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Fasten your seatbelt

When markets get choppy, it’s natural to feel nervous. Everyone with a heart (and subsequent blood pressure…) will have a tinge of fear when volatility hits. You might see headlines shouting about “billions wiped off the market” or watch your portfolio dip and wonder if you should pull back until things settle.

Again, you’re not alone. Most investors feel uneasy when the value of their investments swings — sometimes sharply — in a short time. But here’s the truth: volatility isn’t a flaw in the system. It’s a feature. And more than that, it’s the price of admission to the long-term growth you’re aiming for.

In simple terms, volatility is just a measure of how much investment prices move over a given period of time. The more prices move up and down, the more volatile an investment is said to be. Shares in a company, for example, can rise or fall dramatically in a single day based on news, earnings reports, or market sentiment.

Bonds, on the other hand, usually move more slowly and predictably, but they also tend to deliver lower returns over time. The reason is simple: the greater the potential reward, the more uncertainty (and therefore volatility) you have to accept along the way.

It’s tempting to wait for things to calm down before you invest, or move everything into cash until the dust settles.

But the problem with that approach is that markets don’t send an invitation when it’s time to get back in.

Some of the best days in the market often come immediately after some of the worst. If you’re sitting on the sidelines when that rebound happens, you miss it; and missing even a few of those strong days can significantly weaken your long-term returns. Avoiding volatility entirely typically means sticking with low-risk, low-return options, such as cash or fixed deposits. Those have their place, especially for short-term needs, but over the long haul, they often fail to keep up with inflation and leave you with less purchasing power.

One way to think about volatility is like turbulence on a flight. You don’t love it, but it’s part of the experience of getting where you want to go. The key is to simply fasten your seatbelt, trust the plan, and remember that you’re moving toward your destination. Your portfolio is designed with your goals and risk tolerance in mind, balancing growth potential with your comfort level. Volatility doesn’t mean the plan is broken; it means the market is doing what it has always done.

If you’re finding the current ride uncomfortable or have questions about how much risk is right for you, let’s talk. Together, we can make sure your plan still suits your goals, and help you stay the course through the ups and downs.

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When control over money isn’t really about money

Have you ever thought: “I just feel better when I know every cent is accounted for,” or “If things are chaotic at home or at work, at least I can control my spending.”

At first glance, that sounds healthy, being on top of your finances is a good thing, right?

Yes… and no.

There’s a subtle line between being intentional with your money and using money to soothe deeper feelings of fear, stress, or loss of control.

In times of chaos — a tough season at work, a strained relationship, a move, an illness — it’s natural to crave order somewhere. For some, that means tightening their budget or tracking every purchase. For others, it means doing the opposite: shopping impulsively or spending more than usual to “feel better.” Retail therapy, as some would call it.

Both reactions can provide temporary comfort. They create the illusion that, if we just manage money hard enough, we can regain control over the rest of life. But that illusion rarely lasts.

We’ve seen people obsess over small expenses while ignoring the bigger emotional story beneath. We’ve also seen people spiral into what’s sometimes called “doom spending”, buying things they don’t need because it feels like a way to fight the anxiety.

If you recognise yourself here, you’re not alone. Many of us have used money as a coping mechanism at some point. But left unchecked, it can hurt more than it helps, creating debt, stress, and even shame.

So what can you do instead?

Start by noticing. When you feel the urge to control your money — or spend recklessly — pause and ask: What’s really going on? What am I feeling right now? Is it fear, sadness, frustration, loneliness?

Then, give yourself permission to address the real need. That might mean talking to someone you trust, taking a walk, journaling, or even just sitting with the feeling without trying to fix it through your wallet.

Finally, consider letting us in on the conversation. As planners, we’re not just here to help you invest or save; we’re here to help you understand the role money plays in your life. Together, we can create a plan that respects your feelings without letting them quietly run the show.

