UFS School of Financial Planning Law

When financial information is only a scroll away, confidence can easily be mistaken for credibility.

In a recent article, Henda Kleingeld, CFP®, FPSA®, TEP, examines the rise of finfluencers and their growing influence on financial decision-making. While social media has expanded access to financial education, it has also blurred the distinction between sharing information and providing regulated financial advice.

The article explores why that distinction matters, the legal framework governing financial advice in South Africa, and why the adviser-client relationship remains grounded in what algorithms cannot replicate: trust, professional competence, and fiduciary duty.

Read 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐬: 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞'𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐅-𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝?

https://www.moneymarketing.co.za/magazines/moneymarketing-march-2026/

Keep ahead of the curve in an ever-changing financial landscape.

Visit https://bit.ly/4j4J6NH for more information and to apply.

| |

Keep ahead of the curve Financial Planning Case Studies - Practical Strategies for the Modern Financial Planners

𝗦𝗙𝗣𝗟 - 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲, 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 ⚖️✨

The School of Financial Planning Law in the Faculty of Law at the University of the Free State recently hosted its Women's Financial Planning Breakfast, bringing together leading experts to share practical insights on financial wellbeing, planning, and empowerment.
Our distinguished speakers included:

• Prof Liezel Alsemgeest – Debt and Financial Freedom

• Ms Ilene Esterhuysen (iTrust) – Wills as an Effective Estate Planning Tool

• Ms Ntabaleng Mankoe (Standard Bank) – Business Banking

• Dr Rika van Zyl – Understanding Life Insurance in and Marriages

• Ms Moleboheng Moshe-Bereng – Pocket-Savvy Shopping

The event provided a valuable platform for learning, networking, and meaningful engagement, equipping attendees with practical tools and knowledge to make informed financial decisions and work towards long-term financial security.

𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝑭𝑷𝑳'𝒔 𝒅𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓, 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒇 𝑳𝒊𝒆𝒛𝒆𝒍 𝑨𝒍𝒔𝒆𝒎𝒈𝒆𝒆𝒔𝒕, 𝒐𝒏 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒔 𝑵𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝑫𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑩𝒐𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝑫𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒏 𝑨𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒂 (𝑭𝑷𝑰).

We are proud of your incredible achievement, Prof Alsemgeest and wish you great success!

Liezel Alsemgeest

𝗔 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗮𝘄 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 ✨ 🎓
As graduation season draws to a close for 2026 we reflect with pride on a truly remarkable journey for the Faculty of Law. We celebrated not only the achievements of our undergraduate graduates, but also those of our postgraduate students.

Each milestone reached is a testament to resilience, dedication, and the pursuit of excellence.

We shine a special light on the outstanding achievements of the following graduates who were recognised as the Top Achievers in various modules of the programmes offered by the School of Financial Planning Law:

𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐦𝐚 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
Top Achiever in Regulatory Environment - Van Coller E
Top Achiever in Administration of Deceased Estates - Van Coller E
Top Achiever in Trust Administration - Jardim M & Van Coller E
Top Achiever in Estate Planning and Drafting of Wills
- Heydenrych A

Overall top achiever: Advanced Diploma in Estate and Trust Administration - Van Coller E

𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐦𝐚 𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠
Top Achiever in Financial Planning Environment- Fialho MF
Top Achiever in Personal Financial Planning - O'Brien SH
Top Achiever in Corporate Financial Planning - Van Tonder J
Top Achiever in Financial Planning Case Study - Fialho MF

Overall Top Achiever: Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning
Fialho MF

𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐦𝐚 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠
Top Achiever in Asset Types and Investment Planning
- Mathikhi CM
Top Achiever in Principles of Portfolio Planning and Management
- Magopane PP

Overall top achiever: Postgraduate Diploma in Investment Planning
- Magopane PP

𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐦𝐚 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠
Top Achiever in Estate Planning - Brits JS
Top Achiever in Personal Financial Risk Management - Brits JS

Overall Top Achiever: Postgraduate Diploma in Estate Planning
- Brits JS

To all our graduates: well done! Your commitment has brought you to this moment, and your future contributions to society are eagerly anticipated. We also extend heartfelt congratulations to the families, guardians, and support systems who have walked this journey alongside you.
Our sincere thanks go to the academic and support staff whose dedication continues to shape and guide our students toward success.

The end of this season marks not just a conclusion, but the beginning of new chapters. May you carry forward the values of integrity, excellence, and purpose

Photos: Harmse Photography

A big congratulations to Ivan Loots for winning the 2025 Financial Planner of the Year award at the Succession Financial Planning (SFP) Champions League awards. Loots, who obtained his Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning in 2009 at the UFS, was presented with this award at the SFP gala evening, held on 20 March 2026, following a successful two-day Succession Financial Planning annual national conference.

“I’m incredibly honoured to have been awarded the SFP Financial Planner of the Year. This achievement would not have been possible without your trust, support, and partnership. I dedicate this accomplishment to Caren Eigelaar, whose impact and encouragement shaped this practice. I miss her dearly after her passing in January. I am also deeply grateful for the Grace of God and the unwavering support of my family. With my new team on board, we look forward to continuing to make a meaningful difference in each client’s life” said Loots in a LinkedIn post.

Congratulations, Ivan! We wish you continued success and growth.