Unretirement | Rethinking life after 65

Cost of living crunch and longer lives

Retirement is no longer a finish line. Forget the postcard picture of endless beach days. Surveys show almost eight in ten South Africans now expect to work beyond the traditional retirement age of 65. Instead of shutting the laptop for good, many are planning a second (or third) act that keeps money coming in – and keeps the mind busy. Learn more about South Africa's retirement age.

Two forces are driving this shift. First, everyday costs are climbing faster than many salaries or retirement funds. Secondly, we’re living longer: South African women can expect to spend 25 plus years in retirement. That means stretching savings far further than our parents had to – or carrying a bond and school fees for children who arrived later in life. Learn how longevity impacts your retirement planning.

Purpose, passion and the gig economy

Money isn’t the only motive. Work brings routine, social contact and purpose – things many new retirees miss within months. Luckily, remote work, consulting, board seats and the wider gig economy make it easier than ever to “unretire” on your terms. Your decades of expertise can add real value to companies short of senior skills, while side hustles such as coaching, content creation or part time lecturing can boost income and keep you relevant.

Mind the money gaps

High‑income earners often assume their current lifestyle will glide into retirement. But to draw the same net income for 30+ years you would need a pot far larger than most pension statements show. Read how to build wealth in your 40s.

Run the numbers with a retirement calculator and you may find a yawning shortfall. The antidote is simple, if not always easy:

• Save more, sooner. Increase your company fund or RA contribution every time you get a pay rise. Here's why starting early matters.
• Ringfence an emergency fund. Dip into that, not your pension, when the geyser bursts.
• Invest in a Tax effective way. Use the full 27.5 % deductible limit and max out tax‑free savings accounts. Learn how RAs can help.

Two pot temptations – and the cost of dipping in

The two-pot system started in 2024 and lets you withdraw a slice of your retirement savings in a crisis. It sounds like free money, but every rand you take today loses decades of compound growth. Understand what to consider when life happens. Frequent withdrawals can slash your future savings, forcing you back to work whether you want to or not. Treat the accessible pot as a true last resort, never as a bonus bank account.

How to unretire with confidence

If you’re going to be working after 65, put a structure around it now:

• Map your skills to market needs. Advisory work, project roles and specialised consulting value experience.
• Stay professionally visible. Engage with your network on LinkedIn, attend industry events and share thought leadership.
• Plan the tax angle. Extra income puts you firmly back in SARS’ sights. A financial adviser and tax practitioner can help you blend employment, investment and annuity income in the most efficient way.
• Stress test your plan. Assume lower returns, higher medical costs and a longer life than you think. Adjust contributions or spending now while you still have peak earning power.
• Prioritise health. Rising lifestyle diseases push up out of pocket medical expenses. Preventive care and the right medical aid option are as much a financial decision as a wellness one.
  

The bottom line?

Retirement is shifting from a fixed destination to a flexible phase – part rest, part reinvention. By saving aggressively, guarding the growth power of your pension, and viewing work as a lifelong asset rather than a chore, you can “unretire” on your own terms.

The goal is simple: freedom and purpose that last as long as you do.