This is the ancient tale of how interest rates change and the forces that shape their destiny. Once upon a time, in the land of economic stability, the ever-changing interest rates kept weaving tales of prosperity and struggle. Central banks, the guardians of monetary stability, navigated the twists and turns of economic indicators, seeking theContinue reading “A short (not too boring) story about interest rates”
Author Archives: Shan Nissiotis
Rising Above the Red
The rise of over-indebtedness is a growing concern not only locally but also for individuals across the globe. Legal action and bad credit records due to non-payment can have serious consequences on people’s financial well-being. In 2022, consumers in South Africa failed to honour a collective debt of R2.8 billion. Similarly, other countries have beenContinue reading “Rising Above the Red”
Don’t ditch your insurance
In the current economic climate, a growing number of individuals are experiencing financial strain due to the escalating cost of living and rising interest rates. As a result, many are looking for ways to reduce their expenses in order to maintain a balanced budget. Insurance premiums, often perceived as an expendable cost, are among theContinue reading “Don’t ditch your insurance”
Time to think about money – Part 1
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”
Empathy vs Codependency
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”
Common financial planning mistakes
Financial planning can be a daunting task, and it’s common for people to make mistakes as they navigate the complex world of personal finance. In this blog post, we’ll discuss some common financial planning mistakes that many individuals make, as identified by FinTwit contributor Jason Friedman. By learning about these pitfalls and how to avoidContinue reading “Common financial planning mistakes”
A miss is as good as a mile
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”
Retelling your money story
We all know that money plays a key role in our lives, but have you ever considered the money story you’ve inherited from your family? Our money story is a series of beliefs based on how money is spoken about, or not spoken about, within our homes. Just like our hair and eye colour, weContinue reading “Retelling your money story”
Create a life of your own design
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”
Use AI to learn more
The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) has brought both excitement and trepidation in equal measures. Many see it as a threat to job security, while others believe it has the potential to revolutionise the way we live and work. AI can help you upskill, become more valuable to your business, and create more valueContinue reading “Use AI to learn more”
Why character matters
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”
The Incredible Bulk
Saving money doesn’t have to send us on a price-smashing frenzy that leaves broken trolleys and disgruntled shoppers in our wake. In fact, panic buying is probably worse for our budget than doing a daily grocery run. With the right approach, buying in bulk can be a smart way to save money on everyday items.Continue reading “The Incredible Bulk”
Financing a life you love
When it comes to financial planning, many believe that the ultimate goal is accumulating as much money as possible. However, this approach may only sometimes lead to a fulfilling lifestyle. Instead, it’s important to consider what kind of life you want and then create a financial plan that allows you to achieve that lifestyle. AsContinue reading “Financing a life you love”
From master to servant: how to take control of your money
Money can be both a master and a servant in our lives, depending on how we choose to approach it. As P.T. Barnum once said, “Money is a terrible master but an excellent servant.” Let’s explore what this means and how we can ensure that money serves us rather than the other way around. MoneyContinue reading “From master to servant: how to take control of your money”
Inbox zero = energy zero
For years there have been copious books, blogs and articles written on healthy time and energy management, and in today’s digital environment, it’s even more essential for success. Experts suggest a shift in how we approach our daily routines, starting with our emails and social media notifications. While our email inbox or WhatsApp notifications mayContinue reading “Inbox zero = energy zero”
The three-legged stool
“Financial security and independence are like a three-legged stool resting on savings, insurance and investments.” – Brian Tracy. When it comes to financial planning, many people focus on investing as the key to financial security and independence. However, as Brian Tracy points out, financial security and freedom require a three-legged stool resting on savings, insurance,Continue reading “The three-legged stool”
Stay motivated and committed to change
Staying motivated to change can be a challenge! It’s too easy to fall into old patterns and habits. It can be difficult to remain committed to change because change can be a complex process that requires effort, discipline, and perseverance. Sometimes, people need more motivation to change, and with a clear and compelling reason, itContinue reading “Stay motivated and committed to change”
Thinking, feeling and acting
Thinking, feeling, and acting are interrelated processes that shape our behaviour, and they often become so habitual in our busy lives that we are no longer mindful of them. We lose control of being intentional about the direction our lives are taking – and this often shows up in our finances. Therefore, it is importantContinue reading “Thinking, feeling and acting”
Are you ready to reduce digital distractions?
Do you often reach the end of your day and feel like, regardless of how busy you’ve been, you still don’t feel productive? It’s all too easy to begin our day in our emails and allow all the interruptions of ‘urgent messages’ to run our entire day. These digital distractions can seriously affect our productivity.Continue reading “Are you ready to reduce digital distractions?”
