January offered investors an early stress test for 2026. A rapid succession of geopolitical shocks, policy surprises, and market reversals left portfolios swinging sharply between risk-on and risk-off. Far from an anomaly, this turbulent start may well be a preview of the year ahead: expect policy uncertainty, geopolitical noise, and abrupt shifts in market leadership.…
“If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things.” (Albert Einstein) Every investment journey starts with good intentions. You want to save more, protect your future, care for your family and give yourself the life you want to lead. But intentions alone don’t translate into outcomes.…
“In choosing a portfolio, investors should look for a lot of different types of investments and be ready to ride out the bad times as well as the good.” (Harry Markowitz, author of Modern Portfolio Theory) Lifestyle investments include eco-estates, renewables, private equity, vineyards, and art collections. Investing in these types of assets can not…
All that glisters is not gold.” (William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice) 1. Cash ain’t king Let’s cut to the chase: cash is not optimal for long-term investments. While it is the safest asset class, shares, property, and commodities generally produce better long-term returns. Unit trusts work well in diversifying asset classes. What’s more, cash…
“In the face of too many choices, we often choose nothing—and pay dearly for it.” (Barry Schwartz, The Paradox of Choice) Everyone knows about FOMO. But have you even heard of FOBO, let alone contemplated how it might be kaiboshing your wealth targets? Fear of Better Options is a clear and present danger… The buffet of…
“Patience is not simply the ability to wait – it’s how we behave while we’re waiting.” (Joyce Meyer) In recent years, there’s been a huge increase in advertising for market trading apps. These adverts all have two things in common: Firstly, they show someone making a large amount of money in a very short space…
“In investing, as in life, it’s often better to be the patient retriever than the anxious terrier. Be steady, focused, and wait for the right opportunity.” (Inspired by Warren Buffett) When it comes to investing we’ve all got a bit of dog in us. But what breed are you? 1. The loyal labrador Steady, dependable,…
“By 2045, we will have multiplied the intelligence, the human biological machine intelligence of our civilization a billion-fold.” (Ray Kurzweil) Imagine that your financial planners (that’s us) possess a superpower: the ability to scan global markets in seconds and identify tax-saving opportunities as the deadline looms. While this may sound futuristic, it’s already a reality.…
While President Trump’s unpredictable trade policies are continuing to create global market volatility, emerging market equities have attracted attention this year as investors embrace them as a welcome diversifier from the uncertainty and volatility of US-centric investments. The MSCI Emerging Market equity index is up almost 18% year-to-date, with foreign investors pouring money into India,…
“The only constant is change.” (Heraclitus) Stock markets everywhere have been on a bit of a rollercoaster in 2025. Uncertainty around interest rates, geopolitical instability, and the unpredictability of US trade policy have made for a bumpy ride. For any investor, these constant dips and gains can feel unsettling, even irrational. But before labelling…