Benita’s Corner (Episode 3): It’s Nosa again!
5 Habits of Highly Successful Investors
James Clear, author of the popular book Atomic Habits, put it best when he said:
“You are the outcome of your habits.”
It makes sense, right?
The habits you practice on a daily basis define who you are, which is why as an investor you want to make sure you are intentional about your habits.
Implementing the right habits can often be the difference between having a high net worth and losing everything overnight.
So, what makes for successful investing habits?
Here are five habits we believe differentiate the good investors from the great.
Let’s dive in.
1. Save and invest regularly
This is a foundational habit that every investor should be practicing: slow and steady wins the race.
Not many of us receive an unexpected inheritance or a big bonus to start investing with. Most of us have a monthly income along with our expenses and commitments.
That means that saving and investing needs to be part of your monthly budget. It needs to be regular and it needs to be a habit. How much? It depends on your goals, but investment experts recommend saving at least 10% of your monthly income. If you save and invest regularly, your investments will grow steadily over time.
Successful investors prefer saving and investing every month, rather than investing whenever they feel like it or when the market timing is right. Why? Because they are strategic bout how they invest. It’s not gambling.
2. Diversify your assets
Diversifying your investments is what allows you to minimise risk while increasing your overall return. It allows your portfolio to remain stable during a market downturn, or for your portfolio to grow even faster during a bull market.
The best investors don’t put all their eggs in one basket, which means they don’t put all their money in one asset or in one company. With diversification, you get a better balance between your risks and returns, and that helps you outperform those who don’t.
The best investors invest in both the stock market as well as alternative investments
3. Know who you are
The best investors know themselves.
Understanding your emotions and how you react to different market trends is a core investing habit. If you are someone who gets anxious when the stock market goes down, then it’s best not to invest in volatile assets. If you’re an investor who prefers managing your own portfolio, then you want to pick a strategy that allows you to be in control.
The funny thing is this:
You really won’t know what you’re most comfortable with until you do some experimenting.
That’s why it’s worth dipping your toes into various types of investments first. Once you do know what works best for you, you then want to create a plan and stick to it. This could be creating a specific asset allocation that fits your goals and needs, and setting a fixed monthly investing budget.
The best investors know how they react to market trends and set up a plan and strategy to fit their personality.
4. Invest long term
The most successful investors are in it for the long run.
That’s because they know that time in the market beats timing of the market.
So, if you want to make the most of your investments, you want to be maximising the use of compound interest. The first 5 years of investing won’t add a lot to your portfolio: but the last 3 years of a 30 year investing career will. That’s where the difference is.
The best investors are disciplined and stick to their plan – looking at the long term. Often, having a big goal such as FIRE or a college fund can help encourage long-term investing.
5. Set and forget
Unless picking stocks is your passion, most people want to set and forget their investments.
They don’t want to check the news every day, learn what a P/E ratio is and rebalance their portfolios every week. Most investors treat investing as an engine to grow their net worth and make more money, not as a leisurely pastime.
That’s why the most successful investors prefer investment strategies and assets that are low maintenance.
Would you like to explore the opportunities in the stock market? Visit ARMStocktrade now to sign up and start trading at your convenience
3 Smart Ways to Give Your Child/Ward The Best Education
3 Smart Ways to Give Your Child/Ward The Best Education
Imagine the smile on the face of your child, looking directly at you, and wearing that beautiful school graduation gown- That look is priceless! One of the ultimate goals of most parents is to give their children/wards the best of education. The best education to an extent adds the icing on the cake to the parenting career. Sadly factors such as rising school fees, inflation, and general economic situation of a country always pose as obstacles to this great plan that parents have for their children.
Despite these factors, it is still possible to give your children the best education if well planned. We have listed 3 smarts ways every parent can plan for their children’s education, to guarantee them seeing their children in the beautiful graduation gown.
Start early
Planning for your child’s education is a long-term financial goal. The best time to start planning for your child’s future needs is when he or she is born. Assuming your child will go to the University at the age of 18, you will have nearly two decades to create the right-sized fund for your child’s need. The effect of compounded growth will allow you to achieve this goal with small, monthly contributions.
Diligently choose the right school
Children will mostly likely spend more time in school than at home, parents should be diligent when choosing a school for their children/ward.
The type of school a child/ward goes will have a great impact in the life of the child/ward. Before you settle for a school, you should consider the vision, mission and culture of the school to see if it they align with what you want for your child. You also need to fact check from people associated with that school, such as parents who already have their children enrolled in that school to hear what they have to say about the school
Set up an EduTrust
An edutrust is a legal agreement where money is put aside for the sole purpose of educating the children, irrespective of whatever, untold events the future holds. It is aimed at assisting parents and guardians in securing uninterrupted education for their child(ren) or ward(s).
