Futureproof your business with analysis and opinion from SA’s industry experts.
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.
Clients don’t stay because of the cheapest premium. They stay because of the broker who stood by them when it mattered.
For financial advisers and brokers, the conversation around education is no longer abstract policy, it’s a business imperative and the Global Goals 2030: Africa Scholarship presents a chance to redefine the profession’s legacy.
Prospecting remains one of the most persistent challenges facing independent financial planning practices, yet it is often discussed as though it were a simple skills gap or a matter of individual effort. In reality, what many firms are experiencing points to something more structural, and worth closer examination by business owners as well as the advisers working within their practices.
South Africa’s water crisis is reaching breaking point as urban centres confront systemic failures and mounting risks. But it’s not too late to act.