Five tips for investing this year
People have a wide range of feelings and perspectives regarding investing. Some view investing as a way to grow wealth and secure a financial future, while others may view it as too risky or complex. Some of us are confident in our investment knowledge and feel comfortable making decisions independently, while others prefer to seekContinue reading “Five tips for investing this year”
Two ways to reduce anxiety
Our minds are extraordinary. The human brain has evolved to solve complex problems and successfully manage unexpected situations, and yet, coping is less about what is happening in the world and more about how our senses decipher the situation. Perception is everything; this is why coping mechanisms focus on managing, reframing, or avoiding how weContinue reading “Two ways to reduce anxiety”
Small things achieve big results
Vincent van Gogh is quoted as saying: “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” This quote highlights the idea that even the smallest actions or details can contribute to the creation of something significant. Focusing on and taking care of the small things can achieve big results over time. Essentially,Continue reading “Small things achieve big results”
Because I want to
It’s easy to feel like our lives are just a series of obligations – choices and decisions made because we have to, not necessarily because we want to. From paying bills and working 9-5 to attending continuous professional development seminars, family events and keeping up with the Joneses. When we view life through the lensContinue reading “Because I want to”
Deeper relationships, not deeper pockets
There are moments in life when we slow down and reflect on where we’ve been, where we are – and where we’re headed. Sometimes this is at the start of a new year, or perhaps it’s at a significant milestone in life when we feel like we’ve crested a hill and can take a restContinue reading “Deeper relationships, not deeper pockets”
Save on tax, and for life beyond work
In recent years there has been a considerable amount of economic uncertainty. Many people are unsure of their financial future, concerned that they won’t be able to retire because of financial setbacks related to the pandemic and other global events. Saving for retirement often aligns closely with benefiting from tax advantages, tax-free investing and taxContinue reading “Save on tax, and for life beyond work”
How are you choosing your financial products?
For years, people have said that insurance is sold and not bought. The stigma surrounding the industry and those representing it still hangs thick in our social memory, with old stories of brokers peddling policies purely to earn commission instead of seeking the best needs of their clients. However, in the last decade or so,Continue reading “How are you choosing your financial products?”
Dealing with stress
With a positive approach, physical and mental stress can both be helpful in moving from a fixed to a growth mindset. Research has found that people who adopt the mindset that “stress is enhancing” experience more exceptional performance and fewer negative health symptoms (Crum & Crum, 2018). It’s easy to try and avoid stress entirely,Continue reading “Dealing with stress”
Get more out of your productive time
“A deep life is a good life.” – Cal Newport, Author of “Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World.” Have you heard of deep work? A term coined by Cal Newport, deep work is a state of distraction-free concentration when your brain works at its maximum potential. As you read this, youContinue reading “Get more out of your productive time”
Reconnecting with your values
When life gets full and busy, it’s hard to remember why we do what we do, and it’s easy to become unhealthily disconnected from who and what we value. As Dr Susan David often says, finding your “why” can be as simple as reconnecting with your values and reframing your everyday activities in relation toContinue reading “Reconnecting with your values”
And what are the voices saying?
There are times in the year when we see and engage with more people than usual – through end-of-year functions, annual celebrations, birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, funerals and the like. It can be wonderful – but it can also be stressful. We are quickly reminded that these old friends, colleagues and distant family from far-off shoresContinue reading “And what are the voices saying?”
Our emotions tell OUR truth, not THE truth
Did you know that listening to classical music has been proven to lower blood pressure, make us more emotionally available, help us sleep better and relieve anxiety? Ironically, our emotions around money can achieve the exact opposite! Firstly, if money brings up a lot of emotions for you, you’re not alone. Financial expert Ramit SethiContinue reading “Our emotions tell OUR truth, not THE truth”
Political influence and the markets
Religion, politics and money are all connected – and probably always have been! This is because they’re all currency for influence, power and status. These three topics can become highly volatile when we’re in social settings as they’re super subjective. The markets, politics and religion all give us a sense of belonging, purpose and storiesContinue reading “Political influence and the markets”
Can the Enneagram help you with your money habits?
If you’re not familiar, the Enneagram is a personality typing tool that focuses on why we do what we do. It is a model of nine interconnected personality types – from the Ancient Greek word “ennea” for nine. A quick Google search will tell you what you need to know and guide you to freeContinue reading “Can the Enneagram help you with your money habits?”
Holiday-proof your financial plan
Holidays should be a time of restoration and relaxation. But for savvy investors, who are seldom able to switch off or turn down the volume on their analytical brain activity, it can be a time of stress and panic. Whether you’re entering your annual time of leave or it’s a sneaky mid-year break, if you’reContinue reading “Holiday-proof your financial plan”
Can you control it?
We permanently activate our fight-flight-freeze-appease response when constantly performing at our peak. This acute stress response activates our sympathetic nervous system and keeps us unhealthy or from experiencing deeper joy and fulfilment in life. Blogs and TED talks abound on how we’re living in an age where our stress level is way above a healthyContinue reading “Can you control it?”
