First-time private lenders
If you have never lent privately before, this is where I spend the most time — the structure, the protections, the questions to ask, and what "indicative" honestly means.
Verified consultant
ProLend private-lending consultant
Graham ShawPrivate-Lending Consultant in Greendale Park, Howick
Insurance and investment broker, 16 years
Greendale Park, Howick, KwaZulu-Natal
Local & offshore
In person & online
My focus is crafting tailored solutions to meet my clients' specific needs.
16 yrs
In financial services
Local + Offshore
Both ProLend pathways
Greendale Park, Howick
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
In person & online
How Graham meets clients
Background & experience
Insurance and investment broker, 16 years
My focus is crafting tailored solutions to meet my clients' specific needs.
I'm one of those South African farm boys who went to boarding school and then got shipped off to do national service. Since then I studied towards a B Com through Unisa, and built a number of businesses focused on giving clients tangible solutions in the investment, insurance, risk and education spaces.
Over 16 years ago I joined the life insurance industry, started a brokerage, and added short-term insurance and a range of other services so that clients had a comprehensive basket to draw on — for the known and the unforeseen.
The most significant addition to that came when I met Peter Thomson. The offering he has largely spearheaded positions clients to place capital as a loan asset — lending it, much as a bank does — through the structures of BC Funding Solutions into the local body corporate environment. ProLend was created to accelerate that offering, and it also gives me the option of offshore litigation lending for clients who want a rand hedge.
Areas of expertise
Where clients rely on me most.
People wanting to protect and grow their asset base before and after retirement.
Credentials & training
What backs me.
ProLend Consultant CertificationCompleted the full training programme and knowledge checks, 2026.
16 years in financial servicesExperience brought to every client conversation.
LanguagesWorks with clients in English and Afrikaans.
How I work with you
Understanding first, decisions second.
01
We start with what you are protecting.
Most of the people I sit with have spent a working life building something. Before we talk about where capital goes, I want to understand what it is for, who depends on it, and what you would not want to put at risk.
02
Sixteen years of weighing one option against another.
I came to private lending from insurance and broking, so comparing structures is what I have done for a living. I will show you where lending fits alongside what you already hold — and, just as importantly, where it does not.
03
In person or on a screen, whichever suits you.
I am based in Howick in KwaZulu-Natal and work with clients across the province and further afield, in English or Afrikaans. Some prefer a table and a cup of tea; others would rather do it online. Either is fine by me.
Where Graham works
Based in Greendale Park, Howick, working across KwaZulu-Natal and online.
Graham works with clients in Greendale Park, Howick, Durban, Umhlanga, Pietermaritzburg and Ballito, as well as online with clients anywhere in South Africa. First conversations happen in person or over a video call — whichever suits you.
Common questions
About working with Graham.
Who is Graham Shaw?
My focus is crafting tailored solutions to meet my clients' specific needs. People wanting to protect and grow their asset base before and after retirement.
Where is Graham based?
Graham is based in Greendale Park, Howick, KwaZulu-Natal, and works with clients in Greendale Park, Howick, Durban, Umhlanga, Pietermaritzburg and Ballito — as well as online with clients anywhere in South Africa.
Who does Graham work best with?
People wanting to protect and grow their asset base before and after retirement.
What does Graham help clients understand?
How private lending works in South Africa — the local prime-linked pathway and the offshore hard-currency pathway — including the structure, the term, the security features and the risks, so you can weigh it up yourself.
Does Graham provide financial advice?
No. Graham is an independent ProLend consultant and does not provide financial, investment or tax advice — only information, and a walk through the pathways. Product terms and administration are the responsibility of the registered provider.
Can I model local and offshore scenarios with Graham?
Yes. You can model an indicative local prime-linked or offshore hard-currency scenario for your own amount using the calculator on Graham's link, then discuss what it shows together.
Is there any obligation after enquiring?
No. Modelling a scenario and enquiring are free and carry no obligation. Nothing proceeds until you are comfortable, and final terms, availability and acceptance still apply.
Important boundaries
What this is — and what it isn't.
- Graham is an independent ProLend consultant, not an employee of ProLend.
- Graham does not provide financial, investment or tax advice.
- Figures modelled on ProLend are indicative, not quotes or offers.
- Returns are not guaranteed, and depend on the arrangement, prevailing rates and the term.
- Capital carries risk, including the risk of loss.
- Product terms and administration are handled by the registered credit provider under the National Credit Act.
Ready when you are
Model your scenario with Graham.
Start with an indicative figure on the calculator, then request a conversation. There's no obligation, and nothing happens until you're ready.
Graham Shaw is an independent ProLend consultant. Figures modelled on ProLend are indicative and do not constitute financial advice or a guarantee of any return. Product terms and administration are the responsibility of the registered product provider.