In South Africa, over 30% of the population is made up of children under the age of 14. According to the Statistics SA’s General Household Survey 2022, nearly 45% of these children live only with their mothers, and 42% of households are headed by women. This data underscores the heavy financial burden many women carry in providing for their families and managing household finances. Correspondingly, Old Mutual Online Wills customer data shows that women, particularly those aged 26-55, are responding positively to the availability of an online will creation service.

Old Mutual Online Wills’ platform is helping to ease this burden by giving women—and all South Africans—the tools to protect their loved ones by creating a legally valid will. A will is the cornerstone of any financial plan especially in the context of estate planning, ensuring that families are taken care of and that assets are distributed according to the person’s wishes.

“Women, especially single mothers, are showing remarkable resilience by taking charge of their financial futures,” said Hilton Michels, CEO of Old Mutual Online Wills. “Our platform helps them make the critical decision to secure their families’ future by creating a will, which can be completed, easily, and from the comfort of their homes.”

While many South Africans know the importance of financial planning, creating a will is often overlooked. Without a will, families can face legal complications, delays in asset distribution, and even disputes over guardianship for minor children.

“Estate planning is a critical aspect of financial security, but many people neglect it because they think a will is only about distributing assets. In reality, it’s about much more—it determines who will care for your children if you’re no longer around and how your savings will support your loved ones,” Michels explained.

Old Mutual’s Online Will platform removes traditional barriers to will creation, such as cost, complexity, and the significant time investment required. The straightforward online journey allows customers to experience this in their own time and space. With an intuitive, step-by-step process, customers can easily draft a will that covers key decisions—like asset distribution, naming guardians for children, establishing testamentary trusts, and more.

Customers also have access to support from our team of experts if they require assistance or have questions about more intricate aspects of creating their will. This combination of digital convenience and expert-backed guidance ensures that our platform can meet the diverse needs of our customers.  Individuals with more complex requirements can access the extensive Old Mutual network of financial advisers.

The Old Mutual Online Wills platform has been designed with accessibility in mind, making it particularly attractive to time-poor working women and parents. Creating a will may seem daunting, but Old Mutual Online Wills’ platform offers the ability to complete this important task at your own pace, in your own space, and at no cost.

“Our platform plays a significant role in supporting women, who are already balancing so much, by giving them the opportunity to protect their families without sacrificing time or money. This reflects the broader shift towards gender equality in financial planning—historically, women were underrepresented in areas like life insurance and wills. Forty years ago, only a small percentage of women actively took part in estate planning, but today, 54% of our customer base is female. We’re seeing women take a more proactive role, often thinking about, and creating wills earlier in life than their male counterparts,” Michels added.