Category Archives: Financial Independence

Marc Cary is a conduit between the past and present. He has become a griot of sorts, one who regularly pays homage to those who helped shape him including legends he has worked with, like Abbey Lincoln, Betty Carter, Dizzy Gillespie, Sekou Sundiata and Roy Hargrove.

The Pulse featuring Marc Cary

Carys new album, Life Lessons, chronicles the peaks, valleys and plateaus he has traversed over the course of his life, and the connections made along the way. Although the album was recorded pre-pandemic, the timing of its release couldnt be more auspicious. It has an assuaging quality, an element he cites as essential to his sound. His mission has been to use his music to heal the community, just as it healed him.

During his teens, Cary was always an entrepreneur. Being one of five children, he was always on a quest for financial independence. He mowed lawns, had a paper route, and led an award-winning go-go band called High Integrity Band and Show. His quest also took him down a dark path. It was at age 14, while in an addiction recovery program, that he auditioned for Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C. His sponsor, an herbalist and acupuncturist whom he lived with during his late teens, took him to school as a condition of his acceptance to the prestigious school for the first six months.

But Cary was determined to take control of his life and his destiny. It is this mode of operation that has guided his career ever since. Now, he preaches the necessity of studying chord changes just as intensely as the business of music changes. When he isnt performing, he is passing on his knowledge on to students at both the Manhattan School of Music and Juilliard. He encourages them to not just be jazz historians mimicking the greats, but to make their own history by infusing their sound into their music.

In addition to being an educator and entrepreneur, Cary has always been focused on being in service to the community. His weekly Harlem Sessions is a community jam inspired by Sundiatas Community Sing project, which he once served as his music director. Carys trio on Life Lessons, with Dan Chmielinski on bass and Diego Joaquin Ramirez on drums, was birthed out of these Harlem meetups. Cary and Ramirez played together there for three consecutive years, and Chmielinski was one of his students.

Marc Cary - It's Not A Good Day to Die

While Life Lessons is a reflection on Carys personal story, it also recounts events that were turning points in society. When asked about one of the tracks on the album titled, Its Not a Good Day to Die, he was overcome with emotion as he recalled how singer Gina Breedlove gave him the inspiration for the lyrics dedicated to Amadou Diallo, who was killed by New York City police offers in 1999. They first performed the song along with Sundiata on the first anniversary of 9/11.

For more about Marc Cary, visit his website.

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Pianist Marc Cary surveys a winding path on 'Life Lessons' - wbgo.org

Even the most compatible of couples can find it tricky to manage their finances together. Where you previously had to think only about your own money needs, suddenly there are someone elses financial goals and habits to consider.

So, what do people need to keep in mind about managing finances in a relationship? Here are some tips from the experts on pitfalls to avoid when managing money as a couple

1. Not maintaining your own financial independence

Emma Watson, head of financial planning and advisory services at Rathbone Investment Management, says: Every couple manages their finances differently, whether thats splitting everything 50:50 or having one salary used to pay for everything day-to-day and the other to save for the future its whatever works best as a couple.

For those who feel comfortable to, setting up a joint bank account can help keep track of your joint expenses. However, before signing up to this, be aware that if one person has a bad credit rating, as soon as you have an account together you will be co-scored and your credit ratings will become linked, Watson cautions.Whether youre married or not, its wise to maintain your own financial independence too, by keeping your own bank account and savings.

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2. Not considering how financially compatible you are

Watson explains: Its not only about pounds and pence, but also attitudes, aims, and beliefs. If you are to share a lifetime with someone, it helps if you are both on the same wavelength when it comes to your life goals. Do you both have the same aspirations such as starting a family?

All life goals will require saving, so its good to know you are on the same path early on in your relationship. As part of this, take some time to figure out your money style. For example, is one person more of a saver than a spender or vice versa?

3. Being financially imbalanced

Watson says people can be left vulnerable if their other half mostly manages the finances. For example, if the main bill payer or finance controller became seriously ill or passed away, would the surviving partner know how to access their finances or how to pay the bills?

4. Not knowing your rights

Watson says: Whether youve been with a partner for two years or 20 years, if youre not a married couple or in a civil partnership, you need to be aware that the same legal and financial rights do not apply as if you were. If you are living together, or thinking about it, its worth considering making a cohabitation agreement to ensure you both know where you stand, she adds.

