thing... those who put an investment program in place will have a lot more money when they come to retire than those who never get around to it. ~ Noel Whittaker

The content of this website may not be copied or reproduced and disseminated to other persons without the express written consent of the author thereof. Whilst we have taken all reasonable measures to ensure that the information reflected herein is correct, Benchmark Retirement Fund and Retirement Fund Solutions Namibia (Pty) Ltd do not accept any liability for the accuracy of the information and no reliance should be placed on, or decision taken upon the basis of, the information contained herein before having confirmed the relevant detail with the author or another appropriately qualified person.