What's Happening?

Facebook Twitter Youtube Linkedin

NEED HELP? QUESTIONS@FIA.ORG.ZA

become A FIA member TODAY
member login

Staying Sharp in a Changing World

ARTICLE BY

  • Dr Kershen Pillay
  • CEO
  • GIFS

SHARE THIS POST

In today’s competitive financial landscape, stacking credentials has become a strategic necessity. As the financial services industry continues to evolve, everyone from advisers to planners faces increasing pressure to stay ahead of regulatory changes, technological disruption and shifting client expectations.

Continuous education is important for intermediaries in this constantly changing environment – but it’s equally important to choose an institution that understands the current and future needs of the financial services industry. From compliance training to advanced financial planning modules, the institute’s curricula should be built to enhance professional credibility while delivering measurable value to learners and employers alike.

Something else to consider is the learning format – as you are likely to be studying part-time and need to be able to fit learning in while juggling existing work and family commitments. An institution like GIFS (Graduate Institute of Financial Sciences) offers flexible learning formats, including online, hybrid and in-person options, which make it easier for busy professionals to upskill without compromising their workflow. This adaptability is especially beneficial for brokerages managing dispersed teams or operating across multiple regions.

Beyond our borders

Thanks in part to digitalisation, the world is getting smaller. More and more South Africans are living and working abroad for periods of time, but still intend to return to South Africa. Others have emigrated but need to make provision for relatives back home.

Forward-thinking institutions recognise this trend and are forming strategic partnerships outside of South Africa’s borders. GIFS, for example, now has partnerships established in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada. For brokers and intermediaries, this means access to internationally-recognised qualifications and a broader network of professional development opportunities.

GIFS is a proud delivery partner of the Global Goals 2030: Africa Scholarship, which offers macro employers significant reductions in course fees for eligible qualifications; from entry-level certifications to master’s programmes. This initiative is especially relevant for brokerages looking to upskill teams without straining their training budgets.

The scholarship removes red tape and simplifies access: employers need only submit a motivation and supporting documents for new or existing staff earmarked for career growth. It’s a practical solution to two major pain points that often hinder learning in the financial sector – cost and complexity.

GIFS CEO Dr Kershen Pillay points to the 2025 Q2 Labour Force Survey as a wake-up call: youth unemployment rose by 39 000, nearing five million. For brokers and intermediaries, this is a call to action. Investing in education isn’t just good business; it’s a contribution to a more stable and prosperous society.

Making an impact

Compliance has always been a hot topic in financial services, but now more so than ever. Being educated on the latest compliance requirements is essential for every brokerage. In May 2025, GIFS partnered with the Financial and International Business Association (FIBA) to launch South Africa’s first Anti-Money Laundering Certification. This programme equips brokers and financial professionals with the tools to combat financial crime – timely, as South Africa exits the FATF greylist.

“We’re not in this industry for profit. We’re in it for purpose,” says Dr Pillay. “Our goal is to leave the world more educated and empowered than we found it.”

Beyond the delivery of qualifications, GIFS offers a gateway to a richer, more purposeful professional journey for advisers, brokers, intermediaries and planners across the financial services landscape.

It’s a place where every module and mentorship moment is designed to empower individuals to lead with integrity, adapt with agility and contribute to a more inclusive and resilient financial ecosystem. After two decades working with financial professionals, GIFS recognises the importance of leaving a legacy that’s rooted in ethical compliance, elevated by continuous growth and driven by a desire to make a meaningful impact.

Just as intermediaries help clients plan for the future while securing the present, it’s important to apply that same principle to your own professional development. Partnering with an experienced educational institution that understands your needs can help you achieve that.

Subscriber Terms and Conditions

  1. APPLICATION OF TERMS
    • These terms and conditions (“Subscriber Terms”) apply to the subscription by any qualifying member of the South African Underwriting Managers Association NPC (“SAUMA”) to the services and benefits offered by FIA Services (Pty) Ltd (“FIA Services”) under the SAUMA affiliation arrangement (“Subscription”).

  2. NATURE OF SUBSCRIPTION
    • A Subscription under this arrangement:
      • does not constitute membership of FIA NPC;
      • does not confer any voting rights or governance participation in FIA NPC; and
      • is governed solely by the contractual relationship between the Subscriber and FIA Services.

