Alfred Mathu

Advising on Retirement Planning, Savings, Investments & Insurance, Lead Consultant Hisa Africa Insurance | Key Intermediary for Absa Life Assurance & Old Mutual

[Alfred Mathu @MathuAlfred]

This is the story of how I cleared a 10-year mortgage in 2 years

In the year 2000, I signed for my first mortgage KSh 2.7 million, repayable over ten years, with a monthly installment of about KSh 37,000. At the time, it felt significant but manageable. Like many young professionals, I believed the difficult part was getting approved. Once the bank said yes, I was ready to sit back and relax knowing that in 10 years i will be a home owner.

That is what traps most people.

When many people secure a mortgage, they celebrate the approval rather than confront the obligation. They upgrade furniture, expand their lifestyle, and slowly adjust their expenses until the monthly payment blends into routine existence. Ten years quietly becomes normal. The loan stops feeling temporary and starts feeling permanent.

I had a mentor who refused to let that happen. Stewart Henderson, who was serving as CEO of Old Mutual at the time told me something that permanently changed my understanding of debt: a mortgage is not a commitment it is an emergency.

Then he introduced a rule that, at the time, felt extreme. Every month I earned commissions, I had to bring my statement to him before spending any money. We would sit down together and allocate it.

The bank required KSh 37,000.
Stewart ignored that number.

Instead, he focused on capacity. Whenever income rose, payments rose. Whenever earnings improved, we attacked the loan. He called it 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐠𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧, treating debt as something to eliminate quickly rather than manage comfortably.

The first few months were uncomfortable. The natural instinct after earning more money is to reward yourself. Income creates a feeling of entitlement to enjoy what you worked hard for. But discipline does not negotiate with feelings. Every additional shilling was assigned before it reached my pocket.

Something surprising happened. As my income grew, but my lifestyle did not.

Because expenses stayed controlled, every increase in earnings accelerated repayment. The balance started shrinking visibly not yearly, but monthly. What had been structured as a ten-year obligation began to feel temporary.

Two years later, I made the final payment.

Now here’s the surprise, after I serviced the mortgage to completion, my mentor did not congratulate late me. He simply told me to start looking for the next property.

Most people follow a familiar sequence: earn, spend, then save what remains. I learned to earn, allocate, then live on the balance. The house was not paid off by income alone; it was paid off by priority.

Over the years, advising many individuals, I have noticed a consistent pattern. Nearly everyone wants financial freedom eventually, but very few accept financial discipline immediately. The distance between the two is not measured in years it is measured in habits.

Your path does not have to begin with a mortgage. In fact, for many people the smarter starting point is elsewhere, structured savings & investments, or disciplined accumulation strategies that eventually position you for homeownership without pressure.

[Alfred Mathu @MathuAlfred]

DID YOU KNOW?

No one can destroy iron, but its own rust can. Likewise, no one can undermine your financial future quite like your own financial habits can.

Just as rust slowly eats away at iron, poor spending habits, delayed investments and a lack of financial discipline can gradually erode the wealth you could have built.

Protect your financial future by changing the habits that threaten it.

[Alfred Mathu @MathuAlfred]

DID YOU KNOW?

No one can destroy iron, but its own rust can. Likewise, no one can undermine your financial future quite like your own financial habits can.

Just as rust slowly eats away at iron, poor spending habits, delayed investments and a lack of financial discipline can gradually erode the wealth you could have built.

Protect your financial future by changing the habits that threaten it.

[Alfred Mathu @MathuAlfred]

I made one financial decision in 1998 and i have stuck with it ever since. Here is what you can learn from my experience.

In 1998, I made a decision that has shaped how I manage my money to this day: I committed a portion of my regular income to investments.

Over the years, my income has changed, my responsibilities have evolved and different financial priorities have emerged. But one principle has remained constant. Whenever I earn, a portion of that income is set aside to build my financial future.

When I first started investing, I did not have a crystal ball. I could not predict what the markets would do, how the economy would change or what opportunities the future would bring. What I could control was how much of my income I committed to investing and whether I would remain consistent.