5. Only thinking about the here and now

Do you and your partner talk about money? (Alamy/PA)

Watson says this could include a lasting power of attorney (LPA) a legal document that lets you appoint one or more people to help you make decisions or to make decisions on your behalf if you are no longer able to.

Writing a will is one of the most important things you can do for any loved one, particularly children, as it means they can be financially cared for and protected for when youre no longer around, she explains.Its common for many people to only write a will when children arrive, but really, they should be written and updated at important life stages.

6. Not making time to talk about money

Zainab Kwaw-Swanzy, a Millennial finance specialist at Barclays suggests setting aside specific time to discuss money calmly. Make a list beforehand of what you want to discuss, and any concerns you might have. Whether thats how much you set aside towards goals or splitting bills, its always good to be on the same page before spending money.

7. Feeling guilty

Its likely that couples will have different financial situations. Kwaw-Swanzy suggests: If a partner makes a generous gesture, dont feel like you have to replicate this financially. There are many ways you can show your appreciation in different, budget-friendly ways. For example, cooking a romantic dinner, helping them with a task, and simply being there for support when they need it.

8. Believing plans cant be changed

Kwaw-Swanzy adds: Our financial situation, circumstances and goals are constantly changing, and its important to be open, aligned and check in on a regular basis.

9. Leaving valuable items vulnerable

Insurer Aviva settled over 300 UK claims for wedding rings being lost, stolen or damaged between July 2020 and July 2021. Theft was behind the bulk of claims, but others involved rings slipping off or being cut off following injuries. Many insurers have a single item limit on valuables, typically between 1,000 and 2,000. And if youre using grandmas antique engagement ring, fluctuating metal prices could mean its worth getting an updated valuation.

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9 pitfalls to avoid when managing your finances as a couple - The Independent

IT IS a long-standing debate whether or not you should start charging your children rent as they grow up and get a job themselves.

Some parents think it is a good idea to charge their children rent as they get older to instil the value of money and responsibility that comes with growing up.

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Other parents, see charging their children rent as a hinderance on their future and would rather their children save their money to put towards a house of their own.

One mum, who anonymously posted to Mumsnet, sparked a debate on the matter, when she asked if she was unreasonable for not making her kids pay rent.

The mum wrote in the forum: "I have a few friends who charge their adult children rent to live at home.

"I personally find this very strange, no matter their age, my children will always be my children and welcome in my home without any expectation of money.

"I think as well with it being so hard for young people to get on the housing ladder these days one of the only ways they can do is to live at home rent free so they can save for a deposit.

"Am I being unreasonable?"

One user wrote in response: "Stealth boast? Some of us can't support another adult for free..."

To which the woman replied: "Not sure how it's a stealth boast. It doesn't make sense to me that you'd have children but the second they turn 18 you can't afford to have them around anymore."

Lots of parents in the forum said that it was difficult to cover all the bills or food for their adult children, and that they should contribute to the household.

One user wrote: "Thats all very well if youre wealthy. We arent. So our adult dc, who is 21-years-old, who lives at home cant live here for free!!! Why should we fully support another adult when we are struggling ourselves?"

Another person commented: "How will they learn to manage their money and budget if they dont pay rent?"

A third person said: "Well because they are adults and contributing to the home is an adult responsibility unlike children. Not all families can afford to cover bills/food for their adult children, so if theyre earning, asking for a contribution isnt a huge scandal. And in most cases its still less than market rent, so you can still put a decent chunk away if working."

In response to people's comments, the woman said: "I'm by no means wealthy, less than 100 left over each month. But I won't top up my budget at the expense of my children. With regards to teaching financial independence- they budget an amount of each month to go towards a deposit and then they have to pay their bills (phone, car etc) so they are being responsible. Not like I'm letting them live here rent free so they can p**s all their money away."

The woman added in a separate comment that she understands if parents are struggling that they would ask their children to contribute, but says her point was in relation to a friend of hers who charges their kids around 350 a month, whilst the children are trying to save for a house themselves.

She said in this scenario, it seems sad because they are not in a position where they have to charge their children.

There were also a lot of parents and adult children who agreed with the mum, saying they would rather them put the money towards a house of their own.

