Author Archives: Shan Nissiotis

The Ballad of Golden Means In sooth, a tale of coin oft told, Doth shake the hearts of young and old; For lucre’s siren song entwines The very core of mortal lines. Yet, shall we to this master bow? Or find we balance ‘twixt the bough? In measure fair and wisdom’s sight, Let not theContinue reading “The Ballad of Golden Means”

The concept of ‘enough’ remains as elusive as the horizon — always visible yet forever just out of reach. This is particularly true in our relationship with money, a relationship that often mirrors the depths of human desire and the complexities of contentment. The nature of enough is a philosophical rabbit hole. On the oneContinue reading “Why we may never have ‘enough’”

Our daily existence is a series of patterns and habits, some as visible as the paths we walk, others as intimate as the thoughts we entertain. Within this daily walk, each choice of habit — whether tied to our finances, our health, or our personal growth — has the potential to either constrain or liberateContinue reading “Where habits and wealth intersect”

We’ve all been there: that moment when life throws you a curveball and stress builds up. Your palms might get sweaty, your heart rate spikes, or perhaps you feel a pit in your stomach. But have you ever thought about how this stress manifests in your financial behaviour? Understanding your ‘money stress language’ could beContinue reading “How do you express stress with your money?”

Have you ever wondered why some financial decisions are harder to make than others? It’s not always just about the numbers or the facts laid out in a spreadsheet. Deep down, emotions, stress, and even past experiences like threats and trauma play a significant role in how we manage our finances.  This is incredibly importantContinue reading “Threat, Stress, and Trauma: The unspoken influences on your money personality”

You’re looking for more than a number-cruncher when seeking integrated financial planning services. This is because you’re essentially seeking a partner in a very critical area of your life—your financial future. And much like any other meaningful relationship, the foundation isn’t just built on expertise but also on mutual values and shared culture.  Simon SinekContinue reading “Understanding the role of culture in your financial journey”

The Psychology of Financial Planning Have you ever found yourself spiralling down a mental rabbit hole, arriving at a worrying conclusion about your finances without consciously deciding to ponder over it? If so, you’re not alone, and it’s not your fault. The Power of Thought Patterns  Humans naturally develop schemas, or cognitive frameworks, to understandContinue reading “Rewiring your financial mindset (I)”

Our lives are saturated with information, so it’s important to scrutinise what we consume, especially when it comes to financial news and our use of social media. The core objective of social media isn’t necessarily to make you a more informed member of society. Instead, it’s driven by the motive to capture your attention, toContinue reading “Entertained or educated?”

The lines between personal beliefs and universal truths often blur, and the role of a financial planner becomes ever more critical. As we wade through the waters of modern finance, it’s easy to be swayed by popular opinion or individualised perceptions of reality.  But what’s vital is ensuring that our decisions are made based onContinue reading “Finding the truth in a “My Truth” world”

You know how sometimes we tend to procrastinate when it comes to our finances? Yeah, we’ve all been there. Procrastination can be a major roadblock to achieving our financial goals. But did you know that Nancy Kline’s Time to Think methodology can help us overcome that? It’s all about creating a thinking environment that encouragesContinue reading “Time to think about money – Part 4”

The Real Purpose Behind Financial Planning When we talk about financial planning, what springs to mind? For many, it might conjure up images of spreadsheets, complex investment strategies, or even a necessary evil to ensure we’re being “responsible.” However, approaching financial planning as merely a task to check off our to-do list may be sellingContinue reading “More than just checking the boxes”

Information is at our fingertips, and artificial intelligence continually surpasses human capabilities in specific tasks; the landscape of valuable skills is evolving.  According to Dr Susan David, while technical know-how remains crucial, it’s quickly becoming commoditised. As a result, the pendulum is swinging towards the intrinsic value of distinctly human skills, finding and forging momentsContinue reading “The rising currency of human skills”