Your money should serve your life; not the other way around. If you’d like to talk about how to bring balance back to both, let’s have that chat.

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Why patience is part of the plan

When you look at your investment portfolio, it’s tempting to focus on what’s “winning” right now. You might notice one fund doing well and another lagging behind, and think: “Why am I holding on to this underperformer?”

That’s a natural reaction, but it misses the point of diversification.

In a properly diversified portfolio, there will almost always be something that looks disappointing in the short term. That isn’t a flaw; it’s the design. And understanding that design can make it easier to stay the course, even when parts of your portfolio feel like they’re falling behind.

Here’s why patience is part of the plan.

Different assets, different seasons

By definition, diversification means owning different kinds of investments (stocks, bonds, property, cash, and maybe even alternatives) because they tend to behave differently at different times.

When stock markets are booming, bonds may look dull. When markets are rocky, bonds or cash may hold their ground while stocks struggle.

The point isn’t to always have everything performing at its best at the same time. The point is to ensure you never have everything performing at its worst at the same time.

Chasing performance often backfires

It’s easy to feel impatient and want to sell the “losers” in your portfolio. But what feels like a loser now may become the winner tomorrow, and by the time it does, it’s often too late to jump back in.

Studies have shown that investors who chase last year’s top performers often end up buying high and selling low, which erodes long-term returns.

Patience, on the other hand, allows you to capture the benefits of the entire cycle, not just the exciting moments.

Time does the heavy lifting

Over a single year or two, markets can feel random and unpredictable. Over decades, patterns emerge.

The more time you give your investments, the more chance you have to see the intended benefits of diversification play out. Time smooths out the bumps, turning what looked like short-term noise into long-term progress.

It’s normal to feel uneasy when parts of your portfolio seem to drag. That’s when having a plan, and a guide, becomes invaluable. We’re here to help you understand why you own what you own, how it fits into your goals, and how to measure progress without getting caught up in the daily swings.

If you’re feeling impatient, or wondering if your portfolio is still on track, let’s talk.

Sometimes, the most effective strategy isn’t doing more; it’s staying committed to the plan you already have.

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When letting go creates more space for growth

When we talk about money, we often slip into the language of control: budgets, targets, forecasts, plans. It’s comforting to believe that if we just work hard enough at managing things, we can shape life exactly as we want it.

And to some extent, that’s true. Being intentional and disciplined with money does create opportunities and stability. But what if part of a healthy relationship with money, and life, also involves letting go?

This isn’t about giving up. It’s about recognising that some of the most meaningful things in life, love, health, opportunity, even good fortune, don’t always bend to our plans. Sometimes they arrive when we least expect them. Sometimes they never arrive at all, and something else comes in their place.

In our work as financial planners, we frequently observe this dynamic. A client meticulously saves for a dream home, but then their dream changes. Another builds a retirement plan only to discover they’re happiest working well into their seventies (and still playing golf and tennis!). Someone else pours energy into leaving a legacy, only to realise their children want to carve their own path.

There’s a powerful truth here: when we loosen our grip on how we think things should be, we create space for what could be.

That might mean accepting that the market won’t always cooperate. Or that an illness, job change or divorce has altered the path you thought you were on. It might mean grieving the loss of a goal, while also opening your eyes to something better; something you couldn’t have planned for.

E.M. Forster put it beautifully:

“We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.”

So, what does this look like in practice? It might mean letting go of perfection and simply getting started. It might mean asking for help rather than trying to do it all yourself. It might mean adjusting your plan, not as a sign of failure, but as a sign of growth and honesty about what really matters to you now.

Money and life are not separate. Both ask us to balance control and surrender, to hold our plans lightly, and to stay open to change.

Where in your financial life could you soften your grip and allow something new to emerge?

If you’d like to talk it through, we’re here to help you see the bigger picture… and craft a plan that makes space for both your intentions and the unexpected turns along the way.

