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AMERICAN JUSTICE SYSTEM NEEDS IMPROVING

Doing the right thing….

Written by Bob Stewart

Values change over time; what used to be considered right, at least by governments is by the 2020s and beyond wrong, one example of this is slavery. 

What change took place which eventually saw the abolition of slavery? 

People who saw a wrong and decided to do something about it.

But….

Doing the right thing did not happen overnight.

It took years and years of campaigning, arguing, and debating before changes were made.

People such as Dr. David Livingstone and William Wilberforce campaigned strongly against what they saw as a wrong.

There are other wrongs which have been righted during the last 100 years or so.

Aparteid is one of them!

Campaigner against aparteid, Nelson Mandela spent 27 years of his life in a South African prison.

The struggle to change the system in South Africa was continued by others while Mandela was incarcerated.

Aparteid was abolished in South Africa during the early 1990s.

South Africa was not the only country which treated certain ethinic groups as second class citizens.

The United States was one of those; in fact, slaves in the 1800s were those of African descent, but you do not have to go that far back in history to find a form of aparteid in the United States.In the early 1960s, a lady named Rosa Parkes refused to give up her seat on the bus for a white passenger, Rosa who was of African descent believed it to be wrong for blacks to be treated in this manner. This created major news headlines at the time, and brought to the world’s attention an injustice which needed to be put right.

A WRONG WHICH NEEDS TO BE PUT RIGHT

The United States is the only country in the world which sends minors to prison for life; in many of these cases, these juveniles were led astray by an over 18 year old. The question really needs to be answered; “Who’s should take the balance of responsibility for a crime committed by a minor when there are adults (over 18s) involved?

That is not the only question, I have. The other is, “What purpose will it serve to keep people locked up for life?”

Wouldn’t it be better, to train these people for a productive life outside of prison maybe as counsellors or whatever niche they can carve for themselves on the outside world.

Send a message to the American government about this wrong which needs to be put right. Sign my petition below;

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/community_petitions/The_government_of_the_United_States_Reduce_by_half_long_sentences_given_to_minors_in_the_United_States/?emdOVtnb&utm_source=sharetools&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=petition-771471-Reduce_by_half_long_sentences_given_to_minors_in_the_United_States&utm_term=dOVtnb%2Ben

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OLD SCHOOL PRINCIPLES

www.robertastewart.com

Old school economics still the key to financial stability

Values have changed a lot throughout the generations and not for the better I hasten to add but there are some principles which do not change and many of these are concerned with finances and money management. Here is a list of financial principle which great grand dad and mum lived by;

If you don’t have the money,  you don’t buy it!

The old timers lived within their means; if they did not have the money to buy something, they didn’t buy it! AS SIMPLE AS THAT!

These days (in the last 40 years), having no money is no barrier to purchasing whatever is pleasing to the eye; all one needs to do is just buy it on credit.

The crunch always comes when you have to pay it all back and some folk struggle to do that.

Greed and selfishness in a person manifests itself in their use of credit cards.

The amount of interest payable on this credit is often referred to as “dead money,” because there is nothing to show for the interest payable on debt.

Know the difference between a need and a want

Old timers knew what was needed and what was a want; something the younger generation seem to be unable to differentiate between.

There is one need which a lot of people do need and that is the need for budgeting/financial advice.

A need is something which is essential to sustaining our lifestyle; a want are basically grown up toys to play with.

Don’t try to keep up with the Joneses

Just because your neighbour has bought such and such is no reason for you to do likewise. Advertisers try to convince us that we need all of the latest whatever in order to be accepted by everyone else and you would be surprised at how many gullible people there are who fall for their sales talk. The old timers were more concerned at taking care of their families than with what their neighbours were doing.

Spend less than you earn

This one seems obvious, but if you cannot even master this skill then you are heading for financial problems. It all boils down to economics; if you are living beyond your means, you either increase your income or decrease your expenditure, preferably both.

