Evelyn Herzfeld Financial Planning

Evelyn Herzfeld Financial Planning Help, guidance, advice and mentoring for all your financial issues, savings, income tax, insurance and investments. Hi.

Many of you know that I'm a financial planner. I've been in the industry over 20 years, and look forward to assisting you with life cover, disability cover and income protection, bond cover, dread disease and many other types of personal insurance. I specialise in assisting individuals and small businesses, and hope to hear from you in the very near future.

21/08/2026

THE ONE THING OUR PORTFOLIOS CANNOT DO.

It is incredibly easy to expect our balance sheets to do the heavy lifting for us.

We often assume that hitting a certain retirement number will magically grant us peace of mind. We can fall into thinking that reaching a specific financial milestone will automatically give our lives clear direction.

But there is one profound limitation of wealth that we have to acknowledge.

As the financial life planning pioneer Mitch Anthony notes, money can help us fund a purpose, but it cannot help us find a purpose.

Money is simply a tool. It is an exceptional engine, but it is a terrible compass.

A fully funded portfolio cannot give us a reason to get out of bed in the morning. It cannot manufacture a deep sense of connection, and it cannot define our deepest values.

We cannot outsource the discovery of our life's meaning to a financial plan.

The most important work we do may very well happen far away from our bank statements. Because before our wealth can effectively fund our purpose, we have to take the time to find it.

Have you found your purpose? Let’s have a chat and find your direction.

17/08/2026

Conversation, Not Isolation

We often plan our lives as if they will follow a steady upward path, assuming our income, capacity, and circumstances will simply keep growing. But life is rarely linear. It moves in seasons.

There are seasons of building careers and raising families, seasons of major transitions like selling a business or becoming an empty nester, and seasons of disruption through illness or loss. The greatest challenges usually arise not within these seasons, but uring the transition between them.

When life changes suddenly, our instinct is often to retreat. Because money is deeply personal, we internalize our worries and try to solve everything alone.

But isolation is the enemy of clarity. Fear narrows our thinking and makes reactive financial decisions more likely. Lifestyle financial planning is built on a simple truth: growth happens through conversation, not isolation.

Talking through your changing circumstances with an objective financial planner helps turn uncertainty into clarity. A good planner is more than a numbers expert—they're a thinking partner who provides a safe space to explore your concerns and adjust your strategy.

Sometimes the conversation is about giving yourself permission to spend the money you've spent decades saving. Sometimes it's about reassuring you that you can weather a difficult season. Other times it's about creating a roadmap for unfamiliar territory.

A financial plan is not a document you file away for decades. It is a living strategy that evolves as your life changes. The plan that supports a high-earning career is very different from the one needed for retirement, where preserving wealth and generating sustainable income become the priority.

You don't need to have all the answers before seeking advice. In fact, asking the right questions is often the first step toward finding the right path.

When life enters a new season, resist the urge to face it alone. Start the conversation. Anxiety fades remarkably quickly when uncertainty is replaced with a clear plan and a trusted partner. Hoping to hear from you very soon.................

14/08/2026

TALKING ABOUT MONEY

As George Bernard Shaw observed, "The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place."

This is most evident in family conversations about money. We assume that sharing a home, a surname, or a bank account, means we share the same financial goals. Yet money is still the most taboo topic in many households.

The most important financial conversations shouldn't happen only in our heads or in a planner's office. They need to happen around the kitchen table.

THE VISION BEFORE THE BUDGET - Most money conversations focus on budgets, rising costs, or unexpected expenses. But financial conflict is rarely about numbers. It's usually about misaligned dreams.

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry wrote, "If you want to build a ship... teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea."

Financial planning, before discussing the spreadsheet, needs discussing the future. What do you want life to look like in five, ten, or twenty years?

Whether it's travelling, spending more time with family, or enjoying simpler weekends together, define the dream first. Once you share a common vision, the budget becomes the plan for creating the life you both want.

PASSING ON THE 'WHY' - The silence often extends to our children. We work hard to build wealth and leave behind assets, but too often we fail to explain the values that created them. Talking about money doesn't require sharing your net worth. It means teaching stewardship - why you live below your means, give generously, and value experiences over possessions. Those lessons can become a far greater inheritance than money itself.

START THE CONVERSATION - Breaking the silence isn’t difficult. Go for a walk with your partner or sit around a fire and ask, "If money were completely taken care of, what would we do more of?" Ask your children what they value most about your family's lifestyle.

Lifestyle financial planning is a family journey. Wealth is simply the fuel for your family's story. By talking openly about your money and your dreams, you give everyone the opportunity to move confidently in the same direction.

