Life Chapters, Money Choices

What would happen to your family if you died last night? It is a confronting question, but one that sits at the heart of proper estate planning. Many people believe that having a signed will means everything is taken care of, only to discover that a will is just one part of a much bigger picture. Michael Avery and Kim Potgieter speak to Financial Planning Specialist Maryanne Leicher about why esta...

Few institutions are as generous, emotional, or enduring as the Bank of Mom and Dad. In this episode of Life Chapters, Money Choices , Michael Avery and Kim Potgieter are joined by Financial Planning Specialist Tom Brukman for an honest conversation about the financial and emotional realities of supporting adult children. From helping with university fees, rent, medical aid, and everyday expenses....

At 56, Cheryl Jones found herself asking a question many people face in midlife: What now? Her children had left home, life looked very different from the years before, and she felt drawn to something more. Instead of settling into familiar routines, Cheryl made the bold decision to return to studying, challenge her self-doubt, and reinvent her career. In this episode of Life Chapters, Money Choic...

At some point, success stops being about accumulation and starts being about meaning. In this episode of Life Chapters, Money Choices, Michael Avery and Kim Potgieter are joined by entrepreneur, mother, and serial reinventor Miranda Isaakidis for a conversation about curiosity, change, and what it means to keep creating a meaningful life as your priorities evolve. From financial setbacks like the...

What if the reason you feel stuck isn’t a lack of discipline or direction, but the state of your brain? In this conversation, Michael Avery and Kim Potgieter sit down with neurologist Dr Kirti Ranchod to unpack how stress, uncertainty, and constant distraction reshape the way we think, feel, and make decisions. They explore why memory fails under pressure, why clarity disappears in times of change...

We do not often plan for the moment when roles begin to shift. When the people who once guided our decisions start relying on us to help manage theirs. Caring for ageing parents is one of life’s most emotional and complex transitions. It brings difficult conversations, changing family dynamics, and important financial and legal decisions that many families only face when it is already too late. In...

Divorce is never just about dividing assets. It is a life transition that redefines your identity, your finances and your future. In this episode, Michael Avery and Kim Potgieter are joined by Gillian Lowndes , a director at Lowndes Dlamini Inc., with over two decades of experience in family law. Known for her work as both a litigator and a trusted advisor, she combines deep legal expertise with a...

A midlife wake-up call that changed everything When Lynda Smith reviewed her finances in her early fifties, she discovered a difficult truth. If she retired at 60, her money would run out by 64. It was a wake-up call that forced her to rethink the future. In this episode of Life Chapters, Money Choices , Michael Avery and Kim Potgieter are joined by Lynda Smith, founder of 50Plus-Skills, who works...

Will I run out of money? It is the question many people carry quietly, even those who appear financially secure. In this episode of Life Chapters, Money Choices, Michael Avery and Kim Potgieter are joined by Victoria Reuvers, Managing Director of WealthStrat , the investment partner behind Chartered Wealth Solutions. With more than two decades in the investment industry, Victoria has worked at the...

At the start of every year, we make plans. We set goals. And then life happens. In this episode of Life Chapters, Money Choices, Michael Avery is joined by Kim Potgieter for a slower, more reflective conversation about how we actually design a year that can withstand reality.  Kim shares how she has used vision boards for many years, not as a manifestation exercise or wish list, but as a practical...

What happens when you have built the empire, banked the exit, and ticked every traditional success box and the next question is no longer what’s next for my career , but what’s next for me ? In this episode of Life Chapters, Money Choices , Michael Avery and Kim Potgieter sit down with legendary South African media strategist and entrepreneur Sandra Gordon. Having built, scaled, sold and reinvente...

What if the way we approach money, health, and success is shaped by the same underlying force: fear? In this episode of Life Chapters, Money Choices, Michael Avery and Kim Potgieter are joined by Dr Riaz Motara, leading cardiologist, founder of the Cardio Group, and pioneer of the Women’s Heart Clinic, for a deeply reflective conversation about wellbeing, identity, and the stories that quietly dri...

