How do I begin wrapping up a year that felt like a century? Never would we have thought that this year would bring a pandemic and lead to the challenges that ensued. It wasn’t all bad, though. The year was filled with change: we set ambitious goals to maximise our productivity, we encouraged innovation, and as always, we gave our all to provide quality “COMMITTED TO YOU” service to you, our clients. The year also proved your resilience when faced with adversity.  

Once again, thank you for your loyal support and encouragement throughout this economically difficult period each and every one of us have had to face.  

As the final weeks of 2020 approach and we prepare for the New Year, the holiday energy surges through us as we anticipate the opportunities that lie ahead with renewed excitement. Our team at Origin Financial and MST wishes you and your loved ones a joyous and blessed Festive Season.  

For those who are travelling, please travel safe, and for those just taking a break, please take care. 

Last, but not least, wear your masks, wash your hands, sanitise surfaces regularly and practice social distancing – let’s keep each other safe. 

We look forward to working with you in 2021. 

Always COMMITTED TO YOU! 

Leon Swart 

Group CEO  

Office closing times 2020: 

24 December — 13:00
28-30 December — 16:00  

31 December — 13:00 

From 2 January 2021, office hours will continue as normal.
Take note: Our Health and Wealth Department will be closed from 24 December 2020 – 4 January 2021. 

Read more here

Read more here

Let’s kick off this new decade with Origin’s income tax-saving opportunities before the fast-approaching 29 February 2020 tax year-end! 

The Origin Group offers the following tax-saving advice and products to help you maximise the tax benefits offered through investments, risk management products and legislation. 

INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP RETIREMENT ANNUITIES & PENSION FUNDS 

Try to invest the full 27,5% of your taxable income in a retirement annuity and benefit from the other advantages too, such as: 

• Growth in your investment is tax-free. 
• Favourable tax treatment on lump-sum proceeds at retirement or death. (First R500 000 tax-free and the rest of the lump sum taxed at favourable rates) 
• Retirement funds are protected against creditors and therefore insolvency. 
• Withdrawals from other retirement funds, such as employer funds after resignation, can be transferred to retirement annuities free of tax. 
• Retirement funds are exempt from estate duties and do not form part of your estate; therefore, also saving on executors’ fees. 
• A monthly income provided in retirement with various options available. 
• Group retirement annuities can form part of your employee benefits, with one benefit being the reduction in taxable income. 

At Origin, we offer a range of actively managed model portfolios and fund choices in order to enhance communication from fund performances, optimise market opportunities and strive to keep costs as low as possible for our clients. 

TAX-FREE SAVINGS 

With a tax-free investment, you do not receive immediate income tax relief, but your fund grows free of tax while you remain within the tax-free savings product. Every year, you can invest up to R33 000 in tax-free savings accounts, with a lifetime limit of R500 000. When you do make a withdrawal, or at maturity, you won’t be taxed on the proceeds either. A variety of funds are available to invest in and can be structured according to your specific need, risk and time of investment. 

STRUCTURED INSURANCE 

You can create and increase insurance capacity over a period and retain more risks or higher deductibles than through a standard business short-term insurance policy. 

Herewith a few benefits of what specialised structured insurance can offer: 

• Receive additional risk cover. 
• Improve cash flow benefits. 
• Create a self-insurance capacity for uninsurable or expensive risks. 
• Lump-sum or monthly contributions are accepted, which are short-term insurance premiums and deductible for income tax purposes. 
• Can be structured as stand-alone and as a supplement to your traditional short-term insurance benefits. 

TAX RISK POLICY 

Have you or your business been selected for an audit by SARS? The additional accounting and fees towards tax specialists can become unaffordable. 

Origin offers a tax risk policy to look after these unforeseen additional accounting fees or appoint the team of tax professionals who will defend you. The cover can provide for Income Tax audits, VAT, Employees Tax, CGT and dispute resolution hearings and appeals to the Tax Board and Court.  Once again, it is best to contact your Origin adviser to help get this policy in place for the coming tax year’s audits! 

To ensure you do not miss out on the tax-saving opportunity for 2020, please contact our team of financial planners by latest 20 February 2020 in order to add an appropriate lump sum contribution to your retirement annuity, tax-free savings account or structured insurance product. Your financial planner can calculate the correct contribution to maximise your tax deduction for the tax year. 

This article is a general information sheet and should not be used or relied on as professional advice. No liability can be accepted for any errors or omissions nor for any loss or damage arising from reliance upon any information herein. Always contact your financial adviser for specific and detailed advice. Errors and omissions excepted. (E&OE)

While Hamish has earned his retirement, we wish to point out that he will still be an ambassador for the Origin Group.

We wish Hamish all the best in his future endeavours and a happy life with all his family and friends.

