Page 13«..10..12131415..2030..»

Category Archives: Financial Independence

CEO Cristhopher Munoz On What It Takes To Be Successful As An Entrepreneur – mid-day.com

Posted: September 9, 2022 at 5:47 pm

Cristhopher Munoz has come so far in his Entrepreneurial Journey that now he has taken up the task to give back to his community in the form of professional financial advice.

Now pay only for what you want!

This is a Premium Story

Pay {{contentPrice}} to Read now

ConsCent Balance: {{userBalance}}

Read Now

Once paid, this story is free for {{duration}} days

{{passDuration}}-hr unlimited access to premium content for {{passPrice}}

Buy Pass

For unlimited access to all the articles

Subscribe Now

He is the Founder of Level Up Enterprises and Level Up Algo, genius Firms that give expert Financial advice. Cristhofer Munoz an ace entrepreneur, financial strategist and wizard investment advisor from New York. Munoz is one the most influential names in the financial market of America. Today Cristhofer Munoz is a wizard entrepreneur who has a number of companies by his name but the most important one is where he advises people to be financially independent through investment in stock market and cryptocurrency.

Cristhopher Munoz is driven to inspire others to find consistency and confidence in their trading. His goal is to be known as one of the best day traders of all time. "I want my legacy to have a positive impact on traders that are starting their own journeys and for them to be able to look to my career as an inspiration as to what is possible for them to achieve." Investment in the stock market can yield excellent results for traders but only if they follow the right tactics for it. The two most important things that matter while investing in the stock market are the setting of the right financial goals and choosing the optimal strategy.

He owns several companies, which also includes an investment group for providing a pathway for investing. This was initially started with the aim to enlighten the youth by giving them tools to survive the pandemic. However, now it has become an assignment, from teaching and training on financial independence and productivity to coaching on personal growth and development.

His webinars, workshops, and coaching aim to simplify and give an entry point to the world of investing and trading different types of securities. Thus, he founded "Level up Enterprises", an educational platform for providing mentorship and coaching to their members to show them how to make money off cryptocurrency, stocks, and futures.

Follow on Instagram: Officialcrismunoz

Go here to read the rest:

CEO Cristhopher Munoz On What It Takes To Be Successful As An Entrepreneur - mid-day.com

Posted in Financial Independence | Comments Off on CEO Cristhopher Munoz On What It Takes To Be Successful As An Entrepreneur – mid-day.com

Sisolak, Lee warn Nevada not isolated from assaults on abortion rights – Nevada Current

Posted: at 5:47 pm

In post-Roe v. Wade America, states and the federal government are left to navigate the legal ramifications of the Supreme Court overturning a 50-year legal precedent. As reproductive health centers, medical professionals, and legislatures that support abortion rights cope with the uncertainty, Republicans and motivated anti-abortion rights activists are pushing for a national ban.

Nevada U.S. Rep. Susie Lee, fellow Democrat Gov. Steve Sisolak and experts from UNLV Boyd School of Law outlined the ramifications a national ban would have in Nevada during a Thursday roundtable discussion.

More than 60% of Americans believe that abortion should be legal in some circumstances. Nevadans voted to protect abortion rights in 1990.

The panel Thursday warned a national ban would trump state laws and stressed the importance of voting in this years midterm elections.

This would ultimately overturn the will of the people of Nevada, Lee said.

The Supreme Courts ruling opened the floodgates for several legal uncertainties, including traveling across state borders, increased wait times, and whether reproductive services should be prioritized to residents, said Sylvia Lazos, a professor of law at UNLV Boyd School of Law.

A national ban would exacerbate these concerns as well as pose threats to the lives of women and families, impacting Black and Hispanic women the most.

In America, Black and Hispanic women account for the most abortions due to disparities in access to and utilization of contraceptives. Geographic barriers, financial access and moving can all limit the access to and use of contraceptives, according to a policy brief by the Guttmacher Institute.

Theres going to be a whole generation of women who are going to have children that theyre not ready to have, Lazos said.

It will impact their access to education, financial independence and their ability to leave relationships that are unhealthy for them, she said.

Thats if they survive childbirth.

A national ban would increase maternal mortality rates by 24% in the first year, with the largest increase in deaths for non-Hispanic Black people, by 39%, according to a University of Colorado study.

The anti-abortion folks made a very calculated decision to, at every level of the court, get conservative judges appointed, Lindsey Harmon, executive director of Planned Parenthood Votes Nevada, said. A lot of folks may have taken for granted Roe v. Wade, so now we have to push both at the state level and the federal level for champions to take action.

Harmon said the best way to take action is to vote for candidates with a track record of supporting abortion access.

The Supreme Court became a political actor when it overturned Roe v. Wade, and other political rights centered around freedom and privacy, including reproductive health care and marriage equality are now in jeopardy, Lee said.

The Dobbs v. Jackson ruling, challenged the constitutionality of privacy that was central to the Roe v. Wade decision, which allowed an individual to make decisions about their body without the interference of the government. A concurring opinion by Justice Clarence Thomas suggested cases involving contraception as well as same-sex marriage and partnerships should be overturned on the same basis.

After outcry over the overturning of Roe v. Wade, several conservative candidates began to backpedal on their stance on a national ban.

Its not just voting for leaders who are pro-abortion access, its also holding candidates accountable for previous rallies, statements and actions supporting a national ban, Harmon said.

