They say that getting old happens slowly, and then all at once. Most of the change around us occurs so gradually that we barely notice it; ageing, losing or gaining our fitness, losing or gaining weight, intimacy in relationships, and debt and investing. These are some of the areas of incrementally-unnoticeable change with which we’reContinue reading “Just one more”
Author Archives: Shan Nissiotis
Re-train your brain for healthier relationships
At the heart of everything, we find relationships. Most of these are unintentional relationships that happen situationally, but some are relationships that stem from our choices. From the moment we enter the world, we will have a relationship with everyone and everything: from the space around us to the people who are present and howContinue reading “Re-train your brain for healthier relationships”
Feelings – thoughts – actions
‘Your mind will take the shape of what you frequently hold in thought,’ Marcus Aurelius. How we engage with our money reflects what’s going on inside our heads, which is an extension of what’s going on inside our hearts. They’re all connected. Our feelings affect our thoughts, which in turn direct our actions – butContinue reading “Feelings – thoughts – actions”
Don’t let tax get you down
We all know that the only two certainties in life are death and taxes. Even after we’ve gone, taxes are still levied against our estate. The more money we make, the more money the taxman looks to take. Tax can be a serious stumbling block in our financial mindset, especially when we think about allContinue reading “Don’t let tax get you down”
The importance of being intentional
If we don’t stand for something, we will fall for anything. Essentially, our actions will either result from what we choose, or what is chosen for us. Our days are packed full of communication and actions. From the moment we engage with our mobile device or open our emails, messages begin to stream in andContinue reading “The importance of being intentional”
Four ways to measure your fortune
We often don’t worry about something until we realise that it’s limited. If we have lots of something, it’s a fortune. If we don’t, it can become a focus of concern and anxiety. Young children generally don’t worry about much if their needs are met. With access to their parents’ love, attention and confidence, childrenContinue reading “Four ways to measure your fortune”
The best time to live
“Remember the past, plan for the future, but live for today, because yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come.” The best time to live is in the present. It’s easy to get lost in a daydream of how life could have been different or how good life used to be. It’s equally easy toContinue reading “The best time to live”
Catastrophising and how to manage it
Have you ever gone down a rabbit hole on social media? You know, that moment when you see something triggering and you click on it, and then scroll down through the comments, becoming wholly engrossed in a conversation that turns out to be a waste of time and emotional energy. While we’re in that moment,Continue reading “Catastrophising and how to manage it”
Ask yourself these questions BEFORE switching funds
As financial planning conversations deepen and explore more value, we find ourselves moving from the empirical to the emotional, from processes to perceptions and from products to people. It’s an enlightening journey that takes us away from numbers and allows us to reflect and reconstruct our future planning approach. But, it’s also extremely challenging asContinue reading “Ask yourself these questions BEFORE switching funds”
How much do you need?
One of the hardest questions to answer when it comes to financial planning is: How much do I need? There are two ways we can look at this. Either, I believe that my external circumstances will eventually reach a point where I have earned enough, and I’ll finally feel that I have enough. Or, IContinue reading “How much do you need?”
Making goals easier to achieve
“If I had a penny for every time I put something off until tomorrow, and never got to it… I’d put them all in a sock and hit myself with it.” Unknown In our digital age, it has become increasingly easy to create lists of things to do and remember. We can just call outContinue reading “Making goals easier to achieve”
Sustainable sanity
When we stand together, we can succeed together. We can support and encourage one another. But this only happens in our smaller, more intimate groups. The fourth industrial revolution has slowly edged us into a communication environment that is overwhelmed with information. We are learning that whilst we can stand together in powerful support, weContinue reading “Sustainable sanity”
How much time is your money worth?
As we build businesses and seek to create various income opportunities, we are always confronted with the challenge of pricing. It’s a challenge because all of our situations are different. Those with qualifications and experience often charge more for their time. But it’s not a sure way to work out billing and costs; sometimes peopleContinue reading “How much time is your money worth?”
