Riding the wave of economic buoyancy during the Noughties saw many investors being seduced by financial products offering the potential for big returns. Leveraging, gearing and ‘capital guaranteed’ were all terms bandied about the BBQ, without it seems any real understanding or concern for the potential consequences. It has taken a market downturn of the size and scale we are currently experiencing to make us aware that all investments carry with them a level of risk. (more…)

I was at a dinner party the other night for a friend’s birthday. It didn’t take long for the conversation to turn to the economy and the global financial crisis. I noticed all the men in the room had plenty to contribute, whether it was discussing the latest corporate collapse, the dire state of the share market or prophesising more doom and gloom. What they were saying was relevant and affects us all, yet compared to the men the women were conspicuously quiet. (more…)

We know that the economic environment around us has changed, but that’s why it’s more important than ever to take control of your financial situation and start planning for the future. (more…)

I share the most intimate details of my life with my close girlfriends. I’ll talk about my relationships, my children and my work. In deeper moments, I’ll share my hopes and dreams, my insecurities and sadness. And of course I love to chat about the fluffy stuff like clothes, celebrities and gossip! But money has never been high on our list of conversation topics. (more…)