Both Sisolak and Lee are up for re-election. Democratic candidates in Nevada and nationwide believe the Supreme Courts ruling has energized many Democratic voters.

April Becker, the Republican challenging Lee, describes herself as pro-life, with exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother.

Sisolaks challenger, Republican Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo, acknowledges the decision of Nevada voters in 1990 to keep abortion legal in the state, but also promises he will always govern as a pro-life governor.

This isnt just a national issue, it comes down to this state, Sisolak said Thursday.

Go here to read the rest:

Sisolak, Lee warn Nevada not isolated from assaults on abortion rights - Nevada Current

Posted in Financial Independence | Comments Off on Sisolak, Lee warn Nevada not isolated from assaults on abortion rights – Nevada Current

William and Kate take on Prince, Princess of Wales titles from King Charles – ABC News

Posted: at 5:47 pm

Prince William and Kate will take on the titles of Prince and Princess of Wales following the death of William's grandmother Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday.

William's father King Charles III announced their new titles in a nationally televised speech Friday, his first as king.

"Today, I am proud to create him Prince of Wales, Tywysog Cymru, the country whose title I have been so greatly privileged to bear during so much of my life and duty," Charles said in a prerecorded speech. "With Catherine beside him, our new Prince and Princess of Wales will, I know, continue to inspire and lead our national conversations, helping to bring the marginal to the centre ground where vital help can be given."

William and Kate, the who have three children, are now the first couple to use the Prince and Princess of Wales titles since they were used by Charles and the late Princess Diana, who divorced in 1996.

Charles's current wife, Camilla, never used the title the Princess of Wales, going by the Duchess of Cornwall instead. She is now the Queen Consort with Charles' accession to the throne.

In taking on the Princess of Wales title, Kate "appreciates the history associated" with it, a royal source told ABC News.

The source added Kate though will "understandably want to look to the future as she creates her own path."

William, now heir to the throne, also assumes Charles' title of the Duke of Cornwall and inherits the duchy of Cornwall, the private estate that was established in 1337 to provide financial independence for the heir and his family.

Camilla Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince George, Prince William, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, and Kate Duchess of Cambridge appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Platinum Jubilee Pageant outside Buckingham Palace in London, June 5, 2022.

Jonathan Brady/AP

"As my heir, William now assumes the Scottish titles which have meant so much to me," Charles said in his speech Friday. "He succeeds me as Duke of Cornwall and takes on the responsibilities for the duchy of Cornwall, which I have undertaken for more than five decades."

Kate, formerly the Duchess of Cambridge, inherits the new title of the Duchess of Cornwall.

William and Kate, along with their children Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte, recently moved from Kensington Palace to Adelaide Cottage, a four-bedroom cottage on the grounds of Windsor Castle.

From left, Britain's Prince George, Kate Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Louis, Prince William and Princess Charlotte, arrive for a settling in afternoon at Lambrook School, near Ascot, England, Sept. 7, 2022.

Jonathan Brady/Pool via AP

This week, George, Charlotte and Louis attended their first day of school at Lambrook School in Berkshire, a preparatory school for children ages 3 to 13 in South East England.

Original post:

William and Kate take on Prince, Princess of Wales titles from King Charles - ABC News

Posted in Financial Independence | Comments Off on William and Kate take on Prince, Princess of Wales titles from King Charles – ABC News

Bitcoin: After Nearly 14 years, Has BTC Met Expectations? – BeInCrypto

Posted: at 5:47 pm

Bitcoin: Freedom, backed by real-world utility, and a solid tokenomics will enable the fulfillment of Bitcoins original mission, says Jin Gonzalez, Chief Architect of Oz Finance.

When the worlds first cryptocurrency was born in 2008 most people hadnt heard of it, and those that had didnt understand it or made it a punchline.

Things have changed drastically since then. And not just the price of Bitcoin, which rose from a fraction of a penny to close to $70,000 in November 2021, and back to around $20,000 over the last several months. This exciting period witnessed new industries grow, expand, and trigger other sub-industries.

Bitcoin has been the driving force behind all of it, establishing itself as the benchmark store of value and means of exchange with over 81 million wallets in existence. Still, its becoming increasingly clear the worlds first cryptocurrency has yet to fulfill its promise of gaining global adoption as a functioning legal currency, or as an inflation hedge.

In addition to not achieving widespread adoption as a functioning currency, Bitcoin, or any cryptocurrency for that matter, hasnt provided the benefits and freedoms that they originally intended.

In the early days of Bitcoin, staunch advocates believed that the coin would offer complete discretion, privacy, security, and most importantly financial independence. Despite there still being many hardcore Bitcoin believers, many began to realize that Bitcoins public nature doesnt ensure all this because its quite easy to track transactions on the Bitcoin blockchain.

People are still taxed on profit realized on Bitcoin. The blockchain can be used to identify individuals and monitor transactions, and the ledger can be used as evidence against an individual who is compelled to submit their KYC. Then Bitcoin, and by extension all crypto, expanded its vision of freeing the masses from traditional finance to other use cases. That is, as a hyper-secure and efficient transfer of value, a store of value, an inflation hedge.

That didnt quite work out. Instead, it finds itself mimicking the stock market and, in particular tech stocks, albeit with higher degrees of volatility. This doesnt bode well for those who sought to diversify their portfolios in defense against exploding inflation. The current on-going market downturn has exposed Bitcoin as not being truly independent of the mainstream financial world. This is due to its fluctuations being in lockstep with international markets.

