Category: LIFESTYLE

A cancer diagnosis is more than a medical event. It touches every part of life; physically, emotionally, spiritually, relationally… and financially.

No one wants to think about money when facing something as deeply personal and life-altering as this. But the financial implications of cancer are very real, and often, they catch people off guard.

The truth is, the cost of cancer goes far beyond treatment. It includes loss of income, travel to medical appointments, home adjustments, special dietary needs, emotional support, and sometimes long-term lifestyle changes. Even with medical aid or insurance, out-of-pocket expenses can add up quickly.

In our work, we’ve walked with clients who’ve faced this journey, either personally or as caregivers. What we’ve learned is that thoughtful planning doesn’t take away the pain or fear, but it does give back a sense of control. It allows space to focus on healing, knowing the financial side is being held with care.

THE HIDDEN FINANCIAL LAYERS

Cancer often brings with it a complex web of costs:

• Medical shortfalls. Even the best cover may not account for every scan, test, treatment, or second opinion.
• Time off work. Whether it’s weeks or months, treatment can disrupt your ability to earn… and not just for the patient. Partners or family members may need to take time off, too.
• Emotional and psychological care. Counselling or support groups aren’t always covered, but can be essential.
• Travel and accommodation. Many patients travel far for specialist care, adding logistics and costs that aren’t part of their normal monthly expenses.
• Alternative or complementary treatments. While not always medically advised, some choose to pursue additional therapies that aren’t covered at all.

These expenses don’t arrive all at once. They build slowly. And when combined with emotional overwhelm, they can leave families feeling vulnerable in more ways than one.

A PLAN THAT HOLDS SPACE FOR UNCERTAINTY

This is why we believe in proactive, compassionate financial planning.

Yes, we talk about budgets and risk cover. But more than that, we help people prepare for life’s unknowns whilst factoring in the flexibility to adjust when things change.

Sometimes that means checking that you have the right severe illness cover in place. Sometimes it means helping a client understand what their medical aid doesn’t include, or building a buffer into their investment strategy so that a health scare doesn’t derail everything.

And sometimes, it means simply being there with you to talk through tough decisions, update plans, or help make sense of what’s next.

You see, it’s not just about money.

Planning for the costs of cancer isn’t about expecting the worst. It’s about being free to focus on what matters most — care, connection, and healing — without the added stress of financial unknowns.

If you or someone you love is facing this path, we’re here to walk it with you. Not just with spreadsheets and policies, but with empathy, perspective, and a steady hand.

Because sometimes, the most valuable thing we can give you isn’t a return on investment, it’s peace of mind when you need it most.

Wealth doesn’t happen in a moment.

It’s easy to think otherwise when social media is filled with crypto booms, overnight stock picks, and stories of windfalls that seem to turn ordinary people into millionaires. But behind most real, lasting wealth is something far less flashy: time, patience, and consistency.

In his book Stocks for the Long Run, economist Jeremy Siegel studied more than 200 years of investment history. His research shows that, despite market crashes, recessions, wars, and pandemics, equities have consistently delivered strong long-term returns. In fact, over any 20-year period, the stock market has almost always beaten inflation — and often by a significant margin.

But here’s the catch: to benefit from that long-term growth, you have to stay in the game.

Too often, we see investors attempting to time the market… jumping in when things are hot and pulling out when fear rises. The problem is, no one can predict the perfect moment to buy or sell. More often than not, sitting on the sidelines during downturns means missing the recovery, which can come faster and more sharply than expected.

We also see people chasing trends when they buy what’s popular without a plan, hoping for quick gains. But short-term bets can lead to long-term regrets. What feels like a smart move today can easily become tomorrow’s cautionary tale.

Instead, the clients who build lasting wealth tend to follow a quieter path. They contribute consistently. They stick to a plan. They accept the ups and downs of the market as part of the journey.

Think of it like planting an orchard. You don’t expect fruit the week after planting. You tend to it over years, trusting that growth is happening beneath the surface. Markets work the same way; slow, steady progress over time, punctuated by the occasional storm.

