If you are a regular reader of my articles, you’ll know that there are some simple rules I believe everyone should adhere to. These include: Pay yourself first each month Have a financial plan and review it regularly Save more money than you’re entirely comfortable with. But I do appreciate that how you manage your personal finances will come down to your own preferences and personality. However, I would like to think that as someone who advises people about their financial planning as a living, some of the lessons I have learned about how to manage your attitude to money could stand you in good stead. Especially as the majority of the 10 I have set out here may run... Read More

Have you noticed how difficult it is to escape the news cycle? From breaking alerts on your phone to commentary filling your social media feed, world events now follow you everywhere. In this age of constant connectivity, information isn’t just available but almost unavoidable. There was a time, not so long ago, when you might learn about market movements days after they occurred, reading about them in the morning newspaper at breakfast. Indeed, many successful investors built their wealth during an era when they might go an entire month without knowing how their investments were performing. This distance created a natural buffer against emotional decision-making. However, times have changed. The new investment environment The contrast between yesterday’s investment environment and... Read More

Reaching retirement is no doubt a big life milestone. It’s the time when you’ll stop working, and start enjoying a life of leisure when your time is your own and you won’t be ruled by the clock. You’ll be able to start going through your bucket list, with long holidays the order of the day, along with perhaps more time on the golf course or visiting galleries. The challenges of retirement It may sound counterintuitive for me to ask this, but what are you going to do with all that free time you’ll have? Or, to put it another way, how will you manage without being stuck in an office five days a week, homeworking notwithstanding? Clearly, money will be... Read More

Have you ever wished you could peek into the future before making an important financial decision? Many investors have fantasised about having a crystal ball that would reveal tomorrow’s headlines today, allowing them to sidestep market downturns and capitalise on opportunities before they arise. However, as a fascinating new study shows, even perfect foresight might not guarantee the financial success you imagine. The crystal ball fantasy In Back to the Future Part II, the villain, Biff Tannen, becomes wealthy by betting on sporting events using a sports results book from the future. In November 2023, researchers at Elm Wealth tested a similar concept. They provided 118 financially-trained participants with a set amount of money each and allowed them to invest... Read More

I’ve recently been struck by some conversations I’ve had with regards to financial planning, and what an adviser actually does. It’s clear that there is a substantial perception gap when it comes to what people think I do, compared to the reality of the professional financial adviser role. This also extends to the assumptions that new and prospective clients have about my role as an adviser when I am talking to them for the first time. Such assumptions can include: I simply recommend specific products for certain circumstances I just want to help you consolidate all your pensions into a single arrangement My role is to invest your money for you I will look to sell you life insurance and... Read More