Life Chapters, Money Choices

What if the reason you feel stuck isn’t a lack of discipline or direction, but the state of your brain?
In this conversation, Michael Avery and Kim Potgieter sit down with neurologist Dr Kirti Ranchod to unpack how stress, uncertainty, and constant distraction reshape the way we think, feel, and make decisions.
They explore why memory fails under pressure, why clarity disappears in times of change, and why so many people try to make big life decisions while mentally exhausted.
This episode offers simple, practical ways to slow down, restore focus, and reconnect with your own thinking before rushing into decisions.
If you are facing a transition and feeling uncertain, this is a reminder to pause, reset, and give your brain the space it needs before deciding what comes next.
🎧 Tune in. Be brave. Be on purpose.

We do not often plan for the moment when roles begin to shift. When the people who once guided our decisions start relying on us to help manage theirs.
Caring for ageing parents is one of life’s most emotional and complex transitions. It brings difficult conversations, changing family dynamics, and important financial and legal decisions that many families only face when it is already too late.
In this episode of Life Chapters, Money Choices, Michael Avery and Kim Potgieter are joined by Chartered Wealth Solutions Financial Planning Specialist, James Carvalho, to explore what this transition really involves.
They unpack what a power of attorney means in South Africa, why it may not work the way many people expect, and what happens when a loved one is no longer able to make decisions for themselves.
This conversation goes beyond the legal detail. It highlights the emotional weight of role reversal, the importance of early conversations, and the practical steps families can take to prepare before a crisis arises.
If you have ageing parents, or want to ease the burden on your own family one day, this is a conversation worth listening to, and one worth having with your own family.
🎧 Tune in. Be brave. Be on purpose.

Divorce is never just about dividing assets. It is a life transition that redefines your identity, your finances and your future.
In this episode, Michael Avery and Kim Potgieter are joined by Gillian Lowndes, a director at Lowndes Dlamini Inc., with over two decades of experience in family law. Known for her work as both a litigator and a trusted advisor, she combines deep legal expertise with a compassionate approach to supporting clients through complex family transitions.
They explore why relationships break down over time, the rise of so-called grey divorce, and the financial and emotional consequences of starting over. From retirement savings and asset division to the impact of stress on decision-making, this conversation highlights what people often don’t see until it’s too late.
🎧 Tune in. Be brave. Be on purpose.

A midlife wake-up call that changed everything
When Lynda Smith reviewed her finances in her early fifties, she discovered a difficult truth. If she retired at 60, her money would run out by 64. It was a wake-up call that forced her to rethink the future.
In this episode of Life Chapters, Money Choices, Michael Avery and Kim Potgieter are joined by Lynda Smith, founder of 50Plus-Skills, who works with people navigating career reinvention beyond 50.
Together they explore:
• What it feels like when the retirement maths no longer adds up
 • Why living longer is changing the traditional retirement model
 • How portfolio careers can extend both purpose and financial security
 • The idea of a “gift season” between 50 and 75
 • Why continuing to contribute can transform both money and meaning
It is a thoughtful conversation about midlife reinvention, longevity, and why working differently may be the key to a longer and richer life.
🎧 Tune in. Be brave. Be on purpose.

Will I run out of money?
It is the question many people carry quietly, even those who appear financially secure.
In this episode of Life Chapters, Money Choices, Michael Avery and Kim Potgieter are joined by Victoria Reuvers, Managing Director of WealthStrat, the investment partner behind Chartered Wealth Solutions.
With more than two decades in the investment industry, Victoria has worked at the highest levels of asset management. Yet what she sees time and again is this. Clients are not chasing quartiles or rankings. They are asking one deeply human question. Am I going to be okay?
Together, they explore:
Why the fear of running out of money can linger, even for disciplined savers
How early money memories shape our relationship with debt, security and risk
Why behaviour matters more than headlines over the long term
The gap between industry performance talk and what actually helps people sleep at night
Women and investing, where confidence can lag even when outcomes often outperform
What it feels like to move from I hope I am fine to I know I am on track
This is not a conversation about beating the market.
It is about building a plan that supports your life, reduces anxiety and gives you permission to live fully.
Because real investment success is not about outperforming a benchmark. It is about knowing your money will last.
🎧 Tune in. Be brave. Be on purpose.