Learning leverages healthy decisions (3/3)
Readiness is key to learning something new. If we’re not ready to learn something… it will probably go straight in one ear and out the other. That was a favourite phrase of parents and teachers alike – if we weren’t paying attention, they’d lay that line thicker than peanut butter on a slice of whiteContinue reading “Learning leverages healthy decisions (3/3)”
Setting benchmarks
Whilst intentional reflection may happen at the end or beginning of a year or personal growth journey, unintentional reflection happens all the time. And, we barely notice it, most of the time. But, several times a week, if not several times a day, we measure ourselves against something or someone; we’re either measuring ourselves againstContinue reading “Setting benchmarks”
Building your business online
For many years the culture of all communication has been changing. Initially, many of us thought that the social media and digital branding space was merely a digital version of what we were doing in the real world. But it’s not. It’s more complex and nuanced than we realise. How we communicate with our familyContinue reading “Building your business online”
Don’t derail your finances
“As you slide down the bannister of life, may the splinters never point the wrong way.” Irish Blessing When everything is going right, we often feel that something is about to go horribly wrong. Sometimes, it’s helpful to smile at our human traits and do all we can to avoid derailing our plans! It’s soContinue reading “Don’t derail your finances”
Tired of being anxious about money?
Of all conversations about money, there’s a common emotion that comes up. It’s one that everyone feels alone in, that they’re the only ones to feel this, but time and time again, it appears in daily financial conversations, reminding us that we’re actually not alone. This feeling? Anxiety. One of the reasons for this isContinue reading “Tired of being anxious about money?”
Avoid being overwhelmed by change
One of the biggest challenges with change is that it can be overwhelming. There are many reasons why we might be averse to constant change, but when it is just simply too much all at once, we will find ourselves overwhelmed and in this space, our ability to make healthy decisions is seriously hampered. TheContinue reading “Avoid being overwhelmed by change”
How do you measure financial success?
In a recent article from Morningstar, they raised two excellent points about measuring financial success. Like so many of us, Morningstar believes that great investing advice means understanding our hopes, dreams, and ideals to determine what really matters. It doesn’t just focus on the finish line — it focuses on the journey. Great advice canContinue reading “How do you measure financial success?”
Learning leverages healthy decisions (2/3)
“I am always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught.” Winston Churchill So often, after about 12-14 years in conventional schooling systems, all we want to do is “get out”! There are exceptional educators out there who take time and energy to nurture not only the minds of their learners butContinue reading “Learning leverages healthy decisions (2/3)”
It’s time to turn up the kindness, to yourself
In a recent blog from Marelisa Fabrega, lawyer and entrepreneur, she spoke of 17 ways to be kinder to yourself! It seems like a lot, but when we think about all the ways and times that we put ourselves down, it’s not that much. There’s a reason why this message of needing to be kinderContinue reading “It’s time to turn up the kindness, to yourself”
What’s an annuity?
Have you ever heard someone say that you need to make your money work for you? It seems like an impossible achievement for many of us because we immediately think we need a stack of dollar bills to leverage this strategy. And, that’s not entirely incorrect. We do need a large sum invested, but weContinue reading “What’s an annuity?”
The best place to invest
Somehow, despite all the messages to be kinder to ourselves, we have this predisposition to put ourselves down. Along the line, the early messages of “You can do better” become “You’re not good enough.” We live in an age where the focus is on self. As we scroll through social media, we see countless selfies,Continue reading “The best place to invest”
Can you change how you feel about money?
Here’s the quick answer: yes! That’s the easy part. The challenge lies in the next question: How do I change how I feel about money? There are plenty of books, blogs, podcasts and short courses on how to change how to manage your money better and change how you budget, spend, save and invest. ButContinue reading “Can you change how you feel about money?”
