Monthly Archives: April 2021

Understanding how the early retirement movement works motivated me to save more for the future.

When I was younger, saving money wasn't exactly my strong suit. Plenty of people explained that saving, and especially saving for retirement, was a must. My mindset was that I'd rather use that money to enjoy the present, not stash it away for when I was older. I would've needed to work my entire life this way, but I wasn't thinking that far ahead.

Then I read about a growing number of people learning how to retire early -- often referred to as the "financial independence, retire early" (FIRE) movement. I had one of those eureka moments. It changed how I thought about saving money. If you need motivation to boost your savings, looking at it from a new angle could be the key.

In a nutshell, the early retirement movement is about maximizing your savings until you reach financial independence. Financial independence is when the returns you make on your money, like the growth of your investment and IRA accounts, can cover your living expenses. You don't need to work anymore, because you're earning enough in interest and investment gains to cover all your bills.

People who commit to the early retirement movement usually aim to save a specific dollar amount. To find how much you need for financial independence, many use the 4% rule. According to this rule, 4% is a safe annual withdrawal rate. The return on your investments should, on average, allow you to break even if you're withdrawing up to 4% of your money.

Based on that rule, if you have $1 million, you could safely withdraw up to $40,000 per year. That $40,000 is what you use to pay your bills. Your portfolio should, on average, grow by at least 4% and replenish the $40,000 you withdrew.

Everyone has a personal plan, of course. Some want to be able to withdraw more than $40,000 per year, others less. And people debate whether 4% is a safe withdrawal rate, or if it should be lower.

The details may be different for each person, but the idea is the same. Set a target number for financial independence. Park your cash in places where it can consistently grow the most (mutual funds and index funds are common recommendations). From there, focus on putting away enough to reach your financial independence target as early as possible.

Before I heard of the early retirement movement, I saw retirement savings as a nest egg for old age. Even though that should be important, I wasn't prioritizing it. Retirement seemed so far away. I felt like I'd have plenty of time to save for that later.

But the philosophy behind early retirement resonated with me. It wasn't about saving money only for when you're old. It was about saving enough to effectively buy your independence. When you hit that mark, you're free to do whatever you want with your life.

I also realized that if you save enough, retirement age doesn't need to be when you're 65 or older. Reading about people who had done it in their 40s and 50s was a huge source of motivation for me. It's hard to get too excited about saving for a retirement that could be several decades away. But when that might be possible in 15 to 20 years, it can change the way you look at things.

What's great about the early retirement movement is that you don't need to be obsessive about it. I haven't picked a specific amount or age when I plan to retire, and I don't save every penny. But learning about it showed me the benefits of saving, and how I could invest in mutual funds to build more wealth. Had I continued the path I was on, I would never have had enough money to retire. Now I know that with good financial habits, I could retire at a reasonably young age.

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How the Early Retirement Movement Changed the Way I Think About Money - The Motley Fool

Interestingly, both the concepts are interlinked; the financial independence of the present day earns us wealth for the future.

By T V Raman

Gone are the days when people used to save money for retirement and emergency expenses only. Today, the focus is on a combination of financial planning and investment planning. Instead of just saving for the rainy days, individuals have begun believing in the concepts of financial independence as well as wealth creation. Interestingly, both the concepts are interlinked; the financial independence of the present day earns us wealth for the future.

Financial independence is more than what we assume it for. It is not just being able to fund expenses whenever one wants to; it also means being able to save and invest howsoever one wants to. Financial independence, along with consistent savings and limited spending, is the road to wealth creation. As Brian Koslow rightfully said, the very first step to building wealth is to spend less than you make. Hence, the importance of saving more than spending is the most accurate way to create a pool of funds for the future. But at the same time, does the ability to save less nullify the chance to create wealth? No.

Saving money in small amountsSavings must happen with peace of mind. Accumulating savings should not bring financial worries as ignoring mandatory expenses to ensure meeting your savings target would only cause stress and uneasiness. Therefore, starting small matters. Saving money, even in small amounts, consistently for a long period of time helps people to feel confident and overcome a financial shock. Small savings not only create a habit to recognize the need for regular savings; it also helps people to come out of their comfort zone, plan necessary expenses and avoid unnecessary ones.

