Johan Minnie, CEO at Consult by Momentum

My first encounter with a “supermoon” was on the 5th May 2011. It was at Sossusvlei in the Namibian desert, and it felt as if the moon was in your face: big, bold and extremely bright.

Since then, I have followed the annual “supermoons” and this week sees the first “supermoon” of the year, and it’s a special one: The October 2025 full moon is dubbed the Harvest Supermoon, because it rises early and shines brightly, supposedly providing farmers with extra light to gather their crops during harvest.

And while here, in the Southern Hemisphere, our planting and harvesting seasons differ from the Northern Hemisphere where the “Harvest Moon” is named, the symbolism remains. Just as farmers understand that planting, tending to their crops and harvesting at the right time is critical, so too does financial planning occur in seasons.

And while I don’t profess to be a farmer, I believe this rare event provides us with a wonderful analogy to reflect on what nature’s cycles can teach us about our life’s seasons – and how this applies to our financial well-being.

Planting season: Two seeds to plant first

As we settle into spring and farmers plant their summer crops, this serves as a timely reminder to consider the financial seeds we’re sowing. And the two most important seeds are starting your savings journey early and securing your ability to earn an income.

And saving can certainly be likened to farming: start as early as possible, your money will grow, and you’ll realise the full benefit of compound interest, which some even call the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’! Consider that if you were to start saving at 25 and invest R3 000 a month, by 55 you could “harvest” around R4.5 million (based on an annual investment return of 8% and without accounting for inflation). Someone else who delays saving until 35 and then puts away double the amount (R6 000 a month), will end up with only about R3.5 million at that same age.

The bottom line? The earlier you plant, the greater your harvest.

Equally important is protecting your most important crops. The first thing you should be protecting is your ability to earn an income – income protection insurance in the event of temporary or permanent disability or illness –  before securing or protecting your phone, car or household contents. Don’t get me wrong; insuring your valuables is important, but without an income, it becomes impossible to secure any other asset of value.

By starting your savings journey early and investing in critical illness and income protection cover, you will have started your journey with two of the most important seeds.

Tending to your crops

Like crops, your finances need ongoing attention, consistency and adjustment. If you plant a seed in soil and give it water, it will grow. As it grows bigger, it will require more water, fertiliser and pruning. And just as you would nurture a young tree differently from an older tree, so will your financial circumstances and needs change over time.

Financial planning is the same – you can’t just do it once and leave it; regularly reviewing your plan, goals, and circumstances is critical because these will change along the way.

Harvest season can be likened to your long-term goals – retirement, financial freedom or family security – and when it comes to harvest, patience and preparation are vital. To this end, annual financial reviews are like pruning crops, giving them enough water, and making sure they’re on track. But there will also be other developments on the way to harvest – getting married, having a child, landing a new job, or even dealing with illness or loss. Having a solid yet flexible plan in place, with the right protection, will help you navigate life’s eventualities.

The farmer’s guide: Why advice matters

Even the best mega-farmers engage people to guide them. These professionals will not tell a farmer how to farm – they know that they’re the experts in their field – but they will guide them through the agricultural seasons, helping them get the most out of their harvest by de-risking the eventualities of what may happen with their seeds.

By that same token, a good financial adviser is not there to tell you how to live your life, but to guide you through uncertainty or opportunity. You’re the expert in your own life; the adviser is your guide, helping you live life to the fullest, with the least disruption.

At Consult by Momentum, we encourage people to approach the idea of partnering with a qualified financial adviser as you would a holistic doctor or health coach who helps to prevent illness and keep you healthy – because prevention is better than cure.

A final reminder…

The Harvest Supermoon is beautiful, bright and fleeting… and so is time. Life’s financial seasons won’t wait for the “perfect moment” to begin. That’s why it’s vital to plant your financial seeds early, nurture them consistently, protect them against risk, and prepare for the harvest ahead.

And just as farmers turn to trusted guides to get the most from their crops, you too can benefit from the wisdom of professional advice. No matter your age or stage of life, the right financial adviser can help align your money with your goals and ensure you reap the rewards when the time comes. Don’t leave it to chance – see a financial adviser today and give your future the harvest it deserves.