Bitcoin actually got a second chance to prove itself as a functioning currency when El Salvador became the first country to pass legislation making Bitcoin a legal tender. But even after that, many businesses in the country El Salvador were unable to accept Bitcoin for a myriad of reasons. And this is on top of a laundry list of other problems plaguing the Bitcoin launch in the small Central American nation of six million.

El Salvadors half-baked launch of Bitcoin so far hasnt produced the results that many citizens and Bitcoin evangelists were hoping for, when the historical announcement was made last summer. Given the idea that Bitcoin hasnt provided the basic freedoms it sought to enable, do cryptocurrencies have a real future going forward?

Crypto has staying power, and this bear cycle has enabled an industry-wide shift that has refocused the emphasis on building. The previous bull cycle placed too much emphasis on token launches and hype. But not enough on building actual products and services to support the tokens value. This is being corrected as we speak, but the industry is still suffering from a lack of real-world utility.

Crypto and blockchain projects need to go a different route than they have been. Instead of rushing to pump a new hyped-up token into the oversaturated market, the focus should be on how to provide the benefits that Bitcoin and blockchain initially intended. This means providing financial freedom through privacy protection, balanced regulatory cover, and a fair-tax regime. Now neither Bitcoin or any other major token or cryptocurrency truly provide this.

Crypto and the greater Web3 environment is still full of potential. But to ensure that this bear cycle produces results, the main priority needs to focus on the freedoms of privacy, regulatory, and tax protections. These freedoms, backed by real-world utility, and a solid tokenomics will enable the fulfillment of Bitcoins original mission.

An ideal token should think big but act local at the onset, meaning gaining recognition and regulation from a national or regional government before expanding or doing an IDO (initial DEX offering). Legal reviews and smart-contract audits can be leveraged to provide transparency and build credibility. This lays the groundwork for legal onboarding into a structured environment with proper regulatory cover.

Crypto projects must wake up and realize Bitcoin has fallen short. If the industry is going to spur a financial revolution and usher us into a Web3 future, it needs to be done by a coin that provides something more than just speculative hype. A crypto industry that prioritizes developing and innovating new products and services, while offering these freedoms, will indirectly benefit Bitcoin as it would benefit the entire crypto ecosystem. Going forward it is imperative that we support projects and use cases that translate in the real world or else this bear market will never go into hibernation.

Jin Gonzalez has established six startups over the years, including two successful exits. Prior to founding Oz, a digital assets project with the aim of connecting a network of special economic zones across the globe, he was responsible for pioneering the adoption and embracing of blockchain technology at the Union Bank of the Philippines, as their Director of BD, Fintech, and Blockchain. Gonzalez is also the Executive Director of the Distributed Ledger Association of the Philippines.

Got something to say about Bitcoin or anything else? Write to usor join the discussion in our Telegram channel. You can also catch us on Tik Tok, Facebook, or Twitter.

DisclaimerAll the information contained on our website is published in good faith and for general information purposes only. Any action the reader takes upon the information found on our website is strictly at their own risk.

Read more:

Bitcoin: After Nearly 14 years, Has BTC Met Expectations? - BeInCrypto

Posted in Financial Independence | Comments Off on Bitcoin: After Nearly 14 years, Has BTC Met Expectations? – BeInCrypto

Melania Trump: Education is the key to innovation and individual exceptionalism – Fox News

Posted: at 5:47 pm

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Learning is a lifelong endeavor.

Our schools provide the foundation necessary to develop ones intellect to thrive within society. A wide-ranging education can deliver the potential of stable employment, ultimately supplying our students with the capabilities to realize financial autonomy. And education can, of course, drive innovation and elevate our communities, cities and great nation.

As we look to supporting our children, we must consider the current state of academia and how we can lead by examplestarting with those who might be lacking the support system necessary to obtain a meaningful education.

We should provide foster children with educational resources so that they will have tools, an encouraging environment, and a community filled with people who care about their dreams.

BACK TO SCHOOL: 5 TIPS FOR HOMESCHOOLING THE KIDS AS MORE PARENTS DITCH CLASSROOMS

Students line up to enter their classrooms at Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy in Alexandria, Virginia, on Aug. 19, 2022. (Getty Images)

This semester, Fostering the Futures first two scholarship recipients commence their college careers as freshmen at Oral Roberts University and Middle Tennessee State University. Both scholars will learn in a supportive environment, gaining knowledge critical to achieving job security in the technology sector. By providing access to a computer science education, these individuals will be prepared to enter the workforce and ultimately reach financial independence.

SEE THE MAP: PARENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE GETTING INVOLVED IN THEIR KIDS' EDUCATION

Since leaving the White House, I have built an innovative Web3 technology business that utilizes blockchain technology. I am pleased that my efforts surrounding this endeavor, and Fostering the Future, will enrich the lives of these two highly motivated individuals.

Schoool supplies (iStock)

Fostering the Future, a Be Best initiative, secures educational opportunities for children in the foster care community. Our ongoing commitment is critical. According to the National Foster Youth Institute, only 50 percent of foster children finish high school, and only three percent of former foster children obtain a college degree. Twenty percent of children in foster care will become homeless after aging out of the system, and only half will have gainful employment by the age of 24.

SATISFACTION WITH US EDUCATION DROPPING, ACCORDING TO GALLUP SURVEY

Community involvement in education is paramount to successfully maturing a childs needs, interests, and abilities.

