ITS The Guardians Podcast

Retirement decisions are often complex – and sometimes irreversible. So how can members make confident choices when leaving a fund or entering retirement?   In this episode of The Guardians , Manuela da Silva and Lungile Sebotsane explore the role of retirement benefit counselling in helping members understand their options and make informed decisions. They discuss why counselling is becoming incr...

Umbrella funds continue to grow in popularity across South Africa's retirement landscape – offering cost efficiencies and simplified administration for employers. But does consolidation come at the expense of oversight? In this episode of The Guardians , we unpack the benefits, risks and governance realities of umbrella fund structures. We explore why umbrella arrangements can reduce administrativ...

Every new year brings another opportunity to strengthen fund governance.   In this episode of The Guardians , Pieter Cronjé (ITS Senior Consultant) sits down with Elizabeth Randles (Principal Officer, Independent Trustee Services) to discuss how trustees and employers can set meaningful governance resolutions that drive real accountability throughout the year.   Together, they talk us through: • T...

In this episode of The Guardians , host Lungile Sebotsane is joined by Henry Dul , CEO of Independent Trustee Services, for a focused conversation on why independence is the cornerstone of trustworthy retirement fund governance. Drawing on decades of experience in financial services and fund oversight, Henry unpacks how conflicts of interest arise, why they often go unnoticed, and the very real ri...

In this episode of The Guardians , governance specialists Sunash Naidoo and Nombongo Xhego unpack one of the most critical aspects of retirement fund management: risk – what it looks like, how it emerges and what trustees need to watch for long before it becomes a governance failure.   With extensive experience supporting retirement funds across South Africa, they break down the practical realitie...

When governance fails, people pay the price – and when it works, it safeguards their future. In this inaugural episode of The Guardians , Henry Dul , CEO of Independent Trustee Services, joins Dr Johan Esterhuizen , lead partner in Shepstone & Wylie's Pension Law and Employee Benefits team, to unpack what "governance" truly means in South Africa's retirement fund landscape. Together, they explore...