by SFT | Jun 5, 2026 | Financial Planning, St Francis
Last week, around 50 guests joined us at the Brewery in St Francis for lunch and a conversation we always look forward to having.
We opened by sharing how we approach one of the most common challenges PW Harvey & Co see: a portfolio scattered across different advisors, platforms and opinions. Over time, this can create unnecessary complexity and make it difficult to see the bigger picture.
Our work is to bring all of that together into a single consolidated plan. The goal is to create a structure that is tax efficient, reduces the fees you are paying and provides a clear roadmap for you and your family through every stage of life.
A Global Economic Perspective
On the subject of life’s uncertainties, we were delighted to welcome Jeremy Gardiner, Director at Ninety One.
Jeremy took us on a tour around the world, starting in the United States, where tariffs and ongoing conflicts continue to shape the global economy and create ripple effects that reach us here in South Africa.
He then turned to Europe and China, two of our largest trading partners. During his presentation, he unpacked how changing economic conditions in those regions could influence markets, investment sentiment and economic activity closer to home.
Finding Reasons for Optimism
Finally, Jeremy brought us back to South Africa and highlighted a number of positive developments that are often overlooked.
It is easy to focus on daily headlines and short-term concerns. However, Jeremy reminded us that there are encouraging signs of progress and that the country’s long-term story contains far more opportunity than many people realise.
Looking Ahead
Our thanks to Jeremy and to everyone who joined us for the afternoon.
These gatherings remain a real highlight for our team. They provide an opportunity to share ideas, gain valuable insights and spend time with clients and friends in a relaxed setting.
We look forward to seeing you at the next one.
– PW Harvey
www.pwharvey.co.za
by SFT | May 31, 2026 | Financial Planning, St Francis
Today most of the public still see a Financial Planners job to be picking investments, portfolio management and managing money. In reality, this task is not even second to what a real planner should be doing. A real financial planners’ primary role is exactly what the title says, financial planning.
The truth is that a portfolio has no other rational function than as a servant of a plan. The highest and noblest function of an advisor is planning for their clients. Likewise, the widely accepted assumption is that the primary determinant of investment success is portfolio performance, but it’s not, investor behaviour is, and this is where a real financial planner adds immeasurable value.
The second most important function of a planner is as a behaviour modifier, helping clients refrain from making emotional big mistakes that will destroy their well thought out plan. This is not to say that one’s investment portfolio is not important, it is, but only to the extent that it funds your plan which consists of your own unique personal goals and dreams.
Simple examples of goals are a retirement income that you can’t outlive or funding your grandkids tertiary education. These goals will vary and be unique to every person or couple. Everyone’s plan will be different, so should the accompanying investment portfolio based on a client’s available resources available and time.
This misunderstanding by most is understandable as the financial services industry serves itself with the narrative it spreads through it’s marketing strategies, implying that “they” have the golden bullet when it comes to investing. Another truth that I will touch on another time is that long term real-life returns are more dependent on asset allocation than fund selection.
Make sure that you have a plan that drives your investment portfolio, not the other way around. I see so many situations where the client’s money is the “client” and not the individual/couple or their family. Trust me if you don’t have a real plan, it is probably because this part takes time, honest and sometimes tough conversation and needs an understanding of who YOU are.
Are you worth it?
Dirk Groeneveld, Certified Financial Planner
t. 083 261 9287
e. dirk@clientcare.co.za
Recent columns:
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Disclaimer:
This article is for information purposes only and does not constitute financial advice in any way or form. It is important to consult a financial planner to receive financial advice before acting on any information contained herein. Client Care and PWM and its directors, officers, and employees shall not be responsible and disclaim all liability for any loss, damage (whether direct, indirect, special or consequential) and/or expense of any nature whatsoever, which may be suffered as a result of, or which may be attributable, directly or indirectly, to the use of, or reliance upon any information contained in this article.
by SFT | May 24, 2026 | Financial Planning, St Francis
In the age of online resources and financial apps, it’s tempting to take a do-it-yourself (DIY) approach to financial planning. However, managing your finances without professional guidance can lead to pitfalls and missed opportunities. Here are five reasons why DIY financial planning makes no sense.
1. Own Biases
When planning your finances, it’s challenging to remain objective about your money. Personal biases, such as overconfidence in certain investments or a tendency to avoid uncomfortable truths about spending habits, can skew your financial decisions. A financial planner brings an impartial perspective, helping you make rational, well-informed choices that align with your long-term goals.
2. Too Close to Own Problems
Being too close to your financial situation can cloud your judgment. Just as it’s difficult to diagnose one’s own health issues accurately, it’s tough to assess your financial health without an outsider’s view. A professional financial planner can provide a clear, unbiased assessment of your financial situation and recommend strategies you might not have considered.
3. Influence from Friends and Family
Friends and family often offer financial advice based on their experiences, but their situations and goals can be vastly different from yours. This well-meaning advice might not be applicable or beneficial to your unique circumstances. A financial planner, however, tailors their advice to your specific needs, ensuring your financial plan is personalized and effective.
