PROpulsion LIVE

Send us Fan MailWhat does it take to build a financial planning practice around better client decisions, not just better financial outcomes?In this episode of PROpulsion LIVE, I speak with Gareth Collier, CFP®, founder of Firecrest Group and one of the finalists in the FPI Financial Planner of the Year competition.We explore how Gareth approaches financial planning, how he works with clients, and what he has learnt from moving from an established practice to building his own.The conversation goes beyond investments and technical advice. We look at how Gareth thinks about client conversations, process, implementation, technology, and the role of the planner in helping people make decisions that support the life they want to live.We discuss:• What good financial planning looks like to Gareth• How he approaches the first client conversation• The process behind understanding what matters to a client• How he helps clients move from understanding to action• What building Firecrest has taught him about running a financial planning practice• Where technology fits into the advice process• What should remain firmly in the hands of the human planner• What the FPI Financial Planner of the Year process has revealed about the way he worksIf you are a financial planner, adviser, practice owner or part of an advice business, this episode offers a practical look at how one planner is thinking about better decisions, better processes and building a practice around both.PROpulsion LIVE Season 7: From Knowing to Doing.

Send us Fan MailSouth Africa’s life and disability protection gap has reached R50.4 trillion, despite years of financial education, stronger regulation and a more professional advice industry.So what are we missing?In this episode of PROpulsion LIVE, Prof. Prince Sarpong joins us to explore why he believes the problem is not mainly financial literacy, but legibility. In simple terms, people may understand that they are exposed, but they often do not know their own financial position clearly enough to act.We discuss:Why the protection gap keeps growingThe difference between literacy and legibilityWhy “screening, not schooling” may be a better approachHow advisers can create salience without shameWhat SikaSync is designed to show clientsWhy protection advice may open new opportunities for growing advice businessesWhat advisers can do differently in their client conversationsThe one big question we explore is:If financial literacy is not closing South Africa’s R50.4 trillion protection gap, what needs to change to help more people understand their own risk and act on it?The conversation draws on Prince’s working paper, Financial Planning for the Greater Good, which argues for a diagnostic-led model that makes personal financial exposure clearer and more actionable.Here is the link to Sika Smart that Prince spoke about: https://sikasmart.epistemica.co.za/ Subscribe to PROpulsion LIVE for weekly conversations about building and running better financial planning businesses.

Send us Fan MailWhat will it take to build a stronger financial planning profession for the future?In this episode of PROpulsion LIVE, Francois du Toit speaks with Brendan Dunn, CFP® Professional and CA(SA), Executive Head Johannesburg at Hewett Wealth and a finalist in the 2026 FPI Financial Planner of the Year Awards.Brendan was also a finalist in 2025, giving him a valuable perspective on professional growth, raising standards and the responsibility financial planners have towards the future of the profession.We explore three areas that can make a difference:The challenges facing new and younger financial plannersHow experienced professionals and firms can support new entrantsBuilding credibility and a professional reputationWhy the best financial advice starts with understanding the whole clientThe role of financial education beyond your existing client baseWhat Brendan learned from becoming an FPI Financial Planner of the Year finalist two years runningWhat financial planners can start doing now to shape the profession they want to seeThe big question we explore is:What do we need to do today to build a stronger financial planning profession for the future?PROpulsion LIVE is for financial planners, advisers, firm owners and anyone working to build a better financial planning business and profession.Subscribe to the channel and join the conversation.

Send us Fan MailA self-managing team sounds ideal. People take initiative, solve problems and keep the business moving without everything landing back on the owner’s desk.But what happens when “self-managing” starts to mean that people are simply expected to figure things out?In this episode of PROpulsion LIVE, Francois du Toit speaks with Lizanne Van Eeden, Founder of Karenu Consulting, about the difference between an empowered team and an unsupported one.They explore the one big question:How do you build a team that can take ownership without leaving people to figure everything out for themselves?The conversation looks at:Why practice owners want self-managing teamsThe difference between trust and proper managementWarning signs that a team is under-managedThe effect of poor role clarity and unclear decision-makingHow team structure affects client service, compliance and capacityWhat good management looks like without micromanagingOne practical step practices can take to create a more empowered teamClients may deal mainly with the adviser, but they experience the whole business through handovers, follow-ups, administration and communication.If the team lacks clarity behind the scenes, clients will eventually feel it.This episode is for financial planners, practice owners, managers and team members who want more ownership in the business without creating confusion or dependence.Subscribe to PROpulsion LIVE for practical conversations about building and running better financial planning businesses.#FinancialPlanning #PracticeManagement #Leadership #TeamManagement #FinancialAdvisers

