Investing, when carried out haphazardly, often leads to luck or loss, but rarely stability. As a new year begins another ripe example from a long list of ‘sure things’ presents itself on the world stage. This month’s hopeful is GameStop, an American video game and electronics retailer, who had up …
When I meet a prospective client one of the first areas to be discussed is what financial products they currently hold. While many people will know that they have a mortgage and its broad details, less will know about what their pension fund and investments are applied to and even fewer …
As a founding member of the Society of Financial Planners of Ireland I am truly delighted to see increased media coverage of our fledgling organisation. This delight extends not from the ego trip that one might think such a name check might get but from the financial media’s recognition that far …
From an investment management point of view, reduced risk has much to do with the historic perspective of locking in guaranteed rates from Government Bonds. Of course, on an historic basis, such lock-ins then were far more attractive than they are now as, in the past, interbank interest rates were …
Financial history is peppered with stock market crashes, property market booms and busts and a vast array of stories of individuals who have either made or lost fortunes, or even both. Irrespective of the past, a financial adviser deals with the here and now as well as the future, keeping …
It’s that time of the year when everyone takes stock of what they should have done in the last year and what they really should do in the coming year. So if you are really going to get stuck into this area now, here are eleven questions to ask either your current …
When I mention that I am a Financial Planner to someone who doesn’t know me I sometimes get strange looks as if I am either someone from other space. Maybe it’s because the words “Financial Planner” have become confused in most people’s lexicon with terms such as “Financial Adviser” or “Financial Consultant”. It …
What is the difference between financial planning and financial advice? A little over nine years ago a new personal financial qualification, the Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning was introduced by University College Dublin in conjunction with support from the Life Insurance Association, the Institute of Bankers and the Institute of …
Financial thinking and Behaviour, are they the same? If you don’t have a cat as a pet and even if the next two paragraphs might not mean much to you please persevere with me. I should add that I am not a natural animal lover but am more of an …
Just because someone appeals to us as an individual doesn’t mean though that they are the right person to give us advice and this is particularly relevant in the area of personal financial advice. Picking the right financial adviser can however be straight-forward, so here’s a few pointers about what to look out for and what you need to ask or investigate before engaging them.
