
Hosted by Jacques de Villiers and Tinus de Jager · EN
Welcome to The Unusual Finance Chat, your go-to podcast for unpacking South Africa’s insurance industry and broader financial landscape. Hosted by veteran journalist Tinus de Jager and insurance expert Jacques de Villiers, we make sense of complex financial topics and bring you practical insights to navigate your financial journey.
Each week, we dive into:
Whether you’re an industry insider or someone trying to better understand your financial options, The Unusual Finance Chat is your companion for smarter financial decisions.
New episodes drop every Friday at 1 PM (CAT). Subscribe now and join us for engaging discussions, actionable advice, and a dash of lighter financial news to end your week on the right note!

Send us a textWelcome to The Unusual Finance Chat, your weekly guide to finance, insurance, and investment. I’m Tinus de Jager, joined by Jacques de Villiers. In today’s episode, we unpack key developments in the financial world, including crucial changes to South Africa’s National Health Insurance plan, the rising strain on California’s insurance market due to wildfires, and the legacy of insurance pioneer Douw Steyn. Plus, we speak to Lyndwill Clarke from the FSCA about consumer education, I’ll track our stock picks, and Jacques brings us This Week in the UK. Let’s get started! Find us on your favourite podcast player. The Unusual Finance Chat.

Send us a textWelcome to the first episode of The Unusual Finance Chat for 2025! This week, host Tinus de Jager dives into the latest developments shaping the insurance and financial industries.We kick off the year on a sobering note, with the devastating wildfires in California causing an estimated $40 billion in insured losses, marking the largest wildfire insurance event in history. What could this mean for the global insurance landscape?Then, we’re joined by Gideon Galloway, the innovative founder and CEO of King Price Insurance. From decreasing car premiums to a quirky offering of free alien abduction insurance, Gideon shares how his company is reshaping the way we think about coverage.We also relaunch our stock picks segment with a look at how major South African and international stocks are performing at the start of the year.Tune in for a thought-provoking, insightful, and even out-of-this-world episode! 🎙️New episodes drop every Friday at 1 PM CAT. Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with friends!Find us on your favourite podcast player. The Unusual Finance Chat.

Send us a text In this special final episode of The Unusual Finance Chat for the year, we sit down with Jeanette Marais, CEO of Momentum Group and the first female CEO of a large, listed life insurance and asset management group in South Africa. Jeanette shares her incredible career journey, insights on leadership, strategies driving Momentum's success, and advice for aspiring leaders in finance. Join us for this inspiring conversation to close out the season. We'll be back with Season 2 on 17 January! Find us on your favourite podcast player. The Unusual Finance Chat.

Send us a textIn this episode of The Unusual Finance Chat, Tinus de Jager and Jacques de Villiers unpack the latest developments in the world of insurance, both at home and abroad.We explore the case of a UK motorist who faced a six-figure repair bill after his insurance claim was denied—because of an undeclared tow bar. This sparks a discussion about the pitfalls of purchasing cover through comparison websites and the importance of understanding policy fine print.Closer to home, we delve into the multi-million-dollar legal battle between South Africa’s Global Aviation Investments and Russian insurer Ingosstrakh, a saga that’s been in and out of courtrooms for over a decade.We also discuss the shocking assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York, raising questions about the safety of corporate leaders in today’s world.On a more positive note, we highlight the R161 million recovered for South African consumers by the National Financial Ombud Scheme this year, with insights from Reana Steyn, the head of the NFO, in an exclusive interview later in the episode.You can find the NFO on this link.As always, Jacques wraps up with his "This Week in the UK" segment, while we touch on the fascinating history of insurance and answer a listener’s question.Tune in for a thought-provoking episode filled with expert analysis, compelling stories, and practical insights into the insurance industry.Find us on your favourite podcast player. The Unusual Finance Chat.