If you'd like to chat further about these things, please feel free to call or email me at any time.

11/08/2026

HOW STRONG IS YOUR FINANCIAL PLAN?

Two key goals of a financial plan are to grow your wealth and protect it. That’s why short-term insurance deserves a place in every financial planning conversation. It protects the assets you've worked hard to build and forms an essential part of your long-term wealth strategy.

Think of your finances like a sports team. Your investments, business, and career are your attack, driving growth and building wealth. Your insurance is your defence, protecting you from setbacks that could erase years of progress.

Many people see insurance as a grudge purchase and cut cover to save on premiums. But when disaster strikes, the cost often falls on debt or the sale of long-term investments. That doesn't just reduce your savings—it also sacrifices years of future compound growth and may even create unnecessary tax consequences.

A burst pipe, stolen vehicle, or house fire can become far more expensive than the repair itself if it forces you to derail your financial plan.

This is why we encourage clients to review their cover regularly with a specialist broker. Are your home and belongings insured for today's replacement values, or are you relying on outdated estimates?

True financial peace of mind comes from knowing your blind spots are covered. Strong insurance protects your balance sheet, allowing you to focus on growing your wealth with confidence.

Please feel free to contact me for any assistance you may need.

05/08/2026

DON’T AVOID THE STRUGGLE

We often assume that the purpose of wealth is to eliminate problems. Money can certainly provide shelter, healthcare, security and comfort. But while it solves financial problems, it cannot solve the human ones that shape who we become.

In fact, using money to avoid every difficult situation can deprive us of the very thing that builds resilience: struggle.

Think of life like the movie Click, where the main character fast-forwards through every uncomfortable moment, only to discover he has skipped much of what made life meaningful. Growth rarely happens in comfort. Author Nassim Nicholas Taleb describes this idea as antifragility—the principle that some things become stronger through stress. Muscles grow through resistance, immune systems strengthen through exposure, and people develop character by overcoming challenges.

This lesson is especially relevant in parenting. It's natural to want an easier life for our children, but constantly rescuing them from mistakes denies them the confidence and resilience that come from solving problems themselves.

The same applies in retirement. Financial freedom shouldn't mean eliminating every challenge. A life without purpose or effort can become surprisingly unfulfilling. We all need goals worth pursuing, skills worth learning, and mountains worth climbing.

True financial freedom isn't the absence of struggle. It's the freedom to choose your struggles. Instead of fighting for survival, wealth allows you to pursue meaningful work, support worthwhile causes, or master something that matters to you.

Don't use your wealth to remove every obstacle. Use it to create a life filled with challenges that help you grow. And if you’d like to discuss this further with me, I’d love to hear from you, at your convenience.

29/07/2026

EMPTY NEST FINANCIAL PLANNING

There is a unique kind of quiet that settles over a home when the children leave. While it can be emotionally challenging, it also marks an important financial turning point.

For years, your household revolved around raising a family. When that chapter ends, you're not only adjusting to a new routine but also redefining your role. As Hodding Carter wrote, "There are two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One is roots, the other, wings." Giving them wings means stepping back, emotionally and financially.

Here are three ways to navigate this new season:

1. Prepare them before they leave
Before your children move out, help them understand the real cost of independence. Discuss groceries, utilities, transport, insurance and other everyday expenses. Most importantly, be clear about what financial support will continue and what will become their responsibility. Clear expectations today prevent misunderstandings tomorrow.

2. Become a consultant, not a rescuer
As your children become independent, your role shifts from solving problems to offering guidance. Resist the urge to rescue them from every financial mistake. Learning to manage a tight budget or recover from poor spending decisions builds resilience and confidence—lessons that will serve them for life.

3. Invest in your next chapter
With children gone, household expenses often decrease, creating extra cash flow. Rather than letting it disappear into everyday spending, put it to work. Increase your retirement savings, invest for long-term goals, or create a "Return on Memories" fund for travel, hobbies and experiences you've postponed. You may also choose to support causes that matter to you.

An empty nest isn't the end of the journey. It's an opportunity to help your children thrive while giving yourself the freedom to build an exciting and financially secure next chapter.

27/07/2026

THE DANGER OF AN “EASY” LIFE

There is a common, unspoken assumption that the ultimate goal of building wealth is to eliminate all our problems. We naturally view a strong balance sheet as a shock absorber; a tool we can use to insulate ourselves and our families from discomfort, failure, and friction.

Human beings are fundamentally "antifragile." Just as a muscle requires resistance to grow stronger, our character, our resilience, and our capabilities are forged entirely through struggle.

When we use our wealth to bypass every difficult situation, whether that means constantly rescuing our children from their own financial mistakes, or retiring with the goal of doing absolutely nothing, we accidentally rob ourselves of the opportunity to grow.