As our Nations students return to school, with the support of their families, teachers, and caregivers, I wish everyone the best of luck. These may be challenging times, but I believe in the potential of a strong education.

Teacher Christine Hay talks to her students at Melinda Heights Elementary School in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, on Aug. 15, 2022. (Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)

Knowledge is empowering, and when coupled with creativity and exploration, we allow our students the opportunity to modernize and advance our society. Exposure to a diverse curriculum and differing views allows our students to explore new topics, form their own beliefs, and learn to work with others. Deadlines and assignments teach students time management and problem-solving skills that will serve them throughout life and the workforce.

Community involvement in education is paramount to successfully maturing a childs needs, interests, and abilities.

A focus on the basics of learning is imperative: reading, writing, math, history and science. Sadly, new data released by the Department of Education showed declines in reading and math scores from 2020 to 2022 across most student groups, regardless of their demographic profile.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE OPINION NEWSLETTER

We must strive to improve these scores and limit outside stressors to protect the next generation. Our children cope with pressures that prior generations have not necessarily faced. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five children, either currently or at some point during their life, have had a seriously debilitating mental illness. Last month, the Drug Enforcement Administration warned families of rainbow-colored fentanyl targeting children. And according to Everytown Research and Policy, there have been at least 113 incidents of gunfire on school grounds, resulting in 41 deaths and 82 injuries nationally this year alone. These statistics are alarming and must be reversed.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

As we enter the new school year, please consider what you can do to herald our next generations academic efforts. After all, it is our duty as citizens to be concerned about the well-being of the next generation.

CLICK HERE TO GET MORE FROM MELANIA TRUMP

Melania Trump is the former First Lady of the United States.

Here is the original post:

Melania Trump: Education is the key to innovation and individual exceptionalism - Fox News

Posted in Financial Independence | Comments Off on Melania Trump: Education is the key to innovation and individual exceptionalism – Fox News

Auric Capital Partners is the Latest $1 Billion+ Team to Choose Partnered Independence With Sanctuary Wealth – PR Newswire

Posted: at 5:47 pm

The new eleven-person firm was created by two former Merrill Lynch teams in order to create a superior advisory experience for clients at any asset level

INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sanctuary Wealth, home to the next generation of elite advisors, welcomes its latest partner firm, Auric Capital Partners. The new firm was formed by the melding of two former Merrill Lynch teams Mittman & Associates, a Private Wealth Management Group team led by Michael J. Mittman, CEPA, CFA, CPWA in Denver as well as McKelvy Schellenberg & Associates, a traditional wealth management advisory team led by Luke R. McKelvy, CIMA and William A. Schellenberg and has offices in Orange County, California and Denver, CO.

"We've been working hard over the past couple of years to enhance our ultra-high net worth solutions for Sanctuary partner firms and their clients," said Jim Dickson, CEO and Founder of Sanctuary Wealth. "Auric's decision to launch their new firm with Sanctuary is a testament to the breadth and depth of resources and capabilities that we've added on this front."

"As an independent firm, we will now sit on the same side of the table with our clients and have the ability to provide truly objective advice, as our only goal is adding value to each client's financial future," said Michael Mittman, CEPA, CFA, CPWA, Partner, Managing Director, Advisory, Auric Capital Partners. "With Auric Capital Partners, we have assembled a team that has the scalability and expertisethrough the wealthmanagement spectrum.Ourfirm has the ability to serve clients whether they have several hundred thousand dollars or several hundred million."

Michael Mittman has 24 years of investment management experience, the last 14 with Merrill Private Wealth Management, where he worked with a small number of ultra-high-net-worth families, institutions, and private foundations. He has earned the Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), CharteredFinancial Analyst(CFA), Personal Investment Advisor, andCertified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA) designations and has a degree in economics from Duke University.

Prior to the launch of Auric Capital Partners, Luke McKelvy, and William A. Schellenberg each spent 25 years with Merrill Lynch Wealth Managementand held the title of Wealth Management Advisor, Senior Vice President. McKelvy has earned the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) designation and is a graduate of Chapman University, while Schellenberg did his undergraduate work at University of Texas. Together they have worked to strategically align both sides of their clients' balance sheets in order to better position them for sustainable growth.

"We made the decision to partner with Sanctuary Wealth rather than set up our own RIA because after decades in the wirehouse environment, we had a tremendous experience in serving clients, but did not want to have to take on the responsibility of things like compliance and technology that were outside of our comfort zones," saidLuke McKelvy, CIMA, Partner, Managing Director, Operations, Auric Capital Partners. "Sanctuary offered us the type of support we were used to getting, but with the freedom to manage our business as we saw fit. We can own the client relationship and their information, and yet we have a strong partner to assist us on the aspects of the business that never touch the client. It's really the best of both worlds."

Also joining Auric Capital as Partners are Jeffrey A. Dewees, Managing Director, Investments; Arman Melikian, Managing Director, Investments; and Jay Tamkoc Managing Director, Advisory. Additionally, the 11-person teams includes: Anna T. Walters, Vice President, Operations; Kristen Freeman, Vice President, Client Service; Meghan Ide, Senior Associate, Client Service; John Kincannon, Associate, Client Service; and Francine England, Associate, Client Service.

"Auric Capital Partners serves as a great example of the flexibility that Sanctuary Wealth has to offer advisors seeking independence," saidVince Fertitta, President, Sanctuary Wealth. "The synergy that the union of these two great teams makes possible is not only a positive development for the advisors, but most importantly, it brings a lot more to their clients. Now that they are independent, they'll be able to have a truly bespoke relationship with their clients on their terms, without the distractions often found when employed by a large institution."