Of course, patience doesn’t mean doing nothing. It means doing the right things consistently. Reviewing your portfolio. Staying diversified. Rebalancing when needed. And, perhaps most importantly, resisting the urge to react emotionally to short-term noise.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the “urgent” financial news, or wondering if you’re doing enough, please feel free to reach out and get in touch!

Because real wealth isn’t built in a week. It’s built over decades of intention, perspective, and morking with a plan(ner) you believe in.

Is it tough to talk about retirement because we haven’t saved enough… or because we’re not comfortable with getting older?

It’s an insightful question and helps us begin to understand why so many people delay the conversation altogether. Retirement hesitancy sits on two sides of the same coin: financial readiness and emotional readiness.

On the one hand, there’s the maths of it all. Rising costs, economic uncertainty, and shaky savings play a big role. Research shows that nearly a quarter of people over 50 are postponing retirement for these reasons. Numbers don’t lie, and sometimes they tell us we’re not ready.

But on the other hand, there’s meaning. A recent Kiplinger article explored the “one more year” trap, where people delay not because they can’t afford to stop working, but because they’re unsure who they’ll be once the structure of work is gone. Identity, purpose, community, these aren’t things you can calculate in a spreadsheet, but they matter just as much.

So maybe the better way to frame it is this: retirement readiness isn’t just about money, it’s also about mindset. It’s not only a question of how much we’ve saved, but how ready we feel to step into a new season of life.

The best conversations about retirement start here. What does retirement look and feel like for you? How might you choose to keep working, not because you have to, but because it still matters to you? And what might need to change for you to feel ready — both emotionally and financially?

Retirement isn’t a finish line. It’s a transition. And the smoother that passage, the more likely it is that your portfolio and your purpose can align. The truth is, this isn’t a conversation to avoid until “someday.” It’s one to lean into now. Not with fear, but with curiosity. Because when we face both the math and the meaning, we give ourselves the chance to plan not just for a retirement, but for a life worth living.

If you’d like to have that conversation, or revisit some previous conversations we’ve had, please feel free to get in touch. The best time to do it is when you’re ready!

When most people hear the word “Will,” they think of paperwork, lawyers, or uncomfortable conversations about money. But a Will isn’t just a legal document. It’s an emotional anchor and a way of caring for the people you love most when you’re no longer able to.

A Will says: “I thought about you. I prepared for you. I wanted to make things easier for you.”

Without one, the people left behind are often burdened with uncertainty. Decisions about assets, guardianship, or even small sentimental items can lead to confusion, disagreements, and unnecessary stress at a time when what they need most is peace and space to grieve.

Think for a moment about what happens in families where there’s no Will. Children may be unsure of what their parents wanted. Siblings may argue. Spouses may feel overwhelmed trying to interpret wishes that were never put into writing. The absence of clarity can turn grief into conflict, and healing into hardship.

On the other hand, a Will can provide comfort. It reassures loved ones that your wishes are known and will be honoured. It helps protect relationships at a fragile time by removing guesswork and giving everyone a clear guide to follow. In that sense, a Will isn’t just about distributing assets; it’s about protecting harmony.

And the emotional importance doesn’t stop with your family. Writing a Will also gives you peace of mind. Many people avoid the process because it forces them to confront their mortality. But once it’s done, there’s often a deep sense of relief. You’ve taken an act of responsibility that reflects love, foresight, and care.

You’ve ensured that what matters most, whether it’s financial security, treasured possessions, or the wellbeing of children and pets, will be looked after in the way you want.

The truth is, a Will is less about money and more about meaning. It allows you to express your values in a tangible way: who and what you care about, how you want to support causes close to your heart, and the kind of legacy you wish to leave behind.

So perhaps the real question isn’t whether you need a Will; it’s whether you’re ready to give your loved ones the gift of clarity, comfort, and care when they’ll need it most.

Creating a Will doesn’t have to be complicated, but its impact is immeasurable. It’s an act of love that reaches beyond your lifetime, shaping not just how your assets are handled, but how your family remembers you: as someone who prepared, who cared, and who left them with guidance when they needed it most.

