Let's pull together now to pull through in the long run

Adapting to changing circumstances and rising to new challenges is something we at Old Mutual have been doing for 175 years. We have faced and overcome many major hurdles and defied many headwinds. Time and time again, we have emerged stronger and more resilient. We are financially strong, well capitalised and managed by talented and dedicated people who are committed to partnering with you through this crisis and beyond to a better future.

The Covid-19 pandemic presents unprecedented challenges to the world’s healthcare and economic systems, and to us, as individuals. It is during difficult times like these that it is more important than ever for everybody to stay calm, think clearly and act responsibly. Panic can lead to rash decisions that are later regretted. It is far wiser to remain focused on the long- term picture.

How we will serve you during Covid-19 : A letter from Interim CEO Iain Williamson

A message from Old Mutual Interim CEO, Iain Williamson

Thriving in a VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous) world

Department of Health Covid-19 portal

Be assured we will honour our commitments

There are no Covid-19 exclusions on any of your Old Mutual life and funeral policies. We will honour all valid claims. Please click the button below for a list of examples of the benefits we will pay in this regard.

What is Old Mutual doing to help combat the spread and effects of Covid-19

Old Mutual Limited has announced that it would be pledging R50 million toward a comprehensive COVID-19 response, in partnership with government, business, labour and civil society. This relief package would primarily be channeled towards educational initiatives that address both immediate and emerging needs across the sector, brought about by the impact of COVID-19.

Old Mutual Online Self Service Portal

To minimise disruption to our services, you can use our digital platforms and reach us anytime from the safety of your home. For your convenience and peace of mind, download the Old Mutual App or register and login to www.oldmutual.co.za to view your portfolio. You can also phone your adviser or request a call back on our website.

wyzeHUB

You can also manage your iWYZE policies via our online management platform - wyzeHUB


Q&A on COVID-19

We have answered some of your questions, here is some more information.

What is Old Mutual’s position on the coronavirus pandemic?

  • As a responsible business, we take the health and wellbeing of all the people we deal with (our employees, customers and third parties) very seriously.
  • We have made it a top priority to take steps to help contain the global spread of Covid-19. In this we are guided by governmental health departments and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
  • We are following a robust and comprehensive Response Plan that is updated regularly as the situation changes.
  • Our plan includes contingency measures to both limit direct exposure to the virus and to ensure that we honour our commitments to you – from providing advice and paying out claims to steering your savings and investments through turbulent times.
  • We know that limited human contact helps to slow down the rate of infections and this, in turn, eases the burden on our healthcare and economic systems.
  • Therefore, taking steps to limit physical interaction between people is key.
  • Part of our health and safety precautions involve ‘social distancing’, where we aim to limit the number of visitors to our offices and branches, and arrange for many employees to work from home where possible. We have also halted all international and domestic business travel by plane.
  • We call on all our stakeholders to help us contain the spread of the virus by taking responsibility for your personal hygiene – in your workplace, at home with your families and in the communities that you serve.
  • If every one of us acts responsibly and takes the necessary precautions, we will be able not only to rise above the business and economic challenges; we will also contribute to slowing down this pandemic, and help protect lives in the process.


Are my policies/investments still safe with Old Mutual? How is Covid-19 impacting your business?

  • Yes, we are financially strong and able to pay all valid claims we receive. Old Mutual has robust measures in place to minimise disruptions and ensure our business continues to run smoothly so that we keep providing you with the peace of mind you deserve.
  • With the world in a state of flux and uncertainty, we want to reassure you:
  • Old Mutual will weather this crisis and be here to support you when you need it most. We are well capitalised and managed by talented and dedicated people who are committed to being your ‘certain friend in uncertain times’.
  • Adapting to changing circumstances and rising to new challenges is something we at Old Mutual have been doing for 175 years. We have faced and overcome many major hurdles and defied many headwinds. Time and time again, we have emerged stronger and more resilient.
  • Our advisers are ready to help you stick to your investment plan and provide you with accurate up-to-date information and sound advice so that you can make the right financial decisions for you and your family.
  • There are no exclusions on any of your Old Mutual life and funeral policies regarding Covid-19. We will honour all valid claims. This applies to all Old Mutual territories, except East Africa where health insurance policies exclude pandemics.
  • Our customer service teams remain focused on giving you the attention you need. They will respond to your queries as quickly as they can. However these are not normal times and we hope you will understand that there may be some delays that we can’t avoid.
  • Where we believe there is an unacceptable risk, we will temporarily close branches as a precaution. We will manage these eventualities as they occur and we remain committed to honouring our service promise to you.


