In an industry obsessed with being “fully digital”, I think we’re missing something — especially in South Africa and across the African markets I work in.
Most clients don’t actually want a Zoom or Teams relationship.
They tolerate it.
Because when the conversation really matters — offshore structures, family wealth, succession, control — people don’t want another screen. They want to look you in the eye and ask the questions they wouldn’t put in writing.
And that’s where the real discussion starts.
The uncomfortable questions.
The family dynamics.
The risks no one wants to spell out over email.
Those don’t surface in a 30-minute Teams call.
Which is exactly why I still get on a plane. Because Africa is not a “remote-first” market when it comes to trust, fiduciary structures, and long-term planning — and treating it like one is where many advisors get it wrong.
The first in-person meeting almost always changes the trajectory. It moves things from a theoretical exercise to a real decision — grounded in trust, clarity, and accountability.
That’s also why I’ve deliberately positioned myself in Johannesburg.
Not to sit behind a desk — but to be accessible. To meet clients properly. To build relationships that actually last.
At TrustQore, we operate across jurisdictions — but in this market, credibility isn’t built digitally.
It’s built in the room.