Latest news with #DavidAllen
Mint
12-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
The two-minute investment rule that can transform your finances
David Allen revolutionised productivity with a deceptively simple idea in his bestselling book Getting Things Done. Among his many insights, perhaps the most transformative is the two-minute rule: if something takes less than two minutes to do, do it immediately rather than adding it to your to-do list. The logic is elegant, the time spent writing it down, remembering it, and eventually doing it far exceeds the time needed to complete the task right away. This principle, born in the world of personal productivity, offers some valuable lessons for managing your investments. Just as Allen discovered that small tasks left undone create disproportionate mental overhead, small investment-related tasks left unattended can snowball into outsized financial problems. Read this | This CEO has no fixed-income investments, and has never done an SIP Consider a common scenario: you receive dividend payments, maturity proceeds, or some other lump sum that sits idle in your savings account for months. The two-minute action of transferring these funds into a liquid fund or setting up a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) helps preserve purchasing power. Yet most investors defer this simple step, watching their money quietly lose value to inflation. The same applies to other routine tasks - updating nomination details, reviewing insurance coverage annually, reconciling portfolio statements, or ensuring your SIPs are running smoothly. Each of these typically takes just a couple of minutes, but ignoring them can lead to major headaches later. Allen's rule recognizes a fundamental truth about human behaviour: we tend to overestimate the effort needed for small tasks and underestimate their cumulative impact. In investing, this leads to a dangerous pattern—deferring minor maintenance until it turns into major problems. Take the simple act of reviewing your mutual fund statements each month. Most investors either ignore them or promise to do a 'proper" review later. But what does a proper review really entail? For most retail investors, it means little more than checking if the funds are performing reasonably and ensuring no unexpected charges have crept in. That's a two-minute job per fund. Yet catching issues early can prevent years of underperformance. If you use a platform like Value Research Fund Advisor, it becomes even easier. And remember, this isn't just financial housekeeping—it is return on investment (ROI) in its purest form. ROI is the gain on an action divided by its cost. While this is usually applied to large investment decisions, it holds just as true for micro-tasks. Move ₹50,000 from a 3% savings account to a 7% liquid fund, and in the 90 seconds it takes, you'll earn around ₹2,000 more over a year—that's equivalent of making over ₹80 lakh an hour for that minute-and-a-half of effort. Few corporate projects deliver such yields. In that light, procrastination isn't harmless—it's a silent wealth tax. Two minutes trumps indifference—because the market rewards speed and inflation punishes delay. Read this | The one number every investor must know—but rarely does This approach challenges the notion that good investing requires slow, careful deliberation over every decision. While big investment calls do deserve thought, much of successful portfolio management is just routine hygiene—small, regular actions that benefit from speed, not perfectionism. The rule also helps counter one of the most destructive forces in retail investing: procrastination disguised as preparation. Many investors delay getting started because they want to research the 'perfect" allocation or find the 'best" mutual funds. But the two-minute rule offers a better path: if you can identify a reasonable investment option quickly, act on it. You can always refine later. What you can't do is get back the time lost to inaction. The most important thing is to begin—begin somehow, with anything. Most importantly, the two-minute rule helps maintain what professionals call 'portfolio hygiene." Just like personal hygiene involves small actions that prevent illness, portfolio hygiene involves timely actions that prevent financial messes. Also read | Ask yourself these questions to avoid emotional investing So the next time you receive an investment-related alert or communication, ask yourself: Can I address this in two minutes or less? If yes, do it immediately. Whether it's updating contact details, checking balances, or making a small adjustment, these little acts compound over time. Successful investing isn't just about choosing the right stocks or funds—it's about consistently taking care of the small stuff before it becomes big stuff. Sometimes, the best financial advice isn't about what to buy, but about what to do now. Dhirendra Kumar is the founder and CEO of Value Research, an independent investment research firm.
