31 August 2021
WOMEN'S MONTH FEATURE
Finding your own financial freedom makes it easier to help others find theirs
M
aria Bagezile Mkhabela joined Liberty over a decade ago as a financial adviser from the JD Group sales department. She made the required transition from sales to financial advice with ease, as she was already well-versed in the art of selling products to people with various preferences and needs. Maria finds it easy to interact with her diverse clientele. “You need to be a good listener in order to be able to identify their financial needs,” she says. “I’m patient with people and I make allowances that they may have woken up from the wrong side of the bed that morning!” she adds.
Maria’s work is and she’s already eager to take up the same career as her mom. “My daughter sees how good I am at providing for my family. My role as a financial adviser has given me more independence than I ever imagined. I always say to people: Don’t see the role as a job because it’s a career – and one in which you really get to know yourself.”
the positive side: “We’ve got to learn and we’ve got to adapt,” she adds. “The pandemic has not only taught us lessons, but it has also given us a chance to revisit ourselves and to rearrange our lives.”
Taking care of the important things Another key take-out from the lockdown for Maria was the importance of reviewing Dealing with the pandemic and updating funeral cover policies. She Maria believes that the COVID-19 pandemic saw many clients update their policies has led women to become what she calls after realising that their extended families “pillars of strength” in their homes, although needed to be included in their funeral plans. she is concerned with news circulation She knows of cases where some have on gender-based violence suggesting that had to access their investments to pay for Finding purpose in some instances, homes have become family funeral costs. She firmly believes that Her career at Liberty has given Maria the dangerous places for women and girls during Liberty’s Funeral Plus Plan will change this, power to be an independent, driven career the lockdown. “Many women have struggled as people get to choose the benefits that best woman in so many ways. Being a financial to find a way forward and to cope in some suit their budgets and their needs. adviser means understanding the role she situations,” she says. “We know the importance of family and plays in helping change people’s lives for For Maria, one of the important takeaways doing everything you can to help and protect the better, and helping clients deal with from COVID-19 is how technology is playing them. Having a larger family should not mean economic and lifestyle changes is what she a crucial role in keeping business and society you are restricted in offering your loved ones has been empowered to do. functional in a time of lockdowns. “We had to all the support they need, including funeral “I would definitely recommend a career adapt to technology so quickly and now we’re cover. Our Funeral Plus Plan lets you cover in financial services to other women. Please using it more than ever,” she says. all your loved ones, at an affordable rate. come forward, is my message! We need more And while the transition to technology The plan has come at a time when people women as financial advisers,” she says. Her wasn’t always seamless, and while the recent need something that makes sense to them.” 10-year-old daughter has seen how fulfilling spate of load shedding didn’t help, she sees She adds that the plan is designed to also
Maria Bagezile Mkhabela, Financial Adviser, Liberty ECM
include those who are not family, but who nevertheless are important, meaning that domestic workers or gardeners may be included in a client’s funeral plan. Throughout her life’s journey, Maria has been driven by her passion to change people’s lives. Personally, her goals remain focused on becoming the best version of herself that she can be, so that she can enable and assist as many South Africans as possible on their journey to becoming financially free. Disclaimer: This article does not constitute tax, legal, financial, regulatory, accounting, technical or other advice. The material has been created for information purpose only and does not contain any personal recommendations. While every care has been taken in preparing this material, no member of Liberty gives any representation, warranty or undertaking and accepts no responsibility or liability as to the accuracy, or completeness, of the information presented. Maria Mkhabela is a Tied Liberty Financial Adviser and is providing her views based on her interaction with clients in her profession as a financial adviser. She has not been compensated for her participation in this article. For more details about benefits, definitions, guarantees, fees, tax, limitations, charges, premiums or other conditions and associated risks, please speak to a Liberty Financial Adviser or your Broker. Liberty Group Ltd is the insurer of Liberty Funeral Plus Plan and an Authorised Financial Services Provider (no. 2409). Terms and Conditions apply.
A Funeral Plan to meet your needs from as little as
R40* per month. *Cover and premiums are dependent on individual risk profile. Send us a
on 071 618 6572 to get a quote.
Liberty is the insurer of the Funeral Plus Plan and an authorized FSP. Ts and Cs, risks and limitations apply.
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