The Conduct of Financial Institutions bill, or COFI, is coming soon. We all need to ask ourselves whether we are making meaningful shifts in the lives of retirement fund members – and if we can prove it.

The emphasis is shifting away from tick-box compliance toward outcomes that can be demonstrated. So, what do employers and trustees need to know about how the COFI Bill will impact their governance reporting, communication strategy, managing committees, defaults, and umbrella funds? Listen to find out.

If you’d like to subscribe, contact us at [email protected] or visit the Old Mutual Employee Benefits Resource Hub. Want to stay in the loop with the latest updates, insights, and ideas around retirement, investment, risk, health, and wellbeing on LinkedIn? Follow the Old Mutual Employee Benefits page for practical insights and fresh perspectives. EBnet.Stream: Monique Cloete, Head of Group Retirement Solutions at Old Mutual Corporate · Presentation: COFI Bill Framework — Navigating and Embracing Change by Eugene du Toit · COFI could redraw the lines of accountability in umbrella funds · Old Mutual Corporate Resource Hub · Old Mutual Employee Benefits page

Two-Pot is working as it should. Are there high withdrawals? Yes. But are there reasons to celebrate? Also yes. We are starting to see green shoots of progress. The next step is to grow these gains and ensure they translate into lasting change.

 

Our analysts have a prediction of how long it will be until we shift the longstanding 6% retirement readiness statistic. Tune in to find out when that is likely to be, the good news about annuity numbers, and how employers can help members stay the course on long-term preservation.  

This MINDSPACE soundbite is inspired by the May edition of our MINDSPACE newsletter. Listen for more details on the reforms that could accelerate our growth.

 

If you’d like to subscribe, contact us at [email protected] or visit the Old Mutual Corporate Resource Hub. Want to stay in the loop with the latest updates, insights, and ideas around retirement, investment, risk, health, and wellbeing on LinkedIn? Follow the Old Mutual Employee Benefits page for practical insights and fresh perspectives.

Resources used in this episode 

DebtBusters warns of worsening household pressure in South Africa - CNBC Africa Big Business Insights: The neuroscience behind Two-Pot personas with Michelle Acton & Dr Charlene Heyns-Nell: OldmutualKnow the neuroscience behind Two-pot personas - Big Business Insights

What are the trends in employee benefits, what can data tell us about human behaviour, and what messages should intermediaries be sharing with their clients right now? Find the answers in this highlights package of the March 2026 Employee Benefits Forum webinar, hosted by Old Mutual Corporate.  

 

Our featured guests were Lindiwe Sebesho, Managing Director of Remchannel,  Izak Odendaal; Investment Strategist at Symmetry; Ishaan Singh, Business Development Manager: Group Risk at Old Mutual Corporate; and Michelle Acton, Chief Customer Officer at Old Mutual Corporate.     

 

Want to stay in the loop with the latest updates, insights, and ideas around retirement, investment, risk, health, and wellbeing on LinkedIn? Follow the Old Mutual Employee Benefits page for practical insights and fresh perspectives.

Every generation believes it is worse off than its predecessors, but perhaps Generation Z has a stronger case than most. Amidst a cost of living crisis, with Gen Z graduate salaries down 21% in real terms, what can employers do to help younger team members start to think longer term and save? 

The answer lies in linking purpose and passion with an unavoidable truth: financial stability is the foundation of all ambition. We need to ask Gen Zs what they want from life and then show how financial planning makes this possible.  

This MINDSPACE soundbite is inspired by the April edition of our MINDSPACE newsletter. It draws on episode 5 of the Old Mutual Big Business Insights podcast, with host Blessing Utete and guests Omega Shange and KG Bako. Listen for more information on how we can help to change younger generations’ outcomes. 

If you’d like to subscribe, contact us at [email protected] or visit the Old Mutual Corporate Resource Hub. Want to stay in the loop with the latest updates, insights, and ideas around retirement, investment, risk, health, and wellbeing on LinkedIn? Follow the Old Mutual Employee Benefits page for practical insights and fresh perspectives. 

Resources used in this episode: 

The cost of living crisis is global How to talk to new generations about their savings with KG Bako and Omega Shange

Fierce competition for critical skills has become the new hallmark of our employment landscape. Instead of staying in jobs for the big bonus or paycheque, those lucky enough to be in demand are increasingly prioritising workplace culture and their wellbeing.

