The Financial Coach

MANAGING PEOPLE AND THEIR EMOTIONS AROUND MONEY

I will persist until I succeed!

I remember reading this quote when I started in the financial services industry about 22 years ago and came across it again recently…it’s a timely reminder as we try to make the industry better for our clients. I was not delivered into this world into defeat, nor does failure course in my veins. I am …

A gilded cage is not the answer, Liberty and Discovery

I remember, just after 9/11, listening to Clem Sunter speak about the choices that America had in response to the events that had just unfolded. Essentially, they had two choices, and the choice they made would define their future.

Your greatest financial risk is not financial; it is physics!

Over the years as we have chatted to clients about financial planning we have settled down to the “big 5” risks that everyone faces and the resulting financial (and emotional) risks that they present to the person and their family. Simply put, these are (in no order of importance): Dying too soon Living too long …

The value of advice?

Much has been written about the value of financial advice. There are many people who believe that financial planners offer little value for the fees charged while there are others who believe that the value financial planners add is very significant. Research by Morningstar has revealed that the value of advice (they call it “gamma”) …

Deceivery Life

I just received an invitation to the Discovery Life financial planning summit…on opening the invitation I noticed a few things: The invite is for a financial planning summit The agenda is dominated by sales techniques – sure there are some other topics thrown into the mix but it appears that the main motive is to …

Fools and their money…

“A fool and his money are soon parted!” There is no need for anyone to be foolish with their money, especially not today. With all the legislation we have in place around financial advice and with the wealth of information available to help you make sound financial decisions there are no more excuses for being …

Personal Finance?

The article in Personal Finance this weekend re the high costs of investments (http://www.iol.co.za/business/personal-finance/financial-planning/investments/costs-are-wiping-out-real-returns-1.1036412) really got up my nose. And not for the reasons you might think. The article did not frustrate me because it “exposed” the truth about investment costs but rather because it is too easy to be negative about these things and …