Levels of financial dependence
At the very surface level of constructing a financial plan, the journey can feel linear. We begin with what we have and plan to move towards an end goal of ‘having enough’ and being financially independent. But this is not where financial planning ends; it’s just the toe-dipping beginning as we gain courage and confidenceContinue reading “Levels of financial dependence”
Learning leverages healthy decisions (1/3)
A curriculum doesn’t drive learning; curiosity drives learning. When we consider the learning pattern of those who are outside of schooling systems, it’s curiosity that drives their learning, not the prescribed milestones of an education system. From Google to TED, from books to stories passed down from our elders, learning is more about readiness thanContinue reading “Learning leverages healthy decisions (1/3)”
Charge what you’re worth
“How much should I be charging my clients?” This is a common question as we work with an increasing number of people setting up their own businesses. In the wake of a radical economic downturn, our creativity and necessity to generate an income spark new business ideas. The entrepreneurial spirit begins to take centre stageContinue reading “Charge what you’re worth”
What happens to our passwords when we pass?
Estate planning, wills and final testaments are not easy processes to navigate. Setting up life cover and considering what will happen to your family when you pass away can be deeply emotional and an experience many would rather avoid. But as technology helps us create farewell videos, family portfolio galleries and digital vaults, it hasContinue reading “What happens to our passwords when we pass?”
Six areas of financial planning
Have you ever gone down the #Fintwit rabbit hole? According to fintwit.ai, #Fintwit is a vibrant community of investors on Twitter, who tweet trading ideas, active trades, personal portfolios and well thought out insights about financial securities. Millions of investors around the world are increasingly using Twitter to stay abreast of the financial market andContinue reading “Six areas of financial planning”
Ready to be more resilient?
We can’t change what happens to us, but we can change how we respond to what happens to us, and within us. Everything ages, but not everything ages well. Some things can wither from the inside out if they do not have a well-developed resilience. Resilience is the ability to bounce back and withstand stressors.Continue reading “Ready to be more resilient?”
The higher the fee, the better the value?
How do you decide on the better of two products you are not really familiar with or can’t visually tell the difference? For example – I had to buy a new cellphone charger the other day, and there were two options – one was two-thirds the price of the other, but both were reasonably pricedContinue reading “The higher the fee, the better the value?”
Making mindfulness easier
Anything in life that is truly worth doing – is not easy. It is easy to forget this when we see others doing really well and making the difficult seem like a cinch. We don’t see all the hard work that goes into the background. But in our own areas of expertise, we have hadContinue reading “Making mindfulness easier”
Déjà vu?
When we experience our first crisis, we think our world is about to end. It could have been our first unrequited love when we were 12, a rejection letter from an application when we were barely out of our teens, bad news from the doctor or an accident that leaves us dealing with a deepContinue reading “Déjà vu?”
Have you been offered early retirement? (Part 2)
Following on from the previous blog on considering early retirement, the focus of this conversation sparker is to look at five key things that should be on our to-do list before we make any decisions about our retirement (or any big life decision!). In his article for Glacier, Dinash Pillay, National Business Development Manager atContinue reading “Have you been offered early retirement? (Part 2)”
A round tuit – and a bit about dread disease cover
There’s a rare object known as a tuit. It’s a special gift to keep for yourself, but also has great value for your friends and family. Tuits, especially round ones, will generally have a note or inscription along the following lines: This is a Round Tuit. Guard it with your life! Tuits are hard toContinue reading “A round tuit – and a bit about dread disease cover”
Have you been offered early retirement? (Part 1)
For many years we’ve been having better conversations about retirement. It’s no longer a matter of finding a job, staying in it for 40 years, and then retiring for fifteen years under the assumption that the company pension scheme will finance that entire period for us. It simply doesn’t work that way anymore. Finding aContinue reading “Have you been offered early retirement? (Part 1)”
Designing Your “No Rules Retirement”
Our concept of retirement is undergoing a metamorphosis. Demographic, societal, and workplace trends have all converged to offer a stage of life—at mid-life and beyond—that is much more fluid and flexible than we previously thought possible. When planning for retirement, we are discovering that the “old rules” have been thrown out and that “no rules”Continue reading “Designing Your “No Rules Retirement””
Fortify financial peace of mind
There are few things worse than lying in bed at night, tossing and turning over financial stress. Lack of sleep only adds to our stress and hinders our overall mental, physical and emotional health! Our money choices are linked to our life choices, and our life choices are linked to our money choices. This meansContinue reading “Fortify financial peace of mind”
A powerful mental trick to master the markets
If someone is selling something, their primary goal is most often to convince you to buy what they’re selling. If you follow financial accounts on social media, your timeline is likely crowded with people touting the next big winning investment. As we look back on market history, there is an obvious attraction to finding theContinue reading “A powerful mental trick to master the markets”
How to nurture financially savvy kids
In 1988, financial planner and best-selling author Venita Van Caspel wrote in her bestselling book Financial Dynamics for the 1990s: “Our educational system continues to send forth our young with so little information about financial matters that they are like time bombs about to destroy their own and their families’ economic futures. We equip themContinue reading “How to nurture financially savvy kids”
How does the stock market work?
