Josh Hoskin Smart Money jhoskin@goldridge.co.nz

Whenever election campaigns begin all the promises that are flung around remind me of a quote from the one and only Johnny Rotten of Sex Pistols fame; 'Ever get the feeling you've been cheated?”.

I actually think this quote is an accurate summation of the feelings of the Wall Street protestors. It seems many of our Greek and Italian friends are having similar thoughts.

Are these feelings fair? In my view, probably not. Whether we like it or not we are all complicit in the way of the world's economy. Many individuals could have elected not to extend that mortgage out a bit further, many bankers could have elected not to loosen the purse strings so much and many of our leaders could have set up regulatory systems that decreased the risk of the vast borrowings getting out of hand.

The best part of this equation as I keep on saying is that we can all get ourselves moving forward by working together. I know this is rather simplistic, but the big picture is the only place to start. Choice is still a wonderful thing, so use it wisely.

Control what you can control. If you want to make a difference in your financial life, work harder and more efficiently and with the additional income save more and invest in the future. If you want help, come and talk to a financial adviser who wants you to succeed.

The article is based on personal opinion and may not be representative of the views of Goldridge Ltd. Josh Hoskin is an authorised financial adviser with Goldridge Wealth Management. A copy of his Disclosure Statement is available free on request. This article is not personalised advice under the Financial Advisers Act 2008. Readers should not act on any suggestions in this column without taking professional advice that takes into account their current circumstances and appetite for risk.