 

Studies show that even in a tough economy, many skilled employees are still choosing to resign from their jobs in search of greener pastures. So how can employers attract – and keep – the best people to help meet their organisational goals? To hear more research-based insights, our host Blessing Utete, the Commercial Executive Head at Old Mutual Corporate, is joined by guests Dalene Sechele, Engagement Executive for Life and Savings at Old Mutual, and Lindiwe Sebesho, Managing Director of Remchannel. Together they discuss how one-size-fits-all solutions are a thing of the past when it comes to building an engaged and resilient workforce.  

To stay in the game, employers need to understand that people define value differently. Salary, flexibility, retirement security, skills development, career growth, and wellbeing are all in the mix. Tune in to hear why these benefits are no longer optional extras but rather vital investments for sustainable business success.   

 

Resources used in this episode:

Dalene Sechele on LinkedInLindiwe Sebesho on LinkedIn  Remchannel Salary & Wage Movement SurveyNew Remchannel survey warns of unseen negative consequences of salary flexibility on pension savings – FANewsRemchannel Quarterly Report August 2025 Remchannel Salary and Benefit Trends 2024 Human Resources Quarterly – Remchannel  Old Mutual Thought Leadership Forum 2025 – Mindspace Special EditionResignation risk persists despite turnover dip – Remchannel  Three minutes on the role of human capital leaders in today’s workplace – video

The world is full of conflict and uncertainty, and executives are under a lot of pressure. How will the uneven global economy affect demand and margins? Will funding conditions tighten? How will energy reforms translate into growth, and where are the biggest long-term opportunities?

 

The cause for hope is that our economy is more resilient than we realise. Izak Odendaal, Old Mutual’s Investment Strategist, gives some reassurance in this regard, plus three ways to attract businesses to invest in South Africa.

 

This MINDSPACE soundbite is inspired by the March edition of our MINDSPACE newsletter. Listen for more details on the reforms that could accelerate our growth.

 

If you’d like to subscribe, contact us at [email protected] or visit the Old Mutual Corporate Resource Hub. Want to stay in the loop with the latest updates, insights, and ideas around retirement, investment, risk, health, and wellbeing on LinkedIn? Follow the Old Mutual Employee Benefits page for practical insights and fresh perspectives. 

Resources used in this episode:

Businesses react to Supreme Court’s ruling on Trump’s tariffs Operation Vulindlela promising to add capacity to the national grid Opportunities in South Africa’s recovery – Budget Speech 2026 Pick and stick to your Smarties _ Mindspace SA has enough secured fuel supply to last until mid-April – Newzroom Afrika

Different generations have unique experiences of the world and their workplaces. By 2030, over 75% of the workforce will be millennials and Gen Zs, so things are shifting rapidly. In a 2025 Deloitte survey, it was found that Gen Z take work-life balance very seriously, with only 6% saying that their primary career goal is to reach a leadership position. Yet these employees will still need to be able to retire someday. How do we help them to save for it? 

Welcome to the Big Business Insights podcast, brought to you by Old Mutual Corporate. The host, Blessing Utete, the Commercial Executive Head at Old Mutual Corporate, is joined by thought leaders and visionaries across sectors. Together, they seek to understand how we got here and where we’re going.   

 

For this eye-opening episode, Blessing is joined by Omega Shange, a data analyst with a passion for psychology, marketing and finance, and KG Bako, Managing Executive of Talent Management and Transitions at the Absa Group. They share ideas on how to encourage younger generations to plan ahead.  

Tune in to hear more about the financial realities that younger employees are facing, different mindsets in the workplace, and what role employers can play in making sure the next generation is set up for financial success.

 

 Follow the Old Mutual Employee Benefits page on LinkedIn and visit the Old Mutual Corporate Resource Hub for more insights, research and analysis to help you make the best decisions for your business, your employees and yourself. 

 

Resources used in this episode: 

KG Bako on LinkedIn Omega Shange on LinkedIn Deloitte 2025 Gen Z and Millennial SurveyMoney Mondays   Old Mutual Corporate Resource Hub

We spend most of our waking lives at work, making the workplace the most powerful platform for fostering financial wellness. Without the employers’ facilitation or participation, our savings levels in South Africa would be far lower. So how can we make the most of this to improve employee outcomes on a large scale? 

 

In this episode of Big Business Insights, brought to you by Old Mutual Corporate, host Blessing Utete, Commercial Executive Head at Old Mutual Corporate, highlights the power of collaboration. He is joined by Geraldine Fowler, president of the Institute of Retirement Funds Africa and Managing Director of GQM Fund Administrators, and Nyasha Dhlembeu, financial management lecturer and PhD candidate at the University of Pretoria, who researches the influence of financial literacy on retirement planning in South Africa.  

