Top-performing retirement portfolios become available to more South Africans

Retirement investing has often felt like one of those things that sits in a different category to everyday investing. It can feel distant, complicated and sometimes inaccessible, especially for younger investors or people starting out on their wealth-building journey.

EasyRetire RISE is looking to change that.

The fintech-enabled retirement platform within Purple Group has reached an important milestone with the listing of three active multi-asset ETFs (AMETFs) on the JSE, opening access to retirement-focused investment strategies that have already built an impressive track record and making them available to a much wider audience.

The newly listed RISE CPI+3, CPI+5 and CPI+7 portfolios cater to different risk appetites, from more conservative investors through to those seeking stronger long-term growth opportunities.

What makes the launch particularly interesting is not simply the addition of three new investment products to the market. It speaks to a broader shift taking place in investing, where technology, accessibility and better user experiences are changing how people engage with their financial futures.

As at 28 February 2026, the RISE CPI+3 and CPI+5 portfolios ranked first in their respective peer categories over five years, while the RISE CPI+7 portfolio ranked second.

Tech + smart product design

For EasyRetire RISE CEO Nicola Comninos (pictured above), the milestone represents exactly what the business was built to do.

“The fact that we can now make these top-performing portfolios available to every South African with access to the JSE is exactly what EasyRetire RISE was built to do,” says Nicola. “Too often, high-quality retirement solutions have felt out of reach for ordinary investors. We want to change that. We are using technology and smart product design to make retirement investing simpler, more transparent and more accessible.”

At CN&CO we’ve spent years watching how businesses within the broader Easy ecosystem continue looking for ways to remove barriers that traditionally stood between people and investing. Whether through lowering minimum investment thresholds, simplifying platforms or creating more intuitive experiences, there has consistently been a drive towards wider participation.

The launch of the AMETFs feels like another step in that direction.

The business plans to introduce the portfolios across existing Easy channels, including the EasyEquities community and Thrive engagement programme, potentially placing retirement investing in front of millions of existing users in a more integrated way.

Purple Group CEO Charles Savage sees it as part of a larger journey.

“EasyRetire RISE is becoming one of the most exciting growth businesses in our ecosystem,” he says. “These listings bring together strong investment performance, fintech-driven access and a genuine focus on improving retirement outcomes. We are backing the platform, the technology and the team because we believe retirement investing should be easier, smarter and available to everyone.”

He adds: “The future of investing is about creating products and experiences that remove friction and help people make better financial decisions. Retirement should not feel complicated or inaccessible. We believe technology can change that.”

Changing the retirement relationship

CN&CO founder and Purple Group Chief Enablement Officer Carel Nolte says this kind of innovation has the potential to change the relationship people have with retirement savings.

“Retirement often becomes something people only think about later in life, but the reality is that every small decision compounds over time,” he says. “What excites me here is making strong investment strategies more visible and more accessible. The easier we make it for people to engage with their financial future, the better the long-term outcomes can become.”

EasyRetire RISE currently manages around R18 billion in assets across 27 client mandates and serves more than 7 000 fund members, with plans for continued growth across products, partnerships and technology.

Perhaps most interestingly, retirement balances are also expected to be integrated directly into the EasyEquities app in future, giving investors a more complete view of their financial world in one place.

Retirement investing may never become the most exciting thing people talk about around a braai. But making it easier to access, understand and engage with? That feels like progress.