I made a decision to invest approximately 30% of my income and stick with it.

At the time, I could have found plenty of reasons to do otherwise. I could have waited until I was earning more. I could have convinced myself that I would start investing once my expenses reduced or life became more comfortable. There would always have been a reason to postpone it.

Instead, I made investing part of my financial routine. People often focus too much on finding the perfect moment to invest and too little on developing the habit of investing consistently.

They wait for a salary increase, a financial windfall or the moment when they finally feel they have enough money. Meanwhile, months and years pass, and investing remains something they intend to do rather than something they actually practise.

My approach has been to make investing a regular commitment. This does not mean that life never presents competing demands. It means that investing has a place in my financial priorities, and I make deliberate efforts to maintain that commitment.

In 2023, an investment I had started building towards in 1998 matured. After 25 years, I had reached an important milestone. But the maturity of an investment presents another decision: what happens next?

I chose to reinvest the proceeds rather than simply absorb them into my lifestyle. That decision reflected the same principle that had guided me from the beginning: I wanted my money to continue serving a purpose beyond the present.

𝐈 𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐚 𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐭

Everyone’s financial circumstances are different. Not everyone can allocate the same percentage of their income to investments, and the right amount will depend on your present circumstances.

The question I would like you to consider is this: 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞, 𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧?

Your financial future is shaped, in part, by the decisions you make repeatedly.

If you would like help developing an investment strategy that reflects your own circumstances and financial goals, I invite you to book a financial wellness session with me.

[Alfred Mathu @MathuAlfred]

I made one financial decision in 1998 and i have stuck with it ever since. Here is what you can learn from my experience.

In 1998, I made a decision that has shaped how I manage my money to this day: I committed a portion of my regular income to investments.

Over the years, my income has changed, my responsibilities have evolved and different financial priorities have emerged. But one principle has remained constant. Whenever I earn, a portion of that income is set aside to build my financial future.

When I first started investing, I did not have a crystal ball. I could not predict what the markets would do, how the economy would change or what opportunities the future would bring. What I could control was how much of my income I committed to investing and whether I would remain consistent.

I made a decision to invest approximately 30% of my income and stick with it.

At the time, I could have found plenty of reasons to do otherwise. I could have waited until I was earning more. I could have convinced myself that I would start investing once my expenses reduced or life became more comfortable. There would always have been a reason to postpone it.

Instead, I made investing part of my financial routine. People often focus too much on finding the perfect moment to invest and too little on developing the habit of investing consistently.

They wait for a salary increase, a financial windfall or the moment when they finally feel they have enough money. Meanwhile, months and years pass, and investing remains something they intend to do rather than something they actually practise.

My approach has been to make investing a regular commitment. This does not mean that life never presents competing demands. It means that investing has a place in my financial priorities, and I make deliberate efforts to maintain that commitment.

In 2023, an investment I had started building towards in 1998 matured. After 25 years, I had reached an important milestone. But the maturity of an investment presents another decision: what happens next?

I chose to reinvest the proceeds rather than simply absorb them into my lifestyle. That decision reflected the same principle that had guided me from the beginning: I wanted my money to continue serving a purpose beyond the present.

𝐈 𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐚 𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐭

Everyone’s financial circumstances are different. Not everyone can allocate the same percentage of their income to investments, and the right amount will depend on your present circumstances.

The question I would like you to consider is this: 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞, 𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧?

Your financial future is shaped, in part, by the decisions you make repeatedly.

If you would like help developing an investment strategy that reflects your own circumstances and financial goals, I invite you to book a financial wellness session with me.

[Alfred Mathu @MathuAlfred]

We often hear the phrase, “Knowledge is power.” Most of us agree with it without giving it much thought. Let me ask you something: if knowledge is power, how much of that power are you using to make better financial decisions?

When it comes to saving, investing or planning for retirement, you may find yourself relying on information picked up from conversations with friends, social media posts or a recommendation from someone who claims to have found a lucrative investment opportunity.

That is where things can become complicated.

