Hidden Figures
When it comes to financial crime, the warning signs are almost always there, but not always spotted in time. In South Africa’s current, tightened regulatory environment, failing to detect red flags early can expose accountable institutions to reputational and legal fallout that far outweighs the cost of vigilance. Hawken McEwan, Director of Risk & Compliance at nCino KYC Africa shares the red flags to watch out for…
The Insurtech Uprising
As customers increasingly look for digital offerings to suit their modern lifestyles, a new wave of tech-first companies is entering the market. Jaco Oosthuizen, MD at YuLife SA, asks: Can legacy insurers keep up?
Advice Still Wins
The newly established National Financial Ombud Scheme of South Africa has released its first annual report. Its findings reveal valuable insights that can help clients prevent claim rejections in future, and show that intermediaries matter more than ever, writes Tarina Vlok, MD at Elite Risk.
A Broker’s Guide to the New Insurance Landscape
Technology is moving so fast, clients want more and more, and the old lines between our roles are getting blurred. But, asks Michael Nicolaou, Johannesburg Branch Manager at Howdie Insurance Administrators, what if we told you that this isn’t a threat? What if it’s the biggest opportunity you’ve ever had?
Active Ownership In Action
Stocks are not merely pieces of paper or pixels on a screen. A share represents fractional ownership in a real business. This fundamental principle informs everything – from how a company’s intrinsic value is assessed to acting on behalf of clients as stewards of their capital. Here’s what that looks like in practice.
When client trust becomes your reputation
For brokers, reputation isn’t built in marketing campaigns. It’s built in the pressure moments, and it can be lost just as quickly. Every broker knows those moments. The late-night call after an accident. The claim that drags on for months. The renewal that hangs by a thread. In those situations, clients aren’t thinking about premiums or paperwork. They’re thinking about whether their broker will deliver.
Thoughts From Our CEO
The financial services landscape isn’t just changing; it’s accelerating into uncharted territory. As intermediaries, we find ourselves at the intersection of regulatory transformation (one example is COFI), technological disruption (such as AI), and evolving client expectations. The question isn’t whether we need to shift gears, but how strategically we execute that shift to emerge stronger and more client-focused than ever before, writes Lizelle van der Merwe, CEO of the FIA.
E.M.P.A.T.H.Y.
By turning empathy into an acronym and unpacking the values it stands for, we can create a powerful blueprint for building stronger client connections, says Wimpie van der Merwe, CEO of Global Choices.
Scaling Smart, Not Hard
Starting a brokerage is challenging, but so is growing it. It takes effective planning, a clear strategy, and a willingness to learn and adapt to an evolving business landscape. To stay competitive in a changing world, insurance brokers need to evolve too. Fanus Coetzee, CEO of Santam Broker Solutions, shares tips to help you expand into new markets without leaving your established clients behind.
Risk Averted
There are numerous hazards to be navigated in the financial services industry. In this article, Kali Bagary, CEO of The Data Company, explains how employing the help of technological solutions can make the process easier.