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Why diversification still works — even when it doesn’t feel like it

When markets are stormy, it’s easy to question whether diversification still works.

You might look at your portfolio and think, “Everything seems down; what was the point of spreading my money around?” Or during a market rally, you might wonder, “Wouldn’t I have been better off just putting everything in the top-performing stock or fund?”

These are reasonable questions, and they get to the heart of why diversification is both essential and, at times, uncomfortable.

Diversification isn’t about always being “up” or always beating the market. It’s about managing risk over time and smoothing the ride as much as possible.

At its core, diversification means not putting all your eggs in one basket. Instead of betting everything on one company, one country, or one type of asset, you spread your investments across a mix of assets that are likely to behave differently in different conditions.

Here’s why that matters…

– Different assets perform differently at different times. Stocks, bonds, property, and cash each respond to the economy in their own way. When stocks stumble, bonds often hold steady or rise. When one sector booms, another may lag.

– You can’t predict the winner. Even professionals can’t reliably pick which stock, fund, or market will outperform next year. Diversification accepts that uncertainty and plans for it.

– It limits how much a single mistake or event can hurt you. If one company or sector collapses, a diversified portfolio is less exposed and more resilient.

One reason diversification feels frustrating is because something in your portfolio is always underperforming. And that’s actually a sign it’s working. If everything in your portfolio is moving up or down in perfect unison, you’re probably not truly diversified.

Another reason is timing. Diversification plays out over time, seldom in any single year. Markets move in cycles, and the benefits of being diversified often show up only after a full cycle has played out.

One way to think about it is like a balanced diet. You could eat only chocolate for a week and feel fine, but over months and years, you’d pay the price. A diversified portfolio, like a healthy diet, gives you the best chance of long-term health, even if it’s not as exciting or satisfying in the moment.

If you’re unsure whether your portfolio is truly diversified, or if it’s still aligned to your goals, let’s have a conversation. Together we can help you understand what you own, how it works together, and how it protects you over the long term.

In investing, as in life, resilience comes from balance, not from betting it all on a single outcome.

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Identity-based financial goals

Who are you? Who do you want to become?

Identity-based financial goals are more powerful than you think.

“The goal is not to read a book. The goal is to become a reader,” writes James Clear in his bestseller, Atomic Habits. When it comes to financial planning, we can learn much from this brief nugget of wisdom.

Many of us set financial goals based on outcomes.

“I want to save X amount.”

“I want to retire at 60.”

“I want to pay off my bond in 15 years.”

And there’s nothing wrong with that. Goals give us direction. But sometimes they don’t give us enough motivation, especially when the path gets difficult. Sometimes we need to dig a little deeper.

That’s where identity-based planning can help.

The power of identity

James Clear’s work on habit change offers a simple but powerful idea:

If you want lasting change, don’t just focus on what you want to achieve, focus on who you want to become.

The goal isn’t just to save.

It’s to become someone who saves.

The goal isn’t just to invest.

It’s to become an investor.

The goal isn’t just to be generous.

It’s to become a giver.

This shift changes everything. Because when your actions reinforce your identity, every small step becomes part of something bigger.

So how does this work in financial planning?

Let’s say your goal is to grow your wealth. That’s a good outcome, but it’s also abstract.

Now reframe it: “I want to become the kind of person who consistently invests in their future.”

See the difference? One is a destination; the other is a decision about who you are and how you show up.

You might:

  • Set up a monthly debit order to your investment account
  • Track your spending with curiosity instead of guilt
  • Start reading investment articles, not because you need to, but because it’s what investors do

Every one of those actions confirms your identity, and builds momentum.

Life will throw curveballs. Markets will dip. Goals will need adjusting. But when your actions are rooted in identity, you’re more likely to keep going. Because even when the numbers don’t move, you’re still becoming someone you’re proud of.

So here’s a reflection question for us all: Who are we becoming through our financial decisions?

