We spend to fit in, to show we belong. Yet the cost of belonging that we see at weddings, matric dances, and even funerals often come at the expense of our financial stability. True belonging, as Brené Brown reminds us, can’t be bought. The real question is: what price are we willing to pay to feel included?
Fear is powerful: it often disguises itself as rational thought and quietly directs our financial decisions. Drawing on Daniel Kahneman’s research and personal reflection, Sunél explores how fear influences our behaviour, why it sometimes feels “rational,” and how awareness can help us choose differently.
AI can run complex financial models in seconds. Some retirees are already using it to test whether they’ll outlive their money, concluding that financial planners are no longer needed.
But experience tells another story. Data alone can’t model emotion, family, or life’s unexpected turns. In this week’s reflection, Sunél considers what AI can do brilliantly and what it can never replace: empathy, perspective, and the human understanding that gives money its meaning.
Gold shares have more than doubled this year, leaving many investors wondering if they’ve missed out. Sunél reflects on why markets can run ahead of reality, what the gold rally teaches us about investing — and how to stay grounded when everyone else seems to be striking gold.
In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s fatal shooting, Sunél Veldtman reflects on how digital media deepens divisions in society, fuels outrage and quietly shapes our beliefs — even our financial choices.
This piece is both a warning and an invitation: to pause, question the influence of digital platforms, and reconnect with people and nature.
Retirement often unfolds differently than we imagined.
In this week’s blog, Sunél reflects that true contentment is not found in meeting expectations, but in the quiet grace of learning to love what life offers.