When the conversation goes south…
Despite our best-laid plans and most honourable intentions, conversations about money can go south quickly! There’s never going to be a perfect time to talk about money dreads or financial dreams, but preparing our partner or family for the chat, and finding a space where we won’t be interrupted is always helpful. It’s also helpfulContinue reading “When the conversation goes south…”
Helping your parents with their financial independence
In the previous blog, we looked at how we can help our children with their retirement, or financial independence, as many in our profession are starting to frame it. But the reality is, as the sandwich generation, we can’t only be thinking about our own and our kids’ financial futures; we also need to beContinue reading “Helping your parents with their financial independence”
Helping your kids with their financial independence
We spend most of our time having conversations with people who are 40+ about saving for retirement. However, the language and expectations are slowly starting to shift in a powerful and exciting direction. Instead of only talking about retirement, we’re starting to use words like financial independence. And rather than focusing on traditional milestones, likeContinue reading “Helping your kids with their financial independence”
How to talk about money
“I love talking about money with my family!” said no one ever. Most of us will agree that there is more to life than money, but regardless, it’s very important for most of us — especially when we feel like we do not have enough. Money can become a consuming focus that leaves us feelingContinue reading “How to talk about money”
Are old investment truths still relevant?
In a recent podcast on the Allan Gray Podcast with Dan Brocklemank, head of Orbis UK, he reflected on how humans are NOT designed to be good investors. Our natural instincts very often pull us in the exact opposite direction to what we need to be doing in order to be good at investing. OurContinue reading “Are old investment truths still relevant?”
Life after work
We spend months or years preparing for many significant life events. The first for many of us was the build-up to going to ‘big school’. Our three-, four- and five-year-old selves grew increasingly excited, right up until the day school started and then there was an overwhelming flow of emotions that may have been moreContinue reading “Life after work”
Living to 100…
So many things have changed in the last four decades, and yet so much has stayed the same. Financial planning has become an entire profession and is no longer just a bunch of salespeople selling insurance. It’s evolved into a profoundly nuanced practice, and those of us who are continually advancing our professional development areContinue reading “Living to 100…”
Why do we become people pleasers?
We all have reasons for doing things. It might be because we’re sticklers for following rules, or perhaps we avoid difficult situations and emotions by constantly focusing on the positives. Maybe our motivations come from a restless spirit or a drive to keep control and order – but for some of us, we become peopleContinue reading “Why do we become people pleasers?”
The hidden costs of credit
As 22seven recently published on medium.com, “Always think twice before you buy something on credit or take out a loan.” Here’s the thing to remember with credit – it’s just a nicer way of saying that you’re spending money you don’t have. In other words, you’re using someone else’s money to fund your current lifestyle.Continue reading “The hidden costs of credit”
Pop that balloon… or let it go
A balloon payment (also called a residual value) is quite simply an amount of money that is still due after you’ve finished paying your monthly instalments. The goal of structuring a loan with a balloon payment is to make it more affordable on your current cash flow, making it very attractive. They are ideal forContinue reading “Pop that balloon… or let it go”
Visualisation and stress
Not all stress is bad. But, if left unmanaged and unchecked, stress can become quite unhealthy for us. We all know many causes of stress, but we don’t always slow down enough to think about the specifics that are causing stress in our own lives. Money, health, family, friends, work, safety and security – areContinue reading “Visualisation and stress”
Seeing the light.
There are many reasons for our increased stress levels – the use of technology and how it has changed our communication with each other and the world around us is complex and deeply integrated with our wellbeing. But where we used to follow seasons and the flow of the natural world around us, we haveContinue reading “Seeing the light.”
Inflation & Interest Rates
Typically, inflation and interest rates are in an “inverse” relationship: When rates are low, inflation tends to rise. And when rates are high, inflation tends to fall. Moneyweb recently wrote “increasing the cost of credit will reduce the demand for it and therefore slow down the pace of ‘new money’ entering the economy via creditContinue reading “Inflation & Interest Rates”
Recognise. Interrupt. Change.
“We cannot change what we are not aware of, and once we are aware, we cannot help but change.” – Sheryl Sandberg The foundation of most of our ongoing frustrations can be traced back to our habits, and the challenge with habits is we often aren’t even aware of them. When the world went intoContinue reading “Recognise. Interrupt. Change.”
Rewriting retirement rules of thumb
At the end of any retirement planning conversation, we should always end with how our plan is unique to our own situations. But at the beginning, during the exploratory stage, it’s helpful to have some basic guidelines for where we can begin, or how we can craft our own benchmarks. In the same way thatContinue reading “Rewriting retirement rules of thumb”
Shan Nissiotis 