You may be an excellent doctor, engineer, teacher, entrepreneur or corporate executive. Your expertise is valuable, but it does not automatically make you an expert in managing investments, assessing financial risks or preparing for retirement.

Just as you would consult a qualified professional when dealing with a specialised problem in another area of your life, your finances deserve the same level of attention.

I have always found it concerning how quickly some people are willing to commit their hard-earned money to an investment they barely understand.

How many stop to ask the important questions?

Where do the returns come from?
What risks are involved?
Is the investment properly regulated?
Can the promised returns be sustained? What happens if the economy performs poorly?

These questions matter because attractive returns do not automatically make an investment suitable for you. Some opportunities carry risks that are far greater than you can comfortably afford. Others may be poorly understood, while some are outright scams designed to exploit people’s desire to grow their money quickly.

Over the past 28 years in financial services, I have come to appreciate the value of informed financial decisions. Saving, investing and retirement planning require you to consider several things: your current financial position, your goals, your responsibilities, your investment horizon and the level of risk you are prepared to take

Two people can earn the same salary and still require completely different financial plans.

One may be saving towards a child’s university education in five years. Another may be preparing to retire in ten years. A third may be focused on building an emergency fund before committing money to longer-term investments.

The investment approach that makes sense for one person may be entirely unsuitable for another.

As a The Financial Doctor my role is to help you ask the right questions, understand the options available to you and make decisions that align with your financial goals.

Consider the possibility that a single financial wellness session could help you identify a gap in your retirement plan, rethink how you are allocating your income, understand the risks attached to an investment you are considering or establish a clearer strategy for your family’s financial future.

You may already be doing several things right but even then, an objective review can help you identify opportunities to improve your approach.

You do not need to wait until you are in financial difficulty to seek guidance. Would you be willing to invest an hour in gaining knowledge that could help you make better financial decisions for years to come?

I invite you to schedule a financial wellness session with me. Let us review your goals, discuss your concerns and explore how you can take a more deliberate approach to your financial future.

Book a session here: https://t.co/0adOo6M9ce

[Alfred Mathu @MathuAlfred]

You can spend three hours on social media and still learn nothing that improves your life or you can come across one idea that changes how you think about money forever.

That is the interesting thing about social media. Every day, we have access to an incredible amount of information, yet it is possible to scroll for hours, watch video after video, and walk away with nothing meaningful to show for the time spent.

Meanwhile, there are people trying to figure out how to acquire their first 1,000,000. There are parents wondering how they will finance their children’s education, and professionals earning good salaries but struggling to build wealth.

What they need is not another source of entertainment. They need the right information, explained in a way they can understand and apply.

That is why I make it a point to share financial insights across my social media platforms. If something I share helps someone rethink a spending habit, start investing, prepare for retirement or make a better financial decision, then the effort is worthwhile.

We are taking that conversation a step further. I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Rick Okinda, CPA, host of The Executive Review Podcast for a conversation that I am looking forward to sharing with you. We discussed ideas that I believe will be valuable to anyone interested in understanding money and making more informed financial decisions.

The episode will be out soon, so keep an eye on this space. Until then, the next time you find yourself scrolling, ask yourself one simple question:

𝐀𝐦 𝐈 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞, 𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐦 𝐈 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞?

The difference between where you are financially and where you want to be begins with a lesson you have not yet learned.

[Alfred Mathu @MathuAlfred]

Your salary needs a plan before your expenses take over.

Rent, school fees, family responsibilities and lifestyle will always compete for your money. Without a clear budget, you may find yourself earning every month but making little progress financially.

I believe every shilling should have an assignment: some for emergencies, some for investments, some for your future, and some to enjoy today.

Give your money direction, or your expenses will give it one.

The question is simple: Are you telling your money where to go, or wondering where it went?

[Alfred Mathu @MathuAlfred]

Your salary needs a plan before your expenses take over.

Rent, school fees, family responsibilities and lifestyle will always compete for your money. Without a clear budget, you may find yourself earning every month but making little progress financially.

I believe every shilling should have an assignment: some for emergencies, some for investments, some for your future, and some to enjoy today.

