Archive for the 'Financial Planning' Category

Data obsessive

Data obsessive

On my recent holiday, I’d go for a jog in the morning. It was an easy enough run to the local surf club, exactly 1.5 km away, so a 3km run in total. Even though I knew the exact distance, I would always turn on Strava when I began each run to record my data […]

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We get one life, live it

We get one life, live it

Andy Friend is a long way from home. The Australian rugby coach has just finished a five year stint as head coach with Connacht rugby. It’s now time for him and his wife Kerri to go home and spend some time with their family. But they aren’t going straight home. Last year they bought a […]

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Can we afford it?

Can we afford it?

I got a phone call from a client at 21:55 last night. As he and his wife aren’t young, I answered, just in case. “Steven, we’re thinking of going to South Africa in the winter. It wasn’t in the plan. Can we afford it? And it’s a long flight, so we’re thinking of business class. […]

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Do qualifications matter?

Do qualifications matter?

In the tv show Suits, Michael gets a job as an associate in top law firm Pearson Hardman, despite not having a law degree. They get several series out of this before he and the firm gets exposed and the firm is almost ruined. In professions like the law or accounting, you have to be […]

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What would you do if you came into money?

What would you do if you came into money?

We’ve all had fantasised about what we would do if we won the Euro millions and had more money than we could think of. Who we would buy houses for, who we would give a few quid to? What car would you buy? Where would you go on holidays? Would we give up work, reduce […]

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The value of a financial planner

The value of a financial planner

Using a financial planner isn’t for everyone. Lots of people have an interest in personal finance and are willing to spend the time learning about it and keeping track of things (although over confidence in their own abilities can be an issue). But there are lots of people who have no interest in personal finance […]

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How much can I afford to lose?

How much can I afford to lose?

With markets continuing to have a torrid time and now the start of job losses in the tech sector, there is an increased level of worry for investors. Last year saw bumper returns for investors so this years volatility is somewhat of a shock for investors. Some are beginning to ask, how much can I […]

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The number myth

The number myth

Speaking with a new client last week, he told me that his colleague’s financial advisor said she needed €1 million in her pension at retirement. He wanted to know if he needed €1 million as well? I had no idea. He was a new client and I didn’t know enough about him and what he […]

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Using an expert to get better results

Using an expert to get better results

The gym I go to has boxing bags. I like doing a Boxing HIIT workout with them. It’s great cardio and I always feel great afterwards. But I don’t know how to box. When you see some of the other guys hitting the bags, you realise that there is a lot more to it than […]

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Are you just holding onto the can?

In an episode of The Simpsons, in an attempt to get a free can of Crystal Buzz Cola, Homer sticks his arm up the chute of a vending machine and it gets stuck. He ends up with his other arm stuck up the chute of the candy machine. Just before they are about to saw […]

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