Category Archives: Blog

Free to care

When we are frequently told that we need more and more money, more success, more status, it’s easy to feel like we’re always falling behind.

But what if we can expand that story to reveal that real wealth has less to do with how much we accumulate, and more to do with how we live?

Some of the most contented and fulfilled people we meet through our work aren’t necessarily the wealthiest. Instead, they tend to share certain qualities: they’re grateful for what they already have. They’re generous with others. They’re at peace with their choices, even if those choices don’t impress anyone else.

Someone once put it perfectly: “I finally stopped measuring my life by someone else’s yardstick… and that’s when I felt rich.”

It can feel counterintuitive at first, but there’s a quiet strength in choosing enough. Not settling, but acknowledging what really matters, and letting go of what doesn’t. This is where money becomes a tool, and not a defining characteristic.

Sometimes that means simplifying your lifestyle to free yourself from the stress of constant striving. Sometimes it means pausing before chasing the next promotion to ask, “What is this really for?” Sometimes it means shifting focus from building bigger accounts to building deeper connections with family, friends, or your community.

We can also see it in how people approach setbacks. Those who stay calm in the face of loss or change tend to be those who understand that their worth is not defined by their net worth. They’ve learned how to hold plans lightly and adapt, knowing that even through hard seasons, life can still be meaningful and good.

And then there’s the value of peacemaking, with yourself and with others. Many of us carry quiet regrets about past decisions, or tension over family dynamics when it comes to inheritance or money. Choosing to make peace, through honest conversations, updated plans, and a willingness to listen, is often more valuable than any investment return.

Financial planning isn’t just about growing a bank account. It’s about creating a life where you feel free to breathe, to care for others, to rest when you need to, to step lightly instead of always running.

You don’t have to have it all to live well.

Because financial planning isn’t just about money. It’s about what money makes possible.

How to spot tax‑season scams

Tax season is stressful enough without someone trying to steal your refund, or your identity. Yet every year, as millions of people file their returns, scammers ramp up their efforts to cash in on confusion, fear, and urgency.

From Australia’s AI‑powered phishing emails to fake SARS refund sites in South Africa and HMRC impersonators in the UK, tax‑season scams are on the rise globally. Even the US IRS reports hundreds of thousands of identity‑theft cases tied to tax returns each year.

So how do these scams work and how can we avoid becoming a victim?

Scammers exploit the fact that tax season can feel rushed and complicated. They’ll send fake emails, SMS messages, or even use deep‑fake phone calls pretending to be from your tax authority. These often claim you’re owed a refund or have made an error that needs immediate payment. Others pose as “tax preparers” offering help, but instead file false claims in your name and pocket the refund.

It’s not just the method, it’s also the psychology. Scams are designed to make you panic or tempt you with a “too good to miss” refund. If you don’t pause to verify, you can end up sharing sensitive information, paying fake penalties, or even claiming bogus credits that could land you in trouble later.

Here are some common warning signs that a tax communication may be fraudulent:

  1. It demands immediate payment or threatens legal action.
  2. It promises a bigger‑than‑expected refund or special credits you’ve never heard of.
  3. It arrives via email or text with suspicious links or attachments.
  4. It requests login details, full bank information, or payment in gift cards or wire transfers.
  5. The person contacting you can’t prove they’re a registered professional.

The good news? A few simple habits can help protect you and your return:

  • Always verify any message through your official tax authority’s website or helpline before responding.
  • File your return as early as possible as it reduces the window of opportunity for fraudsters to file in your name.
  • Use secure tax portals and enable multi‑factor authentication wherever you can.
  • Keep strong, unique passwords (a password manager can help) and avoid sharing sensitive details by email.
  • Work only with vetted, registered tax preparers. “Ghost preparers” often leave clients exposed to penalties and theft.

And most importantly, if something feels off, don’t click, don’t reply, call the tax office directly.

We also recommend sharing this message with friends and family who may be more vulnerable to scams. Especially older relatives or those filing for the first time.

Remember: your peace of mind is almost always worth more than any refund.

What’s holding you back?