One user replied: "I'm with you OP, I don't charge my adult children rent. It's our family home. They pull their weight in terms of cleaning and cooking though."

Another user commented: "My parents asked for a 10% contribution of my monthly wages once I was out of full time education and I never begrudged this. Why should I keep all of my money whilst my parents pay all the bills and do all the shopping etc. I was still able to save, enjoy my free time and it definitely taught me good life skills. Each to their own."

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Plus, a mum reveals why smacking only causes more tantrums and doesn't prevent bad behaviour.

And, how your handbag could be LETHAL for your baby and six other dangerous things in your home you've never noticed.

Meanwhile, a new mum shames her ex for leaving her for a 16-year-old using her babies top, but people say she's 'trashy'.

FABULOUS BINGO: GET A 5 FREE BONUS WITH NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED

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Mum asks if she is unreasonable for saying shell never charge her adult kids rent but not everyone s... - The US Sun

The DuPage County Regional Office of Education, in partnership with College of DuPage Hire-Ed and GPS Education Partners (GPSEd), is proud to announce the rollout of a hands-on work opportunity and career exploration experience for high school students in DuPage County.

The DuPage Work-Based Learning and Youth Apprenticeship Collaboration, which was first piloted during the 2020-2021 school year with eight DuPage high schools, is designed to help students ages 16 and older access employment, education, training, and support services to succeed in the labor market. Students enrolled in this program are paid student apprentices with local business partners. As student apprentices, they work towards 450 hours of work-based learning during the year-long course.

During the 2020-2021 school year, 11 students participated in the pilot version of the program, and three of those students are continuing as apprentices with the College of DuPage Hire-Ed program. Program coordinators say several additional high schools will be participating in the program during the current school year -- as well as many more students.

Dr. Darlene Ruscitti, Regional Superintendent of DuPage County Schools, says the overarching goal of the program is to serve DuPage County. "We hope to give students the tools they need to have positive workplace experiences pre-graduation so they can experience successful careers post-graduation. This, in turn, will strengthen the DuPage County workforce with skilled workers both now and in the years to come," Ruscitti explains.

With many businesses experiencing worker shortages, the Work-Based Learning Collaborative helps the community by matching employers with student workers who are serious about contributing to the success of their respective industries.

Last spring, the ROE, in collaboration with WorkNet DuPage, hosted an event for business leaders to showcase the program, and the response was enthusiastic. More than 100 people attended the event.

Greg Carrico, the human resources director at Camcraft, Inc., a components manufacturer in Hanover Park, commented, "We didn't know how to get started on getting young folks in our business. It was really refreshing to get some help with that."

High-demand sectors such as manufacturing, cybersecurity, information technology, health services, and logistics are just some of the career pathways that will be available to students. Students in the program are also given the opportunity to tour workplaces, job shadow, intern, and participate in paid pre-apprenticeships.

Ruscitti hopes more schools and students will take advantage of the program. "We have received really positive feedback from participants. One of the biggest benefits for students is that they are able to earn high school credits and earn a paycheck to begin their pathway to financial independence. In addition, they can explore college and career options while developing valuable workplace skills and technical competencies -- all before graduating from high school," said Ruscitti.

The DuPage ROE is seeking additional funding for this program. They have secured one funding source that contributes to a limited student demographic, but they are hopeful additional funding will serve all participating students. In the meantime, the ROE is working alongside Project Hire-Ed (College of DuPage), WorkNet DuPage, and GPS Education Partners, to develop marketing tools and a website where students, parents, schools, and businesses can get more information on the program.

For more information on this exciting new program and how to get involved, visit the Work-Based Learning & Youth Apprenticeship Collaborative website.

About the DuPage Regional Office of Education

The DuPage Regional Office of Education is a service organization whose role is to provide high quality service and support to all stakeholders and collectively expend every effort to prepare DuPage County children for the world they will face. In addition to the myriad of services provided directly to educators and schools, the office also provides services and support to community members, private schools, parents, children, business leaders, and others. For more information, visit DuPageROE.org.

About Project Hire-Ed (College of DuPage)

Project Hire-Ed is an apprenticeship program providing a bridge between hiring and education to help employers find the right talent for their organizations and teach students the skills employers are looking for. They've been in existence for two years and currently offer apprenticeships in the manufacturing and horticulture industries. In 2022 they will be offering opportunities in the information technology fields. For more information, visit http://www.cod.edu/project-hire-ed/index.aspx.

