Category: Blog

The purpose of ego is security.
The nature of ego is insecurity.
The destiny of ego is surrender.

(Credit: @findingawareness on Instagram)

It’s an interesting paradox, isn’t it? The very thing we rely on to create a sense of safety, our ego, is inherently restless, always scanning for threats, always seeking more.

Perhaps this tension is most evident in how we interact with money.

Why we seek financial security
At its core, financial planning is about security. We save for a rainy day, invest for the future, and insure against the unknown, all in pursuit of a feeling that we are safe. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

In fact, it’s wise to build financial buffers, plan for uncertainty, and take action to protect our future.

But the paradox of the ego is that no amount of money will ever truly feel like enough. Because the ego’s nature is insecurity. It will always ask: What if something goes wrong? What if I lose it? What if I could have more?

The emotional side of money
This is why some of us struggle to spend money, even when we have more than enough. It’s why others keep chasing higher earnings, bigger portfolios, and endless upgrades, believing that the next milestone will bring peace. It’s why financial success doesn’t always translate to happiness because the ego, left unchecked, will always move the goalposts.

Behavioural finance teaches us that money isn’t just about logic; it’s about psychology. It’s about understanding why we make the choices we do, even when they don’t always make rational sense.

Why do some people hoard wealth and others spend recklessly? Why do we let past financial mistakes define our sense of worth? Why do we compare our financial progress to others, even when we know it doesn’t lead to fulfillment?

Because the ego craves control. And money is the ultimate symbol of control.

Surrendering the illusion of control
But here’s the truth: security isn’t found in a bank balance; it’s found in our relationship with money.

Financial planning isn’t about feeding the ego’s hunger for certainty. It’s about learning to manage resources wisely while recognising that real peace comes from acceptance, not accumulation.

This doesn’t mean we stop saving, investing, or planning. It means we do so with awareness. With clarity. With the understanding that money is a tool, not an identity.

At some point, the ego has to surrender. Not in defeat, but in understanding. That true security isn’t about controlling every outcome. It’s about building a financial life that aligns with what truly matters—freedom, choice, generosity, and balance.

So maybe the question isn’t about how much is enough, but rather how we can redefine security in a way that serves us, rather than controls us.

When we shift from fear-based financial planning to value-based financial planning, we stop making decisions out of insecurity. Instead, we build a financial future that feels both responsible and free.

Also referred to as an “economic reality check,”, lifestyle audits are not just for the rich and famous, and not just useful to the tax collector!

Have you ever looked at your bank statement and wondered, “Where did it all go?”

It’s one of those universal moments—a glance at your spending habits and the creeping realisation that maybe, just maybe, your money isn’t working as hard as it should be for the life you want.

This is where a lifestyle audit comes in. It’s not about spreadsheets or guilt-tripping yourself over a daily smoothie habit. It’s about aligning your financial choices with the life you actually want to live. Because financial planning isn’t just about numbers—it’s about choices, values, and making sure your money is supporting what matters most to you.

Taking stock of the now

The first step in a lifestyle audit isn’t cutting back; it’s gaining clarity. Before you adjust anything, you need to know where your money is going. Are you spending in ways that reflect your priorities, or are there hidden habits quietly draining your resources?

For some, this might mean noticing that an automatic subscription for something they no longer use is still charged to their account. For others, it might mean seeing that a significant chunk of their income is going toward things that have little long-term value. The goal isn’t to shame yourself but to gain awareness, because without awareness, change is impossible.

Redefining what “enough” looks like

We often default to the idea that financial success means accumulating more. More income. More assets. More stuff. But what if success isn’t about more, but about enough? A lifestyle audit helps you reframe your spending regarding what genuinely adds value to your life, not what the world tells you should.

That could mean choosing travel over upgrading your car every three years. It may mean investing in experiences rather than accumulating more possessions. Maybe it’s deciding that financial security gives you a greater sense of peace than a bigger house ever could.

