From cancer survivor to financial advocate

For Darren Robertson (CFP), financial planner and cancer survivor, financial planning is not solely about managing portfolios or building wealth – it’s the intersection of preparation, resilience, and purpose. Darren’s journey from personal tragedy to professional advocacy illustrates the importance of helping others secure their futures before a crisis hits.

A journey that changed everything

“I was 40 when I was first diagnosed,” Darren says of his battle with prostate cancer, a disease more commonly associated with much older men. “Prostate cancer is generally slow growing. For many men, it’s something they’ll die with, not from. But mine was aggressive. I was a typical outlier on both ends.”

His initial treatment included surgery, which gave him hope that the cancer was behind him. But it wasn’t. “When it came back, that was the real scare,” he says. A second round of treatment followed – 35 sessions of radiation, hormone therapy that halted his testosterone production, and the physical and emotional toll that came with it.

Now cancer-free, Darren is still managing the lingering effects of treatment: fatigue, weight gain, and low testosterone. But the experience has reshaped how he sees his role. Not just as a financial adviser, but as an advocate.

Financial planning meets advocacy

Before his diagnosis, Darren had already spent 15 years in the financial services industry, beginning with Liberty Group in 2003 before launching his independent practice, Opes Wealth, in 2017. Just six months after going solo – and six months after the birth of his child – he was diagnosed.

“That time was brutal,” he says. “But I knew I had everything in place. My will was done. I had income protection, critical illness cover, a buy-and-sell agreement with my business partner, and a global education policy for my daughter.”

It’s a powerful illustration of what proper planning can do. “It didn’t take away the fear of dying, but it gave me peace of mind. I knew my family would be okay.” It’s this real-world clarity that Darren now brings to every client conversation. “When I speak to people, it’s not abstract. It’s not theoretical. I’ve lived it.”

Planning with purpose

Opes Wealth positions itself as a “family office for people and families who can’t afford to run their own family office.” Darren and his business associate, Clint Scott manage the financial affairs of roughly 40 families, handling everything from investments and insurance to medical aid, wills, as well as facilitating the intergenerational transfer of wealth. Their goal is to simplify financial complexity while educating their clients at every step.

“We’re proudly independent,” Darren says, noting that their approach is always bespoke. “We don’t have a preferred provider. We use what’s best for the client – whether that’s Glacier, Allan Gray, Ninety One, or a mixture of things. It’s not about pushing product; it’s about doing what’s right.”

Education is a cornerstone of their approach. “When Covid hit and markets crashed, none of our clients withdrew funds. In fact, many gave us more money. They remembered what we taught them – buy the dip. Same with the Trump slump. We try to teach our clients not to panic.”

The industry’s ethical crossroads

While Darren sees a shift toward professionalism in the financial services space, he remains concerned about unethical practices, particularly among tied agents motivated more by sales than service. “I hate that part of the industry. I spent years in that world – where incentives like overseas trips drove behaviour. That’s not advice. That’s selling. We need more Certified Financial Planners (CFPs) and people committed to ethics.”

For Darren, compliance is a double-edged sword. “It’s good that regulations are improving, but some of it is still backward looking. We need more forward-thinking planning frameworks and less box ticking.”

Looking ahead: Younger advisers and clients

He’s encouraged by the new generation of financial advisers entering the industry. “When I did my CFP postgrad, I was impressed by the 20-somethings doing it straight after their BCom degrees. That’s a good sign.” His advice for them? Start in independent practices. “If you go into a tied environment, you risk picking up bad habits. Learn the right way – focus on advice, not product pushing.”

As for younger clients, Darren sees them engaging, albeit differently. “The children of our clients are already used to us. We’re talking to them early – before they inherit anything. They’ve grown up watching us work with their parents. That continuity matters.”

While Millennials and Gen Z bring unique interests, like crypto, he approaches it with balance. “I’m not a crypto evangelist, but I recognise the tech behind it. Blockchain is a very useful and fascinating technology that I believe in, but you don’t invest the deposit for your new your house into Bitcoin.”

Advice rooted in experience

Ultimately, Darren’s approach to wealth management is deeply personal. “This isn’t just a job for me. I’ve seen what happens when people don’t have the right cover.”

Darren’s story is a rare blend of professional insight and lived experience. His journey through illness has not just deepened his commitment to his clients – it has also redefined his purpose.

“It’s not about fear. It’s about being prepared. If I can help one person avoid going through what I went through – or at least face it with less stress – then I’ve done my job.”