See full profile: Pinelands Financial Advisor- Lilian Calitz
Were you always planning to be a Financial Advisor and why?
I have been in the industry for over 30 years. I am of the firm belief that knowledge and education empowers people and I enjoy empowering my clients to understand how their portfolios and investments in particular, work.
When meeting with clients do they mostly come to your own premises or do you mostly go their theirs?
My clients come to my office, I mostly go to my clients.
What is your preferred mode of communication with your clients?
Email, Phone, Face to Face, WhatsApp.
Have you ever done an online video call with a client?
Yes.
What do you love most about being a financial advisor
Satisfying the needs of my clients, whether it be making provision for them and their families to cope with life changing events such as death, disability, a dread disease, income protection or assisting them to reach their goals, a comfortable retirement being one of them.
Would you recommend becoming a financial advisor as a career for school-leavers, and why?
Definitely. It is a very rewarding profession. Medical Doctors look after our physical health but Financial Advisors look after the health of a portfolio which allows us to pay our medical bills, buy our homes, educate our children, save for holidays with our families, retire comfortably and take care of our next of kin, when we are no longer there to do so.
What qualities should South Africans be looking for in their financial advisor?
Honesty, integrity, experience, professionalism, sound, practical advice.
What is the biggest challenge facing financial advisors today?
Changing regulation and unsteady markets.
What aspects of financial advising do you focus on most?
Local and offshore investments and Financial advice for post graduate professionals.
Describe your average client:
A Post Graduate Professional who works locally in SA or internationally.
How far away from your premises is your furthest client?
We have clients all over the world. The furthest is either in Canada or Japan.
From your financial advising experience, if you could cite one of the biggest reasons financial goals, what would it be?
South Africans simply don't save enough of their income for a rainy day or for retirement. They seem to want instant gratification and like to keep up with the Jones's. They spend more than they earn each month, mostly on items which will need to be replaced in 1, 3 or 5 years time and they borrow money at exorbitant interest rates.
Many people ignore the fact that they earned little or nothing in the first 1/3 of their lives when they were children or students. They only have approximately the middle 1/3 of their lives to make hay while the sun shines, when they can earn an income and make provision for the final /3 of their lives when they are in retirement. The quality of one’s retirement depends directly on how much money one saved when they had the opportunity to do so.
I cannot stress how important it is to start saving from the time you receive your first pay cheque. Compound interest/returns can have an amazing effect on what is a relatively small portion of your income, over time. How much one saves during one’s working lifetime will determine whether you reach your financial goals in life and whether you have a poverty stricken or a comfortable retirement. It’s as basic as that.
What financial software do you like best?
Sanfin and Sanport.
What other software, online services or apps do you use?
The websites of Allan Gray, Sanlam, Old Mutual, Liberty, Glacier, PPS and PPSI and that of the other companies which we deal with.
Do you think the coming wave of automation in the next few years will steal some financial advisor jobs and why/why not?
Yes and no. Human beings have different needs and not everybody will be able to solve their financial needs with an automated response. Financial Advisors who offer specialized services with a personal touch, will still be sought after and should not lose their jobs. People will always need face to face advice on how best to manage their money.
What is your opinion on Bitcoin?
It is a volatile investment and not for the faint hearted or conservative investor.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Reading, travelling, photography, cooking up a storm.
What is the most interesting thing on your bucket list?
Seeing the world and how other people innovate.
What has your experience been on FindanAdvisor?
Good.