While saving money is in the form of parking cash and liquid assets in safe securities, investing money is more of a long-term process that may involve buying stocks, real estate, and other forms of fixed assets. Investments may require better long-term planning and understanding of the various investment avenues, but savings can begin at home with recording expenses, estimating monthly budget, minimising spending, setting up saving goals, deciding on financial priorities, and keeping track of the growth of savings.Savings can easily be initiated by:

Keep budgeting in mindThe most important factor that has a significant impact on the quantity of savings is budgeting. Sticking to a budget helps to ensure a consistent approach to savings and investment. It also includes exercising willpower to not spend accumulated funds for some unnecessary or unwarranted expenditure. The mantra to successful savings can be summarised as ABCD, where:

A stands for Arranging income, expenses, and savings under sub-heads,B stands for Budgeting and balancing expenses with income,C stands for Consistent approach to savings, andD stands for Developing the short-term savings into long-term investments.

Young individuals should focus on making it a habit to save a certain amount of money at the end of their periodic earnings. Youth today are often puzzzled about how to manage their finances, for this they should try allocating expenses under different heads and a part of their earnings should be retained as savings. It is a very good habit to keep track of our expenses and analyze it every fortnight. This gives us an opportunity to keep a check on unnecessary expenditure and control it for the other half of the month. Little efforts take us far, every paisa has a value and contribution in making a rupee.

The young generation must follow these simple tips to save money:

As we all know, Little drops make the mighty ocean.

The writer is professor, Finance, Amity Business School, Amity University

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From savings to wealth creation How to manage money - The Financial Express

Financial Independence for women : In the Indian context, men are respected for one so-called reason, for being the sole bread earners of their family. Even though in reality, it is the women of the family who support men and their professional obligations by running the household smoothly, their position is considered to be inferior as they are not in control of their own finances.

The women who are financially independent in life are in control of their overall decisions which may boil down to finances ultimately, experience respect and freedom in society. Hence, unarguably financial independence for a woman is probably the first thing she must think about. We have got you the best quotes by financially independent women who wouldnt disappoint you. Read on to be inspired to take control of your finances-

While talking about her education of finance given by her mother, global star, Priyanka Chopra Jonas said in an interview, Financial independence is paramount. My mom always says that when a woman is financially independent, she has the ability to live life on her own terms. I think that was the soundest advice that I ever got. No matter where you go in life or who you get married to, you have to be financially independent whether you use it or not.

The book which is seen as the bible of architecture by many, The Fountainhead was written by a woman and a great author of a mans time, Ayn Rand. Rand said something very important about financial independence in a womans life. She said that money is merely a tool. Money can take you where you wish. But the tool can never replace the driver. Similarly, money can never be in control, you must.

Be it the power of being in control of your finances or your life, it will not be spoon-fed to you. One must step up and take the steering wheel by themselves. Hence rightly said by Beyonce, you must take the power yourself.

The US ambassador and American author, Clare Booth Luce once stated that the money that a woman owns is her best protection. Which is true in the current context. Sure they may say that money can buy you happiness. But money can surely buy you the things that make you happy.

Ruth Badger Ginsburg, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the US once said that women belong everywhere. She addressed the stereotype that restricts women to the kitchen or just the house. She said that women belong everywhere including the places where the decisions are being made. Be it financial or any other. Women must not become the exception when it comes to decision-making.

In an interview when Deepika Padukone was asked about what she feels about being financially independent, she said that its a different feeling of freedom. Padukone further added that she is not dependent on her parents or any man from a financial point of view. She then concluded by saying that financial independence is a nice feeling.

Emma Watson in an interview had said something that applies to financial independence very accurately. If its not you who is in control of the finances then who is it thats driving your life? Only you must be in control of your finances after all its your life. If not you, then who?

Reema Bint Bandar Al Saud, who is the Saudi Arabian ambassador to the US, said that liberty comes in the womans life when she makes her financial decisions. She also said that taking control of ones finances is not a high-tech solution. It is a low-tech solution to a low-tech problem, Bandar further added. But this one solution has a huge impact according to Bandar.

Saudi Arabian ambassador to the US, Reema Bint Bandar Al Saud is not done yet. She shared something very important that impacts the childs life and upbringing. Reema Bint Bandar Al Saud says, A woman that makes a logical and rational financial decision is a woman who raises a son that expects women to enter the workforce; is a woman who raises a daughter who recognises her place in the future.

Probably the best quote of the whole article is Beyonce pointing the truth out with accuracy. She has very skillfully with the best example demonstrated how money gives the power to men to define what they want to be true. Be it the meaning of freedom and independence or social stereotypes. They are all set of men who are in financial power. This quote very accurately defines why women must be independent of anyone when it comes to finances.

