Category: LIFESTYLE

When we are frequently told that we need more and more money, more success, more status, it’s easy to feel like we’re always falling behind. But what if we can expand that story to reveal that real wealth has less to do with how much we accumulate, and more to do with how we live? Some of the most contented and fulfilled people we meet through our work aren’t necessarily the wealthiest. Instead, they tend to […]

A man once asked a gardener: “Why do your plants grow so well?” The gardener smiled and said: “I don’t force them to grow. I simply remove what’s holding them back.” It’s a gentle reminder that growth, in life, in relationships, and in our finances, doesn’t come from pushing harder and harder, as though sheer force of will is enough to make everything bloom. In fact, when we fixate only on doing more, earning more, or […]

Have you ever thought: “I just feel better when I know every cent is accounted for,” or “If things are chaotic at home or at work, at least I can control my spending.” At first glance, that sounds healthy, being on top of your finances is a good thing, right? Yes… and no. There’s a subtle line between being intentional with your money and using money to soothe deeper feelings of fear, stress, or loss of […]

When we talk about money, we often slip into the language of control: budgets, targets, forecasts, plans. It’s comforting to believe that if we just work hard enough at managing things, we can shape life exactly as we want it. And to some extent, that’s true. Being intentional and disciplined with money does create opportunities and stability. But what if part of a healthy relationship with money, and life, also involves letting go? This isn’t about […]

Who are you? Who do you want to become? Identity-based financial goals are more powerful than you think. “The goal is not to read a book. The goal is to become a reader,” writes James Clear in his bestseller, Atomic Habits. When it comes to financial planning, we can learn much from this brief nugget of wisdom. Many of us set financial goals based on outcomes. “I want to save X amount.” “I want to retire […]

You have a lens, and here’s why it matters… Financial planning is often seen as a numbers game, retirement goals, investment returns, tax efficiency. But beneath the spreadsheets lies something far more personal: our stories, values, and lived experiences. And that’s where things get interesting. As financial planners, we work with individuals and families from diverse cultural backgrounds, belief systems, and worldviews. Yet many of the tools we use, goal-setting frameworks, risk tolerance models, even the […]

Meaning starts with hope, and hope begins with action. Many of the challenges we face today, such as financial stress, burnout, and indecision, don’t just come from a lack of time or money. They can very often stem from something deeper: a subtle loss of meaning. We don’t intend to lose meaning in what we’re doing and who we are; life simply happens, and if we’re not aware, our meaning evaporates. And meaning doesn’t magically appear. […]

(Inspired by Gabor Mate’s book: When the Body Says No: The Cost of Hidden Stress) Learning to listen to your intuition in money matters, matters. Have you ever agreed to something that felt wrong in your gut, only to regret it later? Maybe it was spending more than you intended, investing in something you didn’t quite understand, or lending money you didn’t really have. The head said yes, the mouth followed, but the body whispered no. […]

Financial planning, like therapy or coaching, isn’t just about solving a problem. It’s about holding a safe space where real change can happen. That space might be a spreadsheet, a conversation, or a long-term plan, but for the work to go deep and stick, it must feel grounded, steady, and secure. As clinical psychologist Jonathan Shedler once said, “The paradox of psychotherapy is that the more secure the boundaries, the more freedom there is within them, […]

Real financial planning goes far beyond spreadsheets, securities and stocks. It’s about connecting money to life. And sometimes, the most important questions aren’t just “Can we afford it?”, but, “Is this the right decision for our lives right now?” In a recent conversation with clients, a seemingly simple question was raised: “Can we afford to upgrade to a larger home?” On paper, with stable incomes and good credit, the answer was yes. But digging deeper revealed […]