​Monique Malan, a student at the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB), was named the best student for 2016 in the national board examinations of the FINANCIAL PLANNING INSTITUTE (FPI). Malan wrote the examination in February 2016 after completing USB's Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning. She was also the top performer in her class.  

USB is immensely proud of Monique Malan, says Prof Piet Naudé, USB director. "This achievement underlines her superb academic qualities, and testifies to the high quality work done in our Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning. This diploma is an excellent example of what can be achieved if seasoned practitioners and academics cooperate to provide top-notch education in the important field of financial planning."

Monique grew up in Stellenbosch and matriculated as dux scholar from Rhenish Girls' High School in 2006. She went on to study accounting at the University of Stellenbosch and attained her Bachelor of Accounting (Honours) degree in 2010. She spent three years at Deloitte in Cape Town completing her chartered accountancy articles followed by a secondment to Deloitte's Minneapolis office in the USA. She is a qualified CA(SA) and a member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Her keen interest in personal finance and the private clients' arena led her to join international family office firm, Stonehage Fleming, as a client relationship manager in their Cape Town office in 2014. Wanting a sound academic understanding of financial planning, in 2015, while working at Stonehage Fleming, Monique completed her Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning from USB, graduating top of her class.

In February 2016 she wrote the FINANCIAL PLANNING INSTITUTE's CFP® Professional Competency Examination (board examination) and at the FPI Professionals Convention in June 2016 she received the award for being the top student in this examination.

Monique is now looking to obtain holistic financial planning experience in order to apply for certification as a CFP® professional. She is committed to ongoing studies within the financial planning profession.

Monique has a passion for travelling, has a love for the performing arts and regularly takes open ballet classes.​