Chansa C Mulando

Chansa C Mulando Hi, I’m Chansa Chilima a finance & governance professional with experience in private pensions, board governance, & policy development.

I help individuals & organizations navigate retirement planning & achieve targets in governance with clarity & purpose.

Week 5: Retirement Options — Turning Savings Into IncomeWe've reached the final post in this series, and it's perhaps th...
08/09/2026

Week 5: Retirement Options — Turning Savings Into Income

We've reached the final post in this series, and it's perhaps the most important one: understanding your retirement options.

All the contributions, investment growth, and preservation decisions along the way lead to this moment — converting your accumulated pension savings into an income (or lump sum) that supports you through retirement.

Here's what's worth understanding:
📌 Know your available options. Depending on your scheme and jurisdiction, options at retirement may include a lump sum payout, a regular pension (annuity) income, a phased withdrawal arrangement, or a combination of these. Each comes with different implications for how long your money lasts and how it's taxed.
📌 Think about longevity. People are living longer. It's worth considering how long your retirement savings need to last, and choosing options that reduce the risk of outliving your savings.
📌 Consider your income needs. Think through your expected expenses in retirement — housing, healthcare, day-to-day living — and how your chosen retirement option will meet those needs sustainably.
📌 Seek guidance early. Retirement options are usually easier to understand and plan for well before you actually retire. Engaging with your pension administrator, scheme trustees, or a qualified financial advisor a few years ahead of retirement can help you make informed, rather than rushed, decisions.

Ask yourself: Do I understand the retirement options available under my scheme? Have I thought about how long my savings need to last? Do I have a rough plan for converting my pension into income?

This brings us to the end of our 5-week series — but as we said at the start, the conversation on pensions shouldn't stop here. Understanding your pension is an ongoing journey, and every conversation we have brings us closer to genuine retirement security.

💬 Thank you for following this series. What topic would you like us to explore further in future posts? Let us know in the comments — your questions continue to shape this conversation.

Week 4: Preservation of Savings — Protecting What You've BuiltToday's topic is one that's easy to overlook but critical ...
01/09/2026

Week 4: Preservation of Savings — Protecting What You've Built

Today's topic is one that's easy to overlook but critical to long-term retirement security: preservation of pension savings.

Preservation refers to keeping your accumulated retirement savings intact — and growing — rather than withdrawing or depleting them prematurely, especially when changing jobs or facing short-term financial pressure.

Here's why this matters:
📌 Job changes shouldn't mean cashing out. When members change employers, there's often a temptation to withdraw accumulated pension savings rather than preserving or transferring them. Doing so can significantly reduce the long-term value of your retirement savings, as you lose out on further compound growth.
📌 Compound growth needs time. Every early withdrawal doesn't just remove the amount withdrawn — it removes all the future growth that amount would have earned over the remaining years to retirement.
📌 Understand your preservation and transfer options. Depending on your jurisdiction and scheme rules, you may be able to preserve your benefits within the scheme or transfer them to another approved arrangement when you change jobs, keeping your retirement savings intact and growing.
📌 Short-term needs deserve short-term solutions. Pension savings are designed for retirement. Where possible, explore other options for addressing immediate financial needs before considering early access to retirement savings.

Ask yourself: If I changed jobs today, do I know what would happen to my pension? Have I preserved or transferred savings from previous employment correctly?

Next week, in our final post of this series, we'll look at retirement options — what happens when you actually reach retirement.

💬 Have you ever had to make a decision about preserving or transferring pension savings? What did you learn? Share your experience below.

Week 3: Benefit Calculations — Knowing What You'll Actually ReceiveSo far, we've covered contributions and investment re...
25/08/2026

Week 3: Benefit Calculations — Knowing What You'll Actually Receive

So far, we've covered contributions and investment returns. Today, let's talk about something many members find confusing: how pension benefits are actually calculated.

Understanding your benefit calculation helps you set realistic expectations for retirement and plan accordingly.

A few key things to understand:

📌 Know your scheme type. In a Defined Contribution scheme, your eventual benefit depends on total contributions made plus investment returns earned over time — there's no fixed formula guaranteeing a specific amount. This is different from a Defined Benefit scheme, where a formula (often based on salary and years of service) determines your payout.