The financial markets are messy and I am worried. Shouldn’t I just get out?

  • Always remember that financial markets are volatile in uncertain times. It’s at challenging times like these that you need to keep a cool head.
  • To grow your money in real terms and protect yourself from the debilitating effect of inflation, holding equities in a portfolio is appropriate.
  • The market will go through ups and downs, but history indicates that sudden market shocks, such as we are currently experiencing, correct within a relatively limited space of time.
  • Our advice is not to react in a knee-jerk manner and pull assets out of the market at lows – it simply locks in losses and it is almost impossible to gauge when is the right time to re-enter the market.
  • Current markets are sorely testing our resolve, but it is critical we focus on the long term and where markets will be in a few years’ time, not a few hours or days.

Here’s Old Mutual’s 8 key Investment Principles to support your investment decision in uncertain times. (See complete summary at the end.)

  1. Don’t panic. A sound financial plan helps build confidence regardless of what the market is doing
  2. A diversified portfolio will help to manage your risk
  3. Always consider your investments as a whole
  4. It’s time in the market that counts, not timing the market
  5. Over the long term cash is unlikely to deliver the returns needed to outpace inflation
  6. By investing regularly over the longer term, you generally get the best return
  7. Invest with a partner experienced in managing different market conditions
  8. Each investor’s solution is unique


With all this market volatility, internationally and locally, what should I do as an investor?

It is key that you keep the following in mind:

  • We understand that the current market volatility is unsettling for you, especially if you’re approaching retirement. While the market goes through ups and downs, history indicates that sudden market shocks, such as those we are currently experiencing, correct within a relatively limited space of time.
  • Stay focused on the long term. Your financial plan and investment strategy is built for the long-term, with short-term volatility in mind. While a market correction can be distressing, there’s no reason to deviate from your long-term financial plan.
  • Please contact your financial adviser if you have any questions or if you want to review your plans.


I have a GREENLIGHT policy. Can I still claim if I test positive for Covid-19?

We continue to assess claims against the terms and conditions of policy contracts. If a claim is valid and meets all claim criteria, we will pay. This includes claims as a result of Covid-19. Here are some examples of various GREENLIGHT benefits that could pay out if you become infected with Covid-19:

  • GREENLIGHT Death benefit: We will pay out all valid death claims related to Covid-19.
  • GREENLIGHT Sickness Income benefit: If the symptoms of the virus result in you being booked off work for longer than your waiting period (7 days or 1 month), we will pay you up to 100% of your net income. We won’t even ask you to prove a loss of income.
  • GREENLIGHT Temporary Income benefit: If you are unable to do your job for longer than your selected waiting period, we could pay you a monthly income for up to 24 months to replace any lost income.
  • GREENLIGHT Severe Illness benefit: If you are diagnosed with the virus COVID19 and it leads to a listed medical condition, we will pay.


