Before we share more with you about the professional journey of our newest member of the financial planning team, Cole Zweistra, we want to send out a hearty congratulations to him and his wife Julia Rother, who were recently married.
Romance blossomed in Cole’s matric year, but they have known each other since primary school, when they both attended Sweet Valley.
Uncertain about a career choice after school, Cole ended up qualifying as a landscape technologist after which he spent his internship with Planning Partners, a company that specialises in urban design and landscape architecture.
It was a discussion with his own financial planner in 2017 that stirred Cole’s interest in financial planning. He asked me if I would consider becoming a financial adviser and I thought to myself, that it did align with my interest to work with and help people. It was this and Cole’s passion for helping people that led to an early career switch from landscape architecture to financial planning.
It was a very swift switch: “I received a job offer on Friday and resigned my job as a landscape technologist on Monday,” he says.
After five years at the Liberty Group he moved to Northstar Asset Management. Aside from his main role in business development, he also worked in the private client department, which is when he realised that he loved working with clients and their finances.
The yearning for a full-time role in financial planning—where his heart lies—led him to Veritas Wealth after an industry colleague introduced him to the business.
Cole describes his job at Veritas as “most definitely the right move” because the Veritas financial planning process is driven by the client’s lifestyle needs, rather than being product led.
Coming from a divorced family, Cole has seen first-hand the impact a lack of financial planning knowledge can have on family members. My father managed the family finances and after the divorce my mom had little knowledge of financial planning.
Cole is halfway through his post graduate Diploma in Financial Planning Law. He plans to sit for his Certified Financial Planning Board exam in 2025. This will allow him to use the CFP designation (Certified Financial Planning accreditation) behind his name which is the highest level of qualification in this field.
A nature lover and keen sportsman, he participates in cycling – both road and mountain biking, golfing and surfing with his close circle of friends, who he has known since primary school.
Interesting Facts about Cole
How do you start your day?
With some form of exercise followed by a good coffee.
Do you have any pet peeves?
Disrespect and rudeness.
Any life learnings so far?
That some people are only in your life for a season and that’s ok.
Do you have any resolutions?
To not take myself too seriously and to have fun.
One fact that your colleagues may not know about you?
To earn pocket money, I was a pizza delivery boy in matric and the first year of Varsity.
Do you have a life motto?
Not really. But I read this somewhere and it resonates with me:
Don’t let those who have forgotten how to dream stop you from doing so.
What do you regard as the most important piece of financial advice?
Partner with the right financial planner and stick to your plan.
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