We dive not to escape life, but for life not to escape us. Unknown What is the difference between a good dive and a great dive? Usually it’s a matter of meters – not in terms of depth, but in terms of visibility. With World Ocean Day being this month we thought it would be appropriate to reflect on the deep blue sea. Underwater visibility is measured in two ways: horizontally and vertically. The horizontal visibility […]
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When Rona hits your wallet
Whilst we may try our best to keep our bodies safe from the flu – we may overlook the sluggish money myalgia that can hit us around this time too! You might have financial flu… Every winter our communities are hit by different strains of coronavirus (root of the common cold and flu). COVID-19 is the latest strain that initially impacted our health systems, and then quickly affected our financial systems and virtually every other area […]
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It’s not always about being in agreement
Honesty may not get you a lot of friends, but it will always get you the right ones. John Lennon When was the last time you took a close look at the people you are surrounding yourself with? It is easy to fall into the routine of only associating with agreeable people. Naturally we always want to hear that what we are doing is the right thing. But we can’t be right all the time, and […]
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How to emotionally distance when investing in tough times
Current investors have seen more ‘interesting times’, more black swans and market freefalls, than any other generation gone before. From the 2008 global financial crisis, followed by the longest bull run in history, to Brexit, several downgrades for South Africa and then the COVID-19 pandemic, today’s investors have run the gamut. Their emotions have run the gamut too, whether they realise it or not. Our brains on investing Like being chased by a lion or falling […]
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The value of an honesty policy
The truth doesn’t cost you anything, but a lie could cost you everything. Unknown Your financial situation can be a complex issue to approach. However, the more we talk about it, the more open the conversation becomes and the easier it is to broach uncomfortable subjects. Debt.. life cover.. estate planning.. If you are feeling a bit squeamish right now then maybe it’s time for that chat. Before making any big decisions you should consult the […]
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Tips for when markets recover
The last few years have seen more market volatility than anyone could have predicted, with the icing on the cake being the COVID-19 pandemic. But the best and worst thing about markets is their cyclical nature. All markets recover, eventually. We know what to do when there’s a downturn and experience has taught many investors some hard lessons with recent stock market crashes. But what about an upswing? What do you do when the markets recover […]
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Mid-Year Money Check
Many of us only look at our financial plan when we receive a windfall (this is not often…) or when things go terribly wrong. It could be the loss of a job, the loss of a loved one or another crisis (like a global lockdown…). These aren’t necessarily the best times to make investment decisions or changes to our financial plans as emotions are often running extremely high during times of transitions and our stress levels […]
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Living annuities and how they affect your living
Oh, the ironies of life… One of South Africa’s most contentious laws regarding annuities states that a retirement fund may not be completely withdrawn in a lump sum, but a minimum of two thirds must be invested into a compulsory living annuity in an attempt to aid preservation of retirement money. Even those who are well informed about their retirement money sometimes forget this element of their annuities. Then along came the Coronavirus pandemic with global […]
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A thriving balance
Yoga is not for the flexible, it’s for the willing. Unknown Yoga can seem like a whole lot of nothing doing, but that couldn’t be further from reality. It is grounded with intention, challenging both the mind and the body, and many would describe it as a spiritual experience too. While practicing yoga, practitioners seek to transform positively towards a healthier version of themselves. When it comes to our finances and investment practices, it is equally […]
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Words that will make (or cost) you money
Communication around your finances is crucial if you want to be more mindful and intentional around wealth creation. There are some conversations that will help you ascribe meaning to your money, and these should happen early on in your planning process (and regularly thereafter). Then there are conversations that will facilitate the actioning of your financial plan and will be important when you need to make changes to your portfolio. Here is a quick guide to […]
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