What you can expect to discuss with your adviser

Bottom line: Your review covers your complete financial picture – income, expenses, investments, insurance, and goals. We'll discuss life changes, review performance, and ensure your plan stays aligned with your evolving needs.

Feeling nervous about your upcoming review? Don't be. We're not here to judge your spending habits or confuse you with complex charts. This conversation focuses on your real life and how to make your money work better for you.

Your current financial situation

We'll want to understand your complete income picture:

Employment and earnings

• Current salary and any expected changes
• Bonus structures and commission potential
• Job security in your industry
• Side hustles or passive income streams
• Spouse's income and employment situation

Spending patterns and lifestyle

We need honest information about your real expenses:

• Fixed costs: Bond payments, school fees, medical aid, insurance premiums
• Variable expenses: Groceries, petrol, entertainment, clothing
• Seasonal spending: Holiday costs, year-end bonuses allocation
• Unexpected expenses: Medical bills, car repairs, home maintenance

Savings and debt management

• Monthly savings consistency or variability
• Emergency fund adequacy
• Debt overview: home loans, credit cards, personal loans, car financing
• Money lent to family members

Investment portfolio review

We'll examine all your investments in detail:

Retirement planning

• Retirement annuity performance and contribution levels
• Employer retirement fund benefits
• Investment strategy alignment with your age and risk tolerance
• Preservation fund management if applicable

Discretionary investments

• Unit trust performance and fund selection appropriateness
• Tax-free savings account utilisation
• Offshore investment allocation and currency hedging
• Direct share portfolios or other investments

Performance analysis

We'll explain your returns in plain English – not confusing graphs and percentages. You'll understand whether your retirement fund will deliver your desired lifestyle, if your investments are beating inflation, and how offshore exposure contributes to wealth building.

Poor performance isn't unusual – markets fluctuate, and long-term strategy matters more than short-term volatility. We'll explain what's normal market behaviour versus concerning underperformance.

Life changes assessment

This might be our most important discussion. Even small changes can have significant financial implications:

Family developments

• Marriage, divorce, or new relationships
• Children: births, school changes, university planning
• Elderly parent care responsibilities
• Health issues affecting family members

Career transitions

• Job changes and industry moves
• Promotions and increased responsibilities
• Shift from employment to contracting
• Business ownership considerations
• Potential retrenchment or industry instability

Lifestyle adjustments

• Home moves or renovations
• Transport need changes
• Work-from-home arrangements
• Hobby or sport commitments requiring funding

Insurance cover evaluation

We'll review all your protection comprehensively:

Life insurance adequacy

• Cover amount relative to current debts and dependents
• Policy type: level, decreasing, or increasing cover
• Tax implications of different structures
• Beneficiary nominations accuracy

Disability and income protection

• Definitions and coverage scope in your policies
• Benefit periods and waiting periods
• Cover adequacy relative to current lifestyle costs
• Premium structures and review mechanisms

Medical aid optimisation

• Current plan suitability for family health needs
• Benefit usage patterns and value for money
• Alternative scheme options and potential savings
• Gap cover and additional health insurance needs

Goal alignment and planning

Your financial plan should serve your life goals:

Short-term objectives (1-2 years)

• Emergency fund building
• Debt reduction priorities
• Holiday savings
• Home deposit accumulation

Medium-term targets (3-10 years)

• Home loan acceleration
• Children's education funding
• Business start-up capital
• Investment property purchases

Long-term aspirations

• Retirement lifestyle planning
• Estate planning considerations
• Legacy goals for children or charities
• Potential emigration planning

Fee transparency and value assessment

We'll explain every cost you're paying:

Investment fees

• Management fees on different products
• Adviser service fees
• Administration and platform costs
• Performance fees where applicable

Insurance costs

• Premium structures and increases
• Commission arrangements
• Policy fee components
• Value for money comparisons

We'll justify these costs and suggest alternatives if better value exists elsewhere. Our job is ensuring you get maximum value for every rand you invest in financial services.

This conversation should feel collaborative, not like a lecture. We'll ask for your input, listen to concerns, and work together finding solutions that fit your lifestyle and values. You should leave feeling informed, confident, and clear about next steps.