Nico Katzke is no stranger to Ghost Mail readers. He has written several articles in his role at Satrix and has appeared on a number of podcasts with me.
In this show, there was more of a cross-over with personal finance than usual. The reality is that if you can’t save every month, then you also can’t invest.
Topics we discussed included:
- Why does it make sense to treat your own financials like corporates do? And why is the concept of an inflection point in your income so important? How does this unlock guilt-free spending, making your discretionary spend so much more enjoyable?
- How do entrepreneurs differ from salaried employees in how they take risks with their money?
- Diversification: a concept that goes way beyond just investing.
- Nico’s core approach of doing things today that have massive impact in 20 years from now: (1) adjust your lifestyle to your savings amount (and not the other way around; and (2) distinguish between saving and investing.
- Why the greatest risk to investing is not taking enough risk.
- As difficult as it is to resist temptation, why avoiding over-consumption can make a huge difference to your future, especially when the marginal benefit of buying the new model car / smartphone / whatever is minimal.
- The huge danger of using debt affordability tests as a target for how much debt you can take on.
- The benefit of taking a more active role in how your money is invested, particularly focusing on costs.
- The importance of being willing to ask your financial advisor questions about your investments
- An overview of the two-pot system that is due for implementation next year.
There’s so much in here, underpinned by Satrix’s commitment to South African investor education. To find out more about SatrixNOW, visit this link>>>
Listen to the show here:
Disclosure
Satrix Investments (Pty) Ltd is an approved FSP in term of the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act (FAIS). The information does not constitute advice as contemplated in FAIS. Use or rely on this information at your own risk. Consult your Financial Adviser before making an investment decision.
While every effort has been made to ensure the reasonableness and accuracy of the information contained in this podcast (“the information”), the FSP’s, its shareholders, subsidiaries, clients, agents, officers and employees do not make any representations or warranties regarding the accuracy or suitability of the information and shall not be held responsible and disclaims all liability for any loss, liability and damage whatsoever suffered as a result of or which may be attributable, directly or indirectly, to any use of or reliance upon the information.
Several years ago, me and my daughter sat in the office working and the radio was on and a financial program came on where the presenter asked the host if he can recommend any books. He mentioned his 2 favourites, The richest man in Babylon by George Classon and The millionaire next door co-authored by Thomas J Stanley and William D Danko and he started mentioning a few simple rules that all self-made millionaires seem to follow. With every new rule my daughter pointed a finger at me and said check!
They seem to stay married to the same partner for the rest of their live, buy a house and live in it forever. They don’t mind buying 2nd hand vehicles. They don’t buy fancy or expensive watches or jewellery. The don’t mind paying for financial advice or good auditors. They budget, they understand the need for taking calculated risk. The spend way less than they earn. The number of rules are less than the fingers that we have on our hands.
All of that bothered me why was the child checking me but I was not the millionaire next door. So that night I took a pen and paper and started calculating my nett worth. I was surprised to see I became a millionaire during the day but I was also disappointed to realize that being a millionaire does not mean you are financially independent. So, I ordered both books.
When they arrived, I read them as soon as I had the time only to feel disappointed again. I did not read anything in there that I already knew but found comfort when I realized that I am on the right track by already following these ruses, I simply need to stay motivated and persevere.
And then one day the phone rang, it was my financial adviser asking, Sir your Annuity’s will mature in 3 months’ time have you decided what your next move will be? It left me speechless as I did not need it and did not know what to say as I have probably become the millionaire next door. I decided to continue contributing as I enjoy reducing my taxable income.
Thanks to guys like yourselves bombarding us with good advice and education, I for one today have the choice to retire or not.