Beyonce said, I truly believe that women should be financially independent of their men. And, lets face it, money gives men the power to run the show. It gives men the power to define value. They define whats sexy. And, men define whats feminine. Its ridiculous.

You are your own person and standing freely on your feet is your primary goal. So dream about financial independence for life and not just a single wedding day. Remember to be self-sufficient and earn your own money. And educate yourself well to invest in the right places. The most important thing, you must tell yourself is, your money is your money and you are not obliged to spend it on anyone. So save for yourself.

Financial independence is the first step towards seeking gender equality, says Chopra who has been a very big advocate of women leading their own financial decisions. I believe every woman should seek to have a career for her financial freedom. We often discourage women from talking money because oh god, how can women be so money-minded?. Its high time we change that.

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11 Quotes Which Will Inspire You To Become Financially Independent - SheThePeople

This week, SocialStory witnessed the work of Chennai's Bay of Life Surf School and Ocean Literacy that is spreading the message of conserving marine biodiversity.

Meanwhile, we also saw the efforts made by Mohammed Peer Banu, who has trained over 350 womenas tailors to start their own business, encouraging them to become financially independent.

In fact, the Pollinate Group is also identifying women entrepreneurs, helping them sell clean-energy based products within their marginalised communities.

Here are the top Social Stories of the week:

Teaching the kids about the bycatch species

While doing an internship at Kalinga Centre for Rainforest Ecology (KCRE), Showkath Jamal became interested in conservation and wanted to find a reserve to put his efforts into action. While Chennai didnt have too many forest reserves, he only had to look at the ocean to find a big reserve with extensive marine biodiversity.

Showkath wanted to encourage sustainable sports and ensure that other human activities did not harm the ocean. He started Bay of Life Surf School and Ocean Literacy in 2011. While activities like cleaning beaches and saving marine life, including turtles, have now become popular, Showkath and his team have been doing it for over a decade.

When I was 15-years-old, my mother, two brothers, and I moved to Thiruvallur on the outskirts of Chennai from Ghantabahal Gaon in Odisha in search of work. We were living in poverty and had been promised jobs at a state-of-the-art modern brick kiln.

The factory middlemen had promised us that our lives would change and that we would no longer have any money troubles. The first three months were okay as we were paid Rs 300 to 400 a week.

However, after that, the payments dropped to Rs 250, Rs 200, and then stopped altogether. By then, they had stopped giving us food, and we were being beaten and made to work long hours without any sleep.

Read more about Uttar Kumars heartbreaking story here.

Sushana Guriya with her harvest of lac branches from where she extracts the resin used to make shellac.

Sushana Guriya is a tribal woman from Jharkhands Khunti district. Despite receiving above-average rainfall in the monsoon, and a wide network of rivers and streams, the families with small landholdings struggle to make ends meet and earn a livelihood off their farms.Her family was one of them living on Rs 25,000 a year.

In 2017, the familys fortunes changed when Sushana joined 21 other tribals and went for a one-week lac processing training at the Indian Institute of Natural Resins and Gums (IINRG), Ranchi, with the support of Torpa Rural Development Society for Women (TRDSW) and Edelgive.

Peer Bano (extreme right) with the women of the Bismi Self Help Group is helping women gain financial independence.

When Mohammed Peer Banu first arrived at her husbands home in Eruvadi village in Tirunelveli as a young bride, she brought along a sewing machine to help her make a small living.Over the years, the need to educate three children saw her exploring other ways to make money. She had heard about a basket making training programme run by the Srinivasan Services Trust (SST) through which she could increase her income.

Today, the 15 women-strong SHGmakes and sells clothes and baskets made of banana fibre, which they process themselves. In fact, Peer Banu has trained over 350 womenas tailors to start their own business and encouraged them to become financially independent.

The team of Pollinate Group

Pollinate Group not only aims to tackle poverty but also provides clean-energy based solutions to these communities, as well as empowers women to become entrepreneurs.

Founded in 2012, the social enterprise works on three UN SDGs no poverty, gender equality, and affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. It aims to improve the livelihoods of marginalised communities and empower women in both India and Nepal.