"When we met with the team at Sanctuary, we were instantly comfortable with their culture and how they have constructed their business model," added William Schellenberg, Partner, Managing Director, Advisory, Auric Capital Partners. "It was a refreshing change from what we had experienced in the past and definitely got us excited."

To learn more about Auric Capital Partners, please visit: http://www.auriccapital.com

About Sanctuary Wealth

Sanctuary Wealth (sanctuarywealth.com/) is the advanced platform for the next generation of elite advisors, who have the entrepreneurial spirit to build and own their own practices and desire the freedom to deliver the tailored service their clients deserve. Sanctuary Wealth's ecosystem of partnered independence provides a complete technology and operations platform, as well as support from a community of like-minded advisors and the resources of invaluable affiliated businesses. Currently, the Sanctuary Wealth network includes partner firms in 27 states across the country with approximately$25 billionin assets under advisement. Sanctuary Wealth includes the fully owned subsidiaries; Sanctuary Advisors LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser, Sanctuary Securities, Inc. a FINRA member broker-dealer as well as Sanctuary Alternative Holdings, Sanctuary Asset Management, Sanctuary Insurance Solutions, Sanctuary Global, and Sanctuary Global Family Office.

SOURCE Sanctuary Wealth

Originally posted here:

Auric Capital Partners is the Latest $1 Billion+ Team to Choose Partnered Independence With Sanctuary Wealth - PR Newswire

Posted in Financial Independence | Comments Off on Auric Capital Partners is the Latest $1 Billion+ Team to Choose Partnered Independence With Sanctuary Wealth – PR Newswire

Fourteen Years of Mutual Fund Investing: My Journey and lessons learned – freefincal on YouTube

Posted: August 15, 2022 at 6:01 pm

On 19th June 2008, I started investing in mutual funds. These 14 years have changed my view of risk and day-to-day money management. This is my story and the lessons I have learned. The broad trajectory should be well known to regular/old readers. This is an account of how I went from spendthrift to debt-bearer to financial independence: The Financial Arrow of TimeandMy journey: driven by the fear of making the same mistakes again. My story was featured in Livemint.

I had already sharedmy lessons from mutual fund investing this was specific to mutual funds. This post discusses other aspects of portfolio management and outlook on money growth. First of all, let me make it clear that 14 years is not a big deal. I know many investors who have been investing in the markets for much longer, but they are too private to discuss their journey.

This is only apersonalmilestone. There is so much to learn. Be it the stock market or life, the moment you sound like you have some experience, you will get kicked to the ground. The simple truth is that life selected one for me out of a million ways to go from point A to point B in ten years. This does not mean this is the only way to success (or failure).

It was late 2007. My father had passed after an 18-month bed-ridden battle against multiple myeloma. We were all emotionally exhausted. Two months after he passed, my mother was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease there is nothing fair or unfair about life; it is just a potluck.

Finally, I had some time to take stock of my life. Since I had a hospital expense debt of about 3 lakh (thankfully interest-free as it was from my brother-in-law), I swore that I should never put my family in such a money situation again.

I started reading news articles, and the idea of beating inflation with equity caught my eye. So I asked my health insurance agent about investing in mutual funds. Like many, my first mutual fund was an ELSS fund (in hindsight, this is an unnecessary mistake, but that is life).

So my first fund was Sundaram Tax Saver Dividend Option. I had no idea what that meant or how it differed from the growth option. This fund and this option were selected by him, and since my investment was small, I did not mind. So I started with a SIP of Rs. 1500.

When I started, the stock markets all over the world were in chaos thanks to the Lehmann crisis but I had no idea (thankfully). About a year or so later, I called my agent again and wanted to start another SIP. He said he would send someone home but no one came. Why?

From Aug 1st 2009, SEBI banned entry load in mutual funds. This meant that sales guys would only get commissions from the investment value, not the investment amount. Perhaps because of the climate then (post-crash), perhaps because of innumeracy, I was told many distributors quit over this ban. They perhaps did not realize that commission taken out of the investment value would grow at the same rate as the investment.

Whatever the reason, this forced me to DIY. If no one would come home to set up a SIP for me, I decided to go directly to the AMC. Perhaps it is a generation thing I did not look for the next easy option invest via the bank.

So I became a direct investor almost three years before the introduction of direct plans. So for three years, AMCs were gobbling up the commission money as there was no distributor. If I wanted a Sundaram Fund, I went to their office. If I wanted an HDFC fund, I went to their office. I had no idea who or what CAMS was.

Around this time, AMCs started opening up proper investing portals. It was possible to buy and sell units online. Then on Jan 1st 2013, the no of funds that I held doubled. All my funds had a regular plan and a direct plan. The new SIPs were automatically routed direct.

By this time, I had stopped my SIP gradually as the amount I was trying to invest each month became higher and higher, and I could not lock that much into a SIP as it may affect expenses. So I began buying units manually each month. The first time I did that, I realised a SIP = monthly lump sum. This was about 5-6 years ago.

Initially, I used to invest manually at the start of the month. Then to get used to the volatility, I used to wait for a dip within a month and invest then (the stupid things we do!). Then I did not care. I just invested when I could. Sometimes they were more than a month apart if expenses became high. I religiously started to track investments from 2010 or so in this excel sheet: Using Excel to track investments. I still use it.

