COMPOUNDING RETURNS

Newsflash | September 2026

Dear Colleagues

There’s a pattern running through this issue that only became obvious once we’d pulled it together: almost everything here is proof of what happens when a relationship is given time to compound.

The partnership with Sanlam Private Wealth is a powerful example of compounding returns in action. Having connected with the ASISA Academy for the first time last year, they recruited an unusually large cohort of IMACS@TSIBA students, extending the required four-month internship into 12-month fixed-term contracts and retaining 80% of them thereafter.

This year, they have continued to build on that investment by taking on another six students on 12-month contracts.

What began as an internship opportunity has compounded into something far greater: students gain the work-integrated learning required for graduation, while many also secure permanent employment and the opportunity to build sustainable careers in the financial services sector.

In addition, Ninety One has enrolled seven separate groups of staff on our Investment Sprints this year alone.

None of this happens overnight. It’s the reward of organisations – and people – choosing to keep investing, year after year, in the same relationships.

Thank you, as always, for being part of this work.

Warm regards,

Alicia Davids
CEO, ASISA Academy

GRADUATE PROGRAMMES

This month, ASISA published the 2026 Industry Transformation Report, covering 2018 to 2025 – a fitting backdrop for the graduate programme milestones below, all proof that real transformation is built over years. Read the report here.

Investment Management Administration & Client Servicing (IMACS@TSIBA) Internship

For the second year running, Sanlam Private Wealth has partnered with us as a host employer for our IMACS@TSIBA students – undergraduates completing the final stretch of their degree in the workplace.

Last year they took on 10 students and retained eight, and this year they took on a further six. In both cases, they offered students a 12-month fixed-term contract as opposed to the required four months.

It’s exactly the kind of pipeline into the industry we love to see.

Fezeka Graduate Programme

Nine Fezeka graduates have now successfully passed the CFA Level I examination, a significant achievement that reflects their dedication, resilience, and commitment to professional excellence.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to our team members, industry partners and mentors for the invaluable support they have provided throughout the graduates' journeys. We recognise the considerable demands of the CFA programme, and these results demonstrate what can be achieved when talented individuals are supported by a strong network of encouragement, guidance and expertise.

Congratulations to all nine graduates on reaching this important milestone. Their success is an inspiration to those who will follow in their footsteps.

SHORT COURSES

Investment Sprints

A special request from Sygnia for an online Derivatives Sprint for a small group of staff turned into something bigger. Sygnia was happy for us to open the class to the wider industry to fill it, and we were delighted to welcome additional delegates from several other companies along the way. Here is what some delegates had to say about Programme Champion, Grant Cloete's presentations:

• "Grant Cloete made the subject easier to understand by using an example that we could all understand and relate to."
• "The session was informative and well presented."
• "The presenter used practical examples that really helped to make sense of complex concepts."

Our Investment Sprints are interactive, two-hour online sessions covering specific topics from across our course range, facilitated by our team of expert presenters via video conferencing.

UNIVERSITY WORK READINESS

ABSIP Investment Overview Blitzcamps

This month, we delivered full-day sessions of our Financial Services Industry Overview Blitzcamp and Investment Management Overview Blitzcamp to a group of UCT ABSIP final-year students, co-sponsored by SA-H2 Fund Managers and delivered by Programme Champion Grant Cloete.

Students who attended the Industry Overview Blitzcamps, pictured above with Grant Cloete. 

IN-HOUSE COURSES

Just Share Industry Overview Blitzcamps

The two Industry Overview Blitzcamps were also delivered at Just Share’s offices in Plumstead, Cape Town – the Financial Services Industry Overview Blitzcamp in August, followed by the Investment Management Overview Blitzcamp this month.

Just Share employees who attended the Industry Overview Blitzcamps.

Ninety One Investment Sprints

It was our pleasure to train our seventh group of Ninety One staff so far this year, delivering Investment Sprints over two consecutive days covering the South African savings and investment sector, investment management business models, investment products and structures, retirement fund and life insurance fundamentals, and the fundamentals of equities, equity operations, and interest-bearing assets. Programme Champion, Grant Cloete had this to say:

"Good sessions held with the Ninety One delegates. We were a small group this time round but it didn’t stop us from having great insightful conversations and sharing of different perspectives."

RETIREMENT FUND TRUSTEE EDUCATION

ASISA Academy Programme Champion Anel Bodill recently attended the Institute of Retirement Funds Africa (IRFA) Conference 2026 in Cape Town, themed 'A New World - A New Normal', which brought together trustees, fund executives, regulators, consultants and other industry stakeholders to discuss the sector's key challenges and opportunities.

The conference reinforced the need for trustee education to evolve alongside industry changes and real-world challenges. Of relevance to the Academy are the following takeaways: 

• Trustees need to think beyond compliance and focus on improving outcomes and experiences for retirement fund members through informed trustee decision-making.
• Good judgement, proactive stewardship and understanding the real impact of industry changes on members are all critical.
• Trustees need to be mindful of the link between financial stress, mental well-being and members’ (two-pot) withdrawal decisions.
• Regulators are increasingly focused on value for money, encompassing investment performance, administration, governance, service quality and unclaimed benefits.
• Concerns about unpaid contributions reinforced the importance of protecting members’ retirement and risk benefits.

Retirement Fund Trustee Education (RFTE) Programme Champion, Anel Bodill at the IRFA Conference.

LOOKING AHEAD

As we head into the final stretch of 2026, please reach out to discuss what you’d like to see the ASISA Academy presenting in 2027 – we look forward to compounding these relationships further next year.

Contact us:

• General enquiries: learn@asisaacademy.org.za
• CEO: adavids@asisaacademy.org.za
• Graduate Programme enquiries: zebrahim@asisaacademy.org.za

ASISA Academy - Building the talent pipeline for South Africa’s savings and investment industry.