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From clearing wastes on beaches to empowering women the top Social Stories of the week - YourStory

According to Immofacile.ca, the market for online training in the private sector is growing so fast in Quebec that even universities have announced that they will rely on online training to complete the current semester. On the international scene, UNESCO has set up a Covid-19 Coalition for online training, for the benefit of 850 million students who have left the classroom around the world. "Online training is clearly a revolution in itself in the field of both teaching and the pure and simple transfer of knowledge," said Ghislain Larochelle, P.Eng. and MBA, president and founder of Immofacile.ca, who believes that the learning process is 17% more efficient than the conventional mode, due to its flexibility and its ability to interact.

E-learning is generating more and more revenue for the business, academic and professional communities: the e-learning market has reached US$325 billion by 2020 and many entrepreneurs have realized that this is a great business opportunity. And the world of real estate investment is no exception to this trend, which the pandemic is only accelerating to make it a promising tool in a business strategy in various aspects. The president of Immofacile.ca holds as proof the ever-growing popularity of the training courses offered by the company and its free webinars, in the wake of the explosion of sales in the residential market.

In this regard, a survey conducted by the American Society for Training and Development showed that an effective training program increases profit margins by 24%. This is a significant business opportunity that is hard to pass up! In the United States, online training generated increased revenue for 42% of organizations in 2018. That's nearly half of the companies that have perceived the business opportunity of this growing market. It is therefore important for those considering getting into real estate investing to consider this option for their development, which should ultimately put them on the path to financial independence.

In this regard, the president of Immofacile.ca added that over his 20-year career as a real estate investor, he had developed techniques to succeed quickly and simply in real estate deals, which he shared with a community of budding investors who have benefited from his "SECRETS OF REAL ESTATE", in an ecosystem of mutual aid and sharing.

"In this regard, it is essential to have and maintain a good network of contacts which is one of the keys to ensuring access to a structured and promising start that can lead beginners to acquire their financial independence through real estate simplified," continued the president of Immofacile.ca specifying that with individual or group coaching workshops, theoretical training and practical sessions on the ground the chances of success for any recruit became achievable.

The outlook for real estate price increases in 2021 across Quebec is 20%, according to Desjardins, despite variations in supply and demand, while the number of transactions increased by an average of 23% in Quebec between January 2020 and January 2021: an upward pressure on prices that should continue, according to experts, even though listings collapsed by 48% over this same period.

Mr. Larochelle concluded by saying that pandemic or not, the market currently offers multiple business opportunities that could allow neophytes and rookies, like the thousands of real estate investors trained over the past 20 years, to achieve their goals on the road to financial freedom, one door at a time.

SOURCE Immofacile.ca

For further information: Ghislain Larochelle, P.Eng, MBA, President and CEO, Immofacile.ca; Contact: Alexandre Dumas, 514 898-4636 (cell), [emailprotected]; Laura-Michelle Marcogliese, 514 515-0115, [emailprotected]

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The training market is booming, against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, in the Quebec real estate investment sector - Canada NewsWire

Entrepreneurs are rule breakers, but the wisest of them know that barriers are broken for a bigger purpose. They don't break rules arbitrarily. These entrepreneurs see the inherent flaws in the system that produced these rules and then deploy critical thinking, diligent work, and strategic efforts to create their own rules that pave the road to abundance and financial independence.

Working with this same agenda, Kenny Simpson established his own entrepreneurial venture from the ground up. He did it by deviating from the conventional path that the majority of today's youth are inclined to follow - spending thousands of dollars on receiving a degree just to be later employed in a 9-to-5 job that makes them live with limited means.

Knowing of a teen earning 6-figures a month in his 20s sounds absolutely crazy, until you hear the inspirational story of Kenny Simpson, a 1998 born businessman who discovered the secret to achieving a high degree of entrepreneurial riches in network marketing and forex trading.

Followed by the completion of elementary education from his hometown Winter Haven, Kenny shifted to Jacksonville where he completed his schooling, and then went on to study two semesters at Saint Leo University in Saint Leo, Florida.

Though he was born with the entrepreneurial spirit, he owes a great deal of success and mindset to his mother, who runs a beauty salon. Seeing her financial independence enabled him to create a vision for himself of being his own boss. With this mindset of moguls, unlike his peers, Kenny disliked the notion of jumping into post secondary education only to later seek employment under someone else.

The whole time I was in school I never had a major. The concept of paying thousands of dollars for any field that I knew I wasnt passionate about never sat well with me. I ended up dropping out due to my lack of passion, says Kenny.

He was ready to say Yes to hard-work, Yes to challenges, and Yes to grind... but all those Yess for the sake of striking gold as an independent business owner, and not becoming a Yes-Boss, Ok-Boss type person!

