When the Retirement Maths Stops Adding Up

When Health Changes Everything

How prepared are you for a diagnosis you never saw coming? It is a confronting question, but one that sits at the heart of meaningful financial planning. Many people think about financial planning in terms of investments, returns and retirement, only to discover that serious illness brings a different set of questions. Michael Avery and Kim Potgieter speak to Glen Baker, former portfolio manager at WealthStrat, about being diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer and how it changed the way he thinks about time, work, family, friendship and money. They discuss the financial realities of serious illness, including medical aid, income protection, dread disease cover, hidden costs and the paperwork that often comes with claiming. They also talk about the importance of having the right people around you, from family and friends to colleagues and a financial planner who understands both the numbers and the human side of money. Financial planning is not only about protecting your future. It is about making sure that when life changes, you and the people you love have the support, structure and breathing room you need. 🎧 Tune in. Be brave. Be on purpose.

A Will Is Not Enough

What would happen to your family if you died last night? It is a confronting question, but one that sits at the heart of proper estate planning. Many people believe that having a signed will means everything is taken care of, only to discover that a will is just one part of a much bigger picture. Michael Avery and Kim Potgieter speak to Financial Planning Specialist Maryanne Leicher about why estate planning is not only about death, tax or who gets what. It is about making sure the people you love have access to cash, understand your wishes, know where assets are held, and are not left trying to make difficult decisions while grieving. They discuss the difference between will and non-will assets, the importance of beneficiary nominations, liquidity for a surviving spouse or partner, family conversations around money, and why a letter of wishes can help bring clarity to deeply personal decisions. A will matters, but it is not enough. 🎧 Tune in. Be brave. Be on purpose.

The Bank of Mom and Dad

Few institutions are as generous, emotional, or enduring as the Bank of Mom and Dad. In this episode of Life Chapters, Money Choices, Michael Avery and Kim Potgieter are joined by Financial Planning Specialist Tom Brukman for an honest conversation about the financial and emotional realities of supporting adult children. From helping with university fees, rent, medical aid, and everyday expenses... To recognising when support quietly becomes dependency... To balancing the needs of adult children, ageing parents, and your own retirement security... They explore why so many families find themselves caught between love, responsibility, and financial reality. This conversation unpacks the hidden cost of ongoing support, the long-term impact on retirement security, and why money conversations within families are often the hardest to have. Along the way, they reflect on the lessons children learn from watching their parents, the importance of transparency, and how well-placed boundaries can strengthen, rather than strain, family relationships. Sometimes the most loving thing a parent can do is not give more. It is helping their children build the confidence, independence, and resilience to create a life of their own. 🎧 Tune in. Be brave. Be on purpose.

Why Not Me? Why Not Now?

At 56, Cheryl Jones found herself asking a question many people face in midlife: What now? Her children had left home, life looked very different from the years before, and she felt drawn to something more. Instead of settling into familiar routines, Cheryl made the bold decision to return to studying, challenge her self-doubt, and reinvent her career. In this episode of Life Chapters, Money Choices, Michael Avery and Kim Potgieter explore Cheryl's journey from imposter syndrome to renewed purpose. They discuss the value of lifelong learning, the challenge of recognising your own worth, and why so many people underestimate the experience and wisdom they have built over decades. They also explore how financial confidence can create the freedom to pursue meaningful work, try new things, and design a life that feels aligned with who you are today, not who you were twenty years ago. This is a conversation for anyone wondering whether it is too late to start something new. Cheryl's story shows that some of life's most interesting chapters can begin when you decide to back yourself and take the first step. 🎧 Tune in. Be brave. Be on purpose.

Ageless Reinvention

At some point, success stops being about accumulation and starts being about meaning. In this episode of Life Chapters, Money Choices, Michael Avery and Kim Potgieter are joined by entrepreneur, mother, and serial reinventor Miranda Isaakidis for a conversation about curiosity, change, and what it means to keep creating a meaningful life as your priorities evolve. From financial setbacks like the 1987 crash… To building a business rooted in purpose, empowerment, and creating opportunities for others… To facing the often-overlooked shift from saving and striving to spending with intention in later life… Miranda shares how each chapter of her life called for fresh thinking, courage, and a willingness to embrace change rather than stay stuck. This conversation explores how success can evolve beyond wealth creation, how couples can approach major life changes together, and why retirement is not about slowing down, but about creating the freedom to live more intentionally. Sometimes the next chapter is not about having more. It is about making what you already have mean more. 🎧 Tune in. Be brave. Be on purpose.