We often talk about the emotional side of money, but sometimes the barrier to peace of mind is purely logistical. Over a lifetime of working, moving, and saving, it is normal to accumulate a “financial junk drawer”. You might have a pension from a job you left ten years ago, a savings account opened on a whim, an investment app you stopped checking, and perhaps an old policy collecting dust in a filing cabinet. Maybe you’ve […]
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Transformation takes more than information
(This is the last blog of three about biases and how they impact our financial planning, all published this month.) If you’ve ever walked away from a brilliant webinar or insightful podcast thinking, “Yes! I’m going to make a change,” and then done… nothing, welcome to the club! Change is hard. Not because we’re lazy, but because our brains are wired for survival, not clarity. In this final blog of our series on cognitive bias, we […]
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Being “rational” isn’t always the goal
If financial planning were just about logic, calculators would replace conversations. But as we all know, that’s not how life works. Your relationship with money isn’t built solely on maths; it’s built on meaning. And meaning is shaped by how we see the world, how we were raised, the communities we belong to, and what we believe makes us “good” or “successful” or “safe.” So let’s pack those calculators away for just a second. This second […]
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Blind spots we live with
FACT: It’s hard to see what we can’t see… One of the hardest truths to accept — in finance, relationships, and life — is that our thinking isn’t always as clear as we believe it is. We all have blind spots. Not because we’re foolish, but because we’re human. And, we don’t know… what we don’t know. Biases are the invisible forces that shape our decisions and filter our perceptions. They form from lived experience, the […]
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Short-term wins in long-term planning
When it comes to financial planning, some goals can take decades to come to fruition. Retirement. Paying off a bond. Funding education. Leaving a legacy. Long-term goals matter; they guide our decisions and give us direction. But here’s the catch: they’re also really far away. And without smaller wins along the way, it’s easy to lose motivation, second-guess our plan, or drift into inaction! That’s why short-term wins aren’t just nice to have. In fact… they’re […]
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Is boring the new best thing?
Want a better life? Be boring… Why?? Well, it can be argued that consistent, simple choices often lead to the most extraordinary outcomes! Here’s the thing: We don’t often celebrate the word “boring.” In a world that glorifies bold reinventions, dramatic success stories, and overnight transformations, being boring doesn’t exactly spark applause. But when it comes to your financial life — and, honestly, your overall wellbeing — being boring in the right ways is one of […]
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A budget isn’t a cage – it’s a key
For many people, the word budget triggers an almost visceral reaction: restriction, rules, red ink, and the end of fun as you know it. It’s no wonder so many of us avoid it, procrastinate on it, or feel a twinge of shame every time it comes up. But what if we’ve been looking at budgeting all wrong? A well-crafted budget isn’t a punishment for spending. It’s a permission slip for living — with clarity, with purpose, […]
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Spotting gaps and overlaps
At first glance, many people often think that diversification is a strategy that focuses on spreading their money around a bit. But it’s about so much more than that; it’s about intentional design, making sure your investments and financial structures work together to support your life goals. And this is where we encounter more complex challenges: most portfolios grow over time, often in layers. You buy a fund here, open a retirement account there, add a […]
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Are you diversified… or just busy?
We often hear investors say, “I’ve spread my risk — I’m well diversified.” But when we take a closer look, their portfolios tell a different story. We often find overlapping funds, highly correlated assets, exposure to similar sectors, or a long list of holdings that feel diverse but tend to move in the same direction when markets shift. The truth? Owning more things doesn’t always mean you’re diversified. Sometimes, it just means you’re busy. Variety is […]
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Why rebalancing your portfolio matters — and how it works
Rebalancing doesn’t get much airtime. It doesn’t come with dramatic headlines or adrenaline-fueled decisions. But behind the scenes, it plays one of the most important roles in long-term investing: keeping your portfolio honest. Think of your portfolio like a garden. You plant with intention — a mix of investments that reflect your goals, your risk comfort, and the life you want to build. But over time, some parts grow faster than others. Left unchecked, what was […]
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