Invest

Anyone can save money, providing of course they manage their money properly but investing is another thing altogether; there are few options available for those with a minimum amount to invest but one I recommend is Sharesies, where one can invest on a shoestring. One recent addition to sharesies is the option of purchasing shares in individual companies. It is a great way to learn how the sharemarket works. You can join sharesies below;

https://sharesies.nz/r/377DFM

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ALL ABOUT YELP

Register your business with Yelp.com

Yelp is a worldwide website whose purpose is to provide feedback on businesses irrespective of the nature of their business. Millions of people have visited the yelp website therefore if your site is not listed then how will they know you exist? 

It is important you let your customers know about yelp because it is the customers who list the businesses on the site by placing feedback on the service they have received. 

Customer’s can and do provide feedback on businesses already listed on the site as there is no limit to the number of feedback left about a business.

It is up to the business owner to claim their business on yelp by registering and filling out the necessary details on the site.

It must be stressed however, it is against yelp rules for any reviewer to receive any kind of reward for placing a review on yelp and any violation of this nature could result in deregistration.

FACTS ABOUT YELP

Listed on the American stock exchange

4,350 employees

Headquarters in San FRancisco, California

Founded in 2004

Revenue totally 943 million USD+

Yelp may not be that well-known in New Zealand but is popular overseas and when tourists are travelling around New Zealand logging in to yelp, will they find your business there? If you are not listed on yelp then you are missing out on potential tourist traffic.

IS YOUR BUSINESS IN GREYMOUTH?

Then I will list your business on Yelp for you for FREE, no strings attached; just let me know and I will do the rest.

Logo Design

Are you in need of a logo design? Let me arrange it for you. I know people who will do this for you; if you are unhappy with the quality of work, I will put it right. My price is $100 NZ 

just let me know what you need done.

To receive email updates me just click on the link and follow directions;

https://forms.aweber.com/form/72/892285272.htm


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FRIENDS WILL SHAPE YOUR FINANCIAL DESTINY

Your friends may be detrimental to your wealth

Written by R.A.Stewart

The people you associate with could well be having a detrimental effect on your financial future and though you may not notice it at the beginning, but eventually their influence could pull you down to mediocrity. Let’s look at an example from the animal kingdom.

If you locked a sheep on its own in a paddock, it will try to find a way of escaping to find greener pastures but if it has company it is quite content to remain in the same paddock with its friend.

People are like that; some will conform to the standards of others and as far as financial matters are concerned will take on board what others are saying, and eventually will adopt the same kind of mentality towards finances.

There are different kinds of lifestyle habits which are incompatible to a financially successful lifestyle; drinking, smoking, and eating takeaways regularly are habits which will shorten your life and drain you of your finances.

Your choice of friends will influence your attitude towards money; if you associate with gold digger’s who believe people with lots of money are selfish, then you will be encouraged to spend your money rather than save and invest it.

This is what I am saying in a nutshell:

“The people you choose as your friends will set the standards for your life.” It is important that you keep good company because if you spend too much time with people with bad attitudes, some of their money attitudes will rub off on you. It has been said that you are the average of the five people you spend most of your time with. So who are you spending most of your time with? 

I have known a lot of people with terrible money attitudes. One is “You cannot take it all with you” as if you are going to pass away within the next week or so. What they are doing is to cling on to every excuse they can hold on to for their lack of financial literacy. They will try to make others who are in a better financial shape feel guilty by making them feel stingy or selfish.  This makes them feel less guilty about their own financial situation.

It is better to spend time with Financially literate individuals and in this way you will pick up some of their financial knowhow. You sure will not learn anything from those who friends are the type of people who go out on Saturdays or have no problem with breaking the law then they will encourage you to follow suit and a lot of people do in order to fit in and abandon the values taught by their parents.

The bottom line is, “If you keep company with financially ignorant people then you will become like them.

