A comeback with a huge positive impact

Chantel Cogil is working towards becoming the most trustworthy advisor she can be.
Michelline Nawatises
Michelline Nawatises

Chantel Cogill is a financial advisor at Sanlam. Even though she is quite new in this field, she is not a stranger to Sanlam and all it has to offer.

“I started working at Sanlam in the Broker Services department in 2008 as a broker consultant assistant,” Cogil says. That helped her learn a lot about the processes and the business in general.

Cogil left Sanlam for a little while and worked at Professional Provident Society for a year, but she couldn’t stay away as Sanlam feels like home to her.

“I started working for a financial advisor and then decided to become one myself as it allows me to help people reach their goals with regards to saving up for something they want, as well as their families being taken care of should they no longer be able to do so,” she says.

Cogil helps clients reach their financial goals, be it saving up for a car or a house or the further education of their children. She makes sure her clients are covered in the event of disability or if they are diagnosed with a terminal illness, and ensures that the family is not left with heavy financial burdens should the client pass away.

Cogil says her biggest accomplishment and challenge was becoming a financial advisor. “This is the most wonderful career as I can be part of as well as share the bigger picture with each of my clients, but it is a challenge because I am still learning and striving to be the best advisor I can be,” she says,

A typical day in the office for her consists of submitting applications and providing after-sales service to every client. Cogil has to contact potential clients and set up meetings with them to confirm what their needs are.

“I also handle queries and requests from existing clients and make sure that everything is in order with their existing business to ensure that they are happy with the service provided,” she adds.

Cogil’s inspiration in life is her daughter. “Everything I do, I do for her. I want to make sure she has the best in life,” she says. Her greatest fear is not being able to provide for her daughter and to be able to invest in her future.

She advises young people to find something they love doing, know what the purpose is behind wanting to do it and then to give it their all.

Cogil is working on becoming the most trustworthy advisor she can be, making sure that any and every potential client will have peace of mind when deciding to entrust her with providing them financial advice to ensure financial security for their future and that of their families.

If she could change one thing in this world, it would definitely be the negative impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the economy and each individual who is struggling because of either losing their jobs or not being able to generate enough income due to the lockdown regulations.