Dancing in the Moonlight

Solomons-financial-advisor-wimbledon-blogger

Moonlight

Imagine being unable to give voice to your dreams, let alone be permitted to live them. Doing so would result in physical violence, exclusion, prison and perhaps death. Moonlight. This is a sadly familiar story. Throughout history we have seen the cost of standing up for fairness, equality and dignity. Yet today, there are many countries where freedoms that most of us take for granted are prohibited.

However, even within more egalitarian countries, there are pockets of fear and suspicion, where freedoms are not as available as they might be. You know the freedoms I’m talking about, for gender, ethnicity and sexuality. The movie “Moonlight” explores the taboo of homosexuality within American black culture. It is a powerful and moving story of one man’s struggle with his identity and is effort to build himself and find somewhere where he fits.

Being true to yourself

There is very little in the film that I can possibly hook onto for a financial planning angle. The best I can do is remind you that whoever you are, you have a story and as a financial planner my role also involves helping you to write and live the story you wish to be told of your life. This means being true to yourself, not simply accepting the social norms of what the majority expect from working life and a lengthy retirement. What others think is not as important as your own integrity and an authentic walk, which I concede is pretty easy for a white, English speaking, able-bodied, heterosexual, married male to say.

Freedom is more than spending power

I am utterly fed up with hearing negative pointed comments about feminism or political correctness. As far as I can tell, both simply seek fairness, respect and civility and anyone that thinks those are not worthy aspirations really does need to rethink their values. OK, so Moonlight won’t be for everyone, but the non-acceptance of difference should be a cause for concern to us all. British, Sri-Lankan comedian Romesh Ranganathan challenged me (and the audience) about this last night at a small cabaret near Victoria. Much like the Lear’s Fool, he pulled no punches with some harsh truths about what we find offensive or normal, whilst wrapped in the the mirth of comedy. It seems that the world is currently attempting to turn back time on the progressive changes that have been hard-won. Why people cannot live in peace is a mystery that I will never fathom. If money is meant to bring freedom, then some of the richest still have much to learn.

Here is the trailer for Moonlight.

and here is a short video of Romesh Ranganatham at the Royal Variety Show.

Dominic Thomas
Solomons IFA

You can read more articles about Pensions, Wealth Management, Retirement, Investments, Financial Planning and Estate Planning on my blog which gets updated every week. If you would like to talk to me about your personal wealth planning and how we can make you stay wealthier for longer then please get in touch by calling 08000 736 273 or email info@solomonsifa.co.uk

Representing Independence

So 2013 is drawing to a close and the Christmas cards are starting to arrive. Universities and schools are drawing the term to an end and we are all hoping that the winter break isn’t too cold and that our boilers don’t give up under the pressure of winter, just when there is a house full of guests. Sadly, one of the changes for 2014 is the representation of IFAs and investors by IFA Centre. It is the only obvious advocate for independent financial advice, which has had to scale back due to a lack of support from IFAs in Britain. This is a real shame as Gill Cardy who in 2011 formed (the not-for-profit membership organisation) and runs it has worked hard to promote the importance of independent advice and championed causes to help investors receive fair treatment when they have been royally fleeced. This is the sort of change that the financial services industry has been crying out for and sadly it will not continue in the way it was hoped. The IFA Centre, of which I am a member isn’t closing completely, but will now focus on providing resources, events and other benefits to firms like ours. This will still be of benefit, but I greatly appreciated the work that Gill was doing in making representation for IFAs. Sadly, this does not seem to be of sufficient interest to enough advisers. I’m hoping that this isn’t simply an appalling attitude of not being bothered by the majority of IFA firms, but rather a “not knowing what you’ve got until it’s gone” situation.

Gill said “After over 2 years of personal and financial commitment IFA Centre’s membership does not provide the financial resources for my full time commitment to protecting advisers’ interests, let alone the resources to provide research, policy development and a member events programme. Worse, irrespective of our funding, with so few firms prepared to stand together to improve how our businesses are regulated, I simply do not have enough members to provide the decisive mandate needed to provide the representation that Independent advisers so badly need.”

She added : “IFA Centre was only launched because so many IFAs were unhappy with existing representation and told me how important trade bodies with knowledgeable, experienced and passionate leadership are. However, many of these advisers have not joined and I am forced to review what services IFA Centre can continue to provide to IFAs”.

Public thank you to IFA Centre

Anyway I would like to thank Gill for all the hard work she has done to promote and further the benefits of impartial independent financial advice and attempts to restore some credibility and trust in a largely untrusted sector. Our clients benefit from independent advice and I wish everyone else’s did too… sadly they don’t.

Dominic Thomas: Solomons IFA