“He who walks with wise men shall become wise but a companion of fools will be ruined.” Proverbs 13:20

www.robertastewart.com

https://forms.aweber.com/form/72/892285272.htm

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GOALS AND YOUR INVESTMENT STRATEGY

Your goals and investment strategy

The type of investment you place your savings in all depends on your goals and the timeframe for achieving your goals. Investing in low interest accounts is not the best strategy for long term goals while investing in growth funds in the sharemarket is not necessarily the best option for achieving your short term goals. Your investment platform has to be tailored to suit your goals. This table will give you better idea of what I am going on about.

SHORT TERM GOALS

A short term goal is any goal which can be achieved within a year. This may be for a holiday to the West Coast (if you are from another district) or saving up for a car (if it is cheap enough).

MEDIUM TERM GOALS

A medium term goal takes between a year to 5 years to achieve and can be saving for a house deposit or an overseas trip.

LONG TERM GOALS

A long term goal may be saving for your retirement or paying off your home mortgage.

Lets look at some investment options.

SHORT TERM GOALS.

If you already have the money saved up but won’t be needing the money for 3-6 months then investing in fixed term accounts with one of the high street banks is a good option but if you are actually saving up the money then opening up a special account for this is one but not ther only option. I understand that one is able to drip feed money into bonus bonds and it is easily accessible. Investing in Sharesies may be another option worth taking a look at

MEDIUM TERM GOALS

Investing in Sharesies is a good option I believe because your savings has potential for growth while you are saving but another option is to use an everyday savings account to save and once you have saved a certain amount invest in a 90-day investment with a high street bank. 

It should be pointed out that if you are saving for your first house deposit then joining kiwisaver is a must because you are able to withdraw part of your kiwisaver for a first home deposit providing you have been in the kiwisaver scheme for at least three years.

LONG TERM GOALS

Investing in kiwisaver is your best option here irrespective of the date of your birthday because even if the  retirement age of 65 is just around the corner, you can scale back the type of funds you are in from growth/balanced to more conservative however people may have 20 years or more left after they retire so this may not necessarily suit some people. Once one reaches 65, those in kiwisaver are able to withdraw their retirement savings in one hit or whenever they need it. 

There are so many investment options available to you and you do not have to be rich to get involved but you do need to invest to get rich, one investment I am in favour of is Sharesies;

If you would like email updates from me, you can sign up here;

https://forms.aweber.com/form/72/892285272.htm

www.robertastewart.com

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YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE RICH TO INVEST

A Mum and Dad share market investment (New Zealand only)

Investing directly in the sharemarket is an option not available to the ordinary Kiwi because broker fees makes purchasing small parcels of shares uneconomic; then there is the question of diversification, the strategy of purchasing a number of shares from different industries; this is out of the question for small investors.

The best option is to invest in managed funds where everyone’s money is pooled together to purchase funds. It is just like a retail chain being able to purchase in bulk in order to purchase goods at a cheaper rate. Kiwisaver, the New Zealand retirement scheme is a perfect example of this.

A person on the minimum hourly rate working 40 hours per week would have $27.50 going into kiwisaver every week if they were paying 4% of their gross wages into KIwisaver. 

This is a terrific way to build up your retirement funds!

There are other options available for Mum and Dad investors; the one I am going to talk about is Sharesies.

This is a managed fund just like Kiwisaver but where it differs from that scheme and other managed funds is that you are able to choose which companies to invest in. 

It is a terrific way to build up your financial literacy with a minimum of outlay.

Check out these features of Sharesies;

1 Just $30 to join and $30 per annum thereafter

2 Start the fund with just $20

3 Invest as little as $10 in shares.

You will be given a reference number which is used when you deposit money in the sharesies bank account.

Think of money as a seed, if you sow seed in enough places it will reap you a nice harvest at a later date.

Money can really grow when you invest in a number of places and sharesies is an excellent addition to an investor’s financial portfolio; you can check it out here;

https://sharesies.nz/r/377DFM

If you would like to receive email updates from me then you can sign up below;

https://forms.aweber.com/form/72/892285272.htm

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HOW TO ADD ANOTHER STRING TO YOUR FINANCIAL BOW

Sharesies makes investing accessible to all!

