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She’s worked with industry leaders, shaped strategy at top institutions, and now Rivonia Govender is charting a new course as CEO of GrowthHouse – a 99% black female-owned independent brokerage empowering financial advisers across South Africa.

In this episode of The Unusual Finance Chat, Tinus de Jager speaks with Rivonia about her journey from McKinsey to Discovery, what attracted her to GrowthHouse, and how she sees the future of independent financial advice in South Africa.

This is a conversation about leadership, transformation, and building a business with purpose.

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This week on The Unusual Finance Chat, we unpack the ripple effects of rising U.S. tariffs on global and local investment strategies. Liam Dawson, Investment Analyst and Portfolio Manager at PortfolioMetrix, joins Tinus de Jager and Jacques de Villiers to explain how these trade tensions shape portfolio construction, where the risks lie, and what South African investors should watch out for. With his background in engineering, global asset analysis, and fixed income management, Liam brings a sharply analytical view to a complex global question. 

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In this week’s episode of The Unusual Finance Chat, Tinus de Jager looks at the severe flooding impacting KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo and what it means for infrastructure, agriculture, and the insurance industry. We also hear from Professor Adré Schreuder of the University of Pretoria about a new index measuring customer satisfaction in financial services. Plus, there’s a glance back at the history of insurance and the latest stock picks for the week ahead. 

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 In this episode of The Unusual Finance Chat, Tinus de Jager unpacks the latest in finance, insurance, and investment. We continue our conversation with Lyndwill Clarke from the FSCA on how to spot and avoid financial scams, take a deep dive into the history of actuarial tables, and review the performance of our stock picks. 

Plus, we look at Warren Buffett’s growing cash pile, a major fine in South Africa’s funeral insurance sector, rising car insurance costs in the U.S., and the hidden profits behind Florida’s insurance crisis. Tune in for all this and more! 

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Welcome to The Unusual Finance Chat! Hosted by Tinus de Jager and Jacques de Villiers, your go-to source for finance insights with a twist. In today’s episode, we’re diving deep into financial literacy’s role in fighting corruption and crime with Lyndwill Clarke, Head of Consumer Education at the FSCA. We’ll also touch on the latest news, including the potential tax hikes in South Africa’s upcoming budget speech and international tensions as global figures like Musk and Trump weigh in on South African issues. Stay tuned for stock picks and more, right here on The Unusual Finance Chat.  📊🎙️ 

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Welcome to The Unusual Finance Chat, your weekly guide to finance, insurance, and investment. I’m Tinus de Jager, joined by Jacques de Villiers. In today’s episode, we unpack key developments in the financial world, including crucial changes to South Africa’s National Health Insurance plan, the rising strain on California’s insurance market due to wildfires, and the legacy of insurance pioneer Douw Steyn. Plus, we speak to Lyndwill Clarke from the FSCA about consumer education, I’ll track our stock picks, and Jacques brings us This Week in the UK. Let’s get started! 

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Welcome to the first episode of The Unusual Finance Chat for 2025! This week, host Tinus de Jager dives into the latest developments shaping the insurance and financial industries.

We kick off the year on a sobering note, with the devastating wildfires in California causing an estimated $40 billion in insured losses, marking the largest wildfire insurance event in history. What could this mean for the global insurance landscape?

Then, we’re joined by Gideon Galloway, the innovative founder and CEO of King Price Insurance. From decreasing car premiums to a quirky offering of free alien abduction insurance, Gideon shares how his company is reshaping the way we think about coverage.

We also relaunch our stock picks segment with a look at how major South African and international stocks are performing at the start of the year.

Tune in for a thought-provoking, insightful, and even out-of-this-world episode! 🎙️

New episodes drop every Friday at 1 PM CAT. Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with friends!

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 In this special final episode of The Unusual Finance Chat for the year, we sit down with Jeanette Marais, CEO of Momentum Group and the first female CEO of a large, listed life insurance and asset management group in South Africa. 
Jeanette shares her incredible career journey, insights on leadership, strategies driving Momentum's success, and advice for aspiring leaders in finance. Join us for this inspiring conversation to close out the season. 
We'll be back with Season 2 on 17 January! 

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In this episode of The Unusual Finance Chat, Tinus de Jager and Jacques de Villiers unpack the latest developments in the world of insurance, both at home and abroad.

We explore the case of a UK motorist who faced a six-figure repair bill after his insurance claim was denied—because of an undeclared tow bar. This sparks a discussion about the pitfalls of purchasing cover through comparison websites and the importance of understanding policy fine print.

Closer to home, we delve into the multi-million-dollar legal battle between South Africa’s Global Aviation Investments and Russian insurer Ingosstrakh, a saga that’s been in and out of courtrooms for over a decade.

We also discuss the shocking assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York, raising questions about the safety of corporate leaders in today’s world.

On a more positive note, we highlight the R161 million recovered for South African consumers by the National Financial Ombud Scheme this year, with insights from Reana Steyn, the head of the NFO, in an exclusive interview later in the episode.

You can find the NFO on this link.

As always, Jacques wraps up with his "This Week in the UK" segment, while we touch on the fascinating history of insurance and answer a listener’s question.

Tune in for a thought-provoking episode filled with expert analysis, compelling stories, and practical insights into the insurance industry.

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 🎙️ Join veteran journalist Tinus de Jager and insurance expert Jacques de Villiers for another episode of The Unusual Finance Chat!

This week, we explore the latest developments shaking up the financial and insurance industries, from groundbreaking moves by Sanlam and Santam in micro-insurance to the rising challenges of "nuclear" court verdicts. We talk to Christiaan Marais, Head of Actuarial at MiWay Insurance, and discuss the delicate balance between premiums and claims ... and what it means for consumers and the industry.

We also tackle your burning questions, our weekly stock picks segment keeps you updated on market trends (not great this week), and Jacques brings a lighter touch with entertainment buzz in This Week in the UK.

Whether you’re in finance, insurance, or just curious about the world of money, this episode delivers expert insights, practical advice, and a touch of fun.

🎧 Tune in now to stay informed and entertained!

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