As a parent, this trust enables you to provide for the education of named beneficiaries. The standard, level of education is determined by you, subject to adequacy of funds in the Trust account. The Trust can comprise of a lifestyle component to provide for other needs of beneficiaries such as vacations, excursions, school trips etc.
We will love to celebrate you and your kids as they graduate from their dream schools. Get started on making that graduation smile a reality today by setting up an education trust for your child here
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Benita’s Corner (Episode 2): Rachel’s transformation
Benita’s Corner (Episode 2): Rachel’s transformation
Holla peeps! I hope you didn’t miss me too much.
Without further ado, I’ll just get back to the gist I was narrating the last time we met. Yes, Rachel… <Read Episode one>
How did this reunion even happen? I went to an eatery for lunch with some guys from the office and while we ate, Jeff from Procurement who thinks he’s handsome (he’s really just there) lets out a slow whistle. We all followed his gaze and it landed on this bombshell of a woman who was fueling her car beside the eatery.
Folks, let me not even lie, she oozed class and money. What?! She was standing near her car, a sleek Mercedes Benz. As someone who loved fashion, I could tell that she was wearing designers from head to toe. Her dark skin shone, and her long legs were framed by these wicked Louboutin heels. I was drooling.
When she turned towards the eatery we were in, I almost choked on the dodo I was chewing. That can’t be!
I immediately stood up and ran to the door. I’m sure my colleagues would have thought me crazy in that instant, but that was the least of my worries.
I ran to this beautiful ebony figure and threw my arms around her. In shock, she turned, and her face lit up in recognition. “Benita!” she screamed and hugged me right back. This was my paddy, Rachel. The same one I used to drink garri with in Uni when sapa would hold us. The same one that stayed up at night with me, weaving dreams of the life we would have years after graduation. This same Rachel was distraught with frustration when three years after I had started working, she was still job searching.
Yes, the same Rachel!
“Rachel, it’s been a long time. Na only for WhatsApp we dey chat these days and that one sef is once once. Are you now in Lagos?” I quizzed.
She laughed out loud and responded “There’s so much to talk about but not here my friend. In response to your last question, yes, I’m now in Lagos. You look great though B, why don’t we meet up to catch up on good times babe? If Saturday looks good for you, we can meet at my place.” I agreed happily while thinking in my mind “See Banana Island telling Ikorodu it looks good.” She gave me her address and I held on to it for dear life.
After one last hug and a few air kisses, she stepped into that gorgeous car and drove off into Lagos traffic. I just stood there dazed and confused.
“Break time is over madam, let’s get going,” Jeff said as his voice brought me back to reality. I forgot that I had eaten my lunch only halfway and just sauntered back to the office with the guys, my mind focused on Rachel.
How on earth did regular Rachel become classy rich Rachel, I wondered.
Saturday must come fast because Rachel gats cut this her soap for me…
To be continued…
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6 types of people to have around at retirement
6 types of people to have around at retirement
Your experience through retirement will largely depend on the people you surround yourself with. To have a happy and exciting retirement, consider having these types of people in your circle.
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The Adventurous
This is the friend that is up for anything and is a great companion for road trips or getaways. With them, you experience the other side of your comfort zone and enjoy the excitement that life has to offer.
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The Authentic
With this kind of person, you can be yourself. They allow you to be vulnerable, express your emotions in healthy ways, and help bring a smile back to your face when you’re down.
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The Cheerleaders
This is the person you can always count on to lift your spirits, motivate you through challenges and make you smile.
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The Positive
This kind of person emits positivity and when you stay around them enough, you’ll experience deeper happiness, better health and a sense of peace and well-being.
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The Excellent Listener
When your friends listen to you and try to understand your struggles, dreams, and goals, you feel heard and safe to make improvements in your life. In retirement, sometimes, all you just need is a shoulder to lean on and ears to listen.
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A trusted PFA
When you have a trustworthy Pension Fund Administrator like ARM Pensions, you can rest assured that your financial interest amongst others is protected, giving you the peace of mind, you need to enjoy retirement.
Learn all you need to enjoy a comfortable retirement at www.armpension.com
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Too big a bite
Too big a bite
As Jotham lay on the road, panting, his heart thumping hard and his lungs fighting for air, he sincerely thought he wouldn’t live to tell his story.
After a couple of minutes in that state, he noticed a small crowd began to gather and people murmuring, “Is he dead?” “Looks like he fainted,” “Abi he has a heart attack…” Amid all the assumptions, he heard a confident male voice say, “Give him some space. He needs the air.”