  1. ELIGIBILITY
    • To qualify for the Subscription, the applicant must, at the time of application, be a current paid-up member of SAUMA.
    • FIA Services will verify the applicant’s SAUMA membership status with SAUMA prior to activation, and may re-verify such status periodically.
    • If a Subscriber ceases to be a paid-up member of SAUMA, the Subscription will correspondingly be terminated.
    • Applicants are required to authorise FIA Services to confirm their SAUMA membership status with SAUMA as part of the application process.

  1. SERVICES
    • The Subscription entitles the Subscriber to the following benefits:
      • Complimentary access to the FIA CPD Platform;
      • Complimentary access to the FIA Insight Magazine (digital edition);
      • Advertising opportunities on FIA platforms at a discounted rate of 15% (fifteen percent) off the prevailing published rates; and
      • Invitations to attend FIA Technical Webinars annually.
    • FIA Services reserves the right to update, vary or substitute the Services from time to time, provided that the overall value and nature of the benefits remain materially the same.

  1. FEES AND PAYMENT
    • The monthly subscription fee is R260.00 (two hundred and sixty rand) for up to seven registered individuals (Key Individuals and Representatives), and R36.00 (thirty-six rand) per additional registered individual thereafter, excluding VAT.
    • The Subscriber shall provide FIA Services with the required details of each individual to be registered under the Subscription for the purposes of activation and billing.
    • All fees are exclusive of VAT, which shall be charged at the prevailing statutory rate.
    • Subscription fees are reviewed annually in March and may be adjusted with effect from 1 April.
    • Any changes to the Subscription, including but not limited to the number of Representatives and Key Individuals registered under the Subscription, may only be effected once annually during the annual review period in March of each year, with such changes taking effect from 1 April.
    • Subscription fees shall be billed monthly in arrears, unless the Subscriber elects an annual billing cycle at the time of application.
    • The Subscriber shall ensure that all billing information (including contact details, authorised signatories and bank account details) is kept accurate and up to date.
    • Non-payment of subscription fees may result in suspension of access to the Services until such fees are brought up to date.
    • The Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that all subscription fees payable under these Subscriber Terms may be collected by way of debit order, which shall be processed by the holding company, FIA NPC (The Financial Intermediary Association of South Africa), on behalf of FIA Services. Payment to FIA NPC shall be deemed to constitute valid and sufficient discharge of the Subscriber’s payment obligations to FIA Services under these Subscriber Terms.

  1. ONBOARDING
    • Onboarding will be conducted as a Subscription with FIA Services under the SAUMA affiliation arrangement.
    • Onboarding will not confer FIA NPC membership status or any associated rights.
    • Onboarding is conditional on confirmation of the Subscriber’s current SAUMA membership at the time of application

  1. DATA PROTECTION
    • FIA Services will process all personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA) as set out in our POPIA policies.
    • By subscribing, the Subscriber authorises FIA Services to confirm their SAUMA membership status with SAUMA and to process personal information for the purposes of fulfilling the Subscription.

  1. TERMINATION
    • The Subscriber may terminate the Subscription by giving FIA Services one calendar month’s written notice.
    • FIA Services may terminate the Subscription on one calendar month’s written notice, or immediately if the Subscriber breaches these Subscriber Terms and fails to remedy such breach within 14 (fourteen) days of receiving written notice.
    • Termination of the SAUMA–FIA Services affiliation agreement shall not automatically terminate these Subscriber Terms.
    • Termination by the Subscriber shall not relieve the Subscriber of liability for any subscription fees accrued up to the effective date of termination.
    • FIA Services may suspend or terminate the Subscription with immediate effect in the event of non-payment of fees by the Subscriber.

  1. GENERAL
    • These Subscriber Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa.
    • Any disputes arising under these Subscriber Terms shall be dealt with in accordance with the dispute resolution provisions contained in the FIA NPC membership terms and conditions, as modified to reflect that the contractual relationship is with FIA Services.
    • Any notices required under these Subscriber Terms may be validly delivered by email to the addresses provided in the Subscriber’s application form, and such notices shall be deemed received on the day of transmission if sent during business hours.
    • The Subscriber may not assign, cede or transfer any of its rights or obligations under these Subscriber Terms without the prior written consent of FIA Services.
    • No variation of these Subscriber Terms shall be of any force or effect unless reduced to writing and signed by both FIA Services and the Subscriber.