By this time, I was also making calculators for retirement and other needs (these seeds of freefincal were sown in late 2010ish). I made a financial plan template projecting future needs. This latter became theRobo Advisory Software Tool to build a complete financial plan!

Once I realised the power of tracking investing after setting clear goals, I stopped tracking expenses:How tracking investments instead of expenses changed my life!From that point on, it was all about reviewing portfolio growth (not individual funds) based on goals and periodic rebalancing.

This is my retirement portfolio (as of 24th July 2022). Details of my childs future portfolio can be found here: Lessons from investing for my sons future for the last 12+ years.

The weights listed below are within each asset class. That is, Parag Parikh FlexiCap has a weight of 55% in my equity MF portfolio. ICICI Gilt has a weight of 20% among debt instruments.

The asset allocation is 55% equity and 45% debt.

In addition, I have a stock portfolio worth about 22% of my equity MF retirement portfolio and about 11% of my total retirement portfolio. Details are here: Stock Portfolio Analysis: July 2022.

This is the growth of the equity MF retirement portfolio from June 2008 to July 2022. The last few transactions are missing, but this will not change the overall evolution.

The gain or loss in my equity mutual fund retirement portfolio up to Dec 2019 is shown below. I cannot update this graph as I have rebalanced the portfolio.

Notice for the first five years and three months, returns were zero. In hindsight, I am thankful I did not quit during those years; otherwise, I would never have achieved financial independence. You see the gains suddenly shoot up due to this graph.

The gain or loss is again plotted (green). The yellow dots represent the annual increase in investment amount. Or What I refer to as the investing CAGR (not investment CAGR). Notice the huge year-on-year increase in the amount invested in equity MFs in 2010, 2011, and 2012. When you dump in money when the market moves sideways, you reap the gains when the tide turns in my case, around the time when economic conditions were favourable and NaMo was announced as the PM candidate -sheer coincidence.

Please note the above does not mean I invested more in 2010,11,12 than now. That is not possible as I am salaried. What you see above is merely big jumps in equity investment. This was possible because I already had some NPS and PPF investments. So equity had some catching up to do in order to get to 60% in the portfolio. Today my investing CAGR has stabilised (it has too!)

I am pointing this out to show I am an unintelligent brute force investor who was lucky enough to invest more. My investing rate is higher than my investment return: Why increasing investments each year is crucial for financial freedom.

If I can call myself successful, it is only because of three aspects

My portfolio growth has nothing to do with my ability to choose good funds or my education or training. By nature, I am disciplined and hate information.

If I had to list my lessons (even if no one is asking me to!), they would be:

1: Get a life! Identify your goal, invest in them and leave them alone until it is time for your annual review.

2: Get rid of Financial contacts or groups on WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook. An investor is defined by her ability to process information and the best way to do that is to avoid information. Just like the best way to manage time is to avoid work (or learn to say no).

3: Invest like your rear end is on fire, or life will light it up for you later.

4: If your needs are far away and you see a sideways market, pump in money. That is the best time to invest. Of course, not many can do this.

5: Never forget that these gains are notional. A single event can decrease your holdings by half. Mountaineers believe that they can climb a peak if the mountain lets them. Markets are not different. Remember, notional losses are real losses. Only notional gains are notional. A goal-based systematic risk management strategy is essential.

6: Your attitude towards money itself and towards profit and loss depends on how much money you have. I have seen my portfolio gain or lose 10s of Rs, 100s > 1000s > .. And along the way, I realised that to be successful, we need to not only learn to lose/gain lakhs every day but not also yearn for it.

7: Money is a drug. The more you have, the more you want to have. So at some stage, you will have to draw the line. Increasing the amount you give away to help others at the same rate at which your portfolio grows will keep us grounded.

8: To be rich, we must first think like a rich person. Have a 10Y, 25Y or 35Y year view of your life. Want To Get Rich? Write Yourself A One Crore Cheque!

9: We cannot buy stuff with returns. Having enough money is more important than getting high returns; they are not the same.The 2016 Personal Finance Audit: Returns do not matter!

10: Concentrate on the portfolio return the most. Individual funds will have up and down ride. It is fine as long as the portfolio moves along at a healthy pace. This is the main reason for developing the freefincal mutual fund and financial goal tracker This is the only sheet I use to track my goals and investments.

11: To make money, two things are necessary: money and time. Returns are not in our control. Those who want to become financially free much invest like their lives depend on it. For all others, try to invest for retirement at least as much as you spend or as close to it as possible. So ask yourself: What is your investing growth rate (CAGR)?

12: Get a proper hobby so that you forget about money. Freefincal is, unfortunately, my hobby. Just because I write about investing does not mean I look at my portfolio daily and tinker with it. Every statue was once a rock. It will become a rock again if we do not know when to stop sculpting.

Do share this article with your friends using the buttons below.

You Can Be Rich Too with Goal-Based Investing

Your Ultimate Guide to Travel

Read more from the original source:

Fourteen Years of Mutual Fund Investing: My Journey and lessons learned - freefincal on YouTube

Posted in Financial Independence | Comments Off on Fourteen Years of Mutual Fund Investing: My Journey and lessons learned – freefincal on YouTube

A findomme reveals the secrets of findom ‘wallet drains’ – Business Insider

Posted: at 6:01 pm

Financial domination has been around since at least the 1990s, but has gained more attention since the pandemic after some women starting using it as a side hustle to boost their earnings and gain more financial independence.

