Finance Articles

Black Swans and why I want to reintroduce you to NFS

Black Swans and why I want to reintroduce you to NFS

I want to tell you how, whilst not one of us could imagine that a pandemic would strike, there are ways to explain it theoretically and that can act as a compass for professionals and their clients as we try to navigate the choppy waters together. In economics, a large-scale, unexpected, and disruptive event is often referred to as a Black Swan event.

Vaccine passports – making the world a safe(r) place for everyone

Vaccine passports – making the world a safe(r) place for everyone

Unless you have been living under a rock on the disk world the flat earth hangers-on believe in, you would have heard quite a bit about the COVID-19 virus and what scientists tell us we can do to keep ourselves safe(r) from it. I am not going to rehash it here (but please wash your hands, wear a mask, distance yourself and get vaccinated).

When your relationship doesn’t fit the mould – a look at the practical implications

When your relationship doesn’t fit the mould – a look at the practical implications

Wars have been fought over religion, culture, and custom – in the public arena and on the personal front – for as long as people have adhered to these. Yet love, social interaction and compassion has quite often crossed those divides. In life, as in death, it has caused strife amongst families and communities.

Financial Planning truths – and what cute puppies can teach us

Financial Planning truths – and what cute puppies can teach us

We are all suffering from various degrees of shell shock now that the ‘New Reality’ has sunk in a bit. We’ve come to realise that nothing about it is, or will be, ‘normal’ again. You will be forgiven for feeling alone in this. It is easy to shut down and scroll Facebook endlessly, alternating between doom scrolling and searching for pictures of cute puppies.

When the child becomes the parent, and the parent becomes the child

When the child becomes the parent, and the parent becomes the child

As an adult child of frailer folk, you will no doubt have felt your stress levels going through the roof. But you are still here. Many of us have lost family members and the grief may still be raw and ongoing.

I can imagine that you are thinking – pleading – give me just a little more time… I am not ready. Whereas I cannot help you deal with the past, I can offer you some thoughts on things you can do NOW, moving forward.

The new proposed mandatory retirement fund – storm in a teacup or a powerful example?

The new proposed mandatory retirement fund – storm in a teacup or a powerful example?

On the 18th of August 2021, the Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu, published The Green Paper On Comprehensive Social Security And Retirement Reform (2021). It sets out the Government’s proposal for a mandatory, comprehensive retirement and social security system. 13 days later, on the 31st of August 2021, the Minister withdrew the controversial document without saying why.

MARKETING REVISITED: Do you need to change direction?

MARKETING REVISITED: Do you need to change direction?

you down a rabbit hole that you never intended to go down. If you clicked on it by accident the Big Brother Algorithms that are hovering around you, will pick it up and you may be shown advertisements about bagpipe sheet music till the end of days! Consider some marketing strategies that won’t have you bailing out water from a sinking budget.

Bond originators – the 007s of the property market

Bond originators – the 007s of the property market

If you would like to buy a property or two, please raise your hand. If you love wading through red tape and bureaucracy, please raise your hand. If you enjoy spending ages on hold and doing endless administration and filling out forms, raise your hand. If uncertainty and putting your life on hold gives you a thrill, raise your hand. If you only did so right in the beginning and the other statements leave you feeling dizzy, this article is for you.