The minefield of ethical investing
We all want to be ethical people, right?!Well, at least most of us, right?! In which case, investing in an ethical way is likely to be in line with our values and priorities, right?! Maybe. The idea...
Category: Investing
The last safe investment is YOU
I love books that swing for the fences. They almost always include things I disagree with. And they’re not the sort of books that will average 5 stars on Amazon. That’s how I’d describe...
What does wealth mean to you? [VIDEO PRESENTATION]
This week I gave a 30-minute presentation to a group of engineers. I talked about investing and insurance, while emphasising the importance of making financial and lifestyle decisions that are in line with YOUR...
Investing is personal
How would you invest if you were 60 and had an investment portfolio of $5 million? And let’s say you enjoyed a lifestyle that costed, say, $100,000 per year, and didn’t have any desire...
My (in)efficient market hypothesis
One reason academically-inclined people give for investing in index-based funds is the “efficient-market hypothesis”. (Another is the empirical evidence that index-based funds tend to outperform actively managed funds, especially after fees, over the long-run....
Stop complicating your financial affairs!
There are a number of terrific, Kiwi-based, personal finance forums online. For some breadcrumbs, look for Facebook groups inspired by Mr Money Mustache or The Barefoot Investor; check out the Personal Finance NZ subreddit; or Sorted’s...
The myopia of compound interest
Compound interest is magical! But there’s a myopia that surrounds it, too. The magic of compound interest is something many financial gurus like to talk about. The Barefoot Investor is one of them. Below...
How money misconceptions can put your life into hard mode
My son is starting to get into video games. In many games, you have the option between playing on “easy mode” or “hard mode”. Sometimes I think we unnecessarily put our lives on “hard mode”,...
How to flawcast your financial future
One of the most valuable exercises I run through with clients is “flawcasting” their financial future. It’s one thing to create a personal balance sheet setting out your existing assets and liabilities, and getting an...
In theory, I like age tracker funds. In practice, I don’t.
In theory, there’s no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is. In theory, I like the idea of funds that adjust your investment approach (asset allocation) based on your age. The idea...