📌 Understand the components. Your benefit calculation typically factors in your accumulated contributions, your employer's contributions (where applicable), and the net investment growth on those contributions over the years — minus any applicable fees or charges.

📌 Fees and charges matter. Small differences in fees can compound significantly over decades. Understanding what you're being charged — and for what — is a critical part of understanding your true benefit.

📌 Request projections periodically. Many schemes offer benefit projections or estimates. These can help you understand, in today's terms, what your pension might look like at retirement, and whether you're on track. Such features can be found on the online portal of your pension scheme, if available.

Ask yourself: Do I understand how my scheme calculates my eventual benefit? Do I know what fees I'm paying? Have I reviewed a benefit projection recently?

Next week, we'll explore preservation of pension savings — an area that's often overlooked, especially when changing jobs.

Do you find benefit calculations clear, or confusing? Let's discuss in the comments.

Week 2: Investment Returns — Why Fluctuations Are NormalLast week we spoke about contributions. Today, let's talk about ...
18/08/2026

Week 2: Investment Returns — Why Fluctuations Are Normal

Last week we spoke about contributions. Today, let's talk about something that often causes concern: fluctuations in investment returns, particularly in Defined Contribution retirement savings arrangements.

It's important to understand that investment returns do not move in one direction all the time. Financial markets naturally go through cycles of growth, slowdown, and recovery, influenced by economic conditions, inflation, interest rates, and global events. As a result, your retirement savings may experience periods of strong growth, modest returns, or temporary declines.

While these fluctuations can be unsettling, they are a normal feature of long-term investing — not necessarily a sign that something is wrong.

Retirement saving is a long-term journey, often spanning several decades. Throughout that journey, markets have historically experienced periods of volatility, but they have also demonstrated resilience and recovery over time. Remaining invested allows your retirement savings to benefit from market recoveries, continued contributions, and the power of compound growth.

Reacting to short-term market movements can sometimes do more harm than good. Instead, maintaining a long-term perspective and continuing to save consistently are among the most effective ways to build financial security for retirement.

A practical tip: Rather than comparing this year's pension statement with last year's alone, take a broader view — compare your pension value over 5, 10, 15, or even 20 years. A longer-term review often provides a more meaningful picture of how consistent contributions, compound investment growth, and market recoveries work together to build retirement wealth.

Next week, we'll unpack how benefit calculations actually work — and why understanding the formula behind your pension matters.

Have you ever reviewed your pension statement over a longer time horizon? What did you notice? Share below.

Day 1: Understanding Contributions — The Foundation of Your PensionYour pension's strength starts here: Contributions.Wh...
11/08/2026

Day 1: Understanding Contributions — The Foundation of Your Pension

Your pension's strength starts here: Contributions.

Whether you're in a Defined Contribution (DC) scheme or another arrangement, your contributions — and where applicable, your employer's contributions — form the foundation on which your retirement savings grow.

A few things worth understanding:

📌 Consistency matters. Regular contributions, even modest ones, compound significantly over time. A small gap in contributions today can mean a noticeably smaller pension decades from now.

📌 Employer contributions are part of your total package. If your employer contributes to your pension, that's effectively additional compensation working for your future. Make sure you understand your scheme's contribution structure and whether you're maximizing any matching arrangements available to you.

📌 Contribution rates can often be adjusted. Many schemes allow members to increase their contribution rate. Even a small increase, sustained over many years, can make a meaningful difference at retirement due to compound growth.

Ask yourself: Do I know my current contribution rate? Am I aware of my employer's contribution, if applicable? Could I afford to contribute a little more?

Understanding your contributions today is the first step toward building genuine confidence in your retirement tomorrow.
Next week, we'll talk about investment returns — why they fluctuate, and why that's not necessarily a bad thing.

What questions do you have about pension contributions? Drop them in the comments — they may shape a future post in this series.

Do you really understand the pension you're counting on to fund your retirement?For many people, the honest answer is "n...
05/08/2026

Do you really understand the pension you're counting on to fund your retirement?

For many people, the honest answer is "not as much as I'd like to." Yet, our pension is likely to be one of the largest financial assets we'll ever own. Understanding how it works today can make a significant difference to the retirement we enjoy tomorrow.

The 2026 Annual Pensions Awareness Week, held from 20 to 24 July 2026 under the theme "Understand Your Pension, Secure Your Retirement," may have ended, but the conversation is only beginning.