This is where financial planning becomes deeply personal—it’s not about fitting into a prescribed budget, but about shaping your financial world to match your real-life goals.

Once you have clarity, even minor tweaks can create a massive shift in financial well-being. Redirecting just 5–10% of your current spending toward things that bring more meaning (whether that’s saving for a future goal, funding a passion project, or creating more breathing room in your budget) can change how you feel about your money entirely.

A lifestyle audit isn’t about restriction. It’s about realignment. It’s about making sure that when you look at your spending, you see a reflection of the life you actually want, not just a series of transactions that happened by default.

Where financial planning comes in

A good financial plan doesn’t just focus on the numbers; it focuses on you. It helps you identify what’s truly important, align your spending with your values, and ensure that your money serves your goals.

Financial planning isn’t just about investments, tax efficiency, or retirement—it’s about creating a framework where your finances support your life, not the other way around. And that starts with asking the right questions, setting clear priorities, and making sure your financial strategy reflects the life you actually want to build.

If you’ve never taken the time to assess whether your money is aligned with your values, now is the perfect time to start. Our conversation won’t be about restriction, it will be about unlocking possibilities. Let’s redefine what financial success means for you, and build a plan that helps you get there.

If money decisions were purely mathematical, personal finance would be easy. Spend less than you earn, invest in low-cost index funds, and let compound interest do its thing. But as anyone who’s ever faced a financial dilemma knows, money is emotional, unpredictable, and deeply personal.

Morgan Housel, in The Psychology of Money, makes a compelling argument: in finance, it’s often more important to be reasonable than to be rational. In theory, rational decisions are always the best ones. But in reality, the best financial strategy is the one you can stick to—not the one that looks perfect on paper.

Take investing, for example. Rationally, the most efficient strategy might be to hold a high percentage of stocks for decades, never check your portfolio, and ride out every market drop without flinching. But most people don’t work that way. Market downturns can make even the most disciplined investors nervous, leading to panic selling. A reasonable approach might involve a more balanced portfolio—one that offers a smoother ride, even if it’s not the most mathematically optimal.

Or consider saving. Rationally, every extra dollar, pound, or Rand should be maximised for return—perhaps going into the highest-yielding investments. But a reasonable approach might involve keeping a larger-than-necessary emergency fund in cash, simply because it provides peace of mind. This may not be the ‘perfect’ financial move, but for many, the ability to sleep soundly at night outweighs an extra fraction of a percent in returns.

The same goes for spending. Rationally, every purchase should be justified by its utility. But life isn’t lived in spreadsheets. If spending a little extra on travel, hobbies, or a quality mattress makes your life meaningfully better, a reasonable approach might allow for these expenses while still maintaining financial security.

This idea extends beyond investing and saving—it applies to financial planning as a whole. A rational person might try to budget every cent to perfection. A reasonable person understands that life is unpredictable and builds in some flexibility. A rational person might chase the highest possible returns. A reasonable person aims for stability and sustainability, knowing that emotional resilience is just as important as financial efficiency.

Ultimately, financial success isn’t about optimising every single decision—it’s about finding a strategy that works for you. A plan that aligns with your personality, risk tolerance, and lifestyle is far more valuable than one that’s perfect in theory but impossible to follow.

So next time you’re making a financial decision, don’t just ask, “What’s the most rational choice?” Ask, “What’s the reasonable choice that I can confidently sustain?” Because when it comes to long-term financial well-being, consistency beats perfection every time.

It’s a tempting idea, isn’t it? The thought of managing your own finances, crafting your own investment strategy, and making the “right” moves with your money—all without the need for professional guidance. After all, the information is out there. Books, podcasts, courses, and countless personal finance influencers promise that with a little effort, you can be your own financial planner.

But here’s the thing: financial planning isn’t just about what you know. It’s about how you apply it—and, just as importantly, how you navigate your own emotions, biases, and blind spots along the way.