About GPS Education Partners

GPS Education Partners (GPSEd) is a nonprofit that has been leading the work-based learning revolution in Wisconsin for over 20 years. GPSEd now serves as an intermediary partner to schools, businesses and communities -- across the Midwest and beyond -- to provide scalable, quality work-based learning solutions that impact educational systems, talent pipeline needs and unite and lift local economies through the development of technical talent and young leaders. For more information, visit GPS Education Partners.

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DuPage Regional Office of Education starts new work-based learning program for high school students - Chicago Daily Herald

Some people prolong their stay at work beyond the set age while others go into business. [Courtesy]

Warren Buffett, one of the worlds most famous business magnates, is 91.

He is the chairman and CEO of the company he founded, Berkshire Hathaway, and is so suave in his craft that fellow billionaires call him The Oracle of Omaha.

Should he not have retired at that age?

Bidco Chairman Vimal Shah, in a past interview, dismissed the idea of retirement. The Shah family does not retire, they step up.

There are four levels in thebusiness, he said, and we can only step up to the higher one when we are ripe enough for it.

Do people even retire? With Covid-19 disrupting workplace practices, will workers still aim for a certain age to hang their boots? Will we work forever?

According to TV channel CNBC, research from theCentre for Retirement Research at Boston Collegeshows that Americans mostly tend to claim retirement benefits either around the age of 62 or their full retirement age as defined by Social Security.

This does not sound like a huge departure from what happens in Kenya. While private companies have internal human resource policies that state their employees retirement age, government workers should leave at 60, according to the Public Service Act.

It would be bold to assume that after attaining this age, the retirees tour the world for the remainder of their lives, tasting the finest cuisines in the Malibus and Maldives of this world.

Most of them go into business, while a number of them seek extension of their contracts. Nobody really wants to retire.

Some follow the doctrine of the financial independence, retire early (Fire) movement, hoping to have the freedom and means to enjoy their retirement.

Fire is an early retirement movement where people aggressively save with the intention of retiring in their 30s or 40s, CNBC says.

It is not for the faint of heart -youll have to invest more than half of your annual income and cut down on all of your expenses.

In order to retire early, Fire adherents abide by the four per cent rule, first developed by financial advisor William Bengen in 1994.

The four per cent rule suggests that people save 25 times their annual living expenses and withdraw only four per cent of their nest egg in retirement, only increasing the amount to adjust for inflation, CNBC says.

But few have this kind of discipline. Fewer earn enough to accommodate such a plan.

The Covid-19 pandemics impact on jobs and earnings has shaken many work and retirement models.

According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), an American professional membership association, the worsening economic situation means that many employees may be forced to tap into their retirement savings to stay afloat.

And while that may provide access to funds now, it could come back to hurt them in their golden years, SHRM says.

More than half (52 per cent) of respondents said they will need to dip into their long-term savings in a year or less, according to an April survey of 5,000 people by Betterment, a New York City-based financial services company.

In addition to that, many employees also plan to work longer.

A MoneyRates survey conducted in March found that 36.4 per cent of Americans within 20 years of retirement expect the Covid-19 crisis will delay their retirement, SHRM says.

Will these people retire? Luke Kinoti, a corporate executive, author and entrepreneur, says some people still need to work after retirement while others have their money working for them. In either case, it is not holiday time.

Research shows that 80 per cent of workers want to start a business after retirement because they need to meet their daily needs as high expenses and low-income levels make it hard for them to save earlier for their sunset years, he says.

Others feel they cannot afford to retire, while others view their children as an old-age safety net, writes Mr Kinoti in his book, The Agile Investor.

In a past interview at Fortunes Most Powerful Women Summit, Mr Buffett said it would be crazy for him to leave his job, according to Business Insyder.

If I quit todayI see these people. They spend a whole week planning their haircut. That is not my idea of living, he said.

But Buffett also enjoys his job, which is also one of the reasons he would rather continue working.

I would rather do this than anything in the world, he said. My Social Security check is coming every day, I dont need this.

Im tap dancing to work every day. Theres nothing more exciting than to get there. It doesnt get better than that.

