Author: suletta - Get Financial Savvy

Welcome to Get Financial Savvy

Little did I know when I enrolled for my postgraduate qualification in Financial Planning that, within a year, I would be diagnosed with a dread disease. I almost gave up on the idea of completing the course, fearing that the added stress might worsen my multiple sclerosis. But a wise client — a professor at Groote Schuur Hospital — encouraged me to put my shoulder to the wheel and just do it.

Two years later, after many relapses, I had no choice but to stop working. My neurologist was concerned about the frequency of these relapses, and as with most autoimmune conditions, stress played a major role. I stopped working at the same time the world was hit by COVID-19. At first, I didn’t feel “left out,” since everyone else was confined too. But now, five years later, I’m grateful to be in a remission phase — and ready to start a new chapter.

Encouraged by my friends and family, I’ve decided to share my knowledge of financial planning and help demystify the legal and technical terms that can feel so overwhelming.

My journey into the world of finance began decades ago, translating a rate book from English to Afrikaans for National Mutual — long before computers were introduced in South Africa. That experience gave me a strong foundation, teaching me the basics of every financial product word by word. Over the next 40 years, I built a career as a financial advisor, received numerous awards from various insurers, and had the privilege of working with incredible clients and dedicated administrative staff.

I hope you’ll enjoy the building blocks and bits of wisdom I’ll be sharing — real-life lessons, stories, and insights gathered from a lifetime in the world of finance.