This is the ancient tale of how interest rates change and the forces that shape their destiny. Once upon a time, in the land of economic stability, the ever-changing interest rates kept weaving tales of prosperity and struggle. Central banks, the guardians of monetary stability, navigated the twists and turns of economic indicators, seeking the […]
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Rising Above the Red
The rise of over-indebtedness is a growing concern not only locally but also for individuals across the globe. Legal action and bad credit records due to non-payment can have serious consequences on people’s financial well-being. In 2022, consumers in South Africa failed to honour a collective debt of R2.8 billion. Similarly, other countries have been […]
Continue readingDon’t ditch your insurance
In the current economic climate, a growing number of individuals are experiencing financial strain due to the escalating cost of living and rising interest rates. As a result, many are looking for ways to reduce their expenses in order to maintain a balanced budget. Insurance premiums, often perceived as an expendable cost, are among the […]
Continue readingCommon financial planning mistakes
Financial planning can be a daunting task, and it’s common for people to make mistakes as they navigate the complex world of personal finance. In this blog post, we’ll discuss some common financial planning mistakes that many individuals make, as identified by FinTwit contributor Jason Friedman. By learning about these pitfalls and how to avoid […]
Continue readingUse AI to learn more
The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) has brought both excitement and trepidation in equal measures. Many see it as a threat to job security, while others believe it has the potential to revolutionise the way we live and work. AI can help you upskill, become more valuable to your business, and create more value […]
Continue readingThe Incredible Bulk
Saving money doesn’t have to send us on a price-smashing frenzy that leaves broken trolleys and disgruntled shoppers in our wake. In fact, panic buying is probably worse for our budget than doing a daily grocery run. With the right approach, buying in bulk can be a smart way to save money on everyday items. […]
Continue readingFrom master to servant: how to take control of your money
Money can be both a master and a servant in our lives, depending on how we choose to approach it. As P.T. Barnum once said, “Money is a terrible master but an excellent servant.” Let’s explore what this means and how we can ensure that money serves us rather than the other way around. Money […]
Continue readingThe three-legged stool
“Financial security and independence are like a three-legged stool resting on savings, insurance and investments.” – Brian Tracy. When it comes to financial planning, many people focus on investing as the key to financial security and independence. However, as Brian Tracy points out, financial security and freedom require a three-legged stool resting on savings, insurance, […]
Continue readingThinking, feeling and acting
Thinking, feeling, and acting are interrelated processes that shape our behaviour, and they often become so habitual in our busy lives that we are no longer mindful of them. We lose control of being intentional about the direction our lives are taking – and this often shows up in our finances. Therefore, it is important […]
Continue readingFive tips for investing this year
People have a wide range of feelings and perspectives regarding investing. Some view investing as a way to grow wealth and secure a financial future, while others may view it as too risky or complex. Some of us are confident in our investment knowledge and feel comfortable making decisions independently, while others prefer to seek […]
Continue readingSmall things achieve big results
Vincent van Gogh is quoted as saying: “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” This quote highlights the idea that even the smallest actions or details can contribute to the creation of something significant. Focusing on and taking care of the small things can achieve big results over time. Essentially, […]
Continue readingSave on tax, and for life beyond work
In recent years there has been a considerable amount of economic uncertainty. Many people are unsure of their financial future, concerned that they won’t be able to retire because of financial setbacks related to the pandemic and other global events. Saving for retirement often aligns closely with benefiting from tax advantages, tax-free investing and tax […]
Continue readingHow are you choosing your financial products?
For years, people have said that insurance is sold and not bought. The stigma surrounding the industry and those representing it still hangs thick in our social memory, with old stories of brokers peddling policies purely to earn commission instead of seeking the best needs of their clients. However, in the last decade or so, […]
Continue readingGet more out of your productive time
“A deep life is a good life.” – Cal Newport, Author of “Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World.” Have you heard of deep work? A term coined by Cal Newport, deep work is a state of distraction-free concentration when your brain works at its maximum potential. As you read this, you […]
Continue readingAnd what are the voices saying?
There are times in the year when we see and engage with more people than usual – through end-of-year functions, annual celebrations, birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, funerals and the like. It can be wonderful – but it can also be stressful. We are quickly reminded that these old friends, colleagues and distant family from far-off shores […]
Continue readingPolitical influence and the markets
Religion, politics and money are all connected – and probably always have been! This is because they’re all currency for influence, power and status. These three topics can become highly volatile when we’re in social settings as they’re super subjective. The markets, politics and religion all give us a sense of belonging, purpose and stories […]
Continue readingHoliday-proof your financial plan
Holidays should be a time of restoration and relaxation. But for savvy investors, who are seldom able to switch off or turn down the volume on their analytical brain activity, it can be a time of stress and panic. Whether you’re entering your annual time of leave or it’s a sneaky mid-year break, if you’re […]
Continue readingHelping your parents with their financial independence
In the previous blog, we looked at how we can help our children with their retirement, or financial independence, as many in our profession are starting to frame it. But the reality is, as the sandwich generation, we can’t only be thinking about our own and our kids’ financial futures; we also need to be […]
Continue readingHelping your kids with their financial independence
We spend most of our time having conversations with people who are 40+ about saving for retirement. However, the language and expectations are slowly starting to shift in a powerful and exciting direction. Instead of only talking about retirement, we’re starting to use words like financial independence. And rather than focusing on traditional milestones, like […]
Continue readingAre old investment truths still relevant?
In a recent podcast on the Allan Gray Podcast with Dan Brocklemank, head of Orbis UK, he reflected on how humans are NOT designed to be good investors. Our natural instincts very often pull us in the exact opposite direction to what we need to be doing in order to be good at investing. Our […]
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