Those who subscribe to his school of thought will certainly not be planning to retire.

According to The Economist, until theCovid-19pandemic, the average age of retirement among Americans had been steadily moving upwards since the mid-1980s.

That has stalled. The proportion of people aged 55 and over who are retired has risen by two percentage points compared with before the pandemic, to 50 per cent, the magazine said.

Nearly half of Americans (49.9 per cent) expect to retire before they turn 62, a two-percentage-point increase from two years ago, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

One reason given for the change in retirement patterns is that some Americans, particularly the well-off, are choosing to take it easy: abooming stock marketand soaring house prices have made early retirement more viable.

For others, working through a public-health crisis has changed their priorities. Falling life expectancy- it decreased by 1.9 years between 2018 and 2020may have inspired some Americans to make the most of their golden years, said The Economist.

Older workers may also be especially nervous about returning to offices, given that they face a higher risk of dying from Covid-19 than their younger colleagues.

While others are extending their working deadlines, these ones are reducing it and running to the mantra, you only live once.

Kinoti says people should invest for retirement, at whatever age.

The first step in this process is to calculate the amount of investment accumulated in various savings plans over ones working life, he says.

Then it is necessary to calculate the amount of retirement income that can be provided by that wealth.

The rule of the thumb is for employees to save at least 10 per cent of their income for retirement as soon as they start work. If you dont do this and leave it until you are older, this percentage will rise rapidly, Kinoti says.

He advocates for saving in pension plans, occupational pension schemes, umbrella schemes, and provident and gratuity schemes.

To plan to retire, one has to make sure that their money is making them more money.

One of the reasons why the working class retire poor is that they work for money as opposed to having money work for them, says Kinoti.

Income is manifested in three ways: earned income, including salaries, portfolio income such as stocks and pensions, and passive income such as rentals and royalties. If you want to retire poor, keep working for money without an alternative source of income.

Additionally, many people retire poor simply because they have no golden goose and those that do frequently kill it for immediate gratification, Kinoti says.

Saving a lot of money means that the retirement years are spent in relative peace and less hassle. But do we truly retire?

Read the rest here:

Saving to retire, but do we really stop working? - The Standard

The National Association of REALTORS (NAR) is proposing a series of changes to its multiple listing services (MLS) in the new year, according to recent reports.

NARs MLS Technology and Emerging Issues Advisory Board passed a bundle of motions focused on sprucing up the transparency and functionality of its association-operated MLS for participants and subscribers.

The advisory board moved forward with these recommendations because we think they ensure that MLSs are up-to-date with advancements in technology and consumer preference, operate with transparency and maintain policies that make the consumer experience better, said Greg Zadel, chair of the advisory board in a statement following the committees Sept. 9 10 meeting.

If accepted by the Multiple Listing Issues and Policies Committee and NAR Board of Directors in November, the policies will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2022, and MLSs will have until Mar. 1 to adopt the changes locally, according to NAR reports.

Zadel, who is also the broker/owner of Zadel Realty in Firestone, Colorado, suggested the proposed policies would serve the interest of consumers while also strengthening NAR policies and its code of ethics.

Based on the list of recommendations, the advisory board wants to eliminate filtering features that show MLS listings based on the level of compensation offered to the cooperating broker or by the name of a brokerage or agent.

The advisory board recommended amending the language in the Internet Data Exchange (IDX) policy and the Virtual Office Website (VOW) policy to make it consistent with the prohibition on filtering and restricting MLS listings.

Another motion would restrict MLS participants and subscribers from advertising their services to buyers and sellers as free, according to the list of recommendations.

While REALTORS have always been required to advertise their services accurately and truthfully, and many REALTOR services have no cost to the recipient, this change creates a bright-line rule on the use of the word free that is easy to follow and enforce, read an excerpt from the advisory boards recommendation list.

Along with improving transparency, the advisory board recommended a batch of best practices for the MLS Standards Work Group that it claimed could deliver a higher level of service and engagement with MLS participants and subscribers.

The suggested best practices include:

Disciplining participants who violate MLS rules Informing participants about the data feeds and technical support available to them and their vendors on the MLS site Sharing aggregated data with state associations and NAR for statistical and advocacy purposes Clarifying MLS officers and directors fiduciary duty Developing an annual MLS strategic plