Season 1 Episode 4

EY Leaders Unscripted - Dawie De Villiers on rebuilding trust and redefining financial advice in SA

18 March 2026 · 34:34 min

In this episode of Business Talk, Dawie De Villiers, CEO of Alexforbes, discusses the structural shift underway in South Africa’s financial services sector — and why improving member outcomes has become the defining metric of success. Against the backdrop of a more savings-friendly national budget,… he explains how tax-free savings accounts, retirement annuities, and regulatory reform are creating new opportunities to close the country’s long-standing savings gap.

The conversation explores the role of financial advice in driving better long-term investment outcomes, the importance of rebuilding trust in large institutions, and how artificial intelligence is being integrated into research, data analysis, and client servicing — without replacing human judgment. Darby also reflects on modernising legacy systems, reshaping organisational culture, and repositioning a major financial institution around customer-first principles. The central theme is clear: sustainable growth in South Africa’s economy starts with improving individual financial confidence, literacy, and long-term wealth creation. Show more