Sure, knowledge is a powerful tool. The road to becoming a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional is paved with rigorous academic training, countless hours of study, and hands-on experience. But even beyond technical expertise, the role of a financial planner extends into areas that are much harder to self-manage: objectivity, habits, discipline, and adaptability.

Think about this: you wouldn’t perform surgery on yourself just because you have access to medical textbooks. Likewise, having financial knowledge doesn’t mean you’re equipped to make the best decisions when it comes to your own wealth. That’s because financial planning is as much about behaviour as it is about numbers.

Consider the challenge of objectivity. When markets dip or economic uncertainty rises, even the most rational individuals can be swayed by emotion—fear, anxiety, impatience. A financial planner provides a crucial buffer between you and your instincts, helping you make decisions that align with long-term goals rather than short-term impulses.

Then there’s the issue of discipline. Knowing what to do is one thing—actually following through, year after year, is another. Saving consistently, adjusting your strategy when life changes, reviewing your financial goals regularly—these are habits, not just facts. And habits are much harder to build and sustain without accountability.

Finally, there’s the complexity of financial planning itself. Tax laws evolve. Investment landscapes shift. The best financial strategy for you five years ago may not be the best one today. A financial planner helps you stay proactive, making adjustments as your life changes—so your financial plan continues working for you, not against you.

Does this mean you can’t manage your finances on your own? Not at all. Many people successfully take a DIY approach. But it comes with trade-offs—significant time commitments, a steep learning curve, and the need to constantly filter out misinformation.

So, the real question isn’t “Can I be my own financial planner?” It’s “Should I?”

And that answer depends on how much time, effort, and emotional energy you’re willing to invest—not just in learning, but in continuously managing and updating your plan.

Because, in the end, financial planning isn’t just about knowledge. It’s about wisdom—the wisdom to know when to seek guidance, when to stay the course, and when to make the adjustments that will keep you on track for years to come.

Imagine this: You’re sitting around a table with friends, and the conversation shifts to money. Someone is buying a new car, another just paid off their house, and someone else is debating whether to invest in the stock market or property. Advice gets tossed around freely—”You should do what I did!”—as if there’s a one-size-fits-all approach to financial success.

But here’s the thing: context is everything.

It’s easy to look at someone else’s financial choices and wonder if you should be doing the same. But what’s missing from these conversations is the deeper context—their income, obligations, risk tolerance, long-term goals, and even their personal values. Two people could have the same amount of money in the bank but vastly different financial realities. A comfortable savings account might mean peace of mind for one person, but for another, it might barely scratch the surface of the security they need.

This is why financial planning isn’t just about the numbers—it’s about understanding the “why” behind them. The best financial decisions come from clarity, not comparison.

When we take advice from people whose lives don’t mirror our own, we risk making choices that don’t serve us. Instead, the focus should be on designing a financial plan that fits your life—your goals, responsibilities, and aspirations.

Consider two individuals with the same salary. One may be single, renting an apartment, and able to invest aggressively. The other may have three children, a bond, and elderly parents who rely on them financially. If the first person says, “You should max out your investment contributions!” it might be great advice for their situation—but not necessarily for the second person. This is why financial planning should always be personalised, taking into account the full picture rather than just surface-level figures.

Context is also what makes financial planning a living, breathing process rather than a set-it-and-forget-it exercise. What made sense for you five years ago might not serve you now. Life changes—careers shift, families grow, priorities evolve. Financial security isn’t just about having cash in the bank; it’s about having a plan that moves with you.

That’s why working with a financial planner who understands your context—rather than following generic advice—is so valuable. We help provide perspective, not just prescriptions. We help you make informed decisions that align with where you are today and where you want to be tomorrow.

So, the next time someone tells you what you should be doing with your money, pause for a moment. Ask yourself: Does this fit my life? My circumstances? My future?

Because true financial freedom isn’t about following someone else’s roadmap—it’s about creating your own.