Take Five with Andrew Mackenzie.

Welcome to “Take Five with…”— where we explore unexpected ideas from interesting people. Whether you’re looking for fresh perspectives or intriguing recommendations for your reading, watching, listening, or doing pleasure, “Take Five with…” delivers big ideas in bite-sized chunks. So grab a coffee, get comfortable, and Take Five with Kearney Group Partner and Senior Financial Adviser, Andrew Mackenzie.

A quote Andrew thinks you should know.

“Assumptions are the mother of all F-Ups” is one to live by. So often I meet people who are trying to make life-changing decisions, without good information. One of the most important parts of my role as a Financial Adviser is helping people make sense of the data and understand what’s really important before taking a plunge. And of course, helping them avoid the f-ups by extension.

A book Andrew thinks you should read.

Born To Run by Christopher McDougall. This book inspired me (and many others) to pull on their runners and start running genuine distances.

A concept Andrew thinks you should understand.

Deciding what to do with your money can feel confusing and confronting. But it’s good to know that in reality, there are actually only 9 things you can do with your money. This concept is so important, we actually dive into it in detail this article.

If you’re able to wrap your head around this concept, then deciding what to do with your dollars isn’t quite so hard hard. You just need to pick between these nine different things (and not 9 million, as many people would have you believe).

A simple practice that Andrew says can improve your daily life.

Ban mobile phones from the bedroom. My wife and I either talk to each other or read books each night before bed, rather than doom scrolling. And for those who ask: yes, we each have an old school alarm clock. This simple practice has significantly improved both our sleep quality and the closeness of our relationship.

A skill or hobby Andrew thinks you can learn from.

Two years ago, I took up guitar. I’m not particularly musically gifted, so it’s been a stark lesson in patience. But above all else, learning guitar has really hammered home the power of repetition and practice.