Give your money direction, or your expenses will give it one.

The question is simple: Are you telling your money where to go, or wondering where it went?

[Alfred Mathu @MathuAlfred]

If nothing changes, nothing changes! You cannot keep living the same way and expect different results.

Have you ever looked at your finances and wondered why, despite working so hard, you seem to be in the same position year after year?

At some point, you have to ask yourself an uncomfortable question: What am I doing differently to produce a different result?

Hard work is important, but when it comes to building wealth, working hard without changing the habits that keep you stuck can leave you running in circles.

If you spend your entire salary and hope to start investing when you earn more, what will stop you from spending that increase as well?

If you keep postponing retirement planning because it feels too early, what will suddenly make it a priority later?

And if you never examine where your money goes, how will you know what needs to change?

Your financial future is influenced by the decisions you repeat. The way you spend, save, borrow, invest and plan gradually shapes the position you find yourself in.

Changing that position requires you to look honestly at your current habits and decide which ones need to change. You do not have to change everything overnight. Start with the decisions that will make the biggest difference, then work on them consistently.

Remember, changing your approach does not mean chasing every new investment opportunity or taking unnecessary risks. It means making more deliberate decisions based on your circumstances, your responsibilities and the future you want to build.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

Take a moment to look at your finances.

If you continue making the same decisions you have been making for the past five years, where are they likely to take you in the next five?

If the answer is not what you hoped for, it is time to do something differently. I would be happy to sit down with you, review where you are financially and help you develop a plan that gives your money a clearer direction.

[Alfred Mathu @MathuAlfred]

If nothing changes, nothing changes! You cannot keep living the same way and expect different results.

Have you ever looked at your finances and wondered why, despite working so hard, you seem to be in the same position year after year?

At some point, you have to ask yourself an uncomfortable question: What am I doing differently to produce a different result?

Hard work is important, but when it comes to building wealth, working hard without changing the habits that keep you stuck can leave you running in circles.

If you spend your entire salary and hope to start investing when you earn more, what will stop you from spending that increase as well?

If you keep postponing retirement planning because it feels too early, what will suddenly make it a priority later?

And if you never examine where your money goes, how will you know what needs to change?

Your financial future is influenced by the decisions you repeat. The way you spend, save, borrow, invest and plan gradually shapes the position you find yourself in.

Changing that position requires you to look honestly at your current habits and decide which ones need to change. You do not have to change everything overnight. Start with the decisions that will make the biggest difference, then work on them consistently.

Remember, changing your approach does not mean chasing every new investment opportunity or taking unnecessary risks. It means making more deliberate decisions based on your circumstances, your responsibilities and the future you want to build.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

Take a moment to look at your finances.

If you continue making the same decisions you have been making for the past five years, where are they likely to take you in the next five?

If the answer is not what you hoped for, it is time to do something differently. I would be happy to sit down with you, review where you are financially and help you develop a plan that gives your money a clearer direction.

[Alfred Mathu @MathuAlfred]

I met a young lawyer who had taken a mortgage to acquire a Ksh.16,000,000 property but his rental income was only Ksh.72,000 a month.

Despite owning a valuable asset, he was struggling financially! After looking at the numbers, I advised him to consider a difficult decision: selling the property before the situation became worse.

Here's a lesson every property investor should understand: owning an asset worth millions doesn't automatically mean you're building wealth.

The numbers must make sense. Your investments should support your financial goals, not put your financial stability at risk.

If you were in his position, would you sell or hold on to the property?

[Alfred Mathu @MathuAlfred]

Watch the full episode: https://t.co/vZOo2yuLzo

[Alfred Mathu @MathuAlfred]

I met a young lawyer who had taken a mortgage to acquire a Ksh.16,000,000 property but his rental income was only Ksh.72,000 a month.

Despite owning a valuable asset, he was struggling financially! After looking at the numbers, I advised him to consider a difficult decision: selling the property before the situation became worse.

Here's a lesson every property investor should understand: owning an asset worth millions doesn't automatically mean you're building wealth.