Story continues

The perfect opportunity to say his first yes to entrepreneurship arose when he was introduced to network marketing. After months of hard-work and continued persistence, Kenny abandoned his studies knowing he had found what would bring him wealth, success and satisfaction for the rest of his life. Through this new opportunity, Kenny gained the invaluable skill of trading in the financial markets.

Kenny's vision didn't stop at trading alone. Later, with more experience and money in the field, he decided to go further and built TDC, a company that offers the youth a roadmap to success as independent business owners. Talking about the objectives of his company, the entrepreneur says:

The main goal of TDC is to teach and educate on trading/investing and helping individuals develop more streams of income to propel their ventures in life.

My goal is to impact over 1million people by the end of 2021. Teaching and helping them develop and learn how to turn your saving account into major profits.

While most rich people prioritize themselves over others, Kenny is the opposite. He loves helping others unlock 95-point greatness in life, and for this reason, he spends all his free hours on the welfare of cash-strapped individuals. Having been through the school of hard knocks and knowing what it takes to hit the jackpot, Kenny doesn't want others to fall into the trap of trials and tribulations involved when switching gears to entrepreneurship. Therefore, he is using TDC to offer a clear-cut way to riding the gravy train with minimal investment and risks.

A lot of people in this work focus mainly on making money for themselves, and for some of those, it definitely works. However, what do you think would happen if you helped 5 of your friends become millionaires? By default, you yourself would be a multi-millionaire. When you shift your focus to helping people achieve their goals and change their situation, your situation will change somewhere in the mix and youll smash straight through any goal you ever had, says the influential entrepreneur.

About Kenny Simpson:

From the day he was born in 1998 in Florida to him overcoming systematic barriers, Kenny Simpson is a great example of that 'extraordinarily special' breed of individuals who trusted their guts and paved their paths to extreme riches. Having an absolute zero passion for 9-to-5 employment, Kenny abandoned his studies midway to pursue entrepreneurship at the cost of ferocious hard work and indefinite stamina for challenges just to be later rewarded with a prosperous career as a network marketer and trader. After amassing 6 figures in wealth, Kenny is now en route to helping youngsters strike rich as entrepreneurs.

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Meet Kenny Simpson: An Inspiring Teen Who Built His Road To Riches In His 20's, Read His Recipe To Entrepreneurial Success! - Yahoo India News

WEST CHESTER Women have been disproportionally impacted by the pandemic and have left or lost their employment at higher rates than men. Now, the Chester County Womens Commission (CCWC) is supporting three local organizations that are directly serving and supporting women to gain meaningful employment.

The CCWC awarded $4,000 to the Chester County Opportunities Industrialization Center, which provides opportunities for individuals to prepare for sustainable employment and financial independence through education, training, and support services. This support will enable one woman to attend and complete their Certified Nursing Assistant program.

And $3,200 was given to Good Samaritan Services to increase the number of attendees in their Getting Ahead Workshop. This workshop supports women in the Coatesville area and provides education on finding and keeping secure housing, gaining new employment, and other services and life skills.

Wings for Success (WFS) served more women in 2020 than any year in its 22 years of service in Chester County. The CCWC provided $3,300 to WFS to support clothing for domestic violence victims, work clothing for frontline workers, and technology upgrades.

The Chester County Womens Commission supports organizations that promote opportunities for all women in Chester County.

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Chester County Women's Commission looking into impact of pandemic on women and jobs - Daily Local News

SAN RAMON, Calif., April 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --The Diamond Group Wealth Advisors is pleased to announce its 6th "Savvy Women Summit Women Inspiring Women" on Wednesday, April 21 from 4:30-7 p.m. PDT on Zoom.

The Virtual Savvy Women Summit showcases three amazing women who will share their stories and their path to clarity, confidence, and abundance. Sharing their experiences and stories are Sharon Burstein, "America's Leadership Image Speaker," Michele Gooch, "Transition Guru," and the Honorable Catharine B. Baker, Vice Chair of the California Fair Political Practices Commission.

"We have designed this spring's agenda to continue empowering our Savvy Women community. We have experienced a most challenging year, 2020, with all that we manage, with work, finances, family and taking care of ourselves," said Marilyn Suey, Founder of the Diamond Group Wealth Advisors and Savvy Women. "Our three Savvy Speakers will inspire and motivate you to take renewed action and continue to strengthen your positive mindset, as we look ahead and re-imagine our lives and businesses in 2021."

