Money Heroes

Money Heroes is an empowering 13-part series that gives you expert advice to help you achieve your unique financial goals.

From investing to pivoting your business strategy in a pandemic, we've got you covered with empowering insights from South African industry leaders that will help you to reach new heights. Expect real conversations with real people who have redefined success on their own terms.

We kick off the series with a deep dive into financial planning and setting goals. As one of the first steps in securing and safeguarding your future, financial planning is crucial in reaching your long-term goals. It’s especially important as businesses navigate a post-pandemic landscape.

In this episode, Lexi Monzeglio the co-owner of Lexi’s Healthy Eatery shares how her team overcame debt and maintained financial success during the pandemic. Then, Edmund Beukes the owner of XL Events unpacks how effective financial planning helped his company pivot their strategy to keep their business running strong.

Your Financial Identity

Before you map out your financial planning strategy – you need to have a good understanding of your financial habits – including your goals and needs. “It’s time for all of us to reset and get our financial goals back on track,” says Jeanette Marais, deputy CEO of Momentum Metropolitan and CEO of Momentum Investments. “The first step is to really understand who you are and what your relationship with money is.”

It's easy to feel overwhelmed when plotting your financial needs and goals. This is where financial advisers step in. Momentum has a list of reputable financial advisers on their website. You can use the filter function to find a partner near you who will help you structure your financial plan. 

Marais adds that connecting with a financial adviser will help you avoid the risk of Behaviour Tax – which is commonplace when trying to figure out our financial plans.

“The ‘behaviour tax’ is actually the loss that you have when you make short-term financial decisions based on irrational emotions – and that’s when we make the greatest and the biggest mistakes on our journey to financial success,” explains Marais. 

It’s important to take note of your emotions in the financial planning process. We all start off with good intentions, often set off by an emotion, when we set the goals we want to achieve. The real test comes in when we have to follow through. Without implementation our plans will always stay exactly that – goals, and not realised dreams.



Your Financial Identity

Before you map out your financial planning strategy – you need to have a good understanding of your financial habits – including your goals and needs. “It’s time for all of us to reset and get our financial goals back on track,” says Jeanette Marais, deputy CEO of Momentum Metropolitan and CEO of Momentum Investments. “The first step is to really understand who you are and what your relationship with money is.”

It's easy to feel overwhelmed when plotting your financial needs and goals. This is where financial advisers step in. Momentum has a list of reputable financial advisers on their website. You can use the filter function to find a partner near you who will help you structure your financial plan. 

Marais adds that connecting with a financial adviser will help you avoid the risk of Behaviour Tax – which is commonplace when trying to figure out our financial plans.

“The ‘behaviour tax’ is actually the loss that you have when you make short-term financial decisions based on irrational emotions – and that’s when we make the greatest and the biggest mistakes on our journey to financial success,” explains Marais. 

It’s important to take note of your emotions in the financial planning process. We all start off with good intentions, often set off by an emotion, when we set the goals we want to achieve. The real test comes in when we have to follow through. Without implementation our plans will always stay exactly that – goals, and not realised dreams.

Financial Control

CEO of Galileo Capital, Theo Vorster, shares wisdom on how to gain control of your finances.

“If you are not in control of your money, your money will be in control of you and you will not achieve your financial goals,” Vorster explains.

As for how to take control of your money – Vorster implores you to focus on these three key elements to edge closer to success.

Manage your budget

Keep track of your expenses and figure out how much you’d like to save. Using this information, set yourself a monthly budget with your financial adviser to help you find out where you’re able to cut costs and can save for longer-term investments. 

Manage your spending behaviour

With your budget in mind, try to be diligent in tracking your spending habits to ensure that you aren’t teetering over your set monthly target. Know what your key expenses are each month – from essentials like groceries to your internet bill, as well as how much you wish to save, and plan the rest of your monthly spending around that.  

Manage your investments

Similarly, be smart with your investments. Consult your financial adviser and look at investment trends that are relevant to you or your business. This way you’ll be able to know where best to place your financial trust to move forward toward your financial success. 



Financial Control

CEO of Galileo Capital, Theo Vorster, shares wisdom on how to gain control of your finances.

“If you are not in control of your money, your money will be in control of you and you will not achieve your financial goals,” Vorster explains.

As for how to take control of your money – Vorster implores you to focus on these three key elements to edge closer to success.

Manage your budget

Keep track of your expenses and figure out how much you’d like to save. Using this information, set yourself a monthly budget with your financial adviser to help you find out where you’re able to cut costs and can save for longer-term investments. 

Manage your spending behaviour

With your budget in mind, try to be diligent in tracking your spending habits to ensure that you aren’t teetering over your set monthly target. Know what your key expenses are each month – from essentials like groceries to your internet bill, as well as how much you wish to save, and plan the rest of your monthly spending around that.  

Manage your investments

Similarly, be smart with your investments. Consult your financial adviser and look at investment trends that are relevant to you or your business. This way you’ll be able to know where best to place your financial trust to move forward toward your financial success. 

Success Stories: Lexi Monzeglio

Covid-19 posed a near-crippling threat to the hospitality and restaurant industries.

Lexi Monzeglio, the co-owner of Lexi’s Healthy Eatery, shares her story of the pandemic’s threat to her business – and how they’ve been building financial fortitude despite it. 

“We ended up closing our first store in Sandton, and accruing a lot of debt,” Monzeglio explains, “So, I guess my advice would be to anyone that is struggling through these difficult times is – keep your head up high, stay confident, believe in yourself. It sounds super cliché, but it’s true – and keep doing the hard work.”

As for how to survive subsequent Covid-19 waves, Monzeglio implores other businesses to keep pushing through, pivot their strategy, and not wait for Covid to be “over”. 

Watch the video to hear more of Mozeglio’s advice for standing firm in the face of adversity. 



Success Stories: Edmund Beukes

Another industry that felt the knock-on effect of the pandemic was event planning. With limitations on indoor and outdoor gatherings – larger-scale events pivoted to virtual or smaller events.

Edmund Beukes, owner of XL Events, shares how he and his team re-strategised to meet their client needs in the ever-changing environment. 

“We used to do big corporate events before Covid-19 hit. After a month of doing nothing, we realised we needed to make a plan,” Beukes explains, “We started packing boxes for all those online meetings, and then we pivoted more into the wedding scene.” 

Reassessing their financial plan and business strategy allowed XL Events to expand their business into industries beyond corporate events, and network with professionals in other sectors like the wedding industry. 

Watch the video to hear more about how Beukes and his team budgeted and pivoted their business strategy to help them maintain success in the pandemic.  



Financial success is as unique as a fingerprint. That’s the beauty of defining your own aspirations and ambitions. Getting to where you dream of takes grit, determination and most importantly, honesty.

With two tough years of living through the pandemic and an increasing cost of living, it will take great introspection to be honest about where we find ourselves and seek help when we need it, especially from an expert.

The right advice can propel you forward. Our financial advisers have a vested interest in you: what do you value? What are your goals? This deep discovery sets the foundation for a relationship that will bear fruits of success.

Ready to begin your journey?

FIND A FINANCIAL ADVISER

SPEAK TO A FINANCIAL ADVISER

Financial success is as unique as a fingerprint. That’s the beauty of defining your own aspirations and ambitions. With two tough years of living through the pandemic and an increasing cost of living, it will take great introspection to be honest about where we find ourselves and seek help when we need it, especially from an expert.

The right advice can propel you forward.

Ready to begin your journey?

FIND A FINANCIAL ADVISER

SPEAK TO A FINANCIAL ADVISER