How a nationwide video meeting works
Our video consultations are set up for clients in Cape Town, Paarl, Johannesburg, Durban, Somerset West, Claremont and other parts of South Africa. Once you send an enquiry through the contact page, we help you choose a suitable time, confirm who should join and set out the documents needed for the meeting. Most clients use a phone, tablet or laptop, and no special setup is needed beyond a stable connection and a quiet place to talk.
The meeting is handled by the adviser best suited to the matter, whether that is estate planning, trust structuring, retirement income planning or a family discussion around succession. If there are several people in different places, we keep the discussion orderly so each person can hear the same information and ask questions directly.
What to prepare before the call
A little preparation makes the meeting more useful and saves time later. If you have documents ready, we can discuss practical next steps instead of spending the whole session on basics. For many clients, that includes a current will, a list of major assets, trust deeds if one already exists, and details of any business interests or loan accounts.
- Full names and ID numbers of key family members or nominated beneficiaries
- Details of properties, investments, business shares and life cover
- Any existing will, trust deed or estate file reference
- Questions about guardianship, liquidity, executor choice or trustee roles
- Notes on family concerns, such as blended families or succession timing
If you do not have every document, do not wait. Many clients start with a simple video call and gather the paperwork after the first discussion. That is often the easiest way to move forward without stress.
Keeping the discussion calm and private
Families often use video meetings because they want a private space to talk through sensitive matters without rushing between appointments. This is especially useful where children, siblings or business partners are spread across different cities. We keep the discussion focused on the practical side of the plan, and we avoid pressure or product-led language.
If a matter needs more than one meeting, we will say so clearly. Some families need a first session to map assets and family priorities, then a follow-up for wills, trusts or beneficiary updates. That is normal. It is better to deal with the structure properly than to make hurried decisions that create problems later.
Who should join the meeting
It depends on the purpose of the session. For a straightforward will review, one client may be enough. For succession planning or a family legacy discussion, it often helps to include a spouse, adult children, a business partner or another decision-maker. If there is a trust involved, the current trustees or those being considered for trustee roles may also need to attend.
- Single-client meetings for will updates or retirement income questions
- Couples or spouses for shared estate and beneficiary decisions
- Business owners and partners for succession and liquidity planning
- Adult children or family members where inheritance timing needs to be discussed
- Trustees or intended trustees for briefing and role clarity
We will guide you on who should be present so the meeting stays useful and does not become crowded. If one person cannot attend, we can usually plan around that and still keep progress moving.
Common topics covered in online advice sessions
Video consultations are not only for quick questions. Many clients use them for full planning conversations that touch on family wealth, business continuity and the practical handover of assets. Our team regularly covers estate planning, will coordination, trust structuring, retirement income planning and beneficiary reviews in these sessions.
In many cases, the conversation also includes liquidity analysis, family meetings and plan reviews. A business owner in Johannesburg may want to understand how a loan account will be treated on death, while a couple in Durban may want clarity on their will and the needs of children from a previous marriage. These are the kinds of matters we work through step by step.
What happens after the meeting
After the consultation, we summarise the agreed actions and identify what still needs to be gathered or checked. That might include a draft will, a revised trust structure, beneficiary changes, or a further family discussion. If a follow-up meeting is needed, we will arrange it and keep the process moving at a steady pace.
Clients often appreciate that they can return to the same adviser from anywhere in the country. A family may start with one session from Stellenbosch, then join the next one from Pretoria, Gqeberha or Knysna. The distance does not need to interrupt the plan. What matters is that the structure is sound and the handover is handled with care.