Do you have some discretionary dollars to spare and are wanting to invest in a fund with growth potential then look no further than Sharesies; a managed fund which is proving popular among all ages, particularly the young. Sharesies is an excellent investment vehicle for Mum and Dad investors who are looking to add another string to their financial bow but don’t have much money to start with. Even if you have only a spare $50 to start with, it is a start, and Sharesies a great way to invest and at the same time increase your financial literacy.

What is Sharesies?

It is a managed fund, much like kiwisaver but the difference is with Sharesies you are able to choose which companies to invest in. 

How much does it cost to join?

$30 per annum, but you do have the option of having monthly payments debited from your account. Payment can be done by a visa debit card or whatever means you choose.

What is the minimum amount to start off with?

You can start the fund with as little as $20 and make regular deposits to the fund (minimum $5) after that; this can be done by making direct credits to the sharesies account or just simply transferring money into the Sharesie account regularly.

How do I make deposits into Sharesies?

You will be given a reference number which is used each time you make a transferal online; you will also be given the Sharesies bank account account number. It also pays to place your username in one of the slots where you write your deposit details to help Sharesies track you if something goes wrong. (I once left a number out of the reference number)

How do I join Sharesies?

Go to the site by clicking on the link below;

https://sharesies.nz/r/377DFM

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YOUR FINANCIAL RISK PROFILE

Your risk profile-what is it?

Your risk profile is the level of risk you are willing to take when you make an investment! The higher the potential return on your investment, the higher the risk but the catch 22 situation is that just parking your money in low risk low return investments will inhibit your potential returns and could end up costing you in the long run. Taxation and inflation will eat away your profits so investing needs to be a balance between risk and reward. 

Your risk profile is a big factor when deciding how you are going to invest and that has several parts to it so lets examine them.

1. YOUR AGE

When you are young, you are able to take more risks because you have more time to recover from financial setbacks but that is not to say you cannot be on the conswervative side if your circumstances warrant it. 

It also does not mean that you cannot take risks when you are approaching retirement because chances are that you could live long after you retire. 

2. YOUR GOALS

It would be madness to invest in high risk (growth investments) if you require the money in the short term, say within the next 6 months to pay for a wedding, new car, or whatever because the markets may be losing ground and you may end up with less money than you intended. Therefore for money you require in the short tern, invest conservatively. 

3. PERSONAL MAKE UP

If the prospect of losing your money is going to cause you to lose sleep then lean towards more balanced investments. These are a combination of growth and conservative investments. 

Your potential return will not be as much as it could be but at least you will sleep easy, albeit, at a cost.

4. YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION

If you are up to your eyeballs in debt then clearing that debt has to be your number one priority and staying out of debt is priority number two then you can think about saving for whatever reason. Investing in the kiwisaver scheme is a very good investment for the reason that there are tax credits of up to $520 per annum and you are entitled this providing you invest a minimum of $1040. That equates rto 50% return on your investment, tax free. Where else will you get a return like that?

At the end of the day, it is your money you are investing and it is you who will bear the consequences for any financial decision make.

If you would like email updates from me then you can sign up here;

https://forms.aweber.com/form/72/892285272.htm

www.robertastewart.com

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KEEPING UP WITH THE JONES

The cost of keeping up with the Joneses.

Keeping up with the Joneses cost cost you dearly and determine how you spend your retirement years. Life seems to be a competition to at least have a car or house which not only serves the person for which it was made for but makes a statement which says, I am at least the equal of the Jones’s.

So who are the Jones’s?

They are other people who have that fancy car, that nice house, that nice swimming pool, or that nice whatever that is the envy of others. 

The bible says “Do not covet another man’s wife or belongings,” which is saying we should not envy another person’s lifestyle and I will tell you why.

Firstly, you do not know how hard they have worked for whatever they have or what kind of sacrifices they have made.

Secondly, for all you know, they may be up to their eyeballs in debt trying to compete with everyone else in the material rat race.

