On a typical Saturday morning in our corner of rural France, and I’m already out the door before most of our neighbours.
Not because I’m rushing to a meeting, or trying to get in my 10 000 steps, but because I need to beat the rush… to the boulangerie!
By mid-morning, the shelves will be picked clean of the best croissants and crispy baguettes, and the regulars will have already exchanged pleasantries with the baker, maybe lingered for a coffee, or caught up on local news.
It’s a ritual. A small, meaningful rhythm that anchors the weekend and reminds me what a good life looks like: simple, local, and rich in connection. It’s something I get to do for myself, for my girls and for my community.
What strikes me every time is how these small rituals—buying bread, greeting neighbours, enjoying something freshly made—feel far more significant than they appear.
They’re not extravagant, and yet they offer something that feels increasingly rare in a busy, globalised world: continuity. Familiarity. A sense that you are, quite literally, where you belong.
And oddly enough, I think that’s what good financial planning should feel like.
Not stressful spreadsheets or high-stakes decisions, but steady, thoughtful rhythms. A sense of intention, rather than reaction. Habits that build peace of mind. A relationship with someone who gets where you’re coming from and helps you shape where you’re going.
Someone who gives you permission when you’re not able to give it to yourself.
So much of the financial world is focused on complexity: trading the markets, chasing returns, maximising tax arbitrage. But life, the good life, is rarely about chasing and more often about chilling. It’s about building. It’s about small, daily choices that compound over time into something meaningful and deeply personal.
When I sit down with clients, many of whom live across time zones, tax systems, and currencies, we’re not just talking about money. We’re talking about family, freedom, and identity.
We’re talking about how to design a life that works, not just financially, but emotionally and relationally too. That kind of planning is more about rhythms than resolutions. It’s less about what’s flashy and more about what’s familiar and dependable.
Just like a warm confectionary, it doesn’t need to be complicated to be good.
So wherever you are, whether it’s a local bakery, a familiar walking route, or a shared coffee with someone you love, take a moment to enjoy the little things…
… because, they’re often the big things.
Have questions about your plan or just want a sounding board? Let’s talk.