How safe are customers or visitors to Old Mutual branches? Your employees travel a lot!
  • We take the health and wellbeing of all the people we deal with very seriously and our Response Plan includes contingency measures to limit direct exposure to the virus.
  • Also know that as the rate of infections is slowed down by limiting human contact, we have halted all international and local business travel.
  • We are implementing additional measures at our offices and branches to protect our customers and our people.
  • As part of our health and safety precautions, and to ensure ‘social distancing’, we are limiting visitors to our offices or branches, and also arranging for many employees to work from home where possible.
  • We are maintaining distance (at least 1.5m between people) and regularly sanitising the work environment.
  • Where we believe there is an unacceptable risk we will consider temporarily closing branches as a precaution to protect our customers and staff.
    • We strongly encourage you to rather make use of our digital channels or call us. Visit us only if absolutely necessary.
  • Be assured though that customer engagements remain a key part of our daily business. For this reason we will continue to keep you informed and interact with you via technology, and replace face-to-face meetings with virtual meetings wherever possible.
  • Please visit our website for the latest updates or contact us on 0860 50 60 70 / Email Service Centre (service@oldmutual.com) should you have any questions.


I travelled internationally recently. Can I visit your offices?


  • As a precautionary measure, we are refusing entry to anyone (whether you’re an employee, a customer or a supplier) who has travelled internationally in the preceding 21 days.
  • The 21-day period is aligned to the South African Government’s position on self-quarantine for travellers returning from international destinations.
  • Be assured though that customer engagements remain a key part of our daily business. For this reason, we will continue keeping you informed and interacting with you over the phone, by e-mail or in virtual meetings instead, until the self-quarantine period (21 days) is over.
  • Please visit our website for the latest updates or contact us on 0860 50 60 70 / Email Service Centre (service@oldmutual.com) should you have any questions.

I’m still unsure of all the facts … where can I find out more about Covid-19?

  • You are welcome to call the public hotline number on 0800-029-999.

Summary of Old Mutual’s 8 key Investment Principles

  1. Don’t panic. A sound financial plan helps build confidence regardless of what the market is doing
    - Your financial plan should be tailored to your particular financial needs and risk profile. It should include your goals, current financial position and make adequate provisions for the future.
    - It’s important to review it regularly with the help of a financial adviser.
  2. A diversified portfolio will help to manage your risk
    - A sound financial plan includes a balanced portfolio of investments with shares, bonds, cash and property, invested in both local and international markets.
  3. Always consider your investments as a whole
    - In any diversified portfolio there will always be times when one asset class outperforms another.
    - Property may go up as shares come down. International investments may prosper when local markets fall. It’s the total return over the longer term that matters.
  4. It’s time in the market that counts, not timing the market
    - No one knows with certainty when markets will rise or fall. Trying to time the market is not only stressful, it is very seldom successful. It is far better to use time to your advantage.
    - The sooner you start investing, and the longer you invest, the more likely you are to make a handsome return – regardless of the ups and downs along the way
  5. Over the long term cash is unlikely to deliver the returns needed to outpace inflation
    - Investing in cash may seem like a safe bet, especially when markets are volatile. But it comes at the price of lower long-term returns.
    - Every investor needs at least some part of their funds in liquid investments in case of an emergency. And for some investors, a larger cash holding may be appropriate.
  6. By investing regularly over the longer term, you generally get the best return
    - Research has proven that investors tend to join late in a rising share market, and then achieve disappointing results when the market falls. By contrast, when the market falls, investors stay out of the market, which means very few people are still buying at the market’s lowest levels.
    - If you are in the market with the aim of building your long-term wealth, it is better to disregard short-term performance fluctuations and to focus on your long-term goals.
    - The wise investor continues to invest through dips in the market, knowing that the cheaper shares become, the greater the potential gain when the market recovers.
  7. Invest with a partner experienced in managing different market conditions
    - There are many reputable financial services companies that can help you to manage your investments.
    - Old Mutual is a major international financial services company and we’ve been building customers’ financial wellbeing for 175 years. We have the tools, the experience and the people to help you structure your investments to match your needs and goals.
  8. Each investor’s solution is unique
    - Everyone’s circumstances and needs are different. The right answer for your neighbour might not be the right one for you.
    - Financial advisers are trained to help you to think about what you want to achieve, and the best possible way to achieve it. They are here to provide you with an objective view.