MONEY
THE LEGALITIES OF THE DIGITAL SIGNATURE
U
certified and legally binding.” An electronic signature, paperbased signature, photograph or email signature may have
nderstanding the
efficient and reliable. A digital
legal weight, but proving that
difference between an
signature ensures an auditable,
the person’s intention was to be
electronic signature and
provable trail that can be clearly
bound by that signature is an
a digital signature could have a
linked to a specific person
involved, complex process. A
critical impact on the legalities and
and identity. Usually, a digital
digital signature does not face
security of any document trail.
signature can only be used once
the same challenge. The identity
“The electronic signature is
the individual has undergone a
verification process ensures that
usually defined as an identifying
process of identity verification,
much of this evidence is built into
mark that can be anything
which assures all parties that
the signature. In the event of a
from a photograph or a scan of
the right person has signed the
query, the process is simplified
a signature to a squiggle made
right documentation.
by the digital trail and embedded
on a mobile phone or tablet,”
“When you open a digitally
explains Adv Rian Schoeman,
signed document with a solution
head of Legal, LAWtrust, an Etion
such as Adobe PDF reader,
unnecessary issues that could
company. “It isn’t secure. In fact,
selecting the signature will reveal
occur further down the line but
the electronic signature is at risk
the digital certificate that outlines
will provide all parties with the
of fraud as it is easy to copy, move
the individual’s name, surname,
right levels of assurance from the
and adjust.”
and other specified identifying
outset,” concludes Schoeman. •
To ensure deeper security, digital signatures are more
forensic evidence. “This will not only alleviate
factors such as an email,” says First published in MoneyMarketing, April 2019
Schoeman. “These signatures are
OVERCOME THE FEARS OF AGEING WITH LIFE RIGHTS
T
here is an enormous
in 2017 (that’s 13% of the global
to 90 years. If people retire at 55 or
amount of fear when
population) and the average life
60, there are still too many years
it comes to retiring,
expectancy being 61 for men and
to be covered when it comes to
especially when it comes to how
67 for women, much needs to be
where and how they live in their
you buy your retirement home.
done to ensure that this segment
golden years.
The advent of the life rights model
is taken care of. With this global
within the retirement sector
figure growing by approximately
Evergreen Retirement Holdings,
has certainly helped to alleviate
3% per year, quality living
says life rights addresses this
the fear factor, leaving retirees
conditions are fast becoming a
global phenomenon effectively
with the peace of mind that their
priority in South Africa.
and is viewed as a more cost-
quality of life will not be altered. With an estimated 962 million people over 60 years old globally
The rapidly changing advances in healthcare and science could see the life expectancy figure jump
Phil Wilson, Sales Director of
effective option to going the traditional ownership route. Continued …
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