UFS School of Financial Planning Law

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.

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

Apply today for this new and exciting 12-week online Short Learning Programme.

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

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Chambers Tax & Wealth (PTY) Ltd is seeking dynamic, detail-oriented individuals to join its established financial advisory practice in Bloemfontein.

To apply, email [email protected]

Become equipt to offer professional, detailed and accurate employee benefit advice to clients.

Applications are open for the five-week Employee Benefits Short Learning Programme.

For more information, visit https://www.ufs.ac.za/law/school-of-financial-planning-law-home/academic-information/short-learning-programmes/employee-benefits-short-learning-programme

A career in the fiduciary field?

Remember that applications close on 15 January 2026 for the one-year, distance-learning Advanced Diploma in Estate and Trust Administration.

Visit https://www.ufs.ac.za/law/school-of-financial-planning-law-home/academic-information/diplomas/advanced-diploma-in-estate-and-trust-administration to apply today.

On successful completion of the diploma, you may be able to apply to FISA for the ultimate fiduciary designation of FPSA®
https://www.fisa.net.za/fpsa/

💜 𝗨𝗙𝗦 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗣𝗨𝗥𝗣𝗟𝗘!

In solidarity with the Women for Change GBV movement, the University of the Free State joins South Africans in raising our voices against gender-based violence.

By turning our digital spaces purple, we honour survivors, support advocacy, and take a stand for a safer, more just society.

Together, we say: 𝗡𝗼 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗕𝗩. 𝗡𝗼 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲.

Take the next step in your career and apply for the Advanced Diploma in Estate and Trust Administration.

This programme is the only one currently endorsed by the Fiduciary Institute of Southern Africa (FISA) as a relevant qualification for the FPSA® designation, and it is the only qualification accepted by FISA as an examination requirement for applying for FPSA® status.

For more information, visit https://www.ufs.ac.za/law/school-of-financial-planning-law-home/academic-information/diplomas/advanced-diploma-in-estate-and-trust-administration

Dean Rawlins from Absa will address the 2025 Postgraduate in Financial Planning class and any alumni who would like to join via Teams. Dean is a Certified Financial Planner, running two teams of Financial Advisers. He will be talking about what the job of being a Financial Advisor is going to actually look like. The expectation is often far removed from reality. Dean will share some of the realities of a graduate's prospects and what the career journey of a Financial Planning graduate looks like. He will then go on to share what it is like working in the bank, and the opportunity available that will be available to you at Absa.

Date: 31 October 2025
Time: 12h00

Microsoft Teams https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19*3ameeting_MTBkNzc2NzEtOTY5Ni00ODlkLWFjYzgtODZjZDMzOGQ0OTQy*40thread.v2/0?context=*7b*22Tid*22*3a*225be1f46d-495f-465b-9507-996e8c8cdcb6*22*2c*22Oid*22*3a*227d6d9b45-f289-4eda-90a2-1cbda68c8f1d*22*7d__;JSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUl!!LRJdiIM!GOTmjQiwW5VBxAg_bX_-H-N7k9CU1-bN9cu5r2ua5F4XDOzA2GDTY8ZtNAfninY6bHKS1k5R01w1aH5hKZr5xDym0SmHVEE$

Meeting ID: 349 618 994 411 2
Passcode: zx39SR9G

To apply for this opportunity, please follow the link below:
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/absa.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/ABSAcareersite/job/Johannesburg/Adviser--Virtual-I--FAIS-_R-15980034__;!!LRJdiIM!DMCdGcb47oeEJOGMSVlExkNm5o6GoeedKgCduTVmSAOQ9GAudRY7db6kAbVjS2N0TIkVZTaU5IEpGxkSsz39lwgRvBiPNJc$

urldefense.com