Opperman

What separates someone who retires comfortably from someone who runs out of money at 80 often comes down to decisions made 20 or 30 years earlier — and whether those decisions were based on genuine understanding or sales pressure. Opperman recognises that good financial advice requires more than product knowledge; it requires demonstrating that you understand tax law changes, FAIS compliance, and how fee structures actually impact returns over decades. A credible adviser in Pretoria should be able to explain why a living annuity might cost you more than a retirement annuity in your situation, or why a particular unit trust platform's performance numbers don't tell the whole story. They should be comfortable saying no to commissions, holding professional indemnity insurance, and providing written advice you can audit years later. These are the markers of competence worth paying attention to when your retirement is on the line.