The psychological fetish involves mostly men, or "pay pigs", taking on a submissive role and worshiping their "findommes", or dominant women, by paying them for nothing tangible in return.

One findomme, who has nearly 20 years experience, says the industry has changed since the advent of social media platforms in the early 2000s.

"Some people will post on Twitter and ask pay pigs to offer a tribute fee of $15," says a woman who uses the name Diamond Diva Princess. "That's not findom at its core, as it usually involves a lot of money with the possibility of a 'wallet drain'."

A "wallet drain" is jargon for when a findomme empties the pay pig's bank account, or takes the maximum amount of money that they can afford to give away. It can happen within minutes, or occur over the space of a few days, she tells Insider.

Diamond Diva Princess became a findomme in 2003 before social media platforms like YouTube and Twitter were available using online forums and chat rooms. Most of these have since disappeared or have completely changed over time, she says.

Findommes would communicate with pay pigs over email as well as personal websites and messaging platforms.

Diamond set up her own website after getting a $100 tribute on her first day. She first heard of financial domination after a fan of her modeling approached her and asked to become her money slave.

She claims to have coined the term "findom" in about 2005, although there is no official record of its origins. "Findomme" refers to a woman who practices financial domination.

"A lot of people started using Twitter I would see people using the hashtag findom on Twitter and the term became quite popular," Diamond says.

During the mid-2000s many porn sites started to use the term findom in a different way, muddying the waters for many.They started producing fantasy videos costing $5 to $20 in which "findom fantasists" watch reenactments of actresses draining the wallets of imaginary pay pigs.

"It was no longer about financial domination, respect or reverence," says Diamond. "They use the term when displaying or talking about nudity and pornography, whereas for me, the true meaning of financial domination involves no sexual content or nudity."

She adds: "If people send pay pigs content like that, they will no longer revere or respect you and it goes against its true origins of goddess worship and findom."

While findommes use sites such as Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, Diamond says they traditionally do not go looking for pay pigs, because most want their "goddesses" to be dominant.

At its core, she says financial domination is a "psychological dance" between a findom and a pay pig. The findomme needs to know what to say, how far she can push a pay pig and when to stop.

"If they can manipulate you then it's game over and the power dynamic shifts," Diamond says. "True pay pigs are usually very intelligent and influential. The findom dynamic gives them balance in life and they enjoy it because they are usually in control or in positions of power."

Read the original:

A findomme reveals the secrets of findom 'wallet drains' - Business Insider

Posted in Financial Independence | Comments Off on A findomme reveals the secrets of findom ‘wallet drains’ – Business Insider

Amidst Binance Curve Finance Hack, Is HUH Token In With A Chance of Taking The Throne? | Bitcoinist.com – Bitcoinist

Posted: at 6:01 pm

The Curve Finance hack has been a major news article within the crypto community over the past weeks after a DNS attack left over $570 Thousand missing from the platform and its users.

It was recently revealed that 83% of these stolen finances have been recovered, with further efforts set to recover the remaining tokens and discover the identity of the hacker being pursued by Binance (BNB).

Still, this incident has left many shaken in their trust in Curve Finance, and in the overall crypto market. If exchanges as big as Curve Finance can be hacked, is any large crypto project truly safe?

With this in mind, there is a legitimate possibility that some may now seek alternative platforms to engage with crypto outside of Binance (BNB) and Curve Finance. One such possibility is HUH Token (HUH), with some articles already speculating on this potential.

But what exactly happened in the Curve Finance hack, and how is Binance (BNB) connected? And why might these hack lead some to seek out new projects like HUH Token (HUH)?

Curve Finance is a crypto DeFi exchange with one of the biggest current market shares, with a reported $6 Billion in locked value as of the writing of this article.

Experts have blamed the lack of security on the fact that the platform employed GoDaddy as its DNS provider; a susceptible platform that Binances (BNB) Changpeng Zhao claims No Web3 project should use.

The funds were able to be retrieved by Binance (BNB) after the hacker is alleged to have attempted to send the stolen funds through the Binance (BNB) exchange, which the platform was able to detect and freeze in the hopes of returning the stolen funds.

Despite this incredible work from Binance (BNB), it is understandable why this incident may have shaken some crypto users. Curve Finance has since stated that its platform is now safe for use, after the DNS settings had been propagated to account for the safety weaknesses, but will this be enough?

This story is still ongoing, so be sure to stay tuned as the situation develops.

With the Curve Finance hack causing some to question their faith in big-name crypto endeavours, some may wish to try out an alternative. HUH Token (HUH) is one such example of this,

HUH Token (HUH) is the native token of the HUH network, which is an independent blockchain playing host to a variety of services including a HUH Wallet, HUH Exchange, and NFT marketplace. The platform uses the renowned Proof-of-Stake system in its block validation, making for a blockchain with quick and affordable transactions all while remaining environmentally conscious.

The wide range of choice within the network have allowed some to draw a comparison between HUH Token (HUH) and Binance (BNB), as the latter also features a host of services on their network designed to maximise the potential of the token and give financial independence to users.

HUH Token (HUH) can also be compared to Binance (BNB) in their use of celebrities to promote the potential of their products. In a recent move that saw 10,000 social media influencers posting about HUH Token (HUH) in an attempted roadblock, the project has been able to reach more crypto users than ever before, with plans only expected to further this.

Stay posted for their next roadblock in December, which will utilise 50,000 influencers. You will not want to miss it.