By the time Jotham came to, he was sitting by the culvert with a tall, middle-aged man standing over him and staring in concern. “It’s about time you came back to this crazy world, my friend. I’m Dr. Jide and I saw you pass out while you were running.” Jotham immediately remembered the events that led up to this moment.
He had been pretty much inactive with his exercises and hadn’t gone for a run in about three years. After so much procrastination, he decided to get back to his run and set a target for himself.
He wanted to cover the same miles he used to when he was a consistent and fit runner, but the human body always has a way of sending signals to remind us not to bite more than we can chew.
Jotham took off from his estate in full sprint and after just a few minutes of pushing against the resistance his body was building, he collapsed.
After hearing his story, Dr. Jide shook his head and said, “That’s the mistake right there, bro. Your body is not a machine and you’re not at your full physical capacity as three years ago. You needed to coerce your body, joints, heart, and muscles back into the game by starting out with a warmup. Then follow with walking short distances, then longer ones. As your body adjusts to this, you can take it to a brisk walk for a longer distance”
“Again, watch your body’s adjustment and know when to take it to a mix of walking and running. You must go through these stages to prepare your body for a full-blown run, my friend.”
Jotham sighed and nodded in agreement. He knew this deep down but was too stubborn that he took too big a bite and it landed him on the roads of Lagos, panting like a ram about to be executed.
He thanked Dr. Jide, dusted off his workout gear, and walked home in regret – he hoped none of the on-lookers had caught the entire thing on camera and posted to social media. The thought of that sent embarrassing shivers down his spine.
Join our RFTF Group on Facebook and visit our website to get more health and fitness tips.
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6 ways to reignite your passion for your work
6 ways to reignite your passion for your work
After working for 15 years, Kemi started to feel a bit ‘bleh’ about her job. The passion, drive, and zeal for work that she had in her earlier years had diminished and she needed a jump start.
Here are the tips a career coach gave her.
1. Engage your brain
Boredom often causes disinterest in one’s work. Sign up for a development program at work or take a course on your own. Learning something new will excite you, open your mind and give you an edge on the job that you didn’t have before.
2. Find meaning in your work
Think about why you got into your field of work originally, and whether you’re still on the same path. When you renew your commitment to the goals you had, or make new ones, you get a renewed sense of purpose.
3. Move others forward
Being a mentor to someone younger in your field can boost your enthusiasm for what you do. There’s something gratifying about creating a legacy and helping others advance.
4. Explore a new challenge
If there’s a project that needs extra hands or a person to run it in your organization, step up to the plate. Accepting and acing a new challenge may be all you need to get your enthusiasm fired up.
5. Declutter your workspace
When you start to declutter your workspace, you’re making decisions of what you value or don’t value. It helps you get a sense of what you want in your job and to decide the things that matter to you.
6. Be open to change
The average person changes careers multiple times in their life. If you still feel a sense of emptiness with your current career after trying out all the above, maybe it’s time to consider a change in career.”
Learn more at www.armpension.com
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Young adults and retirement
Young adults and retirement
We follow two cousins both in their 20s, Jude, a businessman, and Mary, as they embark on a visit to their 65-year-old Uncle Frank. Here is how the story goes:
Jude
Jude loves living the life. Whenever he hears the word, “Retirement,” he scoffs because it seems so far that it hardly feels real at all. That eventually became his excuse to justify not saving for retirement. He often jokes that he’ll still be agile and efficient well past his 70s, so he can still run his business and earn a living.
Mary
Mary is after the “baby-girl” life: slaying for the ‘Gram, owing debt just to buy shoes, bags, and human hair in vogue, and never caring about saving. She also believes that retirement is too far to consider now hence she makes no effort to supplement her compulsory pension contributions with additional funds. In fact, if she had her way, she wouldn’t even save a kobo for retirement.
This visit to Uncle Frank is about to change their lives…
Uncle Frank
Uncle Frank lives in a decent bungalow in a high-brow estate in Abuja. He is well off and makes foreign trips at least once a year to visit his children. He also has a thriving business managed by his younger son in Lagos and looks ‘fresh’ every time Jude and Mary see him. They both admire him a lot.
During their discussion, Uncle Frank asks his niece and nephew about work, business, and relationships. Then somehow the discussion veered towards later years and retirement.
He noticed their nonchalance towards the topic and chuckled. Then he began his lecture:
“You youngsters don’t realize that the years slip by and building a sizable nest egg becomes more difficult if you don’t start early. Remember that you’ll also probably acquire other expenses you may not have yet such as family, in-laws, mortgage, and others,” he said.