Trust is a crucial component of any successful financial relationship. Trust plays a huge role in making things work, whether it’s with your spouse, financial advisor, or business partner. And one way to build that trust is through the art of listening, which is a central idea in Nancy Kline’s Time to Think methodology. AsContinue reading “Time to think about money – Part 3”

In a few recent blogs, we’ve considered our money stories and how we can not only route out false narratives but work towards creating new financial stories. After exploring the emotional aspects of your financial health and understanding your money story, it’s time to create a new financial narrative that fosters a healthy money mindset.Continue reading “Creating a new financial narrative”

Automatic thought patterns are pervasive and impactful, influencing our moods, behaviours, and even our self-concept. In our everyday lives, we sometimes struggle to recognise their presence in our decision-making, especially when it comes to financial choices. These automatic thoughts – images, words, or other mental activities – that pop into our minds in response toContinue reading “How automatic thoughts shape our financial habits”

Money, it is said, makes the world go around. We use it daily, exchange it for goods and services, save it for the future, worry about it, celebrate it, and yet often, we are reluctant to delve into our personal histories with it.  Our earliest memories of money can reveal much about our present-day financialContinue reading “Unearthing the roots of your money story”

As we journey through life, we often hear phrases like “seeing is believing”. But when it comes to our financial health and well-being, there’s a subtle yet profound difference between merely seeing and truly recognising. It’s akin to looking at a tree and appreciating its beauty, compared to recognising its species, understanding its growth patterns,Continue reading “Data to Wisdom for your financial journey”

Independent thinking is critical in lifestyle financial planning, and here’s why. Each person has unique financial needs, aspirations, and circumstances. When you think independently, you can assess your personal situation and determine what matters most to you. This helps you set goals that genuinely reflect your values and priorities, making your financial plan more meaningfulContinue reading “Time to think about money – Part 2”

Money is more than just a tool for transactions; it’s an emotional force intertwined with our identities, values, and sense of self-worth. Our money story is a tapestry of beliefs and experiences that shape our financial behaviours and attitudes. By exploring different elements of our money story, we can better understand our emotional connection toContinue reading “More about your money story”

Embarking on and sticking to your investment journey requires a solid understanding of financial principles and an appreciation for the emotional roller coaster that comes with it. Asset allocation, a crucial component of investing, is about striking the right balance between risk and reward to achieve your financial goals. As you consider different allocations, it’sContinue reading “Investing with Heart and Mind”

Discussing finances can be a daunting task, especially when emotions run high. It’s important to remember that there’s a human element behind every financial decision – our dreams, fears, and values. Nancy Kline is an American-born author, business consultant, and personal development coach. She is best known for her Time to Think methodology, which emphasisesContinue reading “Time to think about money – Part 1”

In lifestyle financial planning, striking the right balance between empathy and codependency is essential to building healthy relationships while maintaining personal well-being. A recent tweet by Dr Nicole LePera (@Theholisticpsyc) highlighted the differences between empathy and codependency. Empathy means understanding a person’s feelings and being able to put ourselves in their shoes. In the contextContinue reading “Empathy vs Codependency”

Our mindset is crucial to our financial success. Dealing with our money can quickly become an obsessive task; either focusing solely on the amount we’re lacking or missing, or becoming obsessed with saving and storing up, we can sometimes do more harm than good. This is why mindset plays a significant role in how weContinue reading “A miss is as good as a mile”

Personal financial planning has become critical in shaping our lives and determining our future. However, many of us need help to make the right decisions and achieve our financial goals. The key to overcoming these challenges lies in harnessing and leveraging our strengths to create a life of our own design. By understanding and embracingContinue reading “Create a life of your own design”

One of the reasons why so many people chase riches, relationships and reputation to define their value is that they haven’t been coached to understand that they can build a life of worth, value and meaning without relying on other people, positions or possessions to define them. If we want to know how we addContinue reading “Why character matters”