Sanam Balani
Join readers of Money Manners Monday for hands-on strategies to improve how you save and invest to boost your financial wellbeing using simple systems. Receive these in your inbox every Monday at 8am GMT / 12pm GMT+4 / 2pm SGT.
Your brain is your worst-performing asset with investing.
Everyone wants a smarter investment strategy. Nobody wants to hear that their own brain is their worst-performing asset. I spent 8 years at Goldman Sachs watching brilliant people make the same predictable mistakes. Not because they lacked information. Because they trusted their instincts over their system. Behavioural finance taught me one uncomfortable truth: We are not rational investors. We are emotional investors who occasionally act rational. The most expensive mistakes I witnessed (and...
The Overwhelmed Boat
Hi Reader, When I was 26, I worked at a large investment bank in the City of London. One Friday, I’d finally tidied up my finances and felt genuinely proud. “I finally have a plan,” I told myself. On Monday, I’d start investing. Then at 7pm, the news dropped. “Brexit confirmed - UK is exiting the EU”. I remember thinking:“Monday is going to be messy”. And it was. Monday morning, a senior manager rushed onto the floor, panicked: “Markets are going wild - be ready.”Phones were off the hook.All...
"I wish they taught money at school"
There isn’t one person I’ve spoken to about wealth who hasn’t used these nine words: “I wish they taught us about money in school.” I made possibly every money mistake because of this: Making life decisions “just for the money” Working hard without clear saving goals Not negotiating my salary as I progressed Panic-selling investments the moment fear kicked in And honestly… so many more I could write a novel. Underneath all of it was one limiting belief: 😰 “Sanam, you’re behind because you’re...
Money Mojo Memo: Default to Save
Words I like: More money is wasted through inaction than spending badly. Money Mojo Memo: The Default to Save Technique Most high-achievers have a rough idea on how much they spend on entertainment, groceries, transport, etc. That’s fine, but you may be leaving more savings on the table, that you could be investing. Here’s a simple fix I teach clients that kills five birds with one elegant solution. Default to Save: Have your salary or income go into your Reservoir, a current account that...
Your obsession with strategy kills wealth
Most high-achievers have a money reflex that looks responsible…but keeps them stuck: “Give me the plan.” “Give me the steps.” “Give me the optimal approach.” This is going to sound offensive, but I say it with love: Your obsession with strategy might be the biggest thing blocking your wealth. The moment I realised I was operating backwards When I worked in banking, my days were intense and long. I’d often finish feeling mentally and physically drained. At night I’d promise myself: “Tomorrow...
Multi-currency chaos in 2026? I battle-tested a solution for you.
Happy New Year! If you’ve been following my work for a while, you know I have a slightly visceral need to do proper due diligence and test solutions on myself before I share them. Which is why I’m genuinely excited (and a little proud) to share my first brand collaboration — with Lunch Money, a global budgeting app. If you operate in multiple currencies across multiple banks, this one’s for you. Brainstorming our first collaboration with founder, Jen Yip As a fellow expat juggling SGD, EUR,...
5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before 2026
Thank you for trusting me with your inbox this year. If you're reading this, you care about building a healthier relationship with money - and I don’t take that lightly. This is my last newsletter of 2025. I hope this year brought you closer to your financial goals, and that 2026 takes you even further! 📅 What’s Coming [January] A Banker's Guide to Index Investing (Reply with "WAITLIST" to join) [Ongoing] Secure a Wealth Breakthrough - Book a Call Want to work together in 2026? Apply here....
Major client win that ended her analysis paralysis
I'm celebrating a major client win this week. Fandumem (aka Fandy) earned well, but her money was a mess. A dozen accounts with no purpose. Random stock picks. Financial goals with unclear timeframes. And endless TikTok/YT advice that left her exhausted. "I'm tired of learning without applying…I'm ready to build wealth for real this time." First, I want you to know I'm giving away the exact investing system in early January. Want the Exact System Fandy Used? I'm opening a free Index Investing...
Your 2026 Wealth Plan (30-day risk-free trial)
Hi Reader, You're watching others build wealth while you're stuck in analysis paralysis, drowning in generic advice that doesn't fit your life. Let's fix that. I created the 1:1 Wealth Clarity Accelerator for young high-achievers who want more than investment advice - you want to fund what matters to you while building long-term security. Clients see drastic transformations in 3-6 months. But here's what matters most: I offer a 30-day money back guarantee. That means you can invest in...
Working too hard on your way to nowhere.
Back in the middle of 2018, I was working +70-hour weeks at Goldman Sachs. I knew that in the next few years, I'd quit to either join a startup or build my own business, to create a real impact on society. The big problem at that time was that I didn't know how much money would be enough to quit. I used to live below my means and save at least 20% of my monthly income, but I figured the more asset classes I invested in, the better my chances of feeling secure if and when I ever took the leap....
Join readers of Money Manners Monday for hands-on strategies to improve how you save and invest to boost your financial wellbeing using simple systems. Receive these in your inbox every Monday at 8am GMT / 12pm GMT+4 / 2pm SGT.