"Women in leadership is a subject I am most passionate about and have built my speaking business around enabling women to lead successfully," said Sharon Burstein, CEO of Sharon Burstein International.

"I am a passionate leader of our Plaid for Women community delivering value added services to our cohort of Savvy Women," said Michele Gooch, founder of LIFE by Design. "Every woman needs a supportive community. The benefits are endless. I'm eager to be in the mix with the Savvy Women Community to encourage and empower, as well as be encouraged and empowered."

"I am pleased to be able to share my experiences in the public sector with the Savvy Women community as we recover from this challenging year," said Catharine Baker,Vice Chair of the California Fair Political Practices Commission. "It's rewarding to see more women involved in the public sector and being advocates for all citizens."

In its sixth year, our Savvy Women Summit, supports women to "Dream Bigger, Dream Bolder for a Brighter Future." It brings together women business owners, executives, entrepreneurs, and successful retirees. Our goal is to convene women from all walks of life to an afternoon of education, inspiration and community building for the Bigger Dreams that we all have in our hearts and minds," said Marilyn Suey. "What has sprung from a little book called, 36 Quick Tips for Savvy Women - Taking Control of Your Work, Your Wealth and Your Worth, has made an enormous impact on our community."

To RSVP to the Virtual Savvy Women Summit, please register at diamondgroupwealthadvisors.com/events or call Rachael Curtis at 925-219-0080.

About: Sharon Burstein-America's Leadership Image Speaker

Sharon Burstein is one of America's most in demand and respected motivational speakers and is an award-winning author. She has worked with hundreds of thousands of people globally for more than 25 years inspiring and creating business and leadership images. Author of three award-winning books, Sharon has been recognized and received numerous National and International achievement awards. President-CEO of Sharon Burstein International consulting and speaking, her successful global career has included: owning and working with private and publicly traded companies, International Marketing, Speaker, Manufacturer, Patent owner, Media Producer, and Educator. Sharon created Leadership Summit America Symposium in 2016 and in 2017 launched the successful YOUniquely YOU! Putting Women First The Power of Possible retreat for women of all ages and walks of life.

Michele Gooch, Transition Guru

Michele S. Gooch is referred to as the Transition Guru. She is insightful, inspiring and challenging as she helps women get clarity on their direction, explore their mindset and uncover their own design. Michele is the founder of LIFE by Design, a coaching business that supports women in transition by helping them reconnect with their passion and realign with their purpose. She also directs Plaid for Women, a digital media company providing relevant content for women on the business of life.

She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Masters in Counseling. She is certified in DISC: Behavioral Analysis and holds a certificate in Coaching Mastery. Michele has been able to combine her formal education with her passion for seeing people succeed in life to move people toward pursuing the best for their life. She leads Impact: A Women's Collaboration Group in the Dallas/Fort Worth area of Texas.

Honorable Catharine B. Baker - Vice Chair of the California Fair Political Practices Commission

Catharine Baker is a former California State Assembly member who represented the 16th Assembly District from 2014 through 2018. She is a Vice Chair of the California Fair Political Practices Commission, which administers and enforces California's landmark government ethics laws. Catharine is Special Counsel at Hoge Fenton, where she advises businesses and non-profits and practices election law.

The Diamond Group Wealth Advisors

The Diamond Group Wealth Advisors is an independent wealth management firm that empowers its clients to design and define their ideal lifestyles starting today, for tomorrow and for life. We follow a disciplined planning process that enables our clients to build their customized Prosperity Blueprint that guides them as they travel on their path toward financial independence. Our clients understand that their wealth is more than their money. Working with us, using our Prosperity Blueprint TM Process, we help guide our clients to take care of their families, and the people and causes they care about deeply. For more information visit http://www.diamondgroupwealthadvisors.com or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/The-Diamond-Group-Wealth-Advisors-1921023328178564/ and find us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/marilyn-suey-933134.

Marilyn Suey is a registered representative with, and securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through Strategic Wealth Advisors Group, LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor. Strategic Wealth Advisors Group, LLC. And the Diamond Group Wealth Advisors are separate entities from LPL Financial. CA Insurance License #0E01981.