A Will is more than a document. It’s a message. It says: You matter. And even when I’m gone, I’ll still be looking out for you.

We all want to feel secure with our finances and know that we can handle life’s surprises and move toward our goals with confidence. But security doesn’t just happen. It’s something we build deliberately, piece by piece, with care and balance.

“Financial security and independence are like a three‑legged stool resting on savings, insurance, and investments.” — Brian Tracy

This image of a three‑legged stool is a simple way to think about what it takes. Like a stool, your financial life needs more than one point of support. If even one leg is missing or weak, the whole structure becomes unstable.

The first leg is savings, the foundation of resilience. Savings cover your short‑term needs, like an unexpected car repair, a medical bill, or even the loss of income for a few months. This is your emergency cushion, and it’s what helps you sleep better at night knowing you’re prepared for the immediate and inevitable bumps in the road.

The second leg is insurance; protection for the risks you can’t predict or fully cover yourself. No one likes paying for something they hope never to use, but insurance can prevent a bad day from becoming a financial catastrophe. Whether it’s life insurance, health cover, disability, or property protection, this leg supports you through life’s larger, less predictable shocks.

The third leg is investments, and this is the part that grows your wealth over time. Savings and insurance protect you today; investments help you build for tomorrow. This is where your money starts to work for you, creating the possibility of independence, bigger dreams, and leaving a legacy.

Many of us have one or two of these legs in place but neglect the others. Some save diligently but avoid investing, leaving their money to languish and lose value to inflation. Others invest aggressively but carry no emergency fund, so they’re forced to sell investments at the worst possible time when something unexpected happens. And some rely entirely on insurance policies, thinking that’s enough… but without savings and investments, they never gain momentum.

Like a stool, our financial security is strongest when all three legs are steady and working together. The balance doesn’t have to be perfect (and it will probably never be perfect!). It’s something we need to keep adjusting over time as needs and circumstances change.

If you’re not sure whether your financial “stool” is stable, or if you’d like help strengthening one of the legs, we’d love to talk it through with you.

Financial independence doesn’t just happen. It’s built, step by step, with balance, care, and a plan you can trust to hold you up when life wobbles.

When we think about building wealth, it’s easy to picture numbers on a statement, bricks and mortar, or a growing investment portfolio (or even a chest full of gold!). These are the tangible milestones: savings accounts, retirement funds, real estate, and other assets we can point to and measure.

But rarely do we consider the intangible part of wealth; the conversations we have about money. And yet, it’s these conversations that often shape the path we take and determine how we feel about the journey.

One of the most meaningful patterns seen in financial planning is this: people who talk about money — with their partner, their children, their planner, even themselves — tend to feel more confident, more in control, and more at peace with their decisions.

Why? Because silence around money can be heavy.

Left unspoken, money worries can grow into misunderstandings, hidden expectations, or even conflict. Many of us carry stories about money that we’ve never questioned (ideas we inherited from family, or assumptions we picked up along the way) and without conversation, those stories quietly guide our decisions.

Many couples and families avoid talking about spending habits for years, only to discover that their goals were completely misaligned. We’ve seen adult children blindsided by an inheritance plan that was never explained. We’ve seen people sabotage their own plans because they were afraid to ask for advice.

On the other hand, when people start talking openly, even when it feels awkward at first, something shifts. Partners get on the same page. Parents pass on wisdom instead of confusion. Clients find clarity about what they really want.

These conversations don’t have to be formal or perfect. They might start with a simple question: “What does financial security mean to you?” or “If money weren’t an obstacle, what would you want your life to look like?”

And it’s not just about others — it’s also the internal dialogue we have with ourselves. Are you telling yourself you’ll never be good with money? That you don’t deserve wealth? Or that it’s selfish to prioritise your own needs? Becoming aware of these inner conversations is just as important as the ones we have with others.

Building wealth isn’t only about accumulating assets. It’s about creating understanding, alignment, and trust. And that starts with talking.

