‘Zoom towns’ are boom towns

We have had numerous accounts from clients whose once relatively peaceful country existence is now seeing a swathe of new residents all with one thing in common – they need high-speed internet connections.
It seems that towns within a 150km radius of Cape Town are becoming popular choices for people looking to exit the hustle and bustle of Cape Town or other metros, and there is an accompanying uptick in property prices in the Winelands, Overberg, Swartland and West Coast areas.
Maybe your property has increased in value? Can your small town benefit from the extra economic activity? If you were planning to exit the metro yourself for some peace and quiet, perhaps you’ll want to look even further afield?

Back-to-office debates

A recent IPSOS survey (in partnership with the World Economic Forum) found that one in four working adults is now working from home and that the preference for a post-pandemic world is to be able to work remotely half of the time.
The survey also suggests that a workforce that is able to work to a flexible work schedule is likely to be more productive.

Working remotely does continue to have some drawbacks, however; some of which are specifically identified by survey participants. For example:

52% say they miss being around their co-workers,

38% say their home is a difficult place to be productive,

37% feel disengaged from their work when working from home, and

33% feel more burned out by work when they work from home.

Once again, we are reminded that there’s no one-size-fits-all plan for anything – each of us has a particular set of circumstances within which we deal with our unique needs and aspirations.

Lockdown babies?

No, there hasn’t been a surge of new arrivals, which is probably a good thing! However, many have commented on the reality of reduced regular physical interactions between older parents, children and grandchildren. In some cases, babies born during lockdown have still not been introduced to their grandparents, particularly those living in Australia.

Even in good times it is tough having family spread across the globe. If you have felt the impact of being unable to travel to your loved ones, perhaps there’s a tiny consolation in knowing that you are not alone in that particular boat.

Financial planning trends

As financial advisors, we have long been a touchstone for the families we help in terms of navigating changing environmental factors that have an impact on their financial well-being. The current pandemic has been no different, and some of the most noticeable trends reported by fellow financial planners have been the following — if these have been your concerns, again, you are not alone:

Stock market volatility and nervousness about political events have been top-of-mind for most people.

Revisiting wills, life insurance and estate planning have formed a large part of conversations during reviews over the past 18 months.

Staying in the loop – being in touch more frequently if required, albeit often digitally, has helped our clients remain connected to and part of the investment decision-making processes.

One of the great privileges of being a financial planner is the trust bestowed on us and our advice. We don’t take it lightly and continue to offer all the teamwork and expertise to which we have access, to help guide you through the many complex environments we all need to navigate at this time.

If you have specific concerns or just want to touch base and talk about what is going on, don’t hesitate to get in touch. We are always available to offer an objective ear, especially if you experience a change that requires revising your financial planning objectives.