Whether you’re facing big financial decisions or just feeling curious about good money management practices, an experienced money expert can offer valuable insights. Unlike professional advisors who might create financial plans or directly manage your investments, financial mentors usually serve as more informal financial guides and educators.
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Here are four key signs you might need a financial mentor.
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You Struggle With Everyday Financial Management
If you have trouble setting financial goals, managing a budget or paying off your debt, a financial mentor can look at your current financial picture and offer custom advice on how to be more successful moving forward.
For instance, your mentor can investigate your current income and expenses to find any spending issues and suggest ways to cut costs and reallocate funds. You can also work with them to explore options for tackling debts, improving your credit and saving for future purchases.
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You’re Considering Major Financial Moves
Navigating major financial moves like starting a business, buying a home, or beginning to invest can be challenging. If you’re unsure whether you’re financially ready or you aren’t sure where to start, you may need a financial mentor who considers your finances and educates you on the steps involved.
Additionally, your mentor can help you weigh the pros and cons of important decisions such as choosing retirement investments. While they won’t select any specific investments or manage them, they could educate you on factors such as the return and risks of different options and the potential impact on your taxes.
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You Need To Improve Your Financial Literacy
According to a 2024 TIAA Institute-Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center report, only 48% of U.S. adults are financially literate. Although you might not have major financial issues now, financial knowledge gaps could later hurt your stability or limit opportunities to build wealth.
A financial mentor can be a low-cost option for learning the basics – such as budgeting, handling credit responsibly and saving – and getting answers to your money questions. Plus, they could help demystify estate planning, insurance and other complex topics.
You Need Some Accountability
Even if you know the basics of managing money, you might struggle with applying your skills or sticking to your plans. Differing from short-term financial coaches, financial mentors can provide long-term accountability and support that keeps you motivated to achieve your financial goals.
Since you’d have someone to turn to if you feel stuck, you might give up less often. Plus, scheduling regular check-ins with your financial mentor could push you to make progress you can share.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 4 Key Signs You Need a Financial Mentor
Baker McKenzie today announced that leading project finance lawyer Matthias Schemuth has joined the Firm’s Singapore office* as a Principal and Asia Pacific Co-Head of Projects in its Finance & Projects practice, alongside Partner Jon Ornolffson in Tokyo.
Matthias joins the Firm from DLA Piper, bringing more than 20 years of experience in the energy and infrastructure sectors across Asia Pacific. He advises sponsors, developers, commercial banks, multilateral lending agencies, and export credit agencies on the structuring and financing of large-scale projects. His practice also spans international banking, structured commodity and trade finance, with a strong focus on emerging markets. Matthias has been consistently recognised by Chambers Asia Pacific and Who’s Who Legal as a leading project finance practitioner.
James Huang, Managing Principal of Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow in Singapore, said: “We are excited to welcome Matthias to our team. His expertise and proven record in managing teams will be invaluable as we expand our regional and global finance offerings for clients.”
Emmanuel Hadjidakis, Asia Pacific Chair of Baker McKenzie’s Banking & Finance Practice, commented: “Asia Pacific is seeing strong momentum in infrastructure development, energy transition investments, and cross-border project financing, much of it centred in Singapore. Having Matthias on board will further enhance our ability to help clients seize opportunities in the region’s evolving energy and infrastructure markets.”
Steven Sieker, Baker McKenzie’s Asia Chief Executive, added: “Matthias’s appointment underscores Baker McKenzie’s continued commitment to investing in exceptional talent across key markets to support our clients in navigating today’s increasingly complex business and regulatory environment.”
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Matthias said: “I’m thrilled to join Baker McKenzie and contribute to its strong growth in Asia Pacific. The Firm’s global reach and local depth provide an unparalleled platform for delivering innovative projects and financing solutions to clients in this dynamic region.”
With more than 2,700 deal practitioners in more than 40 jurisdictions, Baker McKenzie is a transactional powerhouse. The Firm excels in complex, cross-border transactions; over 65% of our deals are multijurisdictional. The teams are a hybrid of ‘local’ and ‘global’, combining money-market sophistication with local excellence. The Firm’s Banking & Finance lawyers are ranked in more jurisdictions than any other firm by Chambers.
Matthias’s hire continues the expansion of Baker McKenzie’s global team. His joining follows the recent arrivals of Carole Turcotte in Toronto; Tom Oslovar in Palo Alto; Jenny Liu in New York and Palo Alto; Helen Johnson, Mark Thompson, Nick Benson, Kevin Heverin, James Wyatt and Michal Berkner in London; Jan Schubert in Frankfurt; Todd Beauchamp and Charles Weinstein in Washington DC; Dan Ouyang, Winfield Lau, and Ke (Ronnie) Li in Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong; and Alexander Stathopoulos in Singapore.
*Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow is the member firm of Baker McKenzie in Singapore
The Federal Reserve gave investors an early Christmas present by lowering interest rates by 25 basis points (i.e., 0.25%) marking its third rate cut this year. In the past, a change like this in the “long end” of the interest rate yield curve has triggered a predictable, investable pattern. Typically, this pattern would be bearish for finance stocks, particularly banks—investors would buy bank stocks when rates rose and sell them as rates fell….
Dozens of protesters from the “Religious Zionist Reservists Forum” and the “Shared Service Forum” demonstrated Saturday evening outside the home of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in Kedumim.
The protesters arrived with a direct and pointed message, centered on a symbolic “draft order,” calling on Smotrich to “enlist” on behalf of the State of Israel and oppose what they termed the “sham law” being advanced by MK Boaz Bismuth and the Knesset’s haredi parties.
Among the protesters in Kedumim were the parents of Sergeant First Class (res.) Amichai Oster, who fell in battle in Gaza. Amichai grew up in Karnei Shomron and studied at the Shavei Hevron yeshiva.
Protesters held signs reading: “Smotrich, enlist for us,” along with the symbolic “draft order,” calling on him to “enlist for the sake of the State’s security and to save the people’s army – stand against the bill proposed by Bismuth and the haredim!”
Parallel demonstrations were held outside the homes of MK Ohad Tal in Efrat and MK Michal Woldiger in Givat Shmuel.
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Representatives of the “Shared Service Forum” said: “We are members of the public that contributes the most, and we came here to say: Bezalel, without enlistment there will be no victory and no security. Do not abandon our values for the sake of the coalition. The exemption law is a strategic threat, and you bear the responsibility to stop it and lead a real, fair draft plan for a country in which we are all partners. It’s in your hands.”
