Investments
Life & RIsk
Employee Benefits
Health Care Consultants
Income ProtectionGarden Route Life & Investment Brokers (GRLI) is an independent, advice-led financial services business helping individuals, families and business owners make informed financial decisions across investments, protection, employee benefits and broader financial planning. With roots in the Garden Route dating back to 1973, GRLI combines longstanding local relationships with specialist financial expertise and a practical, personal approach to advice.
Garden Route Life & Investment Brokers (Pty) Ltd | FSP 15204
Our Story
GRLI traces its roots back to 1973, when a small independent brokerage, Ian Knight Insurance Brokers, was established in the Garden Route.
Over the decades, the business evolved and grew alongside the clients and communities it served. The name “Garden Route Life & Investment Brokers” reflects that longstanding connection to the region and the broader range of financial-planning needs the business supports today. From a one-person practice, GRLI has grown into an established, independent, nationwide financial-services business with specialist expertise in investments, life and risk planning, employee benefits, and business-owner financial planning.
While the business has evolved, the underlying principle remains the same: provide considered financial advice built around the client’s needs rather than a single product or provider. The company has specialist divisions to assist with your specific insurance or investment requirements, including Life and disability cover, income protection, pension and investment business, for commercial or personal needs.
Independent Financial Advice Since 1973
What Makes GRLI Different
Independent, Advice-Led
GRLI is not built around promoting one provider or one financial product. Our role is to understand the client’s circumstances, priorities and long-term objectives before considering the most appropriate financial solutions and specialist advice.
Specialist Expertise
Different financial decisions often overlap. Investment planning can affect retirement outcomes. Business ownership can create succession, protection and employee-benefit requirements. Family changes can influence risk, estate and investment decisions.
GRLI brings together specialist expertise so that clients can access the right advice while still considering the broader financial picture.
Longstanding Local Relationships
Our roots in the Garden Route extend back more than five decades That local history has allowed GRLI to build long-term relationships with individuals, families, businesses and professional partners throughout George, the Garden Route and the wider Southern Cape.
Our Areas of Expertise
Investments
Investment advice is a core part of GRLI’s offering, supporting clients across different stages of wealth creation, retirement planning and longer-term financial decision-making. Our investment specialists help clients consider their objectives, time horizons, risk profile and broader financial circumstances when reviewing or structuring an investment strategy.
Life & Risk
Life and risk planning helps protect the financial position of individuals, families and business owners when circumstances change unexpectedly. GRLI provides advice across areas such as life cover, income protection and broader personal and business risk planning, with solutions considered in the context of the client’s overall financial position.
Employee Benefits
Lalapanzi Employee Benefits provides specialist advice to businesses and employers looking to strengthen, review or implement employee benefit programmes. The focus extends beyond servicing existing schemes. Lalapanzi is actively growing its corporate client base and works with employers on areas including retirement benefits, group risk and broader employee-benefit requirements.
Health Care
Healthcare advice is provided through Garden Route Health Care Consultants (GRHC), GRLI’s specialist healthcare business. GRHC focuses on medical aid, gap cover and specialist healthcare advice, while GRLI remains focused on the broader financial-planning relationship. This specialist structure lets clients access appropriate healthcare expertise while staying connected to their wider financial-planning needs.
Our Expert Team
Garden Route Life & Investment Brokers has specialist divisions to assist with your specific insurance and investment needs.
David Pfaff
Director / Investment Specialist / Head of Investment Division
Bachelor of Commerce Degree
Honors Degree in Financial Analysis and Portfolio Management
Diplomas to act as a Compliance Office and Securities Trader in the Johannesburg Stock Exchange
RE1 FAIS Exam for Key Individuals
RE3 FAIS Exam for Category II Licence
RE5 FAIS Exam for Representatives
Leigh Skelton
Director / Key Individual
Leigh is the driving force and relationship builder between Garden Route Life and Investment Brokers and Specialised Broker Services as he is the majority shareholder in Specialised Broker Services. He has a Diploma in Insurance from The Insurance Institute of South Africa achieved in February 1996.
Leigh has also written his RE1 and RE5 examinations and is a Key Individual. Leigh has 22 years’ experience in the insurance industry. Leigh does not write any business but is actively involved where necessary.
Trevor Skelton
Director
Trevor currently looks after his existing clients and is involved in strategic decision making meetings as and when required. He has a Diploma in Insurance from The Chartered Insurance Institute achieved in October 1980. He has also written his RE1 and RE5 examinations and is a Key Individual. Trevor has 45 years’ experience in the insurance industry.
Mike Ellis CFP®
Financial Advisor / Head of Risk Division
CFP® – Certified Financial Planner
Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa. 
Diploma in Financial Management (Liberty)
Certificate in Financial Planning from Milpark Business School
RE1 FAIS Exam for Key Individuals
RE5 FAIS Exam for Representatives
Ed Mousley
Financial Advisor
Universaty of Natal LLB (Legum Baccalaureus), RE1 FAIS Exam for Key Individuals, RE5 FAIS Exam for Representatives
Derek Smith
Financial Advisor
NQF 6 Certificate in Financial Planning from Milpark Business School
RE5 FAIS Exam for Representatives
Tanya Kitching
Lalapanzi Employee Benefits Manager/Financial Advisor
NQF 5 Certificate in Financial Planning from Milpark Business School
RE5 FAIS Exam for Representatives
Anél Muller
Senior Broker Assistant Investment Division
North West University LLB (Legum Baccalaureus)
UNISA (IISA Introduction Programme in Life Insurance)
UNISA Certificate in Administration of Estates
Certificate in Estates
RE1 FAIS Exam for Key Individuals
RE5 FAIS Exam for Representatives
Grant Stockigt
Financial Advisor
Financial Advisor, RE5 Qualification
BCOM in Financial Management – UNISA
Sean McDonald
Financial Advisor
– 12 Years Industry Experience
– Qualified Financial Advisor (NQF5 Certificate in Wealth Management)
– Life and Investment Broker
– Short Term Broker
– Accredited Health Care Broker
Michelle Ryan
Financial Advisor
– 12 Years Industry Experience
– Qualified Financial Advisor (NQF5 Certificate in Financial Planning)
Renee Ellis
Senior Broker Assistant Risk Division
Judy Peters
Data Administrator
UNISA Honours (French and Literature Theory)
UNISA Masters (Literature)
UNISA PhD (DLitt et Phil)
