Stian de Witt, CFP

Last night I joined Jimmy Moyaha on the Moneyweb SAfm Market Update to talk about a question that keeps coming up: Should you take financial advice from AI?

AI is incredibly useful. It can help you dig into fund fact sheets, understand costs, and prepare better questions before you sit down with a planner. Used properly, it’s a great tool.

But here’s the important distinction: *information is not advice*.

Real advice needs context, your family situation, your emotions when markets get rocky, your tax position, and the behavioural traps that can quietly cost people a lot of money over time. AI can’t sit with you in those moments and help you stay the course.

One practical tip I shared: never put your personal financial details into a free AI chatbot. Treat it the same way you would a stranger asking for your ID number or payslip.

At NMG Benefits we’re using AI to free up time so our planners can spend more of it where it matters most, with clients. Technology makes us more efficient. The human relationship still delivers the real value.

Financial planners aren’t about to be replaced. But those who ignore these tools may find themselves falling behind.

What do you think? Are you using AI in any way when it comes to your money decisions?

(Link to the full interview is in the comments)

Have you ever wondered why your employer chooses your pension or medical fund for you? 🧐

It’s a conversation I had recently with Ryk van Niekerk on Geldsake. Many people feel that they could do a better job managing their own money, but there are some significant "hidden" benefits to being part of an employer-sponsored scheme, like better rates and professional oversight that you wouldn't get as an individual.

The real trick is finding the balance between the security your boss provides and the personal freedom you need for your own financial plan.

Catch the full podcast below to hear my thoughts on where the industry is headed! 🎙️🇿🇦

https://iono.fm/e/1701421

NMG Benefits

Waarom moet my baas my pensioen- en mediese fonds kies? Stian De Witt – hoof: finansiële beplanning, NMG Benefits

It’s been a big week on the airwaves!

I joined both Vuma 103 Fm and Radio 702 to talk about the simple tax mistakes that cost South Africans thousands every year. From the "Two-Pot" retirement system to travel logbooks, we covered the "blind spots" you need to watch out for.

Tax planning is for everyone, and it starts with knowing the rules.

Check the first comment for the recordings from both interviews!

I am often asked what the "secret" to successful investing is. My answer is usually simpler than people expect: Purpose.

It was a great experience joining Relebogile Mabotja on 702 to break down why your "Why" is more important than your "What." We took a deep dive into Goal-Based Investing, a strategy that focuses on your life milestones rather than just chasing market trends.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the "noise" of the markets, this conversation is for you. Check out the highlights in the post below! 👇

Most money mistakes don't come from picking the wrong investment. They come from losing sight of why you're investing in the first place.

Our Executive Head of Financial Planning, Stian de Witt, CFP®, joined Relebogile Mabotja on Radio 702 to unpack the power of goal-based investing — and why knowing what you're saving for changes everything about how you save.

🎧 Listen to the full interview here: https://www.primediaplus.com/finance-feature-how-goal-based-investing-can-help-you-reach-future-financial-goals/

As a Certified Financial Planner®, I’m trained to start with one question before any big decision:

What does this do to cash flow, capital, and long-term options?

That applies to cars too.

If you evaluate a vehicle emotionally, you’ll choose one way.
If you evaluate it financially, you start asking different questions.
And the answer often comes down to this: is the car a lifestyle choice… or a recurring capital decision?

I recently bought a second-hand BYD Dolphin (10,000 km) for R450,000 as my daily-use vehicle.

Not because it’s trendy — but because when you run the numbers properly, it’s exceptionally capital-efficient.

And this wasn’t a compromise on comfort or tech either. It’s quiet, comfortable, well-equipped, and genuinely easy to live with day-to-day.

Here’s what the maths looks like using the same framework I use with clients (prime finance, 48 months, conservative depreciation):
• Monthly finance: ~R11,700 vs ~R32,500 (a typical R1.25m SUV)
• Energy cost: R0 (off-grid home charging) vs ~R12,000/month in fuel
• Depreciation over ~4 years: ~R250k vs ~R750k

All-in over four years:
• Typical SUV: ~R1.64m
• BYD Dolphin: ~R360k

That’s roughly a R1.28m difference.

And the key point: you don’t “make your money back” only when you sell the car.
You recover value every month through lower interest, lower depreciation, and better cash flow.

This isn’t ideology. It’s simply capital efficiency — and for many households, it can meaningfully improve monthly breathing room without giving up a good driving experience.

Would you ever consider separating “daily efficiency” from “occasional capability” when choosing a vehicle — or do you prefer one car that does everything?

NMG Benefits