Chess Financial Planning

Here is an update on KES & USD Money Market Fund yields, to help you compare where to keep your short term cash. If you are ready to put your money into work you can open an account with either of the platforms I use: Etica Capital: https://clients.eticacap.com/apply?referred_by=symonmburu12@gmail.com Kuza: https://client.kuza.africa/self_registration?agent_no=00184

Finally NSE gets a new ETF and it’s focused on Kenyan banks. The CMA has approved the WSA Banking Index ETF, which will track the NSE Banking Index. Instead of buying 12 bank stocks individually, investors can use one ETF to gain diversified exposure to major listed banks, including Equity, KCB, Co-op, Absa, NCBA, Stanbic, I&M, DTB and others. It will also be the first locally domiciled ETF on the NSE, bringing the total number of ETFs on the exchange to three. The ETF will be KES denominated, but remember: diversification across banks doesn't eliminate market risk. Its value will still rise and fall with bank share prices, interest rates, economic conditions and regulatory changes. This will provide a simpler way to invest in Kenya's banking sector without having to pick individual banks. Note: CMA approval for listing doesn't necessarily mean trading starts immediately. You should await the official listing date.

Updated NSE Dividend Watch Here’s the latest snapshot of upcoming dividends, book closure dates and payment dates for NSE listed companies. Note: Blank total dividend figures indicate that the respective companies’ full year results are yet to be released. Stay ahead of the dividend calendar.

Don’t let anyone charge you to open a Shares CDS Account or an Interactive Brokers account for investing in offshore stocks. Opening these accounts is free. You should not be paying someone simply to open the account on your behalf. If you need assistance with the account-opening process, I’m happy to help. 📲 Need assistance? Reach me on WhatsApp: https://wa.me/254798551777 For direct account-opening links: 🇰🇪 AIB-AXYS Shares Account: https://aibaxys.kenyaonlinetrading.com/ActiveTrader/#!/new-trading-account?ReferralCode=REF2337 🌍 Interactive Brokers (Offshore Stocks): https://ibkr.com/referral/simon3229 Investing doesn't have to be complicated and you shouldn't pay unnecessary fees just to get started.

If your friends determine your worth by the car you drive or the phone you own, it’s time to get better friends, not a better car or phone. Don’t go broke trying to impress people who are measuring your worth by your possessions. Happy week ahead!

The NSE closed in the red today, but that's nothing to be overly concerned about. Market pullbacks are a normal part of investing and are simply how markets work. Not every trading day ends in the green. Days like today also remind us of an important distinction: volatility isn't the same as risk. Most investors think risk is watching their portfolio fall 10% in a week. It isn't. True risk is the permanent loss of capital. A quality business may experience temporary price declines, but if its intrinsic value remains intact, volatility is simply part of investing—not the risk itself. The real danger lies elsewhere: Overpaying for a business because everyone believes it's "safe." Chasing momentum without understanding value. Investing in businesses you don't understand. Successful investing is often less about finding the next big winner and more about avoiding costly mistakes. Build a portfolio where the downside is carefully managed while the upside remains open. Remember, markets recover from volatility far more often than they recover from poor investment decisions. Don't fear volatility. Fear permanent capital loss.

Your Old Pension Could Be Worth More Than You Think. Have you changed jobs at least once? If you have, there's a chance you still have pension savings with a previous employer's scheme that you've never followed up on. Recently, I helped a client trace and consolidate pensions from three former employers. Seeing the total value of his retirement savings in one place came as a genuine surprise. He thought each old pension had "just a few thousand shillings." When we brought them together, he realized his retirement savings were far more substantial than he had imagined. Many people assume there's nothing they need to do after leaving an employer. In reality, it's important to know where your pension is, consolidate it and keep track of it. Why should you consider consolidating your pension? ✅ Know exactly where all your retirement savings are. ✅ Make it easier to monitor your pension as it grows. ✅ Simplify the management of your retirement savings by having them in one place. ✅ Gain peace of mind knowing your retirement savings aren't being overlooked. If you've worked for two or more employers, it's worth checking whether you have pension savings that need your attention. How many employers have you worked for? You might be surprised by how much you've accumulated over the years. Send me a DM on WhatsApp https://wa.me/254798551777 for guidance on tracing and consolidating your pensions. The first step is simply finding out what you have.

Here is an update on USD Money Market Funds.

Updated NSE Dividend Watch👆🏽 Remember companies pay dividends differently. Some distribute nearly all their profits, while others retain earnings to fund expansion. Neither approach is automatically right or wrong—it depends on the company's strategy and stage of growth. As an investor, understand why a company pays the dividend it does.

BAT Kenya Hit With KSh 4.5 Billion Lawsuit Over VELO Nicotine Pouches BAT Kenya is facing a constitutional petition seeking KSh 4.5 billion over the marketing and sale of its VELO nicotine pouches. The case requests KSh 1.5 billion to establish a public health fund, KSh 3 billion in punitive damages, and a court order to withdraw the product from the market. According to the petition, BAT allegedly promoted VELO at entertainment venues, engaged university students to help recruit users, and sold nicotine pouches individually, actions the petitioner claims violate Kenya's tobacco control laws. These allegations are currently before the court and have not been proven. Investor Takeaway: The financial implications are still unclear at this stage. However, VELO is an important part of BAT Kenya's reduced-risk product strategy, making this a case worth following. Any unfavorable ruling or tighter restrictions on VELO could affect the company's long-term growth prospects.

Today is the book closure for Williamson Tea and Kapchorua Tea. If you don't own the shares by the close of trading today, you won't qualify for their upcoming dividends. Starting next week, both stocks will trade ex-dividend, so don't be surprised if their…

As an investor, your portfolio should have assets that protect your money from: - Inflation - Currency depreciation - Illiquidity - High investment costs - Concentration risk Happy New Week!

Happy New Month! 🎉 Seven months of 2026 are already behind us. By now, many of us have already received our July salary or business income. Before the month gets away from you, take a moment this weekend to reflect on your financial goals. Ask yourself: • Am I saving consistently? • Am I investing regularly? • Am I any closer to the financial goals I set at the beginning of the year? If you have gone off track, don't wait for January to reset. August gives you five more months to finish the year stronger than you started. Your financial future isn't shaped by one big decision, but by the small decisions you make every month. Wishing you a financially rewarding August!

July inflation came in as 6.5%. Don't just celebrate positive returns, compare them with inflation. The goal isn't just to make money; it's to grow your purchasing power.

The infrastructure bond drought is finally over. What's particularly interesting is the coupon. After factoring in the tax exemption, the effective return isn't much different from that of a taxable FXD bond with a higher nominal coupon.

Today is the book closure for Williamson Tea and Kapchorua Tea. If you don't own the shares by the close of trading today, you won't qualify for their upcoming dividends. Starting next week, both stocks will trade ex-dividend, so don't be surprised if their share prices fall by roughly the dividend amount, all else being equal. A lower share price after the ex-dividend date isn't necessarily bad news, it's a normal part of how dividend-paying stocks trade.

If you are in the low-income bracket, investing in stocks, bonds, or MMFs won't help you. Yours is an income problem, not an investment problem. Investing in yourself is better than investing in any asset class. Sharpen your craft, grow your business, and scale the income ladder.