How do you stay curious and relevant at any age? In this episode, Michael Avery and Kim Potgieter sit down with author and futurist Arthur Goldstuck to explore the money lessons, discipline and lifelong learning that have shaped his journey. We unpack the emotional and practical sides of money, why curiosity is the oxygen of reinvention, how to stay relevant in an AI-driven world and why the conce...

Know yourself, simple to say, harder to live. In this episode, Michael Avery and Kim Potgieter sit down with Colleen-Joy Page, an international coaching trainer, business builder, artist and Enneagram practitioner. Colleen shares the moment at 13 that changed her life, her experience of growing up with scarcity, and the insight that reshaped her relationship with money. She explains how true finan...

When it comes to legacy, most of us think in rands, cents, and stuff: the house, the investments, the will. But as Michael Avery explores with Kerryn Franck , Head of Chartered Legacy & Trust, and Kim Potgieter , Director and Head of Life Planning at Chartered Wealth Solutions, the real gift you leave behind may be clarity, communication, and preserved relationships. In this episode of Life Ch...

What happens when love and money don’t quite balance out?  In this episode, Michael Avery is joined by Chartered Wealth’s Kim Potgieter and Stephanie Ferreira to explore what really goes on when one partner earns significantly more than the other – and how feelings like guilt, pride, resentment, or shame can reshape the story of a relationship.  They unpack: 💬 Why money is still the ultimate rela...

After four decades of auditing balance sheets, Andrew turns the lens inward in this deeply reflective and practical conversation about planning for life beyond the title. In this episode, Michael Avery and Kim Potgieter sit down with Andrew to explore what it really takes to shift from a career of being important to being important to others . Drawing from Bob Buford’s Halftime , Andrew shares how...

What happens when you’ve built your identity around caregiving, only to find yourself at midlife asking, “What’s next?” In this deeply personal episode of Life Chapters, Money Choices , Michael Avery sits down with Lyndsay Barr , writer and former social worker, and Kim Potgieter of Chartered Wealth Solutions to explore how our beliefs about money shape our lives, and how they can be rewritten. Fr...

She didn’t grow up having money conversations, so today, she’s intentional about giving her children something she never had — a legacy of honesty and accountability. In this deeply personal episode, Lauren (not her real name) shares her story of starting over after two marriages, raising children as a single mother, and supporting her daughter and grandchildren, all while learning to redefine her...

What happens when your career ends before you’re ready and retirement doesn’t feel like rest, but like a question mark? In this episode, host Michael Avery speaks with former corporate executive Magnus Taljaard , who found himself “retired” earlier than planned and chose reinvention instead. Together with Kim Potgieter , they unpack the emotional complexity of identity, purpose, and building a sec...

When love ends in loss, what happens next? In this episode of Life Chapters, Money Choices , host Michael Avery is joined by Kim Potgieter and Financial Planning Specialist, Tiffany Havinga, to unpack the emotional and financial shock of widowhood. The discussion touches on the shock of stepping into new responsibilities while grieving, the importance of small structures that bring stability, and...

What happens when your career ends but your purpose hasn't yet begun? In this episode of Life Chapters, Money Choices , host Michael Avery is joined by retired executive Ronelle Baker , and life planning coach Kim Potgieter , to explore what really happens when the salary ends and the silence sets in. Ronelle shares her powerful story of retiring early, chasing freedom, and then realising tha...

What happens when the life you built falls apart, but you discover you were always strong enough to rebuild it?  In this episode, Michael Avery and Kim Potgieter, Managing Director at Chartered Wealth Solutions, sit down with Sarah (a pseudonym), a recently divorced Chartered Wealth client in her 50s. Together, they unpack the emotional and financial aftermath of her divorce and explore the comple...

In this opening episode of Life Chapters, Money Choices , host Michael Avery sits down with Certified Financial Planner and author Kim Potgieter to unpack the story behind the series and her own deeply personal journey. From growing up in a home defined by financial control, to losing both parents within a few years of each other, to reinventing herself midlife and helping others do the same. Kim’...

What if your next chapter was the one where it all came together? In our debut episode, Kim Potgieter joins Michael Avery to discuss courage, reinvention, and finding purpose beyond return on investments. Life Chapters, Money Choices is a podcast about the transitions that shape us and the money decisions that support them. 🎧 Tune in. Be brave. Be on purpose.