The numbers must make sense. Your investments should support your financial goals, not put your financial stability at risk.

If you were in his position, would you sell or hold on to the property?

[Alfred Mathu @MathuAlfred]

Have you ever checked your M-Pesa balance, only to realise that the money you had a few days ago has almost disappeared?

You look at your phone in disbelief. The balance was healthy just the other day. Now you are staring at a few hundred shillings, wondering what happened.

The strange thing is that you cannot remember doing anything major with the money. You haven’t bought a car, paid school fees or made any significant purchase. Just a few transactions here, a few purchases there, some money sent to a friend, a little shopping, lunch, transport and perhaps a weekend outing.

Nothing that felt particularly expensive.

Yet somehow, the money is gone. It is almost as though it evaporated straight from your M-Pesa account, leaving no trace of where it went.

And you are left asking yourself, “Hii pesa ilienda wapi?”

You have probably heard people say, “Pesa hujitafutia kazi.” Money always seems to find something to do.

And that is precisely the problem.

Money will always find somewhere to go if you don’t decide where it should go first. There will always be another bill to pay, something to buy, someone to help or an opportunity to spend. By the time you remember your savings and investment goals, there may be very little left to work with.

If you are keen you will see this pattern. Someone receives their salary with every intention of saving and investing that month. They start by paying a few bills, handle some personal expenses and attend to the things that cannot wait. As the days go by, more expenses appear.

Then one day, they check their phone and wonder how a seemingly comfortable balance became a double-digit figure.

This is why I encourage people to 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞.

Before your income arrives, decide how much needs to go towards your savings, investments, emergency fund and other financial goals. Once the money comes in, allocate those amounts before everyday expenses begin claiming their share.

The amount will depend on your income, responsibilities and goals. I recommend 25%, but you may start with 10%, 20% or whatever is realistic for your circumstances. What matters is making the decision deliberately and sticking to it.

You should also pay attention to where the rest of your money goes. Review your M-Pesa statements and bank transactions. You may discover that several small, ordinary expenses are taking up a significant part of your income. Once you can see the pattern, you can decide what needs to change.

You don’t have to stop enjoying your money. You simply need to make sure that your present lifestyle does not consume everything you could be using to build your future.

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐞.

I invite you to a one-on-one financial review where we can examine your income, spending habits, financial obligations and existing investments, identify possible leaks and explore suitable investment options aligned with your goals.

[Alfred Mathu @MathuAlfred]

Have you ever checked your M-Pesa balance, only to realise that the money you had a few days ago has almost disappeared?

You look at your phone in disbelief. The balance was healthy just the other day. Now you are staring at a few hundred shillings, wondering what happened.

The strange thing is that you cannot remember doing anything major with the money. You haven’t bought a car, paid school fees or made any significant purchase. Just a few transactions here, a few purchases there, some money sent to a friend, a little shopping, lunch, transport and perhaps a weekend outing.

Nothing that felt particularly expensive.

Yet somehow, the money is gone. It is almost as though it evaporated straight from your M-Pesa account, leaving no trace of where it went.

And you are left asking yourself, “Hii pesa ilienda wapi?”

You have probably heard people say, “Pesa hujitafutia kazi.” Money always seems to find something to do.

And that is precisely the problem.

Money will always find somewhere to go if you don’t decide where it should go first. There will always be another bill to pay, something to buy, someone to help or an opportunity to spend. By the time you remember your savings and investment goals, there may be very little left to work with.

If you are keen you will see this pattern. Someone receives their salary with every intention of saving and investing that month. They start by paying a few bills, handle some personal expenses and attend to the things that cannot wait. As the days go by, more expenses appear.

Then one day, they check their phone and wonder how a seemingly comfortable balance became a double-digit figure.

This is why I encourage people to 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞.

Before your income arrives, decide how much needs to go towards your savings, investments, emergency fund and other financial goals. Once the money comes in, allocate those amounts before everyday expenses begin claiming their share.

The amount will depend on your income, responsibilities and goals. I recommend 25%, but you may start with 10%, 20% or whatever is realistic for your circumstances. What matters is making the decision deliberately and sticking to it.