Thirdly, their income may be twice as much as yours. There is an old cliche which says, “Living a champagne lifestyle on a lemonade budget.”

Your spending and savings plan must be a reflection of your income level and that means to forget what others are spending their money on and focus on your own situation.

There are certain spending habits which will cost you thousands in the long run and they are;

1. BUYING ON HP

The interest payments on consumables bought on HP (Hire Purchase) will add up to a fortune during your lifetime. Interest is dead money; in other words, it is money you pay but do not receive anything for it.

2. CREDIT CARD USE

Interest rates on credit cards can be horrendous if you get behind on your payments. As with HP, interest is what you pay for the use of other people’s money. Greed and selfishness manifests itself in widespread credit card use.

3. BUYING STUFF BRAND NEW

A lot of consumer goods are bought brand new when you can purchase the same item second hand at a fraction of the price at a charity/second hand shop. The eco centre at your local tip also has low cost goods for sale at a very low price. 

Many people are too proud to even set foot in these places because it is not in keeping with the image which they are trying to portray.

Trying to maintain an image during your lifetime will cost you dearly in the long term. 

www.robertastewart.com

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GETTING THE RIGHT ADVICE

Listening to the right people…

Taking advice from the right people and ignoring comments from the uninformed will help you to become better off financially in the long run. An example I am going to use is my nephew Kyle who had made a bit of money from sports betting. He withdrew all of the money from his betting account and invested the money in a fixed interest account. His goal is to save money for a house deposit but he is almost got the money now. It is some of the advice or rather comments that he has been given that really gets me, with some of it bordering on stupidity.

Myself, I advised him that investing in the New Zealand retirement savings scheme Kiwisaver would be a good bet because he would be able to use part of his kiwisaver for a house deposit providing that he has been in kiwisaver for at least 3 years and that it is for his first home. He would qualify on the latter as he has never owned a home but he has been in kiwisaver for just 6 months and is unwilling to wait another 3 years.

That may be so, but everyone in kiwisaver should at least contribute $1040 into the scheme per annum to take advantage of the full tax credits of $520. This is effectively a return of 50% per annum on your investment, all tax free.

The advice I gave is exactly the same as every other financial expert have been saying, and no, I am not qualified to give financial advice to anyone but then neither are many of those who have been adding their two cents worth. Some of them have little money or assets and have nothing to show for their life’s work.

If you hang around losers, you will be one yourself. What they will do is drag you down to their level because then that it will make them feel better about themselves. Some people have such a low opinion of themselves that they will tear others down because the success of others is giving them an inferiority complex.

To use Kyle as an example, he has prospered since he moved out of his auntie’s flat.

Kyle has more financial sense than any of his siblings; one of whom told their mother that he has a gambling addiction. He withdrew 10k from his betting account and invested the money and when he told his brother that he had nothing left in his account that he had nothing left, he thought he had lost the money.

The pathetic thing about this is that this sibling cannot live a day without alcohol and smokes like a chimney that who knows how much of his income is disappearing every week on booze and smokes. Multiply the weekly amount spent on this and the amount spent annually on his vices is quite substantial, certainly in the 1000s.

It pays to not let others know what you are doing and keep your activities to yourself apart from those who are on the same page.

As for investing money into his retirement fund to save for a house, well that may not be the right option for someone looking to use the money in the short to medium term. A retirement fund is exactly that-a fund for retirement and one has to understand that you have to wait until you are 65 or whatever the retirement age when you reach it. Money for other purposes should be put in appropriate account.

A stupid comment I did hear from someone regarding kiwisaver was, “You may not get it back.”

Kiwisaver will get the money at 65 but what gets my goat is that the person who masde this comment has very little in the way of assets so that whatever she spent the money on she never got it back. It is the same with people who spend x money on a nicotine or alcohol addiction; that is money gone forever, not to mention a shortened life span because of the health consequences of these addictions.

I wrote a post a few weeks ago about using your money as a seed to grow your wealth. Money if it is sown in the right places can reap a nice future harvest.

Happy investing!

www.robertastewart.com