COVER Magazine

Janet Hugo, founder of Sterling Wealth, approaches financial planning with empathy and personalised care. Inspired by her family’s experience with poor financial advice, Janet was driven to offer bespoke solutions that focus on understanding each client’s unique needs. With a deep commitment to client well-being, she often goes beyond financial strategies, encouraging her clients to enjoy their wealth. Janet fosters close relationships, carefully navigating personal and financial dynamics, from family disputes to estate planning. Her client-centered approach, combined with her belief in using technology to enhance advisory services, has helped her establish a trusted and successful financial planning practice. 

Craig Kiggen, Managing Director of Consolidated Wealth Group and past winner of the Financial Planner of the Year award, shares insights from his journey in financial planning and business leadership. Consolidated Wealth offers a comprehensive financial service that ensures clients' peace of mind and long-term security. Over the years, Craig's focus has expanded to mentoring junior planners and leading Consolidated through global growth and technological innovation. His philosophy emphasises balancing sustainable profits with fair client outcomes, fostering long-term relationships, and creating a collaborative environment that nurtures the next generation of financial planners. 

Warren Ingram, co-founder of Galileo Capital and winner of the Financial Planner of the Year award, has dedicated his career to revolutionising financial advice by putting ethics and client-centered service at the forefront. Starting in 1996, Warren’s journey took him from corporate environments that prioritized profit over people to launching Galileo Capital, where he pioneered a fee-based, no-commission financial planning model. Through his leadership, Warren has helped countless clients achieve financial freedom by focusing on long-term strategies and building trust. He also advocates for professional certification and mentoring younger financial planners to ensure the continued growth of the profession. 

In an engaging discussion with Tony, Rudolph Geldenhuys, Financial Planner of the Year 2024, shares his journey and insights into financial planning. At just 33, Rudolph emphasises the importance of balancing the technical and human sides of money management. His goal is to help clients align their financial decisions with their personal purpose. Rudolph also touches on overcoming personal insecurities, the value of community, and the vital role of technology and teamwork in supporting his passion for client interaction. His message to young financial planners? Find your "why" and connect deeply with clients to make lasting impacts.

Spiros Fatouros, CEO of Marsh Africa, unpacks the evolving landscape of cyber risk and insurance. Spiros discusses key insights from the Marsh McLennan and Zurich report, which highlights that 99% of economic loss from cyber incidents remains uninsured.  

With cyberattacks becoming more frequent and costly, Spiros explains the importance of addressing this protection gap and outlines the growing interest in cyber insurance in South Africa.  

He also emphasises the need for public-private partnerships to tackle systemic risks. Listen to the podcast to explore the future of cyber risk management in Africa and beyond.

Maria Makhabane, Chief Growth Officer at Discovery Health, shares her insights on expanding access to affordable healthcare in South Africa. In this interview, she explains Discovery Health's initiatives, such as FlexiCare, a prepaid healthcare product that provides essential medical services to underserved communities. Maria emphasises the importance of creating long-term healthcare solutions for those outside the traditional medical scheme environment, focusing on quality, affordability, and accessibility. She also discusses how these initiatives align with the broader national goal of universal healthcare, contributing to the ongoing development of the National Health Insurance (NHI) framework. 

Nonhlanhla (Noni) Nxele, CFP®, founder of Esteemed Financial Solutions, has been a trailblazer in the financial services industry for over 16 years. Starting her career as a financial advisor at Liberty, she earned multiple awards before moving into investments and later returning to Liberty’s head office. In 2021, she achieved the prestigious CFP® designation, motivated by her passion for educating and empowering communities. Noni was recently honored with the It Starts With Me award, recognising her dedication to pro bono work and upholding high ethical standards. As a leader, she’s committed to inspiring the next generation of financial advisors. 

The Allianz Cybersecurity Resilience Report 2024 highlights key trends in cyber risk, with ransomware continuing to dominate large claims over €1 million. Data breaches and class action suits are also on the rise, particularly in the U.S. and Europe. Allianz Cyber Specialist Santho Mohapeloa emphasises that cybercriminals are increasingly shifting from encryption-based ransomware to data theft, making breaches more costly for victims. Best practices for risk mitigation include employee training, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and comprehensive disaster recovery plans. The report serves as an essential tool for brokers and risk managers to stay informed and prepared for future cyber threats. 

Curtis Davey, Divisional Director at Natsure Underwriting Managers discusses navigating the complex world of HCV and GIT.

The insurance landscape for heavy commercial vehicles (HCV) and goods in transit (GRT) is rapidly evolving, driven by trends in risk management and technological advancements. Fleet owners are increasingly adopting strategies such as telematics and surveillance cameras to enhance safety and efficiency. This shift necessitates a more in-depth underwriting process, where insurers assess how well fleet owners manage their vehicles and drivers. Brokers play a vital role, bridging the gap between insurers and clients by educating them on risk mitigation options. As the industry grows, opportunities for brokers and fleet owners to innovate and improve safety are abundant.

Cindy Butler, Renasa’s Regional Manager for KZN and Coastal, discusses the importance of risk management in the insurance industry, focusing on KZN's challenges over the past five years, including storms, riots, and fires.  

Renasa’s approach combines advanced data analysis with an “Eyes on the Ground” initiative, where risks are physically inspected. Cindy emphasises the importance of broker relationships, using both technology and personal engagement to manage risks prudently.  

She highlights the need for collaboration between insurers, brokers, and clients, with a focus on making KZN insurable again, despite ongoing service delivery and weather-related challenges.