Old Mutual Insure has partnered with the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) to establish Wits Old Mutual Insure Actuarial Risk Lab, a new research initiative aimed at advancing the use of artificial intelligence, machine learning and actuarial science to better understand and respond to emerging risks such as climate change.

Today, the insurance industry is faced with complex risks that are changing and reshaping its operating environment. The Middle East political conflict presents a critical layer of uncertainty in the insurance market globally across the entire value chain. There is a ripple effect of these conflicts that will lead to increased trade tensions and supply chain disruptions globally as well as in the regional markets.

Africa stands at a crossroads. For decades, conversations about our continent have been framed around potential; what Africa could become.

Keeping up with legislative change is only part of the challenge. Understanding what those changes mean in practice is what enables advisers to deliver real value to their clients. The FIA Employee Benefits Executive Committee has prepared a practical guide to the latest tax law amendments, unpacking the implications for the Two-Pot Retirement System, retirement funds, emigration, death benefits and more.

The landscape is shifting quickly. Economic pressures, regulatory reforms, social change, and rising professional expectations are transforming what it means to be a financial adviser. Technical competence alone is no longer enough. Today’s clients expect more than projections and policy comparisons; they want advice that recognises who they are, what they value and where they hope to go.

War and climate disasters dominate headlines, economic uncertainty persists and rapid technological change continues to unsettle entire industries. Yet in moments like these, ancient stories often offer the clearest guidance. One such story is the parable of the hummingbird and the forest fire, popularised by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai and rooted in Native American folklore.

For decades, advisers, insurers and institutions have relied on historical data to predict future outcomes. But recent global disruptions – from pandemics and geopolitical instability to civil unrest and climate shocks – have exposed the limitations of traditional risk models.

In an environment of increasing regulatory scrutiny, rising operational complexity and heightened client expectations, one thing is clear: compliance is no longer enough.

One of the biggest missed opportunities in the insurance space is how business insurance is positioned, which has a direct impact on how its importance is perceived by clients.

The introduction of the two-pot retirement system has changed the way clients engage with their savings. For the first time, many are interacting with their retirement funds in a more immediate way, creating space for more frequent and relevant conversations with their financial advisers.

In an environment where cybercrime, climate risk and economic volatility are rising, the role of the intermediary has never been more critical to the financial stability of households and businesses.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has moved far beyond the realm of experimentation. It is making (or helping to make) decisions that carry real financial, operational and societal consequences.

Mike Mgodeli, Managing Director of RTU Renasa Taxi Insurance believes that the traditional way of thinking about “taxi insurance” is no longer sufficient. The conversation has moved beyond taxis as a standalone class of business to something far broader: a dynamic, evolving passenger transport ecosystem.

There is a deceptively simple question at the heart of personal finance: should you spend it now, or should you grow it for later?

Gap cover has changed from a precaution to a necessary part of healthcare cover. To see why, we need to look at how this has happened over time.

Own the machine: Why AI is the financial adviser’s greatest tool, and their greatest test.