A man once asked a gardener: “Why do your plants grow so well?”

The gardener smiled and said: “I don’t force them to grow. I simply remove what’s holding them back.”

It’s a gentle reminder that growth, in life, in relationships, and in our finances, doesn’t come from pushing harder and harder, as though sheer force of will is enough to make everything bloom.

In fact, when we fixate only on doing more, earning more, or achieving more, we can sometimes exhaust ourselves without seeing the results we long for. Growth often happens when we stop, step back, and notice what’s getting in the way; the clutter, the habits, the fears that choke the soil.

When we focus on clearing away those obstacles, rather than forcing the outcome, we create the right conditions for progress to happen more naturally and sustainably.

We tend to approach money as if it’s all about adding: earn more, save more, invest more, do more. Those things matter. But if you’re adding more without removing what’s holding you back — old habits, unnecessary expenses, unhelpful beliefs — you may not feel the progress you’re looking for.

We see this often in financial planning. A client wants to save for retirement but can’t figure out why nothing’s left at the end of the month. Another dreams of starting a business but feels paralysed by the fear of failure. Someone else keeps chasing bigger returns but is weighed down by debt and worry.

It’s not that they lack motivation. It’s that there are weeds in the garden; behaviours, expectations, clutter, taking up the space and the nutrients the good stuff needs to grow.

Here are a few examples of “weeds” worth pulling out:

   – Carrying debt without a plan to pay it off.

   – Trying to keep up with what others are doing or buying.

   – Believing you “aren’t good with money” and so avoiding decisions.

   – Ignoring hard conversations about the future because they feel uncomfortable.

What if, instead of adding more pressure or more goals, you simply started by removing one or two of these?

In gardening, and in life, growth is the plant’s natural tendency. The soil already knows what to do. Your job is to create the right conditions and clear the way.

When you remove what no longer serves you, you create space for what does.

If you’d like, we can help you figure out what’s holding your financial garden back, together — and how to clear it. After all, the goal isn’t just to grow for growth’s sake. The goal is to thrive in a way that feels right for you.

Let’s talk about what we can remove, so that what truly matters can flourish.

Fasten your seatbelt

When markets get choppy, it’s natural to feel nervous. Everyone with a heart (and subsequent blood pressure…) will have a tinge of fear when volatility hits. You might see headlines shouting about “billions wiped off the market” or watch your portfolio dip and wonder if you should pull back until things settle.

Again, you’re not alone. Most investors feel uneasy when the value of their investments swings — sometimes sharply — in a short time. But here’s the truth: volatility isn’t a flaw in the system. It’s a feature. And more than that, it’s the price of admission to the long-term growth you’re aiming for.

In simple terms, volatility is just a measure of how much investment prices move over a given period of time. The more prices move up and down, the more volatile an investment is said to be. Shares in a company, for example, can rise or fall dramatically in a single day based on news, earnings reports, or market sentiment.

Bonds, on the other hand, usually move more slowly and predictably, but they also tend to deliver lower returns over time. The reason is simple: the greater the potential reward, the more uncertainty (and therefore volatility) you have to accept along the way.

It’s tempting to wait for things to calm down before you invest, or move everything into cash until the dust settles.

But the problem with that approach is that markets don’t send an invitation when it’s time to get back in.

Some of the best days in the market often come immediately after some of the worst. If you’re sitting on the sidelines when that rebound happens, you miss it; and missing even a few of those strong days can significantly weaken your long-term returns. Avoiding volatility entirely typically means sticking with low-risk, low-return options, such as cash or fixed deposits. Those have their place, especially for short-term needs, but over the long haul, they often fail to keep up with inflation and leave you with less purchasing power.

One way to think about volatility is like turbulence on a flight. You don’t love it, but it’s part of the experience of getting where you want to go. The key is to simply fasten your seatbelt, trust the plan, and remember that you’re moving toward your destination. Your portfolio is designed with your goals and risk tolerance in mind, balancing growth potential with your comfort level. Volatility doesn’t mean the plan is broken; it means the market is doing what it has always done.