Send us Fan MailFinancial advice businesses have more technology choices than ever before. New platforms, AI tools and software promises appear constantly, which makes it harder to know what is worth paying attention to and what is simply noise.So how can financial advice businesses make better technology decisions without getting distracted by hype or putting client information at risk?In this episode of PROpulsion LIVE, Francois du Toit speaks with Marius Botha, Founder and Managing Director of WorkPool, about how advice businesses can make better technology choices.They discuss:How to start with the business problem before looking for softwareHow to avoid technology decisions driven by FOMOWhat to consider before adding another toolWhy process matters as much as technologyHow to think about AI without chasing every new developmentWhat advisers should understand about client data and technology providersWhether businesses should look for one platform or several connected toolsWhat more than 20 years of working with businesses has taught Marius about making technology workMarius also shares lessons from building WorkPool since 2002 and working with businesses across financial services and other industries.WorkPool was recently recognised among the Top 10 Rated Advice Technology Solutions, based on ratings from financial advice professionals.This conversation is about cutting through the noise, asking better questions and making technology decisions that support the way your business needs to work.PROpulsion LIVE helps financial planners, advisers and advice businesses move From Knowing to Doing.

Send us Fan MailInvestment industry conflicts are not always easy to see, but they can influence product selection, portfolio construction, fees, and client outcomes.In this episode of PROpulsion LIVE, Michael Badenhorst joins us to explore independence across the investment management industry. We discuss the conflicts that can arise between platforms, investment managers, discretionary fund managers, shareholders, advisers, and clients.The one big question we ask is:How can financial advisers identify and manage investment industry conflicts before those conflicts affect client outcomes?Michael Badenhorst is the Chief Investment Officer of Independent Investment Solutions. He has extensive experience in multi-asset investment research, manager selection, portfolio construction, and performance measurement. He is also responsible for the business and investment strategy of Independent Investment Solutions.During the conversation, we explore:What independence means in investment managementWhere conflicts arise across the investment value chainHow shareholder and commercial pressure can influence decisionsThe direct and indirect costs of conflicted arrangementsWhether disclosure is enough to protect clientsThe implications for Treating Customers FairlyQuestions advisers should ask investment providersPractical steps advisers can take to review their investment propositionThis episode is for financial advisers, planners, firm owners, investment professionals, and anyone responsible for selecting investment solutions for clients.PROpulsion LIVE helps financial planning professionals move from knowing to doing by turning industry insight into practical action.Subscribe to the channel and join the conversation live.#FinancialPlanning #InvestmentManagement #FinancialAdvisers

Send us Fan MailBurnout is often treated as a personal failure to manage time, cope better, or become more resilient. But what if the real problem is the way the work itself is structured?In this episode of PROpulsion LIVE, Francois du Toit speaks with Herman Veitch about how financial advisers can reduce burnout and operational drag by managing their capacity more deliberately.Herman introduces the idea of a Capacity Balance Sheet. On one side are the demands that drain an adviser’s energy and attention, including client anxiety, compliance work, interruptions, administration, and constant decision-making. On the other side are the assets that restore capacity, such as team support, useful technology, clear boundaries, better workflows, and time to recover.The conversation explores:What burnout is, and what it is notWhy financial advisers are especially exposed to burnoutHow to identify where capacity is being lostThe cost of operational dragHow overload affects clients, teams, judgement, and wellbeingSmall guardrails that can restore time and attentionWhere simple automation can remove repetitive workWhat advisers can stop, delegate, or redesignOne practical step to take within seven daysThe one big question for this episode is:How can financial advisers reduce burnout and operational drag by managing their capacity more deliberately?Herman Veitch has coached business owners and leaders since 2006. Through QuantumFlow Coaching and Resilience Guide, he helps people reduce friction, build capacity, and create healthier ways of working.Complete Herman’s free five-minute Capacity Balance Sheet self-evaluation:https://tally.so/r/5BDJWPSubscribe to PROpulsion LIVE for weekly conversations about building and running better financial planning businesses.#FinancialAdviser #Burnout #PracticeManagement

