An important lesson I learned about reinvesting your dividends in France or anywhere else on this planet: beware of the taxes and social deductions. Don't reinvest dividends unless you know 100% that it is indeed beneficial and will grow your wealth. A few weeks ago I received a message from my broker that Total SA offered the option to be paid dividends in shares rather than euros.

Last night Mrs. CF and I watched a documentary about Bernard Madoff who ran one of the biggest Ponzi schemes the world had ever seen.

While I am writing these lines global markets are plummeting. After a few days of rising prices, market participants right and left have decided that the fears associated with a possible slowdown in China’s economy are back. That, as said, after the short-lived hiatus when the market jumped a few percentage points as if the world economy was blossoming again.

Current oil prices have seen historic lows in the last few months falling to $ 26 per barrel in February 2016. Since then oil prices have recovered and swung between the mid forties and low fifties.

Have you ever wondered What is money? Money is such an influential and substantial part of our lives. Whether you want to buy food, pay rent, pay off your mortgage, go on holiday, go for drinks with friends, buy new clothes or latest smart phone, money is the key that will allow you to pay your dues and realize your dreams.

How do you feel when seeing a well dressed lady or a groomed gentleman in their Italian or British luxury car? A moment of admiration mixed with a bit of envy? Darn, that person has scored rich, you might think. They probably inherited a huge sum from a rich uncle, work in investment banking, or won the lottery. They could also be fantastic athletes, managers, or work in some other high paying profession. But there is also a possibility that they made the right saving and investment calls.

Life is all about learning, making sense of everything around you, making memories, and changing for the better. The various facets of life – from private to professional, dating to work, loving oneself to others, succeeding at work and investing – all share common denominators. Particular patterns that determine how we react in different situations are similar if not even the same across these different areas of life. Life is the totality of its components.

Buying property as an investment - whether it is for your retirement, a regular income, or diversification of your assets - should be a rewarding venture. First and foremost, however, it needs to be an enjoyable and successful investment earning you money and making you wealthier.

First and foremost, however, decide on what type of investment you want to make.

Someone recently asked me where the name Blue Chips comes from. For those not familiar with the term: Blue Chips - or large caps, as they are also known - are those companies that have a high market capitalization (share price * number of shares).

The name derives from the most valuable chips in poker, the blue chips.

Buying property is really exciting. An awesome project that holds fantastic investment potential but similarly this major financial commitment carries a number of challenges along the way.