BBC News
31-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Penrith A66 traffic problems hitting businesses, says BID
Businesses are losing over £100,000 each Friday due to traffic congestion, according to a business Broad, chair of Penrith's Business Improvement District (BID), said queues on and around the A66 were putting people off coming into Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner David Allen also said gridlocked traffic was increasing emergency response times.A plan to turn the whole of the A66 between Penrith and Scotch Corner into dual carriageway is currently under review. Mr Broad said the BID estimated it cost each business in town £300-500 every Friday, when the traffic is at its worst, and that this amounted to over £100,000 in total."Penrith in effect on a Friday becomes a place to avoid," he said. According to Mr Broad, the problem is caused by large volumes of tourist traffic, along with freight, using the A66 at Kemplay Bank roundabout and junction 40 of the believes traffic flow measures should be used to stop Kemplay Bank becoming "like a car park".Cumbria's police and fire and rescue services both have their headquarters next to Kemplay Bank Mr Allen said, while his teams met their response targets, it took longer to get to incidents when the roads were said: "If you were leaving police headquarters in a non-emergency scenario, it can take 30 minutes just to get 300 yards to the roundabout." Some locals have suggested switching off the traffic lights at Kemplay Bank or using a yellow hatched box to improve traffic Highways, which manages the A66, said traffic lights improved congested roundabouts and a recent inspection of those at Kemplay Bank "detected no issues". Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Press and Journal
22-05-2025
- Business
- Press and Journal
Picturesque Lossiemouth church which fell victim to Church of Scotland cuts hits the market
A charming late Victorian Lossiemouth church which was closed as part of major Church of Scotland cuts has hit the market. St Gerardine's Church was designed by the well-known Scottish architect Sir John James Burnet. The church was closed in December 2023 after holding it's final service. The closure was part of a wider plan to unite St Gerardine's and St James' in the town into a single parish under the name Lossiemouth Church of Scotland. It comes as they reduce the number of buildings they own nationwide to reduce pressure on congregational finances and in turn freeing up funds. Church of Scotland is advertising the sale of the B-listed building for offers over £150,000. The church has impressive stained glass windows depicting biblical themes. Church of Scotland bosses say the building is 'full of character and charm'. The church is built in an L-shape which includes an entrance porch that leads to an inner hall. There is a main worship area, a chancel and a vestry with a toilet. A corridor connects to a kitchen and a church hall, which can be divided using concertina doors. The building also has an office, more toilets, and storage rooms. Meanwhile, the building benefits from the large area of surrounding land and stunning views of the beach, sea and countryside. In the sales notice, church officials suggested the building could be converted into a creche, nursery, museum, or gallery without needing change of use consent. Meanwhile, there's also potential for other uses such a cinema, retail space, or community hub and even residential with the right approvals. There are many former Church of Scotland buildings already earmarked for new uses. They include Burghead Parish Church, which could be turned into a new and bigger Scotmid store. It is becoming more common for these type of buildings to be redeveloped into homes or other uses. St Margaret's Hall in Urquhart could become a three-bedroom home for doctor David Allen who is moving to the area. Meanwhile, plans have already been approved to transform the former Rathven Church Hall into a three-bedroom home. Elsewhere, the future of St Giles Church is unclear with church bosses intending to dispose of the building by August 2027. Click here for the full for sale listing for St Gerardine's Church.