Media Contact: Lorna Stegall817.807.2257[emailprotected]

SOURCE The Diamond Group Wealth Advisors

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The Diamond Group Wealth Advisors Produces the Spring Savvy Women Virtual Summit 'Women Inspiring Women' - PRNewswire

ATLANTA & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Morgan Stanley and Spelman College today announced its first cohort of students selected to participate in the inaugural HBCU Scholars Program, an integrated program to support students at three Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). Five outstanding first-year students have been selected to receive the four-year scholarships to Spelman, which will cover tuition, room and board in order to fully remove financial barriers to higher education.

The goal of the HBCU Scholars Program is to set students up on a path to educational attainment and financial independence by lifting the barrier of higher education costs. In addition, Morgan Stanley is implementing programming aimed at preparing scholars for their post-graduate careers, as well as related programming offered to the broader student body and faculty, including virtual and on-site components to complement the on-campus curriculum. To round out the support, the HBCU Scholars Program will include Morgan Stanley mentors and sponsors to support the scholars along their journey.

Educational attainment is a key focus area for our Institute for Inclusion, which includes investing in the institutions, such as Spelman, that contribute to diversifying the talent pipeline entering the workforce, said Susan Reid, Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion at Morgan Stanley and Director of the Institute for Inclusion. I would like to congratulate the five incoming Spelman students we are welcoming into the inaugural class we are greatly impressed with their achievements so far and look forward to working with them on their journey to success.

The initiative was developed by Morgan Stanleys newly established Institute for Inclusion and is a part of the Firms larger mission to create an integrated, holistic and transparent diversity and inclusion strategy, both internally and externally.

From volunteers at local hospitals to talented musicians, the first five students selected to become Morgan Stanley HBCU Scholars at Spelman possess impressive resumes that include internships, community service projects and academic achievements.

We know that income inequality in the African American community often creates a barrier between the best and brightest students and their college education, said Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ph.D., President of Spelman. Through this generous scholarship our students will have the opportunity to focus on their studies and future careers without the burden of financial debt.

The program will begin in the fall 2021 semester. The 2021 class of Howard University and Morehouse College scholars will be announced in the coming weeks.

Spelman College Class of 2025 Morgan Stanley HBCU Scholars:

A'miyah AdamsPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania

Cheyenne CisseAurora, Colorado

Kenya HandfieldMiami, Florida

Trinity McKinneyMemphis, Tennessee

Lanasya ThomasChicago, Illinois

To learn more about the participating HBCUs, please visit Spelman College, Howard University, and Morehouse College.

About Morgan Stanley

Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) is a leading global financial services firm providing investment banking, securities, wealth management and investment management services. With offices in more than 41 countries, the Firm's employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments, institutions and individuals. For more information about Morgan Stanley, please visit http://www.morganstanley.com.

About Spelman College

Founded in 1881, Spelman College is a leading liberal arts college widely recognized as the global leader in the education of women of African descent. Located in Atlanta, the Colleges picturesque campus is home to 2,100 students. Spelman is the country's leading producer of Black women who complete Ph.D.s in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The Colleges status is confirmed by U.S. News & World Report, which ranked Spelman No. 54 among all liberal arts colleges, No. 19 for undergraduate teaching, No. 4 for social mobility among liberal arts colleges, and No. 1 for the 14th year among historically Black colleges and universities. The Wall Street Journal ranked the College No. 3, nationally, in terms of student satisfaction. Recent initiatives include a designation by the Department of Defense as a Center of Excellence for Minority Women in STEM, a Gender and Sexuality Studies Institute, the first endowed queer studies chair at an HBCU, and a program to increase the number of Black women Ph.D.s in economics. New majors have been added, including documentary filmmaking and photography, and partnerships have been established with MITs Media Lab, the Broad Institute and the Army Research Lab for artificial intelligence and machine learning. Outstanding alumnae include Childrens Defense Fund founder Marian Wright Edelman, Starbucks Group President and COO Rosalind Brewer, political leader Stacey Abrams, former Acting Surgeon General and Spelmans first alumna president Audrey Forbes Manley, actress and producer Latanya Richardson Jackson, global bioinformatics geneticist Janina Jeff and authors Pearl Cleage and Tayari Jones. For more information, visit http://www.spelman.edu.

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Morgan Stanley and Spelman College Announce Inaugural Class of HBCU Scholars Program - Business Wire

The 2021 B.E.T.A. Challenge finalistsa total of nine Babson College alumni, graduate, and undergraduate venture teamswork across many industries and geographies, but they share at least one common trait: Theyre seeking to solve problems through their entrepreneurial leadership skills.

