In our modern world, it’s too easy to overcomplicate most things in your life. Such complexity has a way of taking on a life of its own, and it doesn’t take long before you are seemingly unable to remember your original intentions. This usually leads to confusion and poor decision-making that moves you no closer to where you want to be. It’s no coincidence that Simon Sinek’s TED Talk, which outlined the importance of asking “why”, has become the cult classic it has. Yet walk into any office in the country, and it’s likely the person you find is working furiously has no idea why they’re doing what they’re doing. Sector jargon can affect your planning Every sector has its... Read More

It’s natural to have regrets. In my experience, these tend to relate to opportunities missed, or not taking advantage of a certain situation, rather than failing in an attempt to do something. In other words, you are far more likely to express regret at being too cautious at certain times, rather than being too adventurous. This can relate to all aspects of your life, from the job you do to how you spend your leisure time. As you would expect, it can also have an effect on planning your financial future. Being too timid is likely to cost you more than courage In most cases, it’s likely that the failure to take a particular action through being too defensive has... Read More

There are a few ways in which, as an investor, you may be tempted to distract yourself from your long-term plans. The most common is to fall prey to the cycles of fear we are susceptible to when a major world crisis or market downturn arrives. In these moments, the fear of uncertainty can lead you to become short-term focused, often abandoning the discipline and patience that long-term success requires. The other way you may distract yourself is by buying into the cycles of hype that appear when specific trends, sectors, or technologies become popular. The companies best positioned to benefit from the publicity become the focus of investment speculators, providing the financial media an easy way to fill pages.... Read More

The proximity of Christmas and the start of the new year in the calendar creates the opportunity for a lengthy break from work. With judicious use of just a few days out of your annual entitlement it’s possible to enjoy almost a complete fortnight off. Indeed, in my experience, many businesses will close over this period, with, at most, just a skeleton staff on the end of the phone in case of emergency. If you’re in the position of being able to enjoy a good break, I think it’s important not to be tempted to work but instead, to take it. Winter is the most common time to read articles on the benefits of recharging your batteries by taking time... Read More

Investment markets are currently being very kind to investors. Despite continued geopolitical uncertainty in Ukraine and the Middle East, markets worldwide have continued to give you above-average returns in a bull market that has lasted since the pandemic. More significantly, since March 2020, there have been no periods of significant decline. While this has been a very welcome respite from the normal market rhythm, there’s a danger that you will forget the important lessons learned from past falls, because triggers for market volatility still exist. To prepare you for the potential of decline during the coming year, here are some points you should keep in mind when others are losing theirs. Market corrections happen frequently A market correction is defined... Read More