If we start there, the rest, budgets, investments, retirement plans, can be built around that foundation.

Because good financial planning isn’t just about reaching a target. It’s about helping you become the kind of person who lives the life you’ve always wanted.

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Behavioural Economics 101

Why don’t we always do what’s “best” with our money? Let’s be honest: most of us already know what we’re “supposed” to do with our money. But we don’t do it.

Spend less than we earn. Save consistently. Invest for the long term. Avoid unnecessary debt.

So why don’t we always do it?

Why do we promise to start budgeting next month, then swipe the card anyway? Why do we panic when markets dip, even when we know staying invested is usually the smarter move?

The answer lies in something economists and psychologists have been studying for years: we’re not rational decision-makers. We’re human.

And that’s where behavioural economics comes in.

Popularised by books like Nudge, by Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein, this field explores how our decisions are influenced, not just by logic, but by emotion, habit, environment, and even how choices are presented to us.

Here are a few key biases that show up time and again in financial planning:

  1. Loss aversion

We feel the pain of a loss much more intensely than the pleasure of a gain. It’s why we may hold onto a losing investment far too long, or avoid investing altogether, because the fear of “what if it goes wrong?” outweighs the potential benefit of “what if it goes right?”

  1. Present bias

We’re wired to value today over tomorrow. That makes it hard to prioritise saving for retirement, even when we know we should. A pair of sneakers today feels more real than a comfortable future 30 years from now.

  1. Choice overload

When we’re faced with too many options, investment funds, insurance products, savings accounts, we tend to freeze. We delay, or we default to what feels easiest, even if it’s not the most suitable choice.

  1. Anchoring

We latch onto the first number we see. If someone tells you how much your neighbour just bought their house for, that number becomes a benchmark, whether or not it suits your needs or financial reality.

  1. Confirmation bias

We search for information that supports what we already believe. If you think the market is about to crash, you’ll find headlines to support that belief, and ignore the ones that don’t.

Understanding these patterns doesn’t make us weak, it makes us human. And when you work with a financial planner who gets that, something powerful happens: instead of being judged or “corrected,” you’re supported.

The best planning doesn’t just help you choose the right funds, it helps you create a system that makes those good choices easier, and those unhelpful habits harder.

That’s what nudging is all about: creating a structure that honours your goals, while gently steering you away from self-sabotage.

Because the truth is, smart financial decisions are often less about intelligence, and more about designing for behaviour.

Let’s build a plan that works with the way you think, not against it.

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Cross-cultural connection in financial planning

You have a lens, and here’s why it matters…

Financial planning is often seen as a numbers game, retirement goals, investment returns, tax efficiency. But beneath the spreadsheets lies something far more personal: our stories, values, and lived experiences.

And that’s where things get interesting.

As financial planners, we work with individuals and families from diverse cultural backgrounds, belief systems, and worldviews. Yet many of the tools we use, goal-setting frameworks, risk tolerance models, even the concept of “financial independence”, are built on Western ideals. They often emphasise individualism, accumulation, and long-term control. These aren’t wrong, but they are a lens. And if we never examine that lens, we risk applying assumptions that simply don’t spark the conversations that truly connect with us.

For some of us, financial security means having a strong retirement portfolio. For others, it may be about taking care of aging parents, funding a cousin’s education, or building a legacy within a close-knit community. In many cultures, money is not just personal, it’s communal, spiritual, or symbolic.

When our financial planning doesn’t take these perspectives into account, it can feel out of touch. And worse, it can unintentionally dismiss what truly matters to our loved ones.

One of the most powerful tools in your financial planning toolkit isn’t a calculator, it’s curiosity.

When we take time to reflect on our own upbringing, cultural assumptions, and professional biases, we begin to see how our perspective has been shaped. And that insight allows us to become better listeners. Better partners. Better leaders.

It means asking questions like:

  • “What does financial freedom mean to you?”
  • “What traditions or values influence your financial decisions?”
  • “Are there any beliefs about money that feel important to acknowledge in your planning?”