Send us Fan MailFinancial planners often use age and generation to understand how clients might think, behave, and make decisions. But what happens when those assumptions no longer hold true?In this episode of PROpulsion LIVE, Francois du Toit speaks with Farzana Botha about the behavioural shifts revealed in the 45th Sanlam Benchmark Survey.The research shows that financial pressure is changing behaviour across generations. Younger clients are placing more value on certainty. Gen X clients are carrying debt, family responsibilities, and growing health risks. Retirees are more digitally active and financially resourceful than many people assume.The conversation explores one big question:How must financial planners change their client conversations when age no longer reliably predicts financial behaviour?Francois and Farzana discuss:• Why traditional generational labels can mislead planners• How economic pressure is changing client decisions• What younger clients are telling us about certainty and security• Why Gen X may be under more strain than their income suggests• What advisers are getting wrong about retirees• How debt, health, family responsibilities and income pressure shape behaviour• What questions planners should ask instead• How institutions, product providers and technology need to respond• What financial planners can change in their next client meetingThe Sanlam Benchmark findings suggest that many financial decisions are shaped by present pressure rather than a lack of concern for the future. They also show that clients across different ages are starting to behave in less predictable and more similar ways.This episode is for financial planners, advisers, business owners, managers, product providers, and anyone who wants to understand how client behaviour is changing.PROpulsion LIVE helps financial professionals move from knowing to doing and build better financial planning businesses.Subscribe to the channel and join the conversation.

Send us Fan MailMost financial advisers know AI matters. Far fewer know where to start.The biggest mistake is starting with technology before the practice has clear values, clear processes, and a clear view of what should remain human.In this episode of PROpulsion LIVE, Francois du Toit speaks with Henri le Grange, CFP®, principal of Le Grange & Associates, about how financial planning practices can prepare for AI in the right order.Henri leads a fully digital practice within Old Mutual Personal Financial Advice. His practice serves professionals, executives, engineers, actuaries, and corporate workforces. It has also been named Old Mutual National Practice of the Year four times.During the conversation, Francois and Henri explore the following:• Why AI should start with values and process• How to define the way advice gets done• Where AI fits before, during, and after a client meeting• How delegation runs through one task system• Which parts of advice must remain human• What can go wrong when automation is added too early• Where a small practice with little budget should beginThe one big question for this episode is:How should a financial planning practice prepare for AI before choosing the technology?The goal is not simply to produce more work. It is to create more time for clients, the team, and the life the work is meant to support.Subscribe to PROpulsion for weekly conversations on building and running better financial planning businesses.#FinancialPlanning #ArtificialIntelligence #PracticeManagement #FinancialAdvisers #PROpulsionLIVE

Send us Fan MailIs your financial planning practice being held together by helpful people instead of healthy processes?In this episode of PROpulsion LIVE, I speak with Lizanne van Eeden, Founder of Karenu Consulting, about the danger of being too helpful inside advice businesses.Helpful teams are often seen as a strength, and in many ways, they are. They care. They step in. They fix problems. They make sure clients are served. They keep things moving.But there is a hidden risk.When good people keep rescuing unclear roles, broken processes, poor handovers, and weak systems, the business can look stronger than it is. The team looks capable, but the practice may be relying on goodwill instead of clear structure.This works for a while, especially in smaller firms. But as the business grows, it becomes harder to sustain. Your best people become tired. Owners lose sight of what is broken. Clients may still be served, but the business becomes harder to manage, scale, and protect.In this conversation, we discuss:👉 What “too helpful” looks like in a financial planning practice👉 Why good people rescue broken processes👉 How helpfulness can hide the truth from business owners👉 The risk of running a practice on goodwill👉 The difference between healthy teamwork and unhealthy rescuing👉 How leaders can fix this without damaging the team culture👉 One practical step firms can take next weekThis episode is for financial planners, advisers, practice owners, operations managers, compliance teams, and anyone working inside a financial planning business where the team is doing more than they should just to keep things going.The theme for Season 7 is From Knowing to Doing. This conversation is about moving from good intentions to better ways of working.Join us live on PROpulsion LIVE.

