ASI Financial Services says improving financial literacy is key to breaking cycles of poverty in South Africa, highlighting the importance of savings, insurance, retirement planning and using employee benefits effectively to build long-term financial resilience.

Howard Freese, Certified Financial Planner® at Old Mutual Personal Finance, warns that lifestyle inflation and instant gratification prevent wealth creation, stressing that income growth only improves financial security when paired with disciplined saving, investing, and strategic financial planning.

Sean Hanlon, Co-founder of BrightRock, reflects on the company’s 15-year journey, highlighting its success in redefining life insurance through needs-based solutions, driven by innovation, strong belief in its purpose, and a commitment to adapting to customers’ evolving needs.

The Franc Wealth Index finds financial wellbeing in South Africa depends more on consistent habits like saving, budgeting and investing than income, with debt management and emergency savings identified as the most critical factors driving long-term financial stability and confidence.

Nicola Langridge, Wealth Manager at Private Client Holdings, says in times of market uncertainty, financial success depends less on reacting to noise and more on having a trusted adviser, clear goals, and a disciplined plan that enables confident, long-term decision-making.

Therèse Havenga, Head of Business Transformation at Momentum Savings, says lasting financial success depends not on fleeting motivation but on consistent discipline and skill, supported by habits, systems and accountability that drive sustainable progress toward long-term goals.