From Scratch...
Hi, my name is Rutendo—founder and writer of Letters in Finance.
I started this blog in November 2024. Back then, I was posting on Blogger. Then I had a wild idea: “I know how to code with Python and Django, and I understand HTML, CSS, and JavaScript... why not build my blog from scratch?” With some help from AI, I gave it a shot—but let's just say, it was more brick walls than breakthroughs. There’s a lot I still need to learn to get things up and running, and most importantly, to make time to write down the thoughts, stories, and finance ideas I want to share with you.
Now I use Ghost for publishing. Importing my Blogger content into Ghost turned out to be more complicated than I’d expected, so instead... I decided to start from scratch. I’ll repurpose and repost the old content eventually. But for now, here’s my fresh beginning—and my formal introduction.
About Me
I was raised by a single mother. My dad was present, but my mother’s hustle left the deepest mark. In 2007, she quit her managerial role at Matopo Book Centre and began street vending in South Africa—selling brooms, rugs, cooking sticks... anything you can picture. She even took on farm work when available. It was a gritty kind of entrepreneurship, filled with ups and downs, but we never lacked.
2008 was tough for many, especially in Zimbabwe. Financial ruin was widespread, and investments vanished overnight. For some, they barely survived on one meal per day on a good day. I didn’t suffer as others did—but that period shaped me. I believe there’s still healing to be done, especially when it comes to financial trauma. We need more conversations around what happened and how we can protect ourselves now with better financial education and tools.
From childhood, I was fascinated with everything that revolved around money. My best friend’s mother worked at a bank—she was my hero. My mother would give me money to keep for her, and I repurposed a camphor container into my personal bank vault. Fast forward: I studied Financial Engineering at Harare Institute of Technology, soaking in formulas, frameworks, and products that could genuinely change lives if applied wisely.
Funny enough, my mother might just be a financial engineer by experience. When she sold a broom, it was R50 in cash—but R60 if taken on credit. That, right there, is the time value of money in action. She's also the queen of stokvels. Her lived wisdom is deeply financial, even without the textbooks.
My Work
I currently work as an Investment Analyst at Opportunik Global Fund, a private wealth fund where I focus primarily on developed markets—especially the US. It’s been almost a year, and the learning curve has been steep but empowering. One day, I’d love to explore careers in finance more fully here—especially bridging the gap between theory and practical experience.
Life & Finance
In January 2022, I got married. It’s been almost four years of shared finances, budget discussions, and learning how to navigate money in marriage. Here’s one truth I’ve found: communication is easier when there’s a budget. Knowing where your money goes and what you’re planning for helps align expectations. It all comes back to financial basics—budgeting, saving, building emergency funds, investing, and creating multiple income streams.
What’s Next
I’ve shared quite a bit about myself already. Now it’s time to dive into the topics that matter most in finance—with personal letters to come.
Where are my manners? Please allow me to call you bestie just like I do on other platforms (@rutendofinance). I hope you’re doing well, bestie, and that your finances are thriving. But if not, don’t worry. We all start somewhere. The journey begins with financial self-awareness, and the rest will follow.
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