Retirement as we know it is barely 150 years old. Otto von Bismarck introduced the world’s first state pension in Germany in 1889, setting the retirement age at 70, an age that only a minority of the population actually reached. The concept was simple: work until you could no longer physically do so, and then society would care for you in your final years. That world no longer exists.

WHY CONNECTION MATTERS IN FINANCIAL PLANNING On the Camino (The Camino de Santiago, also known as the Way of St. James), you don’t just...

When you invest in a unit trust or model portfolio, it's natural to focus on the fund's name, past performance, or the reputation of the asset manager. But what actually powers your returns? The answer is simple: businesses. Think of your portfolio as a ship. The factsheet is the dashboard, the fund manager is the captain, and the businesses you're invested in are the engine room. They do the heavy lifting—producing, selling, and growing.