Over the next five to seven days, I'll be sharing practical insights to help demystify pensions and encourage informed retirement planning. Whether you're just starting your career or approaching retirement, understanding how your pension works is one of the best investments you can make in your future.

Many people only think about their pension when they receive an annual statement or when retirement is around the corner. Yet, the decisions we make today—such as contributing consistently, understanding our benefits, and taking a long-term view—can have a significant impact on our financial well-being in retirement.

Retirement planning isn't about predicting the future; it's about preparing for it.

27/07/2026

🔔 The conversation on pensions shouldn't end when Awareness Week does.

The 2026 Annual Pensions Awareness Week (20–24 July), themed "Understand Your Pension, Secure Your Retirement," may have ended, but the conversation shouldn't..

So let's keep the conversation going. 👇

One topic that often causes concern: fluctuations in investment returns , especially in Defined Contribution retirement savings arrangements.

Here's the thing — investment returns don't move in one direction all the time. Markets go through natural cycles of growth, slowdown, and recovery, shaped by things like economic conditions, inflation, interest rates, and global events. So your retirement savings may see periods of strong growth, modest returns, or even temporary dips.

That can feel unsettling. But it's normal. It's not necessarily a sign that something's wrong.

Retirement saving is a long game — often spanning decades. And over time, markets have shown real resilience, bouncing back from downturns again and again. Staying invested lets your savings benefit from market recoveries, ongoing contributions, and the power of compound growth.

A practical tip: For members of a Defined Contribution pension scheme, one of the best ways to appreciate the long-term value of your pension is to periodically review your pension statements. Rather than comparing this year's statement with last year's alone, take a broader view by comparing your pension value over 5, 10, 15, or even 20 years.

Ask yourself:
✅ Has my retirement savings grown over time?
✅ Have my regular contributions continued?
✅ Has my employer consistently contributed where applicable?
✅ How have investment returns added to the value of my pension over the long term?

While individual years may show lower or even negative investment returns, a longer-term review often provides a more meaningful picture of how consistent contributions, compound investment growth, and market recoveries have worked together to build retirement wealth.

Reacting to short-term market swings can sometimes do more harm than good. The smarter move? Stay focused on the long term, and keep saving consistently.

The more we understand how pensions work, the better equipped we are to make informed decisions — not emotional ones.

This is the first of a series of pension conversations, and we want to hear from you :
What part of your pension journey would you like to understand better? Investment returns, contributions, benefit calculations, preserving your savings — anything at all. Drop it in the comments, and we'll shape future posts around your questions.

Because securing your retirement starts with understanding your pension — and that understanding doesn't stop when Awareness Week does. 🙌

04/06/2026

Hello Family,

Here is a summary of the new pension laws affecting NAPSA and occupational pension schemes.

What are your thoughts?

Happy Mother’s Day to all the incredible mothers and mother figures.Today we celebrate your love, strength, and the coun...
10/05/2026

Happy Mother’s Day to all the incredible mothers and mother figures.

Today we celebrate your love, strength, and the countless sacrifices you make every day to build and sustain families.

As we honour you, it is also a good moment to reflect on something equally important—your future wellbeing.

Just as you plan, provide, and protect for your loved ones today, it is worth extending that same care to your tomorrow. Retirement planning is not only about money; it is about preserving dignity, independence, and the lifestyle you deserve after years of dedication.

Whether you are in your 20s, 40s, or approaching retirement, it is never too early or too late to ask: “What kind of life do I want to enjoy when I step back from active work?” Small, consistent steps today can make a meaningful difference in that future.

We celebrated you today, and may you also feel empowered to plan confidently for a secure and fulfilling tomorrow.

Happy Mother’s Day.

Grateful for another year of life, growth, and purpose. 🙏🏽As I celebrate my birthday, I want to take a moment to appreci...
05/05/2026

Grateful for another year of life, growth, and purpose. 🙏🏽

As I celebrate my birthday, I want to take a moment to appreciate everyone who has supported this journey, clients, colleagues, friends, and family. Your trust, encouragement, and collaboration mean more than words can express.

Every milestone reached is a reminder of the value of hard work, meaningful relationships, and staying committed to the vision. I’m excited for what lies ahead and even more motivated to continue delivering excellence and making a positive impact.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of my journey. I truly appreciate you all. Cheers 🥂

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