Send us Fan MailWhat happens to your clients, your team, and your business when it is time for you to step back?Succession planning in financial advice is often spoken about as a sale, a valuation, or the transfer of a client book. But the real challenge runs much deeper. It involves trust, relationships, staff, systems, identity, purpose, and the emotional weight of letting go of something you have spent years building.In this episode of PROpulsion LIVE, Francois du Toit looks at the practical and emotional challenges of succession in a financial planning business.We will explore why transferring a book is not the same as transferring trust, why many advice businesses are harder to hand over than they appear, and why advisers often underestimate the personal side of succession.We will also look at the responsibility advisers carry towards clients, staff, family, and the next owner or successor.The 2026 theme for PROpulsion LIVE is From Knowing to Doing. So this episode will not only focus on what advisers should know about succession. It will focus on what advisers can start doing now to prepare their business, their clients, their team, and themselves for a better handover.In this episode, we cover:• Why succession starts long before the deal• The practical challenges of transferring books, relationships, staff, and systems• The emotional challenge of letting go of a business you built• The responsibility advisers have towards clients, staff, family, and successors• A practical staged strategy to move through succession with more clarityThis episode is for financial planners, financial advisers, advice business owners, practice managers, and anyone thinking about the future of an advice business.Join us live on Friday at 8 AM SAST on YouTube.Subscribe to PROpulsion LIVE for weekly conversations about building and running a better financial planning business.

Send us Fan MailWhat is AI teaching us about human behaviour, trust and the way clients experience our advice businesses?In this episode of PROpulsion LIVE, Francois du Toit speaks to Wanita Nicol, a freelance writer, editor and storyteller who spends an unusual amount of time talking to AI.This is not another conversation about using AI to save time or produce more content. Instead, we explore what happens before we “press yes to proceed”.When advisers use AI to write, reply, summarise, create or explain, those choices tell a story. The client may not hear the story we intended. They may hear that speed matters more than care, that polish matters more than thought, or that automation has replaced judgement.Wanita shares what her own AI experiments have revealed about sycophancy, vague language, bias, blind spots, trust and the risk of letting AI shape our thinking without us noticing.We also discuss what this means for financial planners and advice businesses in South Africa, where context, culture and client trust matter deeply.In this episode, we cover:* What AI reveals about human behaviour* Why polished AI content can weaken trust* How advisers may use AI in ways that help themselves more than clients* Why AI often avoids strong opinions* The risk of bias in AI outputs* How to use AI without giving up your own thinking* Practical prompts advisers can use to learn more about their own blind spotsThe 2026 theme for PROpulsion LIVE is “From Knowing to Doing”. This conversation is a reminder that using AI well is not only about knowing the tools. It is about making better choices in how we communicate, serve and build trust.Subscribe to PROpulsion for weekly conversations on building better financial planning businesses.#FinancialPlanning #ArtificialIntelligence #ClientTrust #FinancialAdvisers #PROpulsionLIVE

