Giving more than taking
“I’ve learned that leadership is not a right but a responsibility that must be earned daily through service, authenticity and humility. It’s not about control or ego; it’s not how many people you manage but about how many you can help believe, in themselves, their own abilities and their collective efforts that are uncapped. True leadership is about coaching, listening and helping others reach their true potential. It’s truly seeing the whole person – not just the job they do. It’s about giving more than taking,” newly appointed CEO of Consult by Momentum, Johan Minnie, shares on page 48.
The same can be said for financial planning. Being a financial planner is not a right but a responsibility that must be earned daily through service, authenticity and humility. A financial planner’s role is not about control or ego. It is about coaching, listening and helping other reach their full potential. It’s about giving more than taking.
Lelané Bezuidenhout, CFP®, CEO, FPI, says that placing the client’s interest first is at the very core of what financial planners do. It is more than compliance; it’s about doing what’s right when no-one is watching, stripping away anything that could cloud your judgement and focusing on what best serves your client. She says that when you put the client first, you act with integrity and truly live up to the promise of the profession.
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The suitability of advice is a key component of the Treat Clients Fairly outcomes which translate into a duty to act honestly, fairly and with due skill, care and diligence when providing advice. The Conduct of Financial Institutions (COFI) Bill, aimed at consolidating financial market regulation, codifies these principles into law and reflects many principles that have underpinned financial planning. Find out more about COFI on page 22.
And while on the topic of ethics, Trump’s ability to make unilateral decisions may come to an end sooner than he would like as his Republican “red sweep” – control of the presidency, Senate and House – may be in jeopardy with the 2026 midterm elections in view. Ironically, his “Make America Great Again” policies may be working against him as they are having a direct, negative impact on his voter base (page 28).
Independent Consultant, Rob Macdonald, says that a key concept from Stephen Covey’s book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, is that what you “see” determines what you “do”, and what you “do” determines what you “get” and that our perspective determines our reality. When it comes to financial planning, Macdonald believes this to be true, and if so, the challenge to influence what clients “do” begins with influencing their perspective on money and life (page 68).
For Bronwyn Waner, CFP®, Growth Financial Planning, goosebumps have become the unofficial measure of success. Not revenue. Not returns. But resonance. Because when you hit that moment with a client – where money becomes a mirror for something more meaningful – you know you’re not just ticking boxes. You’re transforming lives (page 75).
It is a financial planner’s duty to act honestly, fairly and with due skill, care and diligence when providing advice. And if you do this, you are halfway prepared for COFI.
— Alexis Knipe, Editor
