Your new financial wellness programme November 2020

Dear Colleagues

Your hard work, personal commitment and dedication to our team is vital to the success of Santam. The wellbeing of our people is important to us and over the past few months, we have offered a number of interventions as part of our holistic wellbeing framework.

We know that many people have been impacted financially as a result of the pandemic, moreover, most people work to earn an income, yet sadly many people don’t have the skills needed to become savvy money managers. The current income to debt ratio is 73%, which means that on average 73% of our income is spent on debt, similarly, a whopping 9 out of 10 South Africans are unable to retire as we are a nation of spenders versus savers. We know you work hard to earn your income and we want your money to work just as hard as you do.

In addition to the recently launched Santam Insure Your Future Programme (through our CSI team), it gives me great pleasure to announce that HR has also partnered with a service provider to launch our own financial wellness programme, another offering in our holistic wellbeing framework. The programme is tailor-made, professionally managed, that will assist and support you on your journey to financial freedom.

The programme is sponsored by Santam and is a free and confidential service which you can use in order to improve your personal financial life. We have partnered with Interface, who has an independent team of coaches who are specialists in the field of financial wellness. The aim of the financial wellness programme is to provide you with expert practical solutions for all your financial needs.

The programme comprises of a number of virtual sessions covering a range of topics.

Some of the financial solutions that will be covered by the programme include:

• Budgeting assistance – budget tools and budget coaching
• Transactional banking – make you bank work for you
• Debt management solutions including formal debt counselling
• Garnishee orders
• Credit health and personal lending
• Financial goal-setting – home buying guidance and vehicle financing guidance
• Tax enquiries and solutions- tax returns at a discount of 20%

What makes the offering unique is the support of one on one financial coaching to support your personalised specific needs. Your financial coach will be able to assist you from the moment your salary hits your bank account they can start to help you manage your money more effectively. Whether you need help with your budget or debt or if you are buying a home or looking for ways in which you can save effectively, the program can add value to your financial life. Where your needs extend beyond financial coaching into financial planning, Interface will refer you to a Sanlam FAIS accredited financial planner.

The financial wellness programme is available for all Santam employees. The programme will kick off with a number of information sessions for managers and employees where you can find out more about the programme and how it will work. You will be receiving an invitation to register for the information sessions shortly – so keep an eye on your mailbox.

Please note that when you embark on the financial wellness journey by opting into the 12-week programme, you will communicate directly with a financial coach from Interface.

I trust that you will find this improved employee benefit valuable as we continue to grow our employee value proposition (EVP).

Santam cares about you and your financial health and future.

Regards

Enid Lizamore
HUMAN RESOURCES

—There’s a Wealthsmith™ in you, if you take care of your health & your wealth!

Money is an important factor in our life, however, the unfortunate truth is that many of us are not financially well. We struggle with debt, cash-flow, inadequate savings and the difficulty of being able to retire securely. This compromises our overall state of wellbeing, causing anxiety, distraction, stress and also affects our relationships and work performance. Financial wellness is a challenge, but you can take charge of it through the many tools, resources and services that are available to assist you. Many of these are listed here, free of charge and confidentiality is assured, so take this opportunity to empower yourself.

Sanlam Key Solutions

To have control of your financial security you need a financial plan. However, most of us don’t have the time or knowledge to create and manage our own financial plan and therefore need to seek help from a professional. It’s hard to know which steps to take. At Sanlam Key Solutions, we get that and we’re here to help you make the most of what you have.

Click here to access the information, tools and calculators to get you going on your journey to financial freedom.

Financial advice, support & counselling

Help is only a call away. You have nothing to lose and a lot to gain.

Contact a Sanlam Key Solutions Advisor or a SSUF Accredited Advisor  for financial planning and advice.

Our EAP also offers 24/7 counselling and support that includes debt counselling, managing debt, budgets and black listing, as well as the emotional complications involved. This service is free and confidentiality is assured.

Here is a valuable info-sheet on you and your money.