 

Together, they unpack the moral and practical obligations of employers. Is it enough to simply offer a fund, or must companies actively nurture the financial wellness of employees, with education and advice? 

The conversation delves into the impact of financial literacy, revealing why women and young people are often the most vulnerable. The discussion also explores what South Africa can learn from emerging economies like Kenya and Chile regarding auto-enrolment and innovative solutions for the informal sector. Tune in to understand how we can collectively shift South Africa’s savings culture. 

Follow the Old Mutual Employee Benefits page on LinkedIn and visit the Old Mutual Corporate Resource Hub for more insights, research and analysis to help you make the best decisions for your business, your employees and yourself.  

Resources used in this episode:   

Geraldine Fowler on LinkedInNyasha Dhlembeu on LinkedInInstitute of Retirement Funds AfricaThe Influence of Financial Literacy on Retirement Planning in South Africa (co-authored by Nyasha Dhlembeu) Bankers and Financial Advisers in an Emerging Economy – Are They Financially Literate? (co-authored by Nyasha Dhlembeu)Retirement vs Reality  Designing Better Outcomes  Only 6% retire with enough – Here’s how you can beat the odds Old Mutual Employee Benefits page on LinkedIn  

Adaptability, fluency and flexibility. These are the essential skills of business leaders as they face the coming decade, in which 59% of workers will need to completely re-skill. This isn't just a challenge – it's a matter of survival, defined by rapid technological shifts and unique local complexities. 

In this episode of Big Business Insights, brought to you by Old Mutual Corporate, host Blessing Utete, the Commercial Executive Head at Old Mutual Corporate, asks how big businesses can thrive in the future, instead of scrambling to keep up.  

 

He is joined by Valter Adão, a TEDx Speaker and expert in the fields of disruptive innovation and business re-imagination, and CEO of Cadena Growth Partners. Our second guest is scientist-practitioner, HR executive, keynote speaker, and global advisor Dr Dieter Veldsman. Dieter is Chief HR Scientist at the Academy to Innovate HR, and professor of practice at the University of Johannesburg.  

The conversation covers what keeps executives up at night, why HR demands a strategic role, and some habits leaders can adopt to prepare for the unknown. Tune in to discover why company cultures that encourage experimentation and informed risk-taking are the foundation for technology adoption that truly moves innovation forward and delivers on your goals. 

Follow the Old Mutual Employee Benefits page on LinkedIn and visit the Old Mutual Corporate Resource Hub for more insights, research and analysis to help you make the best decisions for your business, your employees and yourself.  

Resources used in this episode:  

Dr Dieter Veldsman on LinkedIn   Valter Adão on LinkedIn  Why AI adoption in HR starts at the front line, not in the boardroomThe HR Dialogues podcast The Reskilling Revolution – a WEF initiativeOld Mutual Resource Hub Old Mutual Employee Benefits page on LinkedIn

In today's compliance-driven employee benefits environment, employers are wondering how to create connection and cohesion, and manage costs while remaining competitive.

 

This MINDSPACE soundbite, inspired by the February edition of our MINDSPACE newsletter, shares the three major trends that emerged from the Remchannel 2025 Employee Benefits Guide. 

 

Out of 60 organisations, collectively employing over four hundred thousand people, the hot topics include wellness, performance-based rewards, and face time. Listen to this episode to find out more about how cost cutting measures, specialised health benefits, and office mandates are impacting businesses and their people. 

 

If you’d like to subscribe, contact us at [email protected] or visit the Old Mutual Corporate Resource Hub at www.oldmutual.co.za/corporate/resource-hub.  

Want to stay in the loop with the latest updates, insights, and ideas around retirement, investment, risk, health, and wellbeing on LinkedIn? Follow the new Old Mutual Employee Benefits page for practical insights and fresh perspectives.   

 

Resources used in this episode:

 

 SABC clip on Coronavirus

Menopause in the workplace – The Conversation podcast, BBC World Service

Remote work and the law – Newzroom Afrika

Gen Z prioritises mental health over wealth in the workplace – peoplemanagement.co.uk

The rising tides of cancers among young adults – National Library of Medicine

Old Mutual paid out R29m every working day in underwritten policies in 2024 – Business Day

1 in 6 people globally affected by infertility – World Health Organization   

Understanding the impact of menopause in the workplace – SHRM   

After decades of misunderstanding, menopause is finally having its moment – Yale School of Medicine

Cost management remains an executive priority in 2025 – BCG