Send us a text 🎙️ Join veteran journalist Tinus de Jager and insurance expert Jacques de Villiers for another episode of The Unusual Finance Chat!This week, we explore the latest developments shaking up the financial and insurance industries, from groundbreaking moves by Sanlam and Santam in micro-insurance to the rising challenges of "nuclear" court verdicts. We talk to Christiaan Marais, Head of Actuarial at MiWay Insurance, and discuss the delicate balance between premiums and claims ... and what it means for consumers and the industry.We also tackle your burning questions, our weekly stock picks segment keeps you updated on market trends (not great this week), and Jacques brings a lighter touch with entertainment buzz in This Week in the UK.Whether you’re in finance, insurance, or just curious about the world of money, this episode delivers expert insights, practical advice, and a touch of fun.🎧 Tune in now to stay informed and entertained!Find us on your favourite podcast player. The Unusual Finance Chat.

Send us a textIn this episode of The Unusual Finance Chat, Tinus de Jager and Jacques de Villiers delve into the world of strategy and growth with Nic Smit from Bidvest, exploring how the company tackles the challenges of today’s complex market.We also uncover the fascinating history of the insurance industry and touch on the dismal rate cut that the Reserve Bank coughed up yesterday. Don’t miss our weekly stock picks and Jacques’ roundup of the latest entertainment trends from the UK.Tune in for expert insights, fresh perspectives, and everything you need to stay informed in the world of insurance!Find us on your favourite podcast player. The Unusual Finance Chat.

Send us a textIn this episode of The Unusual Finance Chat, hosted by Tinus de Jager and Jacques de Villiers, we explore the critical role of life and funeral cover in safeguarding your family's financial future. As the festive season approaches and road accident risks rise, we sit down with Luke Nel, Head of Protection Solutions at Metropolitan, to discuss how affordable insurance options can provide peace of mind and ensure your loved ones are taken care of—even in the most challenging circumstances. Find us on your favourite podcast player. The Unusual Finance Chat.

Send us a text In this episode of The Unusual Finance Chat, hosted by Tinus de Jager and Jacques de Villiers, we explore key topics in the world of insurance and finance. First, we sit down with Karen Rimmer of PSG Insure to discuss how homeowners can keep their properties safe and insured during increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. We also take a deep dive into the issue of insurance fraud in South Africa and examine a recent Canadian court case that could have implications for insurance practices here in South Africa. As always, we have stock picks, a look back at the history of insurance, Jacques answers a listener’s question, and we wrap up with Jacques’ take on the latest entertainment buzz in the UK. Don’t miss this insightful and informative episode! Find us on your favourite podcast player. The Unusual Finance Chat.

Send us a textWelcome to another episode of The Unusual Finance Chat, hosted by veteran journalist Tinus de Jager and insurance expert Jacques de Villiers. This week, we're diving deep into the world of insurance with special insights on agriculture from Theo Potgieter, Director of Insurance at Afgri. We also have a conversation with Luncedo Mtwentwe from Vantage Advisory and host of The SAICA Biz Impact podcast, who shares valuable tips on finance readiness for SMEs. As always, our stock picks segment is back, Jacques answers a listener’s question on insurance matters and we round things off with a taste of entertainment and dining trends in the UK. Tune in for a packed episode full of practical advice and industry updates! Find us on your favourite podcast player. The Unusual Finance Chat.

Send us a text Welcome to The Unusual Finance Chat, your go-to podcast for everything insurance and finance in South Africa, hosted by veteran journalist Tinus de Jager and insurance expert Jacques de Villiers. In this week’s episode, we have an insightful interview with Kobus Kleyn, breaking down the two-pot retirement system and what it means for South Africans saving for the future. We’ll also explore the fascinating history of the marine insurance industry and we dive into a hot topic—AI in the insurance industry—answering your questions on how technology is transforming the field. Of course, we’ll check in with our weekly stock picks and discuss the movers and shakers. Finally, Jacques takes us across the pond for a review of the entertainment buzz in the UK. It’s a packed episode you won’t want to miss! Find us on your favourite podcast player. The Unusual Finance Chat.