4. Complexity of Financial Planning
Financial planning is more than just budgeting and saving; it involves complex elements like tax planning, retirement planning, estate planning, and investment management. Professionals have the expertise to navigate these complexities and optimize your financial plan. DIY efforts can miss critical components, potentially leading to financial shortfalls or missed opportunities.
5. Changing Regulations and Markets
The financial landscape is constantly evolving, with changes in tax laws, market conditions, and investment options. Keeping up with these changes requires time and expertise. Financial planners stay abreast of the latest developments and adjust your plan accordingly, ensuring you remain on track to meet your goals despite shifting circumstances.
In the end
While the appeal of DIY financial planning is understandable, it often leads to suboptimal outcomes due to biases, lack of objectivity, misplaced advice from non-experts, and the sheer complexity of financial management. Engaging a professional financial planner not only helps mitigate these risks but also provides tailored, expert guidance to navigate the ever-changing financial landscape. Investing in professional advice is an investment in your financial future, ensuring your plans are comprehensive, realistic, and aligned with your long-term goals.
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Dirk Groeneveld, Certified Financial Planner
t. 083 261 9287
e. dirk@clientcare.co.za
Recent columns:
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Disclaimer:
This article is for information purposes only and does not constitute financial advice in any way or form. It is important to consult a financial planner to receive financial advice before acting on any information contained herein. Client Care and PWM and its directors, officers, and employees shall not be responsible and disclaim all liability for any loss, damage (whether direct, indirect, special or consequential) and/or expense of any nature whatsoever, which may be suffered as a result of, or which may be attributable, directly or indirectly, to the use of, or reliance upon any information contained in this article.
by SFT | May 3, 2026 | Financial Planning, St Francis
I recently attended a financial planning conference where a fascinating conversation unfolded, one that I suspect will resonate with many of you reading this.
The topic was young adults (our children) entering the workforce and the challenge as a financial planner, of getting them engaged with retirement planning early. The younger voices in the room were honest and articulate about their challenges, starting salaries simply don’t stretch far enough. Rent, medical aid, groceries, transport, the basics alone can feel overwhelming in today’s especially in metropolitan areas. Retirement, they said, feels like a distant abstraction when survival feels like the immediate reality. It’s hard to argue with that.
But then the older planners in the room said something that gave everyone pause. Many admitted they were still paying their adult children’s medical aids, subsidising rent, and covering expenses for children who had long since married, started families, and were driving cars they couldn’t afford themselves. And then came the quiet admission that perhaps we made it too easy.
When the older generation started out, there were no smartphones, no gym memberships, no expectation of immediate comfort. They went without and figured things out as they went along. Student loans had to be repaid, and internship salaries had to suffice. In doing so, they built certain skills or attributes, resourcefulness, resilience, and a genuine appreciation for what they eventually earned.
I see this dynamic constantly in my own business. And I’ll be honest, I’m not immune to it myself. We love our children and we hate seeing them struggle. When we have the means to help, it feels almost unnatural not to, but what looks like generosity on the surface can quietly become something more complicated underneath.
I’ve watched clients trim their own lifestyles, downscale their homes, and quietly shelve dreams in what should be their glory years because financial support of their children never had a proper end date. Even among wealthier clients, the consequences often surprise people. Children who haven’t had to earn money frequently don’t value it the same way. A quiet sense of entitlement can develop. Partners can feel diminished because they’re unable to provide what the family has come to expect. These are real, human costs that no balance sheet captures.
Finding the balance isn’t about being hard-hearted, it’s about being thoughtful. Before you extend financial support, talk it through with your spouse. Consider all the consequences, both for your children, for their relationships, and for yourselves. Never assist to your own detriment.
Retirement isn’t the end. It’s the beginning of a whole new chapter. Make sure you arrive there with enough and if you help, do so responsibly.
—
Dirk Groeneveld, Certified Financial Planner
t. 083 261 9287
e. dirk@clientcare.co.za
Recent columns:
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Disclaimer:
This article is for information purposes only and does not constitute financial advice in any way or form. It is important to consult a financial planner to receive financial advice before acting on any information contained herein. Client Care and PWM and its directors, officers, and employees shall not be responsible and disclaim all liability for any loss, damage (whether direct, indirect, special or consequential) and/or expense of any nature whatsoever, which may be suffered as a result of, or which may be attributable, directly or indirectly, to the use of, or reliance upon any information contained in this article.
by SFT | Apr 19, 2026 | Financial Planning, St Francis
Over the years, working with families, you start to notice a pattern. Some money is quietly doing its job, growing, compounding, supporting a life well lived; while other money just sits there, safe, still, unused.
A simple way to think about this is with seeds.
You can plant them in the ground where they’ll face wind, rain, and the odd storm. or you can keep them in a tin on the shelf. In the tin, nothing happens they are protected. They look exactly the same tomorrow as they do today.
The problem is that they also never become anything. In a similar sense, money is no different. Most people’s instinct is to protect what they’ve built and that makes sense, especially when it has been hard-earned.
However, we believe that money isn’t just something to preserve, but rather it is something to use. At its core, money only really has one job, which is to fund your life. To maintain, and ideally improve, your ability to live the way you want over time.