We don’t need to have all the answers, but we do need to create space to ask more inclusive questions.

At its heart, financial planning is about helping us make decisions that align with our values, not simply conform with everyone else. And when we make space for diverse perspectives, we unlock deeper trust, stronger relationships, and more meaningful financial outcomes.

As the author Anthony Robbins puts it:

“To communicate effectively, we must realize that we are all different in how we perceive the world and use this understanding to guide our communication with others.”

In a world that’s more connected, and more complex, than ever before, this kind of empathy isn’t optional. It’s essential.

Because great financial planning doesn’t just respect the numbers. It respects the whole person.

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Cost isn’t just what you pay

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 powerful (and often overlooked) financial exercise: calculating your real hourly wage. It’s not just about how much money you make. It’s about how much of your life it takes to make it.

And for many people, the answer is eye-opening.

Because once you subtract all the unpaid hours; commuting, replying to messages after hours, recovering from stress…

Once you account for job-related expenses; transport, work clothes, meals, child care, or the odd splurge that helps you “cope”…

Once you consider the physical and emotional toll; fatigue, irritability, missed family moments…

…your impressive hourly rate may shrink significantly.

It might drop by 20%. Or half. In some cases, it might fall so low that you’re working incredibly hard just to stand still.

This calculation isn’t just about the numbers. It’s about context.

It helps you see how much of your life you’re exchanging, not just for a paycheck, but for every decision that flows from it. And it makes this whole journey deeply personal.

That new gadget? It’s not just $300. It’s six hours of your real working life.

A fancy dinner out? Two and a half.

A pair of shoes you bought on a whim? Maybe ten.

This isn’t about guilt. It’s about being more conscious. When you understand the true cost of your time, you start making decisions that align better with your energy, your priorities, and your wellbeing. You can also begin to understand why some decisions make you feel a certain way.

You might find you spend more intentionally. Say “yes” a little less often. Or even redefine what success looks like; not just in income, but in freedom, peace of mind, or time with your kids.

Because money, thankfully, can be earned again.

But your time? Your energy? That’s finite.

So the next time you consider a purchase, or another hour of overtime, don’t just ask what it is buying you.

Perhaps, that’s what truly matters.

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Dream big, plan better, live fully

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. The most successful plans are shaped by a vision, not a spreadsheet. At the start, it’s rarely about interest rates or tax wrappers, it’s about values, priorities, and possibilities. What drives people to seek financial advice isn’t a fascination with balance sheets. It’s the desire to create a life that feels more intentional, more aligned.

This step isn’t reserved for the wealthy or the retired. Whether you’re 25 or 65, mapping out what a well-lived life could look like gives direction to your money. It adds meaning to the discipline. When your goals feel real, the sacrifices don’t feel like deprivation, they feel like choice.

Step 2: Plan better

Once the vision has taken shape, the focus shifts to structure. Not rigid rules, but thoughtful steps that link where you are now to where you want to be. This is where behavioural planning and technical advice combine.

A good plan doesn’t just calculate growth, it factors in human nature. The temptation to overspend, the fear of missing out, the moments of burnout or boredom that can throw even the best intentions off course. When your plan makes space for the realities of life, it becomes more than a document. It becomes something you can actually stick to.

Step 3: Live fully

The irony of financial planning is that the freedom people crave at the end of the journey is usually available much earlier, if they’re willing to look for it. Small shifts in spending, mindset, and lifestyle can start changing the way you experience your life long before you reach your “number.”

Living fully isn’t about extravagance. It’s about presence. It’s about knowing that what you’re doing today is connected to a bigger picture. That your money decisions are helping you build a life that’s rich in more ways than one.

Because in the end, financial freedom isn’t a finish line. It’s a posture. And every step you take, when it’s rooted in intention, brings more of that freedom into the here and now.

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