Send us Fan MailMost advice businesses use more software than ever, yet many still struggle with messy data, poor adoption, manual work, disconnected systems and tools that do not get used properly.In this episode of PROpulsion LIVE, Francois du Toit speaks with Johan Vosloo, CEO of Commspace and Headspace Technologies, and Arnold Hattingh, CEO and Co-founder of Clidash.Johan brings the view of someone who has spent years building adviser software around revenue management, commission tracking, fee data, reporting and business insights.Arnold brings the view of someone building a new AI-powered CRM for financial advisers, focused on client management, meetings, tasks, workflows and daily adviser activity.Together, we explore what it takes to build software that financial advisers and their teams use every day.We discuss why adviser software often fails, what advice firms misunderstand about technology, and why technically sound software is not always enough. We also look at the hidden work behind simple screens, including data, integrations, reporting, AI summaries, task management and system design.We also talk about the role of AI in adviser software, where it can help, where advisers should be careful, and what firms need to fix before expecting AI to solve their workflow problems.We end the conversation by looking at vibe coding and the growing ability for non-technical people to use AI to build apps, workflows and internal systems. This opens up new possibilities for advice businesses, but also raises important questions around security, client data, testing, maintenance and long-term support.In this conversation, we cover:* Why adviser software often fails* The difference between software that works and software that gets used* What advisers do not see behind simple software screens* How AI is changing adviser technology* Why integrations and data quality matter* Why software implementation fails inside advice businesses* What advice firms should know before vibe coding their own toolsJoin us live on PROpulsion LIVE as we unpack what good adviser software needs, what advice firms need to do differently, and how AI is changing who can build apps and systems.#FinancialAdviserSoftware #AdviserCRM #AdviceTech #FinancialPlanning #AIForAdvisers

Send us Fan MailWhat happens when an adviser is under pressure, tired, defensive, or emotionally charged?In this episode of PROpulsion LIVE, Francois du Toit speaks with counsellor Chris Fischer about self-awareness, emotional responsibility, human behaviour, and the way we show up in business, leadership, client meetings, and life.For financial advisers and business owners, technical skill matters. But the way you respond under pressure can shape trust, communication, team culture, client confidence, and the quality of your decisions.We explore why self-awareness matters, whether emotions can be separated from business, the difference between blame and responsibility, and why people react the way they do when pressure rises.We also look at how advisers can use these insights in client meetings, especially when clients are anxious, defensive, overwhelmed, or unsure.This conversation is part of our 2026 theme: From Knowing to Doing. Many of us know that communication, trust, and relationships matter. The next step is learning how to notice our patterns and respond with more care, clarity, and responsibility.In this episode, we discuss:- Why self-awareness matters in business and life- What emotional responsibility looks like in practice- Why people react under pressure- How blame keeps people stuck- How advisers can notice their own behaviour patterns- How client emotions affect financial decisions- How to become more present in difficult conversationsConnect with Chris on LinkedinVisit the TAG websiteSubscribe to PROpulsion LIVE for weekly conversations that help financial planners, advisers, and business owners build better practices and better lives.

Send us Fan MailWhat if the most important leadership role of your life is the one you were never trained for?In this episode of PROpulsion LIVE, I sit down with Derek Notman and H. Adam Holt from REBL Dads for a conversation about fatherhood, ambition, leadership, loneliness, and what it takes to show up better at home.This is not a formal interview. Derek, Adam, and I know each other well, and I was privileged to spend time with them on Necker Island as part of the REBL Dads journey. So this conversation feels more like friends sitting together and speaking openly about what many fathers carry in silence.We talk about where REBL Dads started, why Derek and Adam felt the need to build a brotherhood for fathers, how Sir Richard Branson became part of the story, and the challenge he gave them: how are you going to help more dads?That challenge led to the new book, REBL Dad: Responsible Entrepreneur Balanced Leader Dad, built from interviews with 103 fathers from around the world. The book includes more than 300 action items to help fathers move from knowing what matters to doing something about it.In this conversation, we explore:Where the REBL Dads idea startedThe first Necker Island gatheringSir Richard Branson’s challengeThe loneliness many successful fathers carryLessons from 103 fathersThe principles behind the bookMoving from knowing to doingWhere to get the bookREBL Dad is available on Kindle, with the physical book available from June.Learn more and order the book:https://rebldads.comhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GZWW4FNBConnect with Derek Notman and H. Adam Holt on LinkedIn.Subscribe to PROpulsion LIVE for more conversations on financial planning, business, leadership, technology, client experience, and personal growth.

