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 […]
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Is it time for a lifestyle audit?
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 […]
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Are you being reasonable?
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 […]
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Predictions, Plans, and the Power of Perspective
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 […]
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It isn’t just about knowledge
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 […]
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The cost of trust
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 […]
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Context over cash
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 […]
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It’s not accidental; it’s intentional.
No one stumbles into wealth by accident. Even those who win the lottery often find themselves broke again within a few years. It’s also not about trying to cut back on your take-out coffee. Financial success isn’t about luck, and it’s not about making one perfect decision that changes everything. It’s about consistent, intentional choices that build toward a future you actually want. Being intentional with your money doesn’t mean obsessing over every transaction or living […]
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Rewrite your love story with money
Every relationship has a story—a narrative we tell ourselves about how things are, how they’ve been, and what they’ll always be. And while we often think of “love stories” in the context of romance, there’s another relationship in our lives that deserves just as much attention: our relationship with money. For many of us, our money story has deep roots. It’s shaped by childhood experiences, societal messages, and personal triumphs or struggles. Maybe your story is […]
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Raise a millionaire
Raising financially responsible children who may one day become the next “Millionaire Next Door” is less about complex financial strategies and more about small, intentional lessons woven into everyday life. It starts with recognising that children learn more from what we do than what we say. If we want them to grow into thoughtful stewards of their wealth, we must first model responsible behaviour ourselves. Showing them how we save, budget, and make spending decisions is […]
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