My mother retired too early, the first time around. She also didn’t have a clear plan for her retirement. I remember sitting in a meeting a few years ago and getting 3 missed calls in a row from her on my mobile. I thought something was terribly wrong so I rung her back in a panic, thinking something was wrong. To my horror, all she wanted was to confirm if my brother and I were joining […]
Continue readingMore TagA whole new world
My mother turned 65 last month and jogs, does yoga and seems to be enjoying life now more than ever before. One of her cousins is in her late 70’s and is equally busy and looks great. She’s also still lucky enough to have her mother around who is a healthy, sparkly 90-something year old! Nothing about these women says they are slowing down anytime soon and it’s a marvel to watch. I can only hope […]
Continue readingMore Tag3 financial lessons learned from my toddlers
The holidays were brutal. I spent a solid 6 weeks with 2 very energetic toddlers and got very little rest. It was a little painful. In any event, spending all that time with them reminded me of a few things that children do that can be applied to your finances, and life in general. Be selfish My children are born 2 years apart and fight constantly. Their biggest issue is having to share things – toys, […]
Continue readingMore TagYour financial journey
There are many people who profess to have the remedy for poverty, low cash flow etc. You see them all the time on social media platforms claiming to have the key to your financial future. They flash their fancy cars and expensive homes and want you to join them on this crusade. Having been in this industry for over a decade, what I can tell you for sure is this: There is no quick-fix, no matter […]
Continue readingMore TagNew beginnings
You made it to the new year. Congratulations! We’d like to get you started in the new year with a new financial goal, inspired by one of the greatest investors of our time, Warren Buffet. “The most important investment you can make is in yourself.” ― Warren Buffett This not only relates to your financial wellbeing but all aspects of your life. While you’re busy making new year’s resolutions, please think about the most important factor […]
Continue readingMore TagHappy Holidays
Should you have to time read during the upcoming holidays, here’s a reading list that’s highly recommended. This comes from Sam Parr of the Hustle. He recommended this list in 2015 and according to him, you’ll know more than 99% of MBA graduates once you’ve gone through these books. I’ve read Mastery and 48 Laws of Power so far. Both great reads. “Titan: The life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr.” by Ron Chernow – A […]
Continue readingMore Tag‘Tis the season…
The tinsel is strewn and the Christmas lights are up EVERYWHERE. The holidays are fast approaching and expectations are running quite high with children and what gifts they’ll be getting. There is nothing better than giving presents to children. The excitement and shear joy they experience with gifts is quite special. But, if your household is anything like mine, they already have more than enough. If you are brave, and are willing to face the tears […]
Continue readingMore TagThe momentum of social activism
If you’ve been reading the news or follow trending topics on social media, you would have picked up the furore after it was reported that a certain insurance company refused to pay out a client’s life cover. The story can be summarized as follows: Client had a pre-existing condition which he was aware of at the inception of his insurance policy (according to medical records) but never disclosed it to the insurance company This came to […]
Continue readingMore TagTo do list before I die
I wrote my very first bucket list in 2001 and it was titled ‘to do list before I die’. I’ve added to it and removed a few items from it over the years but I’ve kept the original list in the original cheesy diary it was written in all these years! Every now and again, I open it up and see how far I’ve come and how much work I still need to put in. […]
Continue readingMore TagBegin with the end in mind
I spent the past weekend in Elgin in the Western Cape. It was the 17th annual Elgin Open Gardens event where many country gardens were opened to the public for viewing. This gives avid gardeners and enthusiasts an opportunity to enjoy the expansive and colourful country gardens and a chance to buy plants/flowers on offer. It was a slow paced, inspiring treat which got me thinking – this would really be an ideal way to spend […]
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