If you’re finding the current ride uncomfortable or have questions about how much risk is right for you, let’s talk. Together, we can make sure your plan still suits your goals, and help you stay the course through the ups and downs.

When control over money isn’t really about money

Have you ever thought: “I just feel better when I know every cent is accounted for,” or “If things are chaotic at home or at work, at least I can control my spending.”

At first glance, that sounds healthy, being on top of your finances is a good thing, right?

Yes… and no.

There’s a subtle line between being intentional with your money and using money to soothe deeper feelings of fear, stress, or loss of control.

In times of chaos — a tough season at work, a strained relationship, a move, an illness — it’s natural to crave order somewhere. For some, that means tightening their budget or tracking every purchase. For others, it means doing the opposite: shopping impulsively or spending more than usual to “feel better.” Retail therapy, as some would call it.

Both reactions can provide temporary comfort. They create the illusion that, if we just manage money hard enough, we can regain control over the rest of life. But that illusion rarely lasts.

We’ve seen people obsess over small expenses while ignoring the bigger emotional story beneath. We’ve also seen people spiral into what’s sometimes called “doom spending”, buying things they don’t need because it feels like a way to fight the anxiety.

If you recognise yourself here, you’re not alone. Many of us have used money as a coping mechanism at some point. But left unchecked, it can hurt more than it helps, creating debt, stress, and even shame.

So what can you do instead?

Start by noticing. When you feel the urge to control your money — or spend recklessly — pause and ask: What’s really going on? What am I feeling right now? Is it fear, sadness, frustration, loneliness?

Then, give yourself permission to address the real need. That might mean talking to someone you trust, taking a walk, journaling, or even just sitting with the feeling without trying to fix it through your wallet.

Finally, consider letting us in on the conversation. As planners, we’re not just here to help you invest or save; we’re here to help you understand the role money plays in your life. Together, we can create a plan that respects your feelings without letting them quietly run the show.

Your money should serve your life; not the other way around. If you’d like to talk about how to bring balance back to both, let’s have that chat.

Why patience is part of the plan

When you look at your investment portfolio, it’s tempting to focus on what’s “winning” right now. You might notice one fund doing well and another lagging behind, and think: “Why am I holding on to this underperformer?”

That’s a natural reaction, but it misses the point of diversification.

In a properly diversified portfolio, there will almost always be something that looks disappointing in the short term. That isn’t a flaw; it’s the design. And understanding that design can make it easier to stay the course, even when parts of your portfolio feel like they’re falling behind.

Here’s why patience is part of the plan.

Different assets, different seasons

By definition, diversification means owning different kinds of investments (stocks, bonds, property, cash, and maybe even alternatives) because they tend to behave differently at different times.

When stock markets are booming, bonds may look dull. When markets are rocky, bonds or cash may hold their ground while stocks struggle.

The point isn’t to always have everything performing at its best at the same time. The point is to ensure you never have everything performing at its worst at the same time.

Chasing performance often backfires

It’s easy to feel impatient and want to sell the “losers” in your portfolio. But what feels like a loser now may become the winner tomorrow, and by the time it does, it’s often too late to jump back in.

Studies have shown that investors who chase last year’s top performers often end up buying high and selling low, which erodes long-term returns.

Patience, on the other hand, allows you to capture the benefits of the entire cycle, not just the exciting moments.

Time does the heavy lifting

Over a single year or two, markets can feel random and unpredictable. Over decades, patterns emerge.

The more time you give your investments, the more chance you have to see the intended benefits of diversification play out. Time smooths out the bumps, turning what looked like short-term noise into long-term progress.

It’s normal to feel uneasy when parts of your portfolio seem to drag. That’s when having a plan, and a guide, becomes invaluable. We’re here to help you understand why you own what you own, how it fits into your goals, and how to measure progress without getting caught up in the daily swings.

If you’re feeling impatient, or wondering if your portfolio is still on track, let’s talk.

Sometimes, the most effective strategy isn’t doing more; it’s staying committed to the plan you already have.