He took a swig of juice and continued, “You may not earn a lot of money now in your business and career, but one thing you have more of than richer, older folks is time. With time on your side, saving for retirement becomes a much more pleasant and exciting prospect. You have time to map out your retirement plan and whatever you save compounds with the years and gets reinvested to make you more money.”
“How do you lads think I managed to build the life I have now after my years in the Human Resource space?” he finished with a smile.
It was a visit to remember for Jude and Mary. They got schooled by Uncle Frank and suddenly, their motto of living for the moment sounded utterly lame.
Got your retirement locked down? Move to ARM Pensions and we’ll help you plan for a better tomorrow.
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6 tips to excel in your career
6 tips to excel in your career
Many years ago, Maureen Akintoye applied a list of smart nuggets to help her excel in her career. Now, with over a decade of successfully running a top Marketing and Advertising firm in New Zealand, she shares a few career tips which worked for her and where they originated from.
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I first heard Zig Ziglar say it when people challenged him on his “positive attitude” manifesto: “You can do anything with a positive attitude better than you can do it with a negative one.” – Lea McLeod, Career Coach.
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Work hard and be nice to people. It’s a very simple motto I try to live by daily – Marie Burns, Recruiting Leader at Compete.
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There’s never going to be a precisely right moment to speak, share an idea, or take a chance. Just take the moment – don’t let thoughts like “I don’t feel like I’m ready” get in the way. Look to see if you have the main things or the opportunity will pass you by. Don’t let perfect get in the way of really, really good. – Kathleen Tierney, Executive Vice President and COO of Chub Insurance.
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Tenacity and persistence – nothing beats it. Even if your talent isn’t there yet, you can always develop it to what it will eventually be. But people who are persistent and tenacious and driven and have a really clear, defined goal of what they want, nothing compares to that. Not giving up is really huge. – Catt Sadler, Anchor at E!
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Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness but of strength. No one got to where they are today without help along the way. Don’t be afraid to ask, and then remember to return the favor. – Elliott Bell, Director of Marketing of The Muse.
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Even if you aren’t feeling totally sure of yourself and your abilities, it’s important that you present yourself otherwise. That means, shifting your body language to portray confidence. So, while you may be so nervous before your big interview or meeting that you want to curl into a ball, resist the temptation to cower or make yourself smaller, and walk in with your head held high. – Michele Hoos, Writer.
Invite someone to move to ARM Pensions to enjoy a greater advantage now and at retirement.
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Not another work week!
Not another work week!
It’s Sunday night and you’re excited because it’s one of the weeks you get to work remotely due to the staggered work conditions at the office following the pandemic. You’re happy because unlike the previous week, you don’t have to rush out into the frustrating traffic to get to work. So, you press play on the new series you’ve saved to your list on Netflix and settle in for a binge-fest.
An email alert pops up and one look confirms your fear – a group-wide meeting has been fixed for 8 AM the following morning followed by a short brainstorming session just two hours after. Instantly, the enthusiasm towards your binge-date with Netflix deflates as you imagine how tight your Monday would be despite working from home. You sigh and turn off the series – it can wait for now as you need to hit the sack.
Deep within, you wonder how it would feel to not have to work every day to eke a living and your heart does a double somersault. Waking up at the time you like and yet not having to worry about where to get money to survive sounded awesome to you. But just as soon as that glimmer of hope surfaces in your heart, reality slaps it back into the dream realm.
The problem
It’s at this point that you remember that you hadn’t given a thought to your retirement. Even though the mandatory pension contribution is deducted by your employer and remitted on your behalf into your retirement savings account, you often wish they didn’t have to.
You don’t even care about the reputation of the Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) that your pension account is domiciled with neither have you considered if the amount being contributed could fund the lifestyle you dream of when you retire.
Reality Check
The smell of something burning jolts you back to reality. The popcorn you were making on the stove-top for your Netflix date was burning but now, it is the least of your problems.
You immediately begin researching PFA’s and jotting down the ones with the experience and impressive pedigree. You narrow it down to ARM Pensions – a part of Asset & Resource Management Holding Company (ARMHoldCo) with over 27 years of experience managing assets for individuals and corporations. You initiate the step to move your pension to them and in the next twenty minutes that you took to read through the ARM Pensions website, you realise that you can Walk Into Tomorrow to plan your retirement and know exactly how much you need for the lifestyle you desire at retirement.
You immediately log in via wit.armpension.com and spend the rest of the night planning in joy as retirement starts to feel exciting.
As you close your browser to retire for the night, you decide that waking up early and going through the weekly routine of work and meetings wasn’t such a bad idea if it caters to your today and buys you the tomorrow of your dreams.
Visit www.armpension.com/transfer to move to ARM Pensions today.
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