A professional financial adviser can help you by:

• Giving advice about your current situation.
• Identifying risks that you should manage (for example, life assurance).
• Helping you reduce your debt.
• Advising you on the most appropriate investments for saving towards your retirement and other financial needs.
• Acting as a coach to help you stay focused on your planning.

Think about the following when you are choosing a qualified financial adviser:

• Qualifications:the Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®) qualification confirms that your financial adviser has qualified as a financial adviser according to the Code of Conduct of the Financial Planning Institute. A Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®) has the necessary technical knowledge and skills, and is also a member of the Financial Planning Institute.
• Independence:can the adviser offer you the most appropriate product at a good rate, or are they limited to dealing with just one company?
• Experience:you are looking for real financial experience, not just an impressive presentation.
• Support:does the financial planner have the back-up and support of a reputable brokerage? The company should be large enough to make sure your financial portfolio will continue to be professionally managed if your existing financial planner isn’t available.
• Fees:a financial adviser earns income from both fees (for time) and commission (earned by placing investments on your behalf). Use a financial adviser who is flexible enough to provide advice for a pre-negotiated fee where you do not have funds to invest. Financial advice is a service for which you should be prepared to pay a fee.
• Written report:after the consultation, you should receive a written report that covers all aspects of the advice given.
• Annual updates:have a meeting with the same financial adviser every year to have your report updated and possibly your investments as your personal circumstances change.

Certified Financial Planner. It is important

Having a will in place gives you the choice to decide how you want your assets to be distributed when you die. If you don’t have a will in place, the law (intestate act) prescribes how your assets will be distributed and to who.

You can appoint an independent executor with the expertise and knowledge of the fiduciary business. If you appoint a close relative, consider whether they will be able to administer the estate and if they're adequately equipped to take on the task.

An executor administers a deceased’s estate upon their death. A trustee is a person who is nominated to administrate any trust or testamentary trust.

Yes, however if the will does not prescribe to the law, it might not be valid. We recommend that you get help from a professional that is knowledgeable in drafting wills, such as an attorney, a trust company or an expert in the field.

It is valid until you change or revoke it and sign a new will.

By contacting your fiduciary team or financial adviser, and advising them on the changes.

Two impartial people who are over the age of 14 and are competent to witness the will. The will must not be signed by someone mentioned in the will, the executor, family members. This includes a spouse or any the aforementioned persons.

An electronic signature is not accepted according to the law in South Africa. The will must be signed in ink in the presence of two impartial witnesses, and both must be present at the same time of you signing the will. The location and date of the will needs to be completed for it to be valid.

It will depend on the asset structure and the country in which the assets are situated. Speak to a financial adviser to get adequate advice.