Send us Fan MailAI is changing the risk landscape for financial advisors, their clients, and their businesses. Scams are becoming more believable, impersonation is becoming easier, and client trust can be damaged in ways many advice firms may not be ready for.In this episode of PROpulsion LIVE, I speak with Nevashan Pillay about AI, cybersecurity, client trust, and the future of financial advice.Nevashan has more than 20 years of experience in financial services, insurance, digital change, operations, technology transformation, regulatory change, AI agent workflows, and cyber insurance product development. In this conversation, we focus on what financial advisors need to understand now as AI changes both the opportunity and the risk.We discuss why cybersecurity is no longer only an IT topic. It is now a business issue, a client trust issue, and a professional relevance issue. Clients are already using AI tools. Criminals are using AI to make scams more convincing. Advice firms are starting to use AI in their daily work, often without clear rules around privacy, confidentiality, and governance.This episode will help financial advisors think about how to use AI in a safer, more responsible way while protecting clients from new forms of digital risk.We discuss:How AI is changing cyber riskWhy scams and impersonation are becoming harder to spotWhat advice firms should know before using AI toolsWhy client data and confidentiality need greater careHow advisors can educate clients about AI-driven scamsSimple cyber habits every advice firm should buildWhy the human advisor becomes more important, not lessThis conversation is part of our 2026 theme: From Knowing to Doing.The goal is not only to understand AI and cybersecurity. The goal is to take practical steps that protect clients, protect the practice, and strengthen the value of human advice.#FinancialAdvice #Cybersecurity #AI #FinancialPlanning #ClientTrust #AIinFinance #FinancialAdvisors #PROpulsionLIVE

Send us Fan MailMost financial planners know that client meetings matter. The harder part is running meetings that feel clear, useful, human, and focused on the client.In this episode of PROpulsion LIVE, Francois du Toit shares six client meeting skills that can help financial planners turn good advice into better conversations and better action.This episode is practical: what can advisers do differently in their very next meeting?We will look at how to reframe your value, build trust early, position disclosure in a client-centred way, ask a better opening question, make fact-finding feel more natural, and connect the numbers back to the client’s goals.This episode forms part of the 2026 PROpulsion LIVE theme: From Knowing to Doing.In this episode, we cover:Why clients often focus on products and how to shift the conversationHow to build trust in the first few minutesHow to turn disclosure into a trust-building conversationA simple opening question that changes the whole meetingHow to make fact finding feel less mechanicalHow to connect income and spending to the client’s goalsThis episode is for financial planners, financial advisers, practice owners, managers, and anyone who wants to improve client conversations.Question for the comments:What is one client meeting skill you want to practise more often?Subscribe to PROpulsion for more practical conversations on building better financial planning businesses.#FinancialPlanning #FinancialPlanner #ClientMeetings #FinancialAdvice #PROpulsionLIVE

Send us Fan MailWhat can financial advisors learn from influencers?Not the noise. Not the fake confidence. Not the chase for likes. The useful lesson is much simpler: the best creators know how to earn attention, explain ideas clearly, build trust, and make people feel understood.In this episode of PROpulsion LIVE, Francois du Toit looks at what advisors can learn from people who are good at capturing attention without losing trust or depth.We will unpack seven lessons financial advisors can use in their own businesses:• How to explain complex ideas simply• Why consistency beats perfection• Why personality creates connection• How storytelling helps people remember your message• Why audience psychology matters• How community beats broadcasting• Why visibility now plays a bigger role in authorityThis episode is not about becoming an influencer. It is about becoming easier to understand, easier to remember, and easier to trust.Clients are busy. They are distracted. They are overwhelmed by information. They do not need advisors to sound more technical. They need advisors who can bring clarity, speak plainly, and show up in a way that feels human.As part of our 2026 theme, From Knowing to Doing, this episode will help you choose one simple action to improve your communication and visibility this week.People do not follow expertise. They follow people who make them feel understood.Subscribe to PROpulsion LIVE for weekly conversations on building better financial planning businesses.Share your thoughts in the comments: What is one thing financial advisors can learn from great creators?