Somewhere along the line, “financial planning” got reduced to “picking investments” and “selling pensions.” And because of that, a lot of people still ask:
“Why would I pay an adviser’s fee to recommend a fund when I can buy an index tracker for next to nothing or pick my own funds?”
It’s a fair question—if that’s all you think the job is.
But that’s not financial planning. Not even close.
The real value is in the planning, not the product. It’s in the conversations that shape the direction of your life and help you make decisions with clarity and confidence.
It’s co-creating a lifetime financial plan—one that gives you and your spouse a clear framework for every big decision ahead.
It’s running the what if? scenarios before you commit:
It’s getting you financially organised. Do you have a will? Is it current? Have you put Powers of Attorney in place? Are your accounts, policies, and paperwork in order so that anyone can step in if needed?
It’s making you as tax-efficient as possible. Are your assets in the right structures? If you draw income, is it optimised to keep more in your pocket and less in the taxman’s?
It’s being a trusted sounding board. Someone who answers your questions, challenges your thinking when needed, and keeps you accountable so that your money serves your life—not the other way around.
It’s being there for your family if you can’t be. A single, trusted point of contact who can guide them through decisions at a time when clarity and care matter most.
Selecting an investment fund is the easy part. We can do that. But the deeper work—the work that matters most—is about giving you peace of mind, protecting the people you love, and helping you live the life you want with the resources you have.
That’s what real financial planning is. And once you’ve experienced it, you’ll never confuse it with simply “choosing investments” again.
Dirk Groeneveld, Certified Financial Planner
t. 083 261 9287
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Read more on Salute Your Own Self at Client Care
It was the editor’s birthday. And although he’s generally loathe to go out these days — preferring instead to stay home and refer to himself in the third person in vaguely inane editorial columns — he was persuaded to celebrate with a night out.
How old, you ask? Let’s put it this way: if his life expectancy were 116, a midlife crisis might be looming. Best to leave it at that.
Having already weathered a post-midlife crisis, the editor wasn’t particularly keen on buying drinks. He’s spending the remaining years, decades, if he’s lucky, preserving what’s left of his brain cells rather than sacrificing them to expensive Johnny Walker. So: a bottle of La Motte Millennium for the table (wife), a lime and soda, some sparkling water, and that was that.
His son, unfazed and focused, immediately spotted and ordered the Sparta Rib-Eye. His daughter chose the Linguine Alfredo, while the editor’s wife went with a Caprese Salad followed by the Penne Prima Vera. The editor opted for the Seared Sashimi Tuna starter and the Fillet Skewer and Chips starter — a double-starter strategy which would later prove triumphant.
As we waited, the restaurant began to fill. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming (outside, it was bitterly cold), and our waiter, Tshepo, was friendly and attentive throughout.
The Alfredo arrived and, within seconds, it was clear a tactical ordering error had been made. It was a full adult-sized portion. Delicious, yes, but far too much for a not-so-hungry 13-year-old. Most of it came home with us, meaning the editor, who is decidedly non-Ayurvedic, enjoyed creamy leftovers for days.
The Caprese and Penne Prima Vera were fresh, tasty, and happily paired with the La Motte. Happy wife, happy life, etc.
The Sparta Rib-Eye was devoured in silence. Not because it wasn’t good, quite the opposite. The boy didn’t come up for air, let alone offer a comment. It was clearly a success, punctuated only by a satisfied grin.
But still, the editor won the night. Three-nil in the food envy stakes. The seared tuna sashimi was exquisite, with just the right touch of soy and wasabi, delicate enough not to overpower the tuna. The fillet skewer was tender, flavourful, and generously portioned. The editor nearly gloated, but wisely remembered the last time he gloated, and the ensuing domestic tension. He ate quietly instead, devoid of all appearance of gloat apart from a self-knowing smile, sipping his lime and soda, feeling vaguely distinguished in his voguish collared shirt, tracksuit pants, and Hush Puppies. Dressed more for a Zoom meeting than a night out, perhaps, but Mauro didn’t seem fazed.
And that’s important: comfort, great company, awesome food, and great service. We had all four, in spades.
Dinner for four, including drinks and a generous tip, came to R1,675 — with leftovers and wine to go.
Highly recommended.
Find Mauro’s on Facebook.
Kouga – For the first time ever, the StrongHer International Award – a global initiative celebrating unstoppable women – is coming to South Africa, and Kouga Local Municipality has the honour of launching it locally.
The award is part of an exciting international collaboration between the City of Birmingham, Alabama, and Kouga Local Municipality, with the first Kouga winner to be crowned in August 2025.
“We are not just celebrating women – we are elevating everyday heroes who are quietly changing lives,” said Kouga Executive Mayor, Hattingh Bornman. “This award is about shining a spotlight on those who do not look for it but deserve it. Kouga is full of powerful, purpose-driven women, and now the world gets to see that too.”
The StrongHer Award has been running successfully in Birmingham for seven years honouring extraordinary women who uplift, inspire and serve their communities.
One woman from Kouga will now be honoured in the same way as Birmingham, Alabama women, a result of the newly established relationship between Birmingham, Alabama, USA and Kouga Local Municipality.
Women who:
Residents can nominate more than one woman – just use a separate form for each submission.
Submit your nominations now via this quick and easy form: https://forms.gle/YEN11K3umje8tJUh8
“Every community has women who makes an impact – quietly, powerfully, and without expecting anything in return,” Bornman added. “This is our opportunity to say thank you.”
Important Dates:
There were no reported incidents involving Calibre clients in the following areas: The Canals, Oyster Bay, Kromme, Rebelsrus, and Santareme Phase 1. Well done to everyone involved in upholding such a high standard of vigilance.
No arrests or recoveries were reported during this period.
There has been a noticeable increase in the theft of gate motor batteries. Residents are urged to remain vigilant and consider reinforcing security measures. Please activate alarms or panic buttons immediately if suspicious activity is noticed. Our response team is standing by to respond swiftly to all alerts.
Homes left unsecured each month:
• April: 17
• May: 19
• June: 15
• July: 21
We urge all homeowners to double-check that doors, windows, and garages are locked before leaving. Ensure alarm systems are armed, and notify our control room if your property will be unattended.
Incidents of false alarms triggered by service providers:
• April: 21
• May: 42
• June: 18
• July: 16
We thank homeowners for their continued support and for maintaining open communication with our team. Your cooperation helps improve our response times and operational efficiency.
KEEP CALM AND CALL CALIBRE
Going away? While you switch off, we stay switched on.
We’ve always got your back.
Call us on 042 294 0038.
Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly accessible every day. Yet for many small businesses and individuals, it still feels out of reach, or simply irrelevant. That’s where Seal Point AI might be able to help. It offers straightforward, practical support using AI tools to help you save time, improve productivity, and reduce the day-to-day burden of admin.
You don’t need to understand the technology — that part’s handled for you. You just say what needs doing, and get back a clean, professional result. No jargon. No meetings. No unnecessary complexity. Just quiet, efficient support that helps you move forward.
Seal Point AI is run by Craig, with help from Beth, a powerful virtual assistant powered by artificial intelligence. Together, they combine human thinking and digital tools to get jobs done faster and more affordably than traditional methods. A growing list of satisfied local clients has already used the service to simplify their work and get things done.
If you’re running a business, renting out a property, managing a community group, or just need things done, Seal Point AI can help you write, organise, fix, or simplify what’s been holding you back.
Writing and editing are the most requested services. Whether your website, menu, brochure, or social media profile needs a clearer, more effective voice, your content can be rewritten to sound professional and easy to understand. This includes property listings, guesthouse descriptions, school newsletters, and business bios. Even formatting documents like reports, press releases, CVs, and announcements is part of the offering.
For communication and marketing, you can get help creating WhatsApp-friendly flyers, rate cards, promotional content, and newsletters. Whether you’re running a special, launching a new service, or need to post something that makes sense, it can be handled for you and made to look sharp.
On the admin side, you’ll find support for setting up branded invoice templates, smart spreadsheets, and tracking tools. From budget sheets to booking logs and contact lists, your systems can be built to work smoothly without overcomplication. There’s also help available for resizing, renaming, and organising images for websites, listings, or social media.
If you’re curious about automation, simple AI assistants like Beth can be built to help answer common questions, manage basic bookings, or support customer communication. These are tailored to your needs, easy to use, and can save you hours each week by cutting down on repeated tasks.
Everything is delivered remotely, via email, WhatsApp, or a shared link, and most jobs are completed within one to two working days. Pricing is based on complexity and time, with most services falling between R500 and R1,500. The process is personal and practical: you get the result you need, without needing to chase it.
Seal Point AI is built for small-town realities. It’s about helping people take control of the everyday tasks that often get left undone, using smart tools and local expertise.
AI is going to change the way the world works, but it won’t take your job if you learn to work with it from the start. The earlier you adapt, the more valuable you become. With Craig and Beth on your side, you don’t need to figure it out alone.
e. craig@truthcollective.co,za
whatsapp. 0823764443
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