When letting go creates more space for growth

When we talk about money, we often slip into the language of control: budgets, targets, forecasts, plans. It’s comforting to believe that if we just work hard enough at managing things, we can shape life exactly as we want it.

And to some extent, that’s true. Being intentional and disciplined with money does create opportunities and stability. But what if part of a healthy relationship with money, and life, also involves letting go?

This isn’t about giving up. It’s about recognising that some of the most meaningful things in life, love, health, opportunity, even good fortune, don’t always bend to our plans. Sometimes they arrive when we least expect them. Sometimes they never arrive at all, and something else comes in their place.

In our work as financial planners, we frequently observe this dynamic. A client meticulously saves for a dream home, but then their dream changes. Another builds a retirement plan only to discover they’re happiest working well into their seventies (and still playing golf and tennis!). Someone else pours energy into leaving a legacy, only to realise their children want to carve their own path.

There’s a powerful truth here: when we loosen our grip on how we think things should be, we create space for what could be.

That might mean accepting that the market won’t always cooperate. Or that an illness, job change or divorce has altered the path you thought you were on. It might mean grieving the loss of a goal, while also opening your eyes to something better; something you couldn’t have planned for.

E.M. Forster put it beautifully:

“We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.”

So, what does this look like in practice? It might mean letting go of perfection and simply getting started. It might mean asking for help rather than trying to do it all yourself. It might mean adjusting your plan, not as a sign of failure, but as a sign of growth and honesty about what really matters to you now.

Money and life are not separate. Both ask us to balance control and surrender, to hold our plans lightly, and to stay open to change.

Where in your financial life could you soften your grip and allow something new to emerge?

If you’d like to talk it through, we’re here to help you see the bigger picture… and craft a plan that makes space for both your intentions and the unexpected turns along the way.

Why diversification still works — even when it doesn’t feel like it

When markets are stormy, it’s easy to question whether diversification still works.

You might look at your portfolio and think, “Everything seems down; what was the point of spreading my money around?” Or during a market rally, you might wonder, “Wouldn’t I have been better off just putting everything in the top-performing stock or fund?”

These are reasonable questions, and they get to the heart of why diversification is both essential and, at times, uncomfortable.

Diversification isn’t about always being “up” or always beating the market. It’s about managing risk over time and smoothing the ride as much as possible.

At its core, diversification means not putting all your eggs in one basket. Instead of betting everything on one company, one country, or one type of asset, you spread your investments across a mix of assets that are likely to behave differently in different conditions.

Here’s why that matters…

– Different assets perform differently at different times. Stocks, bonds, property, and cash each respond to the economy in their own way. When stocks stumble, bonds often hold steady or rise. When one sector booms, another may lag.

– You can’t predict the winner. Even professionals can’t reliably pick which stock, fund, or market will outperform next year. Diversification accepts that uncertainty and plans for it.

– It limits how much a single mistake or event can hurt you. If one company or sector collapses, a diversified portfolio is less exposed and more resilient.

One reason diversification feels frustrating is because something in your portfolio is always underperforming. And that’s actually a sign it’s working. If everything in your portfolio is moving up or down in perfect unison, you’re probably not truly diversified.

Another reason is timing. Diversification plays out over time, seldom in any single year. Markets move in cycles, and the benefits of being diversified often show up only after a full cycle has played out.

One way to think about it is like a balanced diet. You could eat only chocolate for a week and feel fine, but over months and years, you’d pay the price. A diversified portfolio, like a healthy diet, gives you the best chance of long-term health, even if it’s not as exciting or satisfying in the moment.

If you’re unsure whether your portfolio is truly diversified, or if it’s still aligned to your goals, let’s have a conversation. Together we can help you understand what you own, how it works together, and how it protects you over the long term.

In investing, as in life, resilience comes from balance, not from betting it all on a single outcome.

Identity-based financial goals

Who are you? Who do you want to become?

Identity-based financial goals are more powerful than you think.

“The goal is not to read a book. The goal is to become a reader,” writes James Clear in his bestseller, Atomic Habits. When it comes to financial planning, we can learn much from this brief nugget of wisdom.