You should also pay attention to where the rest of your money goes. Review your M-Pesa statements and bank transactions. You may discover that several small, ordinary expenses are taking up a significant part of your income. Once you can see the pattern, you can decide what needs to change.

You don’t have to stop enjoying your money. You simply need to make sure that your present lifestyle does not consume everything you could be using to build your future.

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐞.

I invite you to a one-on-one financial review where we can examine your income, spending habits, financial obligations and existing investments, identify possible leaks and explore suitable investment options aligned with your goals.

[Alfred Mathu @MathuAlfred]

One of the most important questions you should ask yourself before making an investment is this: What am I building towards?

Are you preparing to educate your children, buy a home, secure your retirement or create financial independence for your family?

Whatever your goal, having a clear destination changes the way you approach investing. When you know what you are working towards, it becomes easier to remain disciplined. You begin to see your monthly contributions as part of a bigger plan.

The money you invest today has a purpose, and that purpose can help you resist the temptation to spend it on something that offers immediate satisfaction.
This discipline becomes especially important when markets fluctuate. There will be periods when returns disappoint, when another investment appears more attractive or when you are tempted to abandon your strategy because progress feels too slow.

Without a clear goal, it is easy to lose direction., with one, you have a reason to review your decisions carefully rather

[Alfred Mathu @MathuAlfred]

THE MOST DANGEROUS FINANCIAL SITUATION IS LOOKING WEALTHY WHILE BEING BROKE

There are people walking among us who are drowning in debt, yet you would never know it from looking at them.

They drive beautiful cars, live in impressive houses, dress well, frequent expensive restaurants and appear to enjoy a life many people would envy. From the outside, everything seems to be going well.

But behind the lifestyle are loan repayments, credit card balances, unpaid bills and financial obligations they can barely keep up with.

Some are only a few months away from financial trouble, yet they continue spending as though everything is fine.

Why?

Because somewhere along the way, maintaining the appearance of success became more important than building actual financial security.

They have a reputation to protect, a circle of friends to impress and a lifestyle they fear losing. They worry that downgrading their car, moving to a more affordable home or declining expensive outings will invite questions they would rather not answer.

So they keep going.

Another loan to maintain the lifestyle. Another expense to avoid looking out of place. Another month of trying to keep up with people who may themselves be struggling financially.

The tragedy is that some people are spending money they do not have to maintain an image they can no longer afford.

I have always believed that one of the most important financial skills is knowing when to change course.

There is no shame in recognising that your current lifestyle has become too expensive for your income. Circumstances change. Businesses struggle, income falls, family responsibilities increase and unexpected expenses arise. A lifestyle that was once manageable can gradually become a burden.

The mistake is allowing pride to prevent you from responding to that reality. It is better to voluntarily lower your cost of living today than to be forced into financial decisions tomorrow because you have run out of options.

If you are struggling financially, be honest with yourself. Look at your debts, understand your expenses and acknowledge what needs to change. You do not have to explain every decision to your friends, and you do not need their permission to make better financial choices.

There is dignity in admitting that things are not going well. There is wisdom in adjusting before the situation becomes worse. And there is strength in choosing long-term financial stability over short-term approval.

At the end of the day, you don’t have to look rich to be doing well financially. What matters is being able to pay your bills, sleep peacefully and know that you’re building towards the life you wish for in future

[Alfred Mathu @MathuAlfred]

Imagine your child gets into their dream university tomorrow. Can your finances keep up with their dreams? Then comes the question: Can you afford to give them that opportunity?

Imagine discovering that educating your child at their dream university abroad could cost as much as KSh 50 million. Would your current savings and investments be enough to meet that cost?

Every parent wants to give their child the best possible start in life. But while the dream of a good education is clear, the financial plan to make it possible is often left for another day.

That is why I encourage parents to start planning from the day their children are born. Eighteen years gives you valuable time to set a target, invest consistently and build towards the amount you will need.