The B.E.T.A. Challenge finalists are competing for more than $250,000 in cash and prizes. The finals will be held Friday, April 16, and the winners will be announced Friday, April 23, on the final day of Babson Connect: Worldwide.

The final nine teams are working on a diversity of problems, including giving patients a voice in clinical trials, reducing single-use plastic trash, and even creating delicious, sustainable alternatives to meat. And, three of the finalists share even more, as women-led teams working to empower women.

As a medical esthetician, Sara Ferrer 08 saw how many women deeply struggle with body image and confidence. In 2017, she set out to create a line of bath and body products for girls that would promote positive messages such as girl power and creativity. Her first product was the Pamper Pouch, a DIY spa kit designed to give girls an at-home spa experience.

Today, Zoey Koko offers 50 products on several e-commerce platforms, including ZoeyKoko.com, Maisonette.com, and Etsy, and in 44 retail store locations across the country. The Zoey Koko team has clear growth goals, and winning the B.E.T.A. Challenge would fund production runs and help the business scale faster. Ferrer hopes to put Zoey Koko products in 60 stores by May and launch an Amazon Store this summer.

By reaching girls with positive messages and developing their self-confidence, Ferrer dreams of having an outsized impact.

They begin to realize what they can do and what they can be. This culminates to girls feeling worthy, capable, and strong. This is the impact that I hope Zoey Koko creates, Ferrer said. Empowered girls, after all, become strong women.

Register now for the B.E.T.A. Challenge finale on Friday, April 16.

Aria Mustary 21 and Maya Mutalik 21, both finalists in the undergraduate track, are seeking to create impact for women in developing countries.

Inspired by her mothers experience of an arranged marriage, Mustary founded Mai Soli Foundation, a social venture seeking to break the cycle of gender inequality through education. Mustary and her team partner with local educational institutions in Bangladesh to deliver mentorship and an entrepreneurship and business curriculum to young girls.

Our mentors also create opportunities for the girls to showcase and apply what they have learned, putting theory into practice and preparing them to succeed in life, Mustary said. While other companies and organizations may push girls into paths they do not want, we make sure we address the root of the problem, by creating economic value and self-sufficiency.

Currently, Mai Soli Foundation is working with 200 girls and their families to prevent child marriages. When the organization relaunches its pilot program, it plans to work with another 200 girls. If Mustary wins the B.E.T.A. Challenge, the $20,000 grand prize will help fund multiple initiatives, including expansion of the program into Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The impact that I hope to have on our girls is to help them unlock their full potential, Mustary said. These girls are not in need to be saved from anything or anyone but given a chance to climb heights they never thought they would be able to climb, to have the opportunity and guidance to solve problems, and to amplify the voices they already have.

See all alumni, graduate, and undergraduate B.E.T.A. Challenge finalists.

Likewise, Mutalik, a fellow Babson senior and B.E.T.A. Challenge finalist, was first inspired by a personal story. In 2017, Mutalik traveled to Ghana and met a seamstress named Vida. Their conversation about fabrics, patterns, and Vidas life experience left a lasting impression on Mutalik. She learned that Vida didnt own an electric sewing machine and was unable to grow her sewing business, and that access to financial resources was a handicap for many other seamstresses in Ghana.

Upon returning home, Mutalik realized that there was a demand for the unique, beautiful prints of West Africa. Bringing together her desire to empower and help women achieve financial independence and this demand for cross-cultural fashion, she founded Hope Sews, a socially conscious fashion brand. Today, Hope Sews partners with grassroots organizations including the Alliance for African Women Initiative (AFAWI) to provide resources and skill-building opportunities to low-income seamstresses in developing communities and invests 5% of profits into those efforts.

Aligned with the spirit of the B.E.T.A. Challenge competition, Mutalik is intentional about thinking big and taking action. Though she first set out to provide sewing machines to seamstresses, she quickly realized they needed capital and offered microfinance loans. When she determined microfinance loans were not enough to truly drive impact, she shifted focus to financial trainings, community support groups, and more.

In doing so, Mutalik demonstrates her mindset and commitment to solving a pressing problem and creating value.

Our team now recognizes the importance of taking a step back while trying to solve complex problems and not getting attached to a single solution, Mutalik said. To truly create meaningful change for a group of individuals, organizations need to implement a holistic approach.

Posted in News & Announcements

Tagged Women-Led Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurs of All Kinds, Alumni, Undergraduate, Graduate, Entrepreneurship Education, Startups

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Women-Led Teams Empowering Women Babson Thought & Action - Babson Thought & Action