RTÉ News
21-05-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
StepStone Group opens new office in Dublin
StepStone Group, a global private markets solutions provider, has opened a new office at One Haddington Buildings, Dublin 4. It will be operated by its subsidiary StepStone Group Europe Alternative Investment Limited ("SGEAIL"), an alternative investment fund manager regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. The firm enables EU-based clients to access private market investment solutions in private debt, private equity, real estate, and infrastructure and real assets. SGEAIL oversees €29.1 billion in AUM as of December 31, 2024, up on the €20.6 billion in December 2022. "Our growth in Ireland reflects the increasing demand for private market solutions globally, and especially among EU-based institutional and private wealth clients," said David Allen, Partner and CEO of SGEAIL. "Our expanded space demonstrates our commitment to investing in the local economy and talent pool to meet this demand," he added. Since 2021, the number of people working in StepStone's Dublin office has doubled to 110 employees, around 10% of the firm's global workforce. "StepStone Group's expansion in Dublin is a welcome development for our financial services sector, and highlights Ireland's position as a leading destination for global investment firms seeking to access the European market," said Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
StepStone Group Opens New Office in Ireland
NEW YORK, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- StepStone Group (Nasdaq: STEP), a global private markets solutions provider, today announced the opening of the new Ireland office at One Haddington Buildings, Dublin 4, of its subsidiary StepStone Group Europe Alternative Investment Limited ('SGEAIL'), an alternative investment fund manager regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Having operated in Dublin since 2005 through a predecessor firm, SGEAIL enables EU-based clients to access private market investment solutions in private debt, private equity, real estate, and infrastructure and real assets. SGEAIL oversees €29.1 billion in AUM as of December 31, 2024, a significant increase from €20.6 billion in December 2022. 'Our growth in Ireland reflects the increasing demand for private market solutions globally, and especially among EU-based institutional and private wealth clients,' said David Allen, Partner and CEO of SGEAIL. 'Our expanded space demonstrates our commitment to investing in the local economy and talent pool to meet this demand.' Since 2021, the number of people working in StepStone's Dublin office has doubled and now numbers 110 employees, approximately 10% of the firm's global workforce. The new 12,000 square foot office allows the firm to continue to invest in talent to support the global client footprint, while providing the team with a modern workspace that was designed with teamwork, brand pride, wellness and sustainability in mind. 'StepStone Group's expansion in Dublin is a welcome development for our financial services sector, and highlights Ireland's position as a leading destination for global investment firms seeking to access the European market. I would like to congratulate the team at StepStone Group and wish them luck in this exciting new phase of their journey,' said Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment. Michael Lohan, CEO of IDA Ireland, the agency responsible for attracting and retaining foreign direct investment into Ireland, said 'StepStone's announcement further underscores Ireland's position as a leading location for global firms in the financial services sector. The combination of deep industry expertise, a strong pipeline of talent, and a stable, pro-business environment continues to attract companies looking for a strategic entry point to the EU and access to wider global markets. I want to wish StepStone every success and to assure them of our continued support and partnership as they expand their footprint in Ireland.' In addition to managing EU-domiciled commingled funds and separate accounts for institutional clients, SGEAIL has in recent years served as a hub for StepStone's expansion into the European private wealth market. Earlier this year, StepStone launched its first ELTIF focused on the private debt market and converted its existing RAIF funds into UCI Part II vehicles. Savills Dublin served as StepStone's tenant representative for the new office, and Calibro Workspace completed the space's interior design and fitout. About StepStone StepStone Group Inc. (Nasdaq: STEP) is a global private markets investment firm focused on providing customized investment solutions and advisory and data services to its clients. As of December 31, 2024, StepStone was responsible for approximately $698 billion of total capital, including $179 billion of assets under management. StepStone's clients include some of the world's largest public and private defined benefit and defined contribution pension funds, sovereign wealth funds and insurance companies, as well as prominent endowments, foundations, family offices and private wealth clients, which include high-net-worth and mass affluent individuals. StepStone partners with its clients to develop and build private markets portfolios designed to meet their specific objectives across the private equity, infrastructure, private debt and real estate asset classes. About IDA Ireland IDA Ireland is the country's inward investment promotion agency, responsible for attracting and developing foreign investment in Ireland. With a proven track record of facilitating international companies, IDA Ireland offers a range of services to support businesses in establishing and expanding operations on the island. Our expert team works closely with companies across various industries, including technology, pharmaceuticals, financial services, and more, providing tailor-made solutions to meet their needs. As a gateway to Europe, Ireland offers a competitive corporate tax rate, a young and highly skilled workforce, and a robust business environment, making it an ideal location for global companies looking to innovate and grow. Headquartered in Dublin, with a network of offices worldwide, IDA Ireland is committed to driving economic growth and job creation by fostering a vibrant and sustainable business ecosystem. For more information, visit or follow us on Twitter @IDAIRELAND. StepStone Contacts: Shareholder Relations: Seth Weiss shareholders@ +1 (212) 351-6106 Media: Brian Ruby / Chris Gillick / Matt LettieroICRStepStonePR@ +1 (203) 682-8268 IDA Ireland Contact: Rachel Bermingham +353 087 437 6158 Photos accompanying this announcement is available at in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