Want to know more about HUH Token (HUH)? Check out this article.

Or, find out more at the following links:

Presale: https://presale.huh.social/Website: https://www.huh.social/Telegram: https://t.me/HuHTokenTwitter: https://twitter.com/HuhToken

Disclaimer:This is a paid release. The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily represent those of Bitcoinist. Bitcoinist does not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of information available in such content. Do your research and invest at your own risk.

See the original post here:

Amidst Binance Curve Finance Hack, Is HUH Token In With A Chance of Taking The Throne? | Bitcoinist.com - Bitcoinist

Posted in Financial Independence | Comments Off on Amidst Binance Curve Finance Hack, Is HUH Token In With A Chance of Taking The Throne? | Bitcoinist.com – Bitcoinist

From Carpenter to Plumber! These women broke all the bonds for their financial freedom – News Day Express

Posted: at 6:01 pm

When our country is celebrating the 75th festival of independence, it becomes necessary to talk about the change that has come in our society after years and these changes have brought women of the country. Today we are talking about those women, who did not care about the old thinking for their financial independence and made themselves self-reliant.

They chose those jobs which for some years were considered to be the work of men only. Just imagine, does a carpenter sister ever come to make your home sofa or cupboard or you go to a woman to make a washing machine at home. But now all this is happening and the common women of the country are doing it.

We have brought the stories of five such women of the country, who are doing unusual things despite living in a very normal family and environment.

Preeti Hinge

Preeti Hinge, a resident of Nagpur, has been running her business in the city under the name Jai Shree Ganesh Furniture for the last eight years. After learning woodworking from his father, he was always interested in this work. But she never thought that one day she would become a businesswoman due to this work.

After marriage, to support her husband, she started making furniture in a small shop. She is the first woman carpenter of her city and she is running this business well taking care of her three daughters.

Soon she is also going to open her big show room. She is so happy and successful with her financial independence that she is educating her three daughters on her own. For years, women were not coming forward, considering the work as the work of men only, with the courage and passion with which Preeti does that work, she is also showing a new avenue of employment to many more women.

After studying civil engineering, Shatabdi Sahu from Bhubaneswar chose a job that was not considered a womens job instead of taking up a job. But her work standing out from the crowd has earned her the title of the only female plumber trainer in Odisha today.

Usually, even a small tap in the house gets damaged, so we look for a plumber for months. But Shatabdi Sahu of Bhubaneshwar solves every problem like tap or leakage in her house along with neighbors house in a jiffy.

27-year-old Shatabdi, herself knows well the work of plumbing, as well as she has so far trained 1000 people in plumbing. Although till date not a single woman has come to him for training, but he wants women to adopt this work.

She has also received the award of Odishas only female plumber trainer by Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Skill Development, Government of India and all this was possible because she only listened to her heart for her financial independence.

Sita Devi from Gaya (Bihar) is working as an electrician since last 15 years and can fix everything from bulb to microwave. He had started this work under compulsion at one time. But today she does this work with pleasure. Because this work helped him to run the house in difficult times and also to make a new identity.

Sita Devi never went to school, but still manages to do all the work very easily. Actually, her husband Jitendra Mistry is an electrician. But due to health problems, he was unable to work, after which Sita took up the responsibility of the house and later taught her sons to make electric appliances.

The story of Sita proves that no work belongs to a woman or a man.

Santoshini Mishra of Sambalpur, even at the age of 74, works as a catering service in many weddings and other functions of the city. She is also providing employment to many through her catering agency.

About 40 years ago today, Santoshi Mishra of Sambalpur (Odisha) used to cook food in the house of others to take care of the expenses and responsibilities of her family.

At that time working outside the four walls of the house was a big deal. But troubled by the financial condition of the house, he had to go out to work under compulsion.

She says, Years ago, when people started catering, leaving the job of cooking in their homes, most of the catering businesses in the city were run by men. I also had to face many types of opposition from family and society. At one point of time, I was also finding it difficult to find a girl for my son.

But she continued to do her work by fighting every trouble and even today she does this work with pleasure and is completely self-sufficient.

Until recently, gardening was considered only a hobby. Nobody thought of it as a business option. Gardeners were also used for the work of plant nurseries or plant care. But today many women are running nursery business from home.

One such youth is Deepika Lakra of Jharkhand. Deepika Lakra, who lives in the government quarters in Ranchi, has a special love for gardening. She is growing a variety of ornamental plants as well as running a nursery.

Deepika is also running the YouTube channel of Gardening since the year 2017. But at that time due to college and studies, she could not make many videos. In the lockdown last year, he started uploading more videos, due to which the number of his subscribers also started increasing. Now she also earns some money through this, as well as preparing and selling some rare varieties of plants.

All these women living a self-reliant life have proved that achieving financial independence for them is not just to earn money, but to do the work which they enjoy doing and by which they can make their own identity.

Breaking every social shackles and stereotypes, leading a financially independent life and all these women The Better India Salute to

Editing: Archana Dubey

Also read: From farming to spice business, read the inspiring story of a widow who was once in debt!

This post is sourced from newspapers, magazines and third-party websites. For more information please check NewsDay Express Disclaimer.

Excerpt from:

From Carpenter to Plumber! These women broke all the bonds for their financial freedom - News Day Express

Posted in Financial Independence | Comments Off on From Carpenter to Plumber! These women broke all the bonds for their financial freedom – News Day Express

Page 13«..10..12131415..2030..»