If you’d like help starting those conversations, with your family, or just to get clear on your own values and goals, let’s have that chat. Sometimes, the right conversation is the most valuable asset you can build.

When we are frequently told that we need more and more money, more success, more status, it’s easy to feel like we’re always falling behind.

But what if we can expand that story to reveal that real wealth has less to do with how much we accumulate, and more to do with how we live?

Some of the most contented and fulfilled people we meet through our work aren’t necessarily the wealthiest. Instead, they tend to share certain qualities: they’re grateful for what they already have. They’re generous with others. They’re at peace with their choices, even if those choices don’t impress anyone else.

Someone once put it perfectly: “I finally stopped measuring my life by someone else’s yardstick… and that’s when I felt rich.”

It can feel counterintuitive at first, but there’s a quiet strength in choosing enough. Not settling, but acknowledging what really matters, and letting go of what doesn’t. This is where money becomes a tool, and not a defining characteristic.

Sometimes that means simplifying your lifestyle to free yourself from the stress of constant striving. Sometimes it means pausing before chasing the next promotion to ask, “What is this really for?” Sometimes it means shifting focus from building bigger accounts to building deeper connections with family, friends, or your community.

We can also see it in how people approach setbacks. Those who stay calm in the face of loss or change tend to be those who understand that their worth is not defined by their net worth. They’ve learned how to hold plans lightly and adapt, knowing that even through hard seasons, life can still be meaningful and good.

And then there’s the value of peacemaking, with yourself and with others. Many of us carry quiet regrets about past decisions, or tension over family dynamics when it comes to inheritance or money. Choosing to make peace, through honest conversations, updated plans, and a willingness to listen, is often more valuable than any investment return.

Financial planning isn’t just about growing a bank account. It’s about creating a life where you feel free to breathe, to care for others, to rest when you need to, to step lightly instead of always running.

You don’t have to have it all to live well.

Because financial planning isn’t just about money. It’s about what money makes possible.

A man once asked a gardener: “Why do your plants grow so well?”

The gardener smiled and said: “I don’t force them to grow. I simply remove what’s holding them back.”

It’s a gentle reminder that growth, in life, in relationships, and in our finances, doesn’t come from pushing harder and harder, as though sheer force of will is enough to make everything bloom.

In fact, when we fixate only on doing more, earning more, or achieving more, we can sometimes exhaust ourselves without seeing the results we long for. Growth often happens when we stop, step back, and notice what’s getting in the way; the clutter, the habits, the fears that choke the soil.

When we focus on clearing away those obstacles, rather than forcing the outcome, we create the right conditions for progress to happen more naturally and sustainably.

We tend to approach money as if it’s all about adding: earn more, save more, invest more, do more. Those things matter. But if you’re adding more without removing what’s holding you back — old habits, unnecessary expenses, unhelpful beliefs — you may not feel the progress you’re looking for.

We see this often in financial planning. A client wants to save for retirement but can’t figure out why nothing’s left at the end of the month. Another dreams of starting a business but feels paralysed by the fear of failure. Someone else keeps chasing bigger returns but is weighed down by debt and worry.

It’s not that they lack motivation. It’s that there are weeds in the garden; behaviours, expectations, clutter, taking up the space and the nutrients the good stuff needs to grow.

Here are a few examples of “weeds” worth pulling out:

   – Carrying debt without a plan to pay it off.

   – Trying to keep up with what others are doing or buying.

   – Believing you “aren’t good with money” and so avoiding decisions.

   – Ignoring hard conversations about the future because they feel uncomfortable.

What if, instead of adding more pressure or more goals, you simply started by removing one or two of these?

In gardening, and in life, growth is the plant’s natural tendency. The soil already knows what to do. Your job is to create the right conditions and clear the way.

When you remove what no longer serves you, you create space for what does.

If you’d like, we can help you figure out what’s holding your financial garden back, together — and how to clear it. After all, the goal isn’t just to grow for growth’s sake. The goal is to thrive in a way that feels right for you.

Let’s talk about what we can remove, so that what truly matters can flourish.

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.

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.