Category: MARKET

The true cost of a dollar, Rand or pound (or whatever you’re earning in) is not just what you earn. It’s what you give up to earn it. On paper, your salary might seem straightforward. $75,000 a year. £5,000 a month. R250 an hour. But those figures don’t tell the full story. What if the number you think you earn is hiding the real cost of how you earn it? This is the idea behind a […]

Financial freedom quickly become reduced to a number, a target income, a certain lifestyle, or a retirement account that signals “you’ve made it.” But in reality, it’s more nuanced than that. It’s not just about what you have, it’s about how you feel. It’s about the sense of control, clarity, and calm that comes from knowing your money is working for you, not the other way around. Step 1: Dream big Financial freedom begins with imagination. […]

Good advice has always been about helping people make wise choices. But in the age of behavioural finance, there’s a new layer to consider: how we help people make those choices. Enter the concept of “nudging.” A nudge is a subtle prompt designed to steer someone toward a better decision, without removing their freedom to choose. It might be as simple as asking, “Would you like to set up an automated savings plan while we’re here?” […]

Most of us like to think we’re being practical with our money. We weigh up the risks, run the numbers, and avoid decisions that feel too uncertain. But here’s a thought: what if what we call “practical” is sometimes just fear in disguise? It’s easy to equate safety with staying put. Leaving your money in the bank feels secure, after all, you can see it, touch it, and access it at any time. But over time, […]

Let’s be honest, when most people hear the words “compliance” or “safeguarding,” they don’t exactly light up with excitement. These terms might sound like they belong in boardrooms or legal documents, far removed from the day-to-day decisions you’re making about your financial future. But here’s the truth: they matter more than you might think. In a world where financial products, advice, and services are becoming increasingly complex, protecting you, the client, has never been more important. […]

We live in a world where more is often seen as better: more money, more investments, more security, more financial strategies. But what if there comes a point where adding more doesn’t necessarily add value? The law of diminishing returns suggests that beyond a certain point, additional effort or resources result in smaller and smaller benefits. And this principle applies directly to financial planning. Investing At the start of your investing journey, each rand, dollar, pound […]

At first glance, it seems obvious why someone would seek out a financial adviser or planner; to make smarter money decisions! But if that were the only reason, personal finance books and online calculators would have made financial planners obsolete long ago. The reality is that the true value of an adviser goes far beyond spreadsheets and portfolio allocations. People don’t just want a guide for their finances; they want a partner in financial decision-making—someone who […]

When it comes to life insurance, one of the most common questions people ask is: How much cover do I actually need? While the typical rule of thumb suggests between 10 to 15 times your annual salary, the real answer depends on your unique circumstances, responsibilities, and financial goals. Rather than picking a number out of thin air, let’s take a step back and look at the bigger picture. A well-structured life insurance plan isn’t just […]

If history has taught us anything, it’s that predicting the future—especially when it comes to markets—is an exercise in futility. Every year, analysts, economists, and investment strategists make bold forecasts about where stocks will land, how interest rates will shift, and what geopolitical events will shake the financial world. And every year, those predictions are proven, at best, only partially correct. Market forecasts are like long-range weather predictions. We can analyse trends, observe patterns, and make […]

Financial advice is about more than just investments and returns—it’s about trust. And one of the most important, yet often overlooked, aspects of that trust is how you pay for your financial advice. It’s a conversation that affects every investor, expat, and retiree, regardless of where they are in the world. Broadly speaking, financial advisers are compensated in one of two ways: commissions or fees. Both have their place in the industry, but each model carries […]