For the months of March & April the Origin team is committed to help you replace your income during times you are not able to earn an income. The loss of your monthly income can lead to non -payment of numerous monthly financial responsibilities, which could have disastrous consequences for your family and business.In the short term, while you are sick or temporary disabled your income can be replaced by temporary income benefit. In times of permanent disability your monthly income can be replaced up to age 70.Should a motor vehicle accident occur or an event to interrupt your business or damage to your business premises, the Origin team will assure your applicable short term insurance will help you to have the least interruption to your ability to earn income.

Amongst various other products & services, Origin provide the professional market with PPS benefits.

The Professional Provident Society focus on the professional person and – business owner and offers a wide variety of products. Their main products  focus   on replacement of income and have unique offerings which include:

International cover through a Sickness benefit to cover you from day 1 after 7 days of not operating your business.

International cover through a permanent income replacement when the unfortunate happens and you are permanently disabled.

A business overhead protection to add to your sickness benefit to help pay your fixed expenses for up to 24 months.

PPS now extends their product-offering to their clients by offering unique short term insurance products, including specialist Professional Indemnity solutions. These short term products come with the full range of extended PPS benefits.

 These products are only a few to mention as they will help you to retain your income earning ability when unforeseen events happen. Contact your Origin advisor to assure your benefits suit you and your business well.

Did you know:

PPS now also offers a credit card to their product suit.

PPS products are now available to a wider range of occupations. PPS s’ profits are allocated to PPS members with qualifying products on an annual basis by way of allocations to their PPS Profit-Share Accounts.

The Origin team offer a wide range and structures to assure you receive an income when unable to earn one! Contact your Origin financial planner now to ease your mind!

We hope the following questions will tickle your urge to contact your Origin Financial Planner and update your will before beginning of the December holidays.

Who will ensure my minor children are cared for?

By stipulating a different inheritance age in your will or even providing for a testamentary trust to administer your assets on behalf of your (minor) children, you may help ensure that they are financially secure and properly looked after in the future.

You should also appoint a guardian in your will to care for your minor children.

Has your will been altered after your date of divorce?

Our law only gives a period of three months following a divorce for you to amend your will during which time any bequest to your ex-spouse will be deemed revoked. Following this three month period, any bequest will go to your ex-spouse as if you did not change your will.

Why are the estate costs and taxes so high?

A proper estate and financial plan and structure can avoid unnecessary costs, duties and taxes.

Where the will becomes an estate planning tool, it is very important that a qualified Origin Financial planner assists you to do this properly to avoid unforeseen long-term consequences for your heirs.

What happens to my Bitcoins when I die?

The easiest way to ensure that your Bitcoins can be transferred to your heirs is to ensure that someone has a copy of the private key.
It is also a good idea to bequeath your Bitcoins formally in your will and identify who has a copy of the private key. This will help ensure that there is no uncertainty as to whom you wanted to gain access to your wallet after your death.

If you don’t have a will or have not recently reviewed your will, it is advisable that you consult with our committed Origin team of professionals to obtain a valid will or that you update your will so that it is enforceable in a way that correctly demonstrates your wishes and you can start the December holidays with peace at heart.

This seal proves that we have been evaluated on the regulatory requirements set out by the FSCA, and that we have achieved an excellent standard of compliance. This provides all our clients with the peace of mind that Origin Financial Holdings (Pty) Ltd is a high-quality financial business, that strives for perfection on a daily basis.

We are already looking forward to receiving the 2019 FAIS COMPLIANCE SEAL, as accreditation is re-evaluated every year and we are ready to maintain our high standards of compliance once again!

The qualifying criteria that were used includes:

• Category I licences: all 3 compliance audits must have been completed, a minimum score of 85% must have been achieved for each audit.
• Category II licences: all 10 visits must have been completed, a minimum score of 85% must have been achieved for each audit.
• Remedial actions attended to throughout the period.
• No irregularity report issued against the FSP.
• Complete compliance with regards to the advice process.
• Info gathering: must be evident in every client file that was sampled from Aug 2017 – May 2018.
• Needs analysis: must be evident in every client file that was sampled from Aug 2017 – May 2018.
• Record of Advice: must be evident in every client file that was sampled from Aug 2017 – May 2018.

What benefits does this provide to our clients and the financial industry?

Our clients can rest assured knowing that they are dealing with qualified, compliant advisors. By complying with the regulatory requirements, the profile of financial advisors in the industry is being raised and this demonstrates that financial advisors are complying with legislation and are taking their roles and responsibilities seriously.

The shocking reality is very different:
Every day more than one million people and organisations fall victim to cyber-attacks.

Cyber Risks Insurance covers organisations against the risks arising out of operating a computer network and liability arising from online publishing (website) and traditional media (brochures).

The effect of a cyber-attack could be devastating to almost any business.

Your Origin Advisor is trained to assist and to provide advice on Cyber Crime Risks. In addition, Origin is presenting a series of Cyber Risk Seminars through October in order to provide Cyber Risk Solutions. Ask your Origin Advisor on how to attend a seminar.