Liberty has partnered with South African wills and estates specialist, Capital Legacy, to offer clients comprehensive estate planning. MoneyMarketing’s Editor, Sandy Welch, spoke to Ryan Switala, Head of Simple Life Solutions at Liberty, to unpack the partnership in more detail.
What led Liberty to partner with Capital Legacy?
It started with a clear client need. Many South Africans don’t have valid wills in place, whether due to complexity, cost, or just not getting around to it. At the same time, we saw how businesses like Capital Legacy were disrupting the fiduciary space with a modern, tech-enabled model that resonated with both clients and financial advisers. So, instead of reinventing the wheel, we decided to partner with an expert to bring a simple, fully integrated estate planning solution to market – fast.
Why is this partnership good news for clients?
It removes the barriers that typically prevent people from setting up a will. The solution offers a free will, safe custody, and unlimited amendments – all through a simple and efficient process. Plus, the integration ensures that when the time comes to administer the estate, it’s a smooth and supported experience for the family – something that matters hugely during such a difficult time.
What makes this solution different from traditional fiduciary services?
Three things: ease of use, integration, and insight. First, it’s a tech-driven process that’s been built for simplicity. Second it’s an integrated offering, meaning clients can secure cove through the Liberty Legacy Protection Plan to fund the costs of dying, like executor fees, conveyancing fees, or trust costs, without dipping into their life cover. Lastly, the will drafting process itself helps advisers identify other client needs. For example, an unmet business assurance need, additional cover for taxes such as estate duty or an offshore planning need.
And what’s in it for financial advisers?
The integrated platform makes the entire will and estate process seamless. Advisers can initiate the process via Liberty’s Advisor Workbench – our Salesforce-powered platform. From there, they can refer clients, track progress, and make updates easily through the Capital Legacy-built portal.
It creates a simple, low-barrier conversation starter with clients and provides another meaningful touchpoint for annual reviews. Because it’s all digital and integrated, advisers stay involved and informed throughout the client’s journey, even beyond the client’s lifetime.
What kinds of protection plans are available?
There are a wide range of options with different levels of cover to match individual client needs starting with Bronze and moving up different levels right up to Diamond and even an Unlimited Plan. For example, the Gold plan indemnifies up to nearly R1m in fees. We even have a free Core Plan which offers a discount on executor fees. Additional benefits in the premium paying plans include:
- Immediate Liquidity Benefit to help pay for more urgent expenses following death
- Estate Overheads Protector to cover certain ongoing costs for up to six months in the estate, for example insurance and medical aid
- Estate Gap Protector, which kicks in if both spouses pass away in close succession and extra funds are required.
It’s surprising how many South Africans don’t have a valid will. Why do you think that is?
Many people see wills as complex or something only the wealthy need. Others might have drafted a will decades ago and haven’t touched it since. Traditional fiduciary models often reinforced this view – executor fees based on estate size, preference for larger estates, etc. That’s why this model changes the game.
Who acts as the executor under this solution?
The solution is end-to-end enabled by Capital Legacy and white-labelled by Liberty. So, Capital Legacy acts as both the executor and administrator of the estate. This integrated model is one of the key reasons the solution works so well – everything ties together, from will creation to the estate being wound up.
Some people worry about transparency in estate processes. How does this solution address that?
Transparency is core to the solution. Clients know upfront what they’re paying for and what benefits they’ll receive. Of course, we also offer more traditional options for clients and advisors who prefer that route. This is about broadening access and choice, not replacing existing models.
If someone already has a will with another provider, how easy is it to switch?
Where multiple wills exist, typically the most recent valid will is the one that stands. Our solution includes a clause to revoke previous wills. But it would also be best practice to arrange for previous wills to be destroyed to avoid any confusion
Looking ahead, how do you see this offering evolving?
We’ve launched this solution via our Liberty Financial Advisers, and there’s huge potential to engage both new and existing clients. It’s a great opportunity to revisit financial plans and ensure everything is in order. Longer term, we’re considering expanding into different market segments and distribution channels, especially for clients who may not have direct access to a financial adviser. We want this solution to be relevant across the broader South African population.
Why is this partnership good news for clients?
It’s all about accessibility, affordability and simplicity. The partnership addresses the perception that wills are complicated or only necessary for the wealthy. Clients can now get a free will that includes safe custody and unlimited amendments. And if they choose, they can also opt for a more comprehensive estate protection plan at a very reasonable monthly premium. The solution also helps clients avoid the financial pitfalls that often occur during estate administration when things like executor fees, trust setup and fees or other expected ‘costs of dying’ have not been catered for. Most importantly, it ensures peace of mind for both clients and their families.
What’s the overriding philosophy?
This partnership isn’t just about adding another product, it’s about changing the way South Africans think about and experience estate planning. It’s accessible, digital, affordable and deeply human. And at its core, it’s about making sure families are supported at the most difficult times of their lives.
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