An “easy” life, without friction or struggle, sounds appealing on a stressful day, but research is showing us that it is actually incredibly fragile.

True financial freedom is not the absence of a struggle. The greatest privilege of wealth is simply that it gives you the autonomy to “choose your hard”.

It allows you to shift from struggling for survival, to struggling for meaning, giving you the resources to tackle a passion project, a philanthropic cause, or a new challenge on your own terms.

Are you using your wealth to avoid all friction, or are you using it to choose the challenges that actually make you feel alive?

If you’d like to catch up soon, please feel free to contact me at your convenience.

23/07/2026

Redefining True Financial Wellbeing

A financial planner can improve investments, manage risk, and structure an estate plan. But even when the numbers look perfect, many people still experience financial anxiety.

That is because financial wellbeing is about more than money. It is shaped by our relationship with money, the future, and ourselves.

Drawing on a framework developed by Marius van der Merwe and highlighted by coach Hendrik Crafford, true financial wellbeing ts on four pillars:

Control: Feeling capable of managing daily finances.
Peace of mind: Living without constant financial anxiety.
Freedom of choice: Believing you have meaningful options.
A hopeful future: Trusting tomorrow can be better than today.

Two people can have identical finances yet experience them very differently. The difference lies not in the numbers, but in their mindset. As ontological coaching reminds us, we do not see the world as it is—we see it as we are. Our beliefs and emotions shape every financial decision.

Fear, resignation, and helplessness can undermine even the best financial advice. That is why effective financial planning must address both financial realities and emotional wellbeing.

Alongside retirement planning and investment strategies, we should ask: Do you feel in control? Do you believe you have choices? Are you hopeful about the future?

Emergency funds and cash-flow planning remain essential, but lasting financial wellbeing comes from combining sound financial planning with a healthy relationship with money.

Ultimately, true financial wellbeing is measured not by the size of your portfolio, but by how confidently and peacefully you live with it.

20/07/2026

IT MAY NOT SHOW ON YOUR STATEMENT

When building a financial plan, we naturally focus on retiring comfortably, achieving financial independence, funding our children’s education, or leaving a meaningful legacy through structured long-term investments that withstand market volatility and grow over time. But in pursuing the summit, we often neglect the basecamp.

Short-term insurance cover for your home, car, and valuables is not just about replacing possessions. It safeguards your peace of mind and protects your long-term reserves or wealth from usage at the wrong time to cover short-term setbacks.

Return on Investment (ROI) is widely used to measure success in finance, driving investors to maximise returns, minimise costs, and celebrate portfolio growth. The challenge comes when we apply this same framework to our personal lives.

Viewed in financial terms, spending on a family holiday, a sabbatical, or a special celebration can seem like a poor investment. The money is spent and will never compound financially. Yet true lifestyle financial planning requires a different metric: Return on Memories (ROM).

When you invest in meaningful experiences, the benefits extend far beyond the initial cost. Think about a family trip from years ago. The expenses were paid once, but the stories, laughter, photos, and gratitude continue long afterwards. Experiences provide emotional and psychological dividends that can be enjoyed repeatedly over a lifetime.

Unlike financial investments, opportunities to create memories often have an expiry date. Children grow up, parents age, and our own health and energy change over time. If we postpone important experiences solely to maximise financial returns, those opportunities may disappear forever.

This is not an argument for reckless spending. Rather, it is a reminder to be intentional. Money is a tool designed to support a meaningful life. Once your future is secure and your financial boundaries are respected, give yourself permission to spend on what truly matters.

At the end of life, few people reminisce about outperforming the market. Instead, they remember the people, places, and experiences that shaped their lives.

Make sure you are investing enough in the memories that matter most.

17/07/2026

The Number Won’t Change the Narrative

We often operate under the subtle assumption that financial peace of mind is waiting for us at a specific destination.

We tell ourselves that once the mortgage is settled, or once the portfolio hits a certain number, a switch will flip in our brains and the low-grade anxiety will finally disappear.

But experience tells a very different story

It is incredible common to see people whose income has doubled over a decade, yet their financial stress has remained exactly the same. That is because peace of mind is not a mathematical equation. It is an internal posture.

If your relationship with money is rooted in a scarcity mindset or a quiet fear of losing control, a flawless balance sheet will not help you sleep any better at night.

True financial wellbeing requires us to look beyond the spreadsheet. It asks us to examine the invisible narratives we hold about our wealth, and intentionally choose to relate to our capital from a place of grounded clarity, rather than quiet panic.

Need to review your narrative? Let’s chat.

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