CEO editorial – Quarter 1 2025

Gary Mockler
Group Chief Executive Officer

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Every moment of momentum – whether in markets, emotions, or circumstances- can create a false sense of permanence.  Experience shows us the truth: no trend lasts forever, no headline rules forever, and no environment remains static.  That’s why sound planning isn’t about chasing moments of high or low; it’s about being prepared to navigate what comes next.

These moments often stir strong emotions – anxiety for some, excitement for others – and while those feelings are natural, they should never dictate financial decisions.

The urge to act impulsively is strongest when uncertainty peaks. But reacting without a clear plan isn’t strategy – it’s impulse.

This quarter’s message is simple: strategy should never be hostage to fleeting events.  Short-term noise, however loud, shouldn’t rewrite long-term goals.  Financial plans need to be robust enough to absorb change and flexible enough to stay relevant – but only when they’re regularly reviewed, revisited, and truly understood.

It’s easy to leave the technical details – the spreadsheets, forecasts, and regulations – to others.  But the thinking behind your plan and the ownership of it must always belong to you.

Having investment structures is only part of the story.  These tools work for you when your intentions behind them are clear, updated, and documented.  It’s tempting to assume things are ‘taken care of,’ but the fine print waits until it matters most.

Planning with clear intention means resisting the urge to drift when things seem calm – and resisting panic when they don’t.  Markets will move.  Politics will influence.  Headlines will claim ‘this time is different’.  Sound planning isn’t about predicting the next move, it’s about positioning yourself so well that you don’t have to.

At GTC, our job is to bring structure to your strategy: to ask the difficult questions, anticipate risks, apply the rules, and carefully navigate the grey areas. Thank you for trusting us on this journey.  Our commitment remains the same – to provide advice that is informed, practical, and clear – and to remind you, when needed, to stay involved, stay informed, and above all, remember: it’s your plan. Make sure you understand it.