Goal!
Financial planning is all about goals. Goal setting is one of the most essential parts of any plan, and I’m glad most of the advice industry has moved on from “your goal is to have
October 30, 2023 No Comments
Happy Days…a cheese sandwich, anybody?
We’ve all heard the saying, “Money can’t buy you happiness.” I have been a financial planner for 30 years, and I would say there is truth in this. Money may not buy you happiness, but
October 21, 2023 No Comments
You Need to Do It Now
I’ve always loved the sport of rugby. I played throughout my time at school and college, occasionally captained the team and still love to watch the game, especially international matches. So, I’m currently relishing the
October 1, 2023 No Comments
Eighteen Summers
We’ve just returned from our family summer holiday, and as my eldest child, Sean, is almost 15, the concept of “18 Summers” is firmly on my mind. The idea is that from the moment they’re
August 4, 2023 2 Comments
What’s Your Money Story?
People may decry watching television as an activity that melts your brain, the same way some people were once skeptical about radio. Even the written word – reading and writing, were once reserved only for
July 28, 2023 2 Comments
Embracing Change: Lessons from “Who Moved My Cheese”
We all know that during our lifetime, things change. Some changes are of our own doing, some are not, but the ones we often feel anxious about are those that we didn’t ask for. The changes
July 12, 2023 2 Comments
All the Money, All the Time, All at Once – tradeoffs and decisions on the road to financial freedom.
Have you ever thought to yourself – if I received a £1million windfall what would I do? (Depending on your circumstances, you may need to adapt this to £10million or £100million to make it a
March 21, 2023 1 Comment
Someday… maybe one day?
Someday I will eat healthier, so I lose those few kilos I need to. Someday I will start having a few alcohol-free nights to give my system a rest. Someday I will quit smoking. Someday
March 10, 2023 No Comments
The Geometry of Wealth – How to Shape a Life of Money and Meaning
Every now and then, you read a book that completely captivates you. I read a lot, and it’s rare that I get totally immersed in any book, let alone a book about personal finance! Brian
January 31, 2023 No Comments
What We’ve Learned in 2022.
After two years in which all of our attention was focused on Covid-19 and its impact on our lives, 2022 has been a welcome return to the type of concerns that consumed us before March
December 22, 2022 No Comments
When was the First Time, you did something for the Last Time?
Life is full of last times. For a few weeks, months or years you find yourself doing something routine and then, sometimes barely realising it, you stop doing that thing forever. While there is only
December 20, 2022 12 Comments
Cash – the Magic formula – Part I
I often get asked by clients, friends, and family, how much cash the right amount is to hold on deposit. Too little and you run the risk of not being able to meet short term or
December 1, 2022 1 Comment
What is True Wealth?
You may remember him from the first series of the TV show, “Dragon’s Den”. Richard Farleigh was ‘the nice Dragon’. A thoughtful entrepreneur with a soft Australian accent he was the more acceptable face of
November 30, 2022 No Comments
Introducing Chirine Harb – Head of Operations
I was born and raised in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. My parents were both hard working and raised me to be the same. I excelled at school and sport, but unfortunately, the opportunities for girls in
September 30, 2022 4 Comments
The Value in Unlocking Your Adviser’s “Black Book”
Where I live it’s near impossible to find a great builder who is reliable and good value. The same goes for a plumber, car mechanic, or even a dentist! So, when a friend or neighbour
September 5, 2022 2 Comments
A Lasting Gift for Your Family
My Dad, Laurie Smith turns 82 this month and I recently travelled to his home on the west coast of Scotland to spend several days talking with him about his life. And the best thing
August 29, 2022 2 Comments
What having an autistic son has taught me about having a plan
My son Theo has autism. He is 4 years old. Many thoughts and worries go through your head when a diagnosis like this is received for your child. My biggest ones are what will become
July 27, 2022 1 Comment
George Barbov – Who I am and why you’re reading this…
Seven years. Exactly seven years is the time between being a broke 25-years-old finance student who was painting hotel rooms in central London and now writing this piece and calling myself a Content Creator, Writer,
May 31, 2022 4 Comments
Understand how your energy prices, food sustainability, and climate change are affected by the Russia/Ukraine situation
The single most common question we have been asked by clients recently has been “How will the situation in Ukraine impact inflation and overall living standards for us in the UK?” To consider this, we should
April 29, 2022 No Comments
Why portfolio management on its own is not enough if you want to achieve financial freedom.
Here’s one of the most common things I hear from people curious about working with us: “Well, financial Advisor John Smith manages a few of my accounts…but…I’m reaching out because I feel like his team
March 16, 2022 No Comments
Uncertainty abounds – it always does.