The fastest way to lose half of your money is not a stock market crash but a divorce, separation or a poor business decision (so it’s a good idea to make sure you’re on the same page with your partner when it comes to joint finances.) Many have felt disheartened by the stock market inContinue reading “How does the stock market work?”
When the opposite is true
There is a thin veneer over everything. When we are distracted by news streams, overwhelmed by direct messaging and tired from keeping up with the Joneses, it’s easy to create a veneer that allows us to store and process more information without having to delve deeper into what’s actually going on beneath the surface. It’sContinue reading “When the opposite is true”
Is anchoring holding you back?
One of the challenges of financial planning is its complexity. Not only is it mathematically layered, but it’s also fraught with bias and emotional influence. For most of us, we only scratch the surface of about seven areas of financial planning and allow experts to make recommendations and decisions that will hopefully create a betterContinue reading “Is anchoring holding you back?”
The miracle of Meraki
In every culture and creed, there are traditions and philosophies about how to experience the best that life has in store for us, whilst overcoming trials and tragedies. From mindfulness to healthy eating, from exercise to stress management – we are often reminded that what we put in is what we get out. Somewhere, inContinue reading “The miracle of Meraki”
Sandwich generation
The sandwich generation refers to working-age individuals who are in the precarious position of looking after their growing children and caring for elderly parents. They are effectively “sandwiched” between the responsibilities of caring for their children, who require financial, physical, and emotional support, and caring for their ageing parents, who may be unwell, incapable ofContinue reading “Sandwich generation”
The nourishment of nature
A breath of fresh air, the sun on our faces, bare feet in the sand. Spending time outside can provide many small pleasures, which all leave us feeling revitalised. Whether it’s sipping ice-cold lemonade in our backyard or hiking up a mountain, spending time in nature has numerous benefits beyond the obvious. There have beenContinue reading “The nourishment of nature”
Crypto can be taxing
One of the early appeals for cryptocurrencies was that they would not be taxed as they are not fiat currencies (yet), in that they are not owned by a country or used for trade inside of geographical tender regulations. However, as these platforms grow and develop, we are seeing that this is most likely notContinue reading “Crypto can be taxing”
Dualistic Thinking
Dualistic thinking assumes a universe where there are only two opposing, mutually incompatible options or realities. This type of thinking is either/or, good/bad, negative/positive, and has a significant impact on our beliefs and behaviours. Our development is stymied by dualistic thinking. The sooner we can break free from this either/or mindset, the sooner we canContinue reading “Dualistic Thinking”
Things don’t get easier – we become more resilient
Life is uncharted. Maps can only be made from where we’ve been – not where we have yet to go. The only certainty is uncertainty, and we can experience potentially life-altering choices on a daily basis. Each nebulous choice we make brings with it a unique flood of thoughts and emotions. Yet, we generally adaptContinue reading “Things don’t get easier – we become more resilient”
Shan Nissiotis 