But saving alone is not enough. You also need to consider what would happen if an unexpected event affected your ability to provide. Appropriate insurance protection can help safeguard your child's education plan, depending on the cover and policy terms.

You might be asking yourself, "what if my child is already in primary or secondary school?" You can still assess the costs, review your current resources and develop a realistic plan for the years remaining.

The important thing is to understand your goal, choose investments suited to your circumstances and know the terms before committing your money.

Your child's education should not depend entirely on how much money you happen to have when university admission arrives. Start building towards that future today.

Let me ask you: How old was your child when you first started planning financially for their university education?

𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧’𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐞𝐭? I can help you set an education savings target and structure an investment plan tailored to your goals, budget and timeline.

Comment “EDUCATION” below, and let’s start planning for your child’s future today.

[Alfred Mathu @MathuAlfred]

Making money is only the first step towards financial success. The real question is: what happens to your money after you earn it?

Many people work hard, earn salaries, run businesses and generate income for years, yet struggle to achieve their financial goals. The challenge often lies in what happens between earning the money and building lasting wealth.

I believe money must go through three important stages:
1. MAKE MONEY — Build Your Income
Whether you earn a salary, run a business or have multiple income streams, generating income gives you the resources to work towards your financial goals.
But earning more money alone does not automatically translate into financial security.

2. MANAGE MONEY — Give Every Shilling a Purpose
This is where financial planning becomes essential. You need to understand how much you earn, where your money goes, what your priorities are and how your spending aligns with your goals.
Effective money management involves budgeting, controlling unnecessary expenses, managing debt, building an emergency fund and making informed financial decisions.

3. MULTIPLY MONEY — Put Your Money to Work
Once you have a structured financial plan, the next step is to build your investments. Through consistent saving, appropriate investment choices, diversification and long-term planning, you can work towards growing your wealth and creating financial independence.

But there is one more thing that matters: the information behind your financial decisions. Financial decisions based on hearsay, social pressure and unverified claims can take you away from your goals. Research, reliable information and professional financial guidance can help you make decisions that serve both your present needs and your future ambitions.

This is why financial literacy and financial planning matter. You need a clear understanding of your current financial position, a strategy for managing your resources and a roadmap for achieving your goals.

Your money should do more than sustain your lifestyle today. It should also help you build security for tomorrow. Remember: Make money. Manage money. Multiply money.

Which stage are you focusing on right now: making more money, managing what you earn or multiplying it through investments?

[Alfred Mathu @MathuAlfred]

Making money is only the first step towards financial success. The real question is: what happens to your money after you earn it?

Many people work hard, earn salaries, run businesses and generate income for years, yet struggle to achieve their financial goals. The challenge often lies in what happens between earning the money and building lasting wealth.

I believe money must go through three important stages:
1. MAKE MONEY — Build Your Income
Whether you earn a salary, run a business or have multiple income streams, generating income gives you the resources to work towards your financial goals.
But earning more money alone does not automatically translate into financial security.

2. MANAGE MONEY — Give Every Shilling a Purpose
This is where financial planning becomes essential. You need to understand how much you earn, where your money goes, what your priorities are and how your spending aligns with your goals.
Effective money management involves budgeting, controlling unnecessary expenses, managing debt, building an emergency fund and making informed financial decisions.

3. MULTIPLY MONEY — Put Your Money to Work
Once you have a structured financial plan, the next step is to build your investments. Through consistent saving, appropriate investment choices, diversification and long-term planning, you can work towards growing your wealth and creating financial independence.

But there is one more thing that matters: the information behind your financial decisions. Financial decisions based on hearsay, social pressure and unverified claims can take you away from your goals. Research, reliable information and professional financial guidance can help you make decisions that serve both your present needs and your future ambitions.

This is why financial literacy and financial planning matter. You need a clear understanding of your current financial position, a strategy for managing your resources and a roadmap for achieving your goals.

Your money should do more than sustain your lifestyle today. It should also help you build security for tomorrow. Remember: Make money. Manage money. Multiply money.

Which stage are you focusing on right now: making more money, managing what you earn or multiplying it through investments?