Today, it certainly feels like the world is in a very uncertain place. Authoritarian states are flexing their muscles, with Russia violating Ukraine’s sovereignty and China’s ongoing subjugation of Hong Kong with the new National Security
February 25, 2022 No Comments
Why talking to your partner about money will help improve your relationship.
Money is the number 1 thing couples argue about. A poll of over 2,000 British adults by legal firm Slater and Gordon found that money worries top the list of reasons why married couples split
January 24, 2022 No Comments
The Vital Decision Every Entrepreneur Must Take Before Selling Their Business
The Offer to Buy Your Company Most offers to buy your business will include some form of ‘earn-out structure’ and you could be asked to stay on at the new company for another three to
January 19, 2022 No Comments
I asked a ‘Dragon’ from Dragon’s Den what his definition of True Wealth was. This was his response.
Richard Farleigh is an ex-hedge fund manager, chess champion and wildly successful businessman. He appeared as a “Dragon” in the popular TV show Dragon’s Den (the UK version of Shark Tank) and has been listed
January 17, 2022 No Comments
The most important part of your entrepreneurial journey and why I’m writing about it.
If you own a business or want to – you need to understand something important. “To begin you must study the end” Jose Raul Capablanca, World Chess Champion 1921-1927 As an entrepreneur, you’re putting everything
January 12, 2022 No Comments
Do you want to be rich or wealthy?
My Mother-in-law, Angela is retired and lives in a comfortable apartment in the Home Counties. Her total income is around £26,000 a year, made up of various pensions and modest drawings from a small investment
December 15, 2021 No Comments
Can you afford to help your children onto the housing ladder, and how do you do it?
This is one of our most frequent questions from clients, no matter what their level of family wealth. With the average UK home now hitting £256,000, up 8% over 2020 even in the times of
December 6, 2021 No Comments
Scoring your own century – what it means for your life, work, and finances
One of the largest financial fears people face is running out of money before running out of breath. Nobody, by choice, wants to end their days living in extreme poverty. The problem is, nobody knows what
October 27, 2021 No Comments
The hidden value of great financial planning
“There is no greater happiness than freedom from worry, and there is no greater wealth than contentment”. Even now almost 2,500 years later everyone still worries about money, what the future may hold, and the
October 20, 2021 No Comments
How proper financial planning can change your life for the better
Everybody makes plans. You do it all the time. What to wear to the party. Where to go for the long weekend. Which route to take to the theatre. Life is full of plans, many
October 13, 2021 No Comments
Planning tomorrow today – why you need financial planning
As we all age and move upwards along our own earnings curve, many of us fall into ‘lifestyle creep’ whereby our costs increase in line with our new higher income. That’s pretty normal for this
October 11, 2021 No Comments
The night of magical living. And dying. How to relate to grief and loss and discover true meaning
My first contact with Stephen was when he called Capital in the Spring of 2016. He explained that he and his wife Carol were previously advised by a firm of financial planners, but due to
October 11, 2019 2 Comments
Why you should come to your Discovery Meeting – the value of your voice and story being heard
Are you an equal in your marriage or partnership? This seems like an obvious question to ask, but it isn’t always as clear as we think. What about when it comes to your future? When
September 6, 2019 No Comments
How to avoid financial chaos when your partner dies and the family finances are a mystery to you
Dealing with life after losing a husband can be confusing and painful. Emotions run high and low. Following soon afterwards comes a tsunami of financial problems to knock you even further backwards. Few widows are
June 23, 2019 No Comments
A new car– buy or lease? What’s the best option for you?
Freedom, the wind in your hair, the excitement of exploring new places, the anticipation of coming home. Or bumper to bumper commuting, congested traffic, unexpected expenses, and potholes. Your feelings about cars might be accurately
May 21, 2019 No Comments
Spending the children’s inheritance – Living the high life vs saving for the next generation
For many years, it’s been traditional for parents to pass down wealth to their children after they die. Clients often set financial goals around leaving a financial legacy or supporting their children when they are
February 6, 2019 No Comments
The top 5 things you need to know before selecting a great financial planner
Once you discover how you could benefit from financial planning, the challenge is deciding which financial planner to work with. This could be the difference between a great experience that positively impacts your future, or
December 17, 2018 No Comments
Why couples shouldn’t shy away from talking about death
There are some things in life that no amount of planning can prepare you for. The death of a spouse is one of them. The circumstances of such a personal tragedy are worse if the
August 14, 2018 No Comments
We are proud to present FileSafe™ (inc video)
At Capital, our clients’ financial security is at the heart of everything we do. We constantly innovate to enhance the way we communicate and share important and confidential documents with our clients. So, we are proud
June 26, 2017 No Comments