Retirement product offers flexibility
The Fiji National Provident Fund today announced that it would soon launch a retirement product that offers members flexibility and earns an interest. Chief Executive Officer Viliame Vodonaivalu said the new product, called the DrawDown Account (DDA) allows members to receive a monthly income, access withdrawal and earn interest on their balances.
“Eligible members will need to decide how much they want to invest in the DDA and must ensure that it is enough to afford them more than the minimum monthly payment - which is $50.”
The maximum amount that can be invested in the DDA is $1 million per person.
“Our pensioners have often highlighted the need for our retirement products to be a bit more flexible, to allow them access to their funds, when the need arises.”
Like our other retirement products, the qualifiers to purchase the DDA are:
■Age 55, and members are entitled to make their retirement options covering life pension, term annuity, lump sum or a combination of each/all
■Medica● incapacitation – no longer able to work for medical reasons
■So●e nominees of members that pass away.
“The DDA offers members and nominees that level of access while they receive a monthly income and their balance continues to earn interest. There are no limits to the amount that a DDA holder can access through partial or early withdrawal, however, it must be within their DDA balance.”
“This product will be available only for members and their nominees who qualify and is not for existing pensioners or annuitants,” said Mr. Vodonaivalu.
Those who opt for the DDA, can also fully withdraw their savings 12 months after first investing in the DDA.
One can have more than one DDA account, however, once they fully withdraw their funds before their payment term ends, they cannot use the same funds to purchase any other FNPF retirement product (Life Pension or Term Annuity). DDA account holders will be required to complete a renewal certificate two times a year (six-monthly) and funds will be paid to their chosen payment channel.
Members who qualify for full withdrawal under Migration and Low Account balance, will not qualify for the DDA.
The DrawDown Account product is expected to go-live before 31 December 2022.