Many of us set financial goals based on outcomes.

“I want to save X amount.”

“I want to retire at 60.”

“I want to pay off my bond in 15 years.”

And there’s nothing wrong with that. Goals give us direction. But sometimes they don’t give us enough motivation, especially when the path gets difficult. Sometimes we need to dig a little deeper.

That’s where identity-based planning can help.

The power of identity

James Clear’s work on habit change offers a simple but powerful idea:

If you want lasting change, don’t just focus on what you want to achieve, focus on who you want to become.

The goal isn’t just to save.

It’s to become someone who saves.

The goal isn’t just to invest.

It’s to become an investor.

The goal isn’t just to be generous.

It’s to become a giver.

This shift changes everything. Because when your actions reinforce your identity, every small step becomes part of something bigger.

So how does this work in financial planning?

Let’s say your goal is to grow your wealth. That’s a good outcome, but it’s also abstract.

Now reframe it: “I want to become the kind of person who consistently invests in their future.”

See the difference? One is a destination; the other is a decision about who you are and how you show up.

You might:

  • Set up a monthly debit order to your investment account
  • Track your spending with curiosity instead of guilt
  • Start reading investment articles, not because you need to, but because it’s what investors do

Every one of those actions confirms your identity, and builds momentum.

Life will throw curveballs. Markets will dip. Goals will need adjusting. But when your actions are rooted in identity, you’re more likely to keep going. Because even when the numbers don’t move, you’re still becoming someone you’re proud of.

So here’s a reflection question for us all: Who are we becoming through our financial decisions?

If we start there, the rest, budgets, investments, retirement plans, can be built around that foundation.

Because good financial planning isn’t just about reaching a target. It’s about helping you become the kind of person who lives the life you’ve always wanted.

Behavioural Economics 101

Why don’t we always do what’s “best” with our money? Let’s be honest: most of us already know what we’re “supposed” to do with our money. But we don’t do it.

Spend less than we earn. Save consistently. Invest for the long term. Avoid unnecessary debt.

So why don’t we always do it?

Why do we promise to start budgeting next month, then swipe the card anyway? Why do we panic when markets dip, even when we know staying invested is usually the smarter move?

The answer lies in something economists and psychologists have been studying for years: we’re not rational decision-makers. We’re human.

And that’s where behavioural economics comes in.

Popularised by books like Nudge, by Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein, this field explores how our decisions are influenced, not just by logic, but by emotion, habit, environment, and even how choices are presented to us.

Here are a few key biases that show up time and again in financial planning:

  1. Loss aversion

We feel the pain of a loss much more intensely than the pleasure of a gain. It’s why we may hold onto a losing investment far too long, or avoid investing altogether, because the fear of “what if it goes wrong?” outweighs the potential benefit of “what if it goes right?”

  1. Present bias

We’re wired to value today over tomorrow. That makes it hard to prioritise saving for retirement, even when we know we should. A pair of sneakers today feels more real than a comfortable future 30 years from now.

  1. Choice overload

When we’re faced with too many options, investment funds, insurance products, savings accounts, we tend to freeze. We delay, or we default to what feels easiest, even if it’s not the most suitable choice.

  1. Anchoring

We latch onto the first number we see. If someone tells you how much your neighbour just bought their house for, that number becomes a benchmark, whether or not it suits your needs or financial reality.

  1. Confirmation bias

We search for information that supports what we already believe. If you think the market is about to crash, you’ll find headlines to support that belief, and ignore the ones that don’t.

Understanding these patterns doesn’t make us weak, it makes us human. And when you work with a financial planner who gets that, something powerful happens: instead of being judged or “corrected,” you’re supported.

The best planning doesn’t just help you choose the right funds, it helps you create a system that makes those good choices easier, and those unhelpful habits harder.

That’s what nudging is all about: creating a structure that honours your goals, while gently steering you away from self-sabotage.

Because the truth is, smart financial decisions are often less about intelligence, and more about designing for behaviour.

Let’s build a plan that works with the way you think, not against it.