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To borrow from my favourite Dickens’ novel, 2024 has been the best of times and the worst of times.
You have shared the most wonderful and saddest news with us. Our thoughts are with all of you facing difficult times, we will do all we can to help them be a bit more bearable.
The TCFP team has had its own triumphs and adversities.
The long-term absence of Sarah and Suzan has been hard to bear. Both are well on the way to recovery, Suzan is building up her hours and Sarah, TCFP’s matriarch, will return in 2025.
Out of this adversity the team has responded magnificently. They have stepped up to the plate, proving to themselves that they can deal with whatever is thrown at them. It has been a sight to behold, I’m prouder than ever of them.
Emma has just completed a year with us and Louise six months. Both have fitted in superbly; they make a difference every day.
We also started working on a consultancy basis with Paul and Rachel. They have helped us rebrand and sort out our processes. Things that make a big, if not obvious, difference.
For my part, I have enjoyed seeing the team improve, I love leading them and that’s where I believe I can serve you best.
I love my interactions with clients but be in no doubt that all financial planning nous and skills lie firmly with Zoe and Dan these days. Without them I’d be worse than useless as a financial planner.
And then there is Alan and Lou who have simply become the fabric of TCFP. It’s hard to imagine this working as well as it does without them.
And last, but not least, we have Suzan as our well-being coach. She’s helped many of you directly, but better than that, she is helping the rest of us help you more. She has unique abilities to communicate and connect and her work is increasingly invaluable.
Numbers are only part of our work with you. Unless we can give them meaning and purpose, they are just an abstract idea. That’s why I so like our new strapline “Money, made human”.
Looking further afield there appears to be little good news. Wars rage, people suffer, and some elections have produced unnerving outcomes.
But, despite it all, humanity has advanced, there is good news out there, it just takes some effort to unearth it. And if you need help with that I thoroughly recommend: https://humanprogress.org/
It is worth reflecting that the vast majority of humanity is out there trying to improve their lives and the lives of those around them. Only a tiny fraction are hell bent on harm, it is they that capture all the headlines though.
Looking forward to 2025 I hope the headlines improve, we could all do with a break.
I am an optimist by nature and although there will be headwinds and setbacks, the future is bright. But, just in case the headlines don’t change, I’m going to double down on being as kind as I possibly can, whenever I possibly can and rejoice every time I see good happening.
I recommend you do the same.