Industry Interview: Elmarie Thysse – Business Developer, Pretoria

We are pleased to welcome Elmarie Thysse back to the FMI family as one of our Business Developers in Pretoria.

1. You’ve worked for FMI before. Tell us more. I joined FMI in 2006 and worked at the head office in Durban for 5 years as a Financial Adviser Consultant. In 2010, I relocated to Gauteng where I joined Discovery Life as an Internal Sales Consultant and later as a Broker Consultant.
2. And now you’re back with FMI? Having worked for FMI before, I didn’t hesitate in grabbing the opportunity to work with them again with both hands. I love working for a company who believes in making a real difference in people’s lives and being able to deliver on those promises. At FMI, what you see is what you get.
3. What do you enjoy most about working for FMI? The passion. Everyone from our Actuaries to our IT staff have such passion for the work they do.
4. Tell us a bit about your day as a Business Developer? My job is quite varied in terms of what I do on a daily basis. My main objective is to make sure that my financial advisers know and understand our products and where we fit into the market. It is my role to create a business relationship with them whereby we can identify opportunities in order to build their portfolio with us.
5. Why do you think income protection is an essential insurance? You wouldn’t drive around without car insurance, yet I believe you are more likely to suffer a temporary disability than to claim on your car insurance. Income protection ensures that your lifestyle is protected by insuring your greatest asset – your ability to earn an income.
6. Your top Sales tip? Get to know your client. If you don’t understand their needs, you can’t offer a suitable solution.
7. What is one thing about you that might surprise people? I was involved in Drum Majorettes as a participant, adjudicator, and trainer for many years before starting my latest passion - fire dancing!