Jason Zweig has been a Personal Finance columnist for the Wall Street Journal for the last decade. To be honest, I'm a big fan. Way back in 2013 he wrote an article in the WSJ with the headline above and, while I only recently came upon it, what he wrote is as relevant today as it … Continue reading Saving investors from themselves
We all have to start this somewhere. But let’s start!
I saw this quote on a site which promotes healthy eating and it reminded me of a conversation I had with a client earlier this week about her financial planning. She was a little embarrassed about "how little she has" and intimidated about working with me to get the best financial future we can. When … Continue reading We all have to start this somewhere. But let’s start!
Ignore the “Experts” and make peace with uncertainty
How often are we taken in by the "Experts", "Gurus" and similar "Talking Heads" who are wont to be seen as seers and prognosticators? They appear on our televisions and in the newspapers that we read and are are a dime a dozen on the popular financial internet sites and will tell us that "the … Continue reading Ignore the “Experts” and make peace with uncertainty
Average returns are not normal
Investors frequently want to know what return they can expect from an investment. This is a normal question and the answer is crucial in managing their expectations. An investor who is placed in a product that fails to meet their expectations is sure to be unhappy and likely to want to switch out of it … Continue reading Average returns are not normal
Taking stock with Investec: Going nowhere slowly but don’t bet against the pros
I attended the most recent Taking Stock presentation by Investec Asset Management on Friday morning. The main speakers were Malcolm Charles, Head of Fixed Income and Clyde Rossouw, Co-Head of Quality. Malcolm's portfolio manager duties includes the Diversified Income Fund. Clyde's portfolio manager duties include the Investec Opportunity, Cautious Managed and Global Franchise Funds. Jeremy Gardiner … Continue reading Taking stock with Investec: Going nowhere slowly but don’t bet against the pros
Prescribed assets: I’m watching this space
"Prescribed assets" That's a phrase which should send chills down the spine of all South Africans who contribute to a regulated retirement fund, retirement annuity and the like. Many of our older clients may remember the dark days of the 1970s when the Apartheid Government of the day prescribed that a certain percentage of all … Continue reading Prescribed assets: I’m watching this space
Are you ready to get financially naked?
As a Certified Financial Planner® and member of the Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa I subscribe to the international Financial Planning Standards Board's 6-step process to financial planning. The second step in this process is to "collect the client's information". We are expected to: identify the client’s personal and financial objectives, needs and priorities that … Continue reading Are you ready to get financially naked?