That’s where the real challenge lies.
The world doesn’t stand still. Prices rise, life evolves, and if your money isn’t keeping up(with inflation), it’s quietly going backwards even if the number on the statement never changes. Unfortunately, and dangerously, this is the part many people miss because the real risk isn’t volatility but rather erosion of spending power.
The difference between “dead” and “alive” money.
Some assets, by their nature, are static. Cash feels safe but it slowly loses purchasing power. Gold may shine but it doesn’t produce anything. Fixed income gives certainty but often struggles to keep pace with inflation over longer periods. There’s a place for all of these. But left on their own, they tend to fall behind. They’re the seeds in the tin on the shelf.
Then there are assets that are alive.
These are the ones that do something. They produce, they grow, they adapt. Think about owning great businesses, companies run by people, solving real problems, selling things the world needs. Over time, they generate profits, pay income, and increase in value. Not in a straight line but in a meaningful one and historically, this is what has kept investors ahead of inflation and preserved real wealth over time.
So why we default to safety? If the case for “living” assets is so clear, why do so many people still default to the tin?
Because of how it feels.
Living assets move around, they can be uncomfortable, and at times, they test your patience and your nerve. Dead assets, on the other hand, feel predictable, calm and controlled.However, that calm comes at a cost, one that’s easy to ignore because it happens slowly.
This is where one’s behaviour becomes everything. We are wired to avoid loss, even when that “loss” is invisible and happening in the background.
The quiet trade-off in the end isn’t really about investments, it’s about short-term comfort versus long-term outcome, certainty today versus possibility tomorrow.
The irony is that the habits that helped you build your wealth, such as being careful, disciplined, conservative can, if left unchecked, start to work against you.
Because at some point, money needs to move from being protected to being put to work.
The tin will always feel safer.
But it’s the garden that gives you a future.
—
Dirk Groeneveld, Certified Financial Planner
t. 083 261 9287
e. dirk@clientcare.co.za
Recent columns:
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Disclaimer:
This article is for information purposes only and does not constitute financial advice in any way or form. It is important to consult a financial planner to receive financial advice before acting on any information contained herein. Client Care and PWM and its directors, officers, and employees shall not be responsible and disclaim all liability for any loss, damage (whether direct, indirect, special or consequential) and/or expense of any nature whatsoever, which may be suffered as a result of, or which may be attributable, directly or indirectly, to the use of, or reliance upon any information contained in this article.
by SFT | Apr 12, 2026 | Financial Planning, St Francis
I was reminded of this recently over dinner with friends. Our host, soon to turn 80, spent decades in senior roles at one of South Africa’s largest insurers. This is someone who understands money, risk, and planning better than most. And yet, as the evening unfolded, he quietly admitted a fear: that he might live too long and run out of funds.
Three themes from that conversation are ones I see repeatedly while working with our retired clients.
The first is longevity. We all know, intellectually, that people are living longer. But we don’t always grasp what that really means. Living longer isn’t just about more years, it’s about more active years. In places like St Francis, I see it daily: people in their 70s playing golf in the morning, tennis in the afternoon, and paddling the canals in between. A longer life often means a fuller, more active (and therefore more expensive) life. And if health does decline, the costs can rise sharply, with medical inflation running well ahead of normal inflation.
This brings me to the second point: inflation is the real enemy.
Too often, the focus is on investment returns, complex portfolios, or finding the next “star” manager. But none of that matters if your money isn’t keeping ahead of inflation. What truly counts is the real return, what’s left after inflation has taken its bite. No one retires well because they picked a brilliant fund manager. They retire well because, over time, they have saved diligently and their investments quietly outpaced inflation.
The third theme is generosity. Many retirees take great pride in helping their children and grandchildren by paying for education, settling debts, supporting lifestyles. It’s a noble and often deeply rewarding thing to do. But without clear boundaries and proper planning, it can come at a cost. I’ve seen too many cases where well-intentioned support leads to financial strain later on, or forces retirees to scale back just when they should be enjoying the fruits of a lifetime’s work.
The good news is that these challenges are not insurmountable. With proper financial planning grounded in realistic cashflow modelling and an understanding of your personal inflation rate, clarity replaces fear. You begin to see what’s possible, what needs adjusting, and where you can afford to be generous.
There’s no need to navigate this alone. And in all my years, I’ve never seen someone unable to retire because they sought good advice. Help is available. Ask for it and give yourself permission to live the life you’ve worked so hard to build.
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Dirk Groeneveld, Certified Financial Planner
t. 083 261 9287
e. dirk@clientcare.co.za
Recent columns:
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Disclaimer:
This article is for information purposes only and does not constitute financial advice in any way or form. It is important to consult a financial planner to receive financial advice before acting on any information contained herein. Client Care and PWM and its directors, officers, and employees shall not be responsible and disclaim all liability for any loss, damage (whether direct, indirect, special or consequential) and/or expense of any nature whatsoever, which may be suffered as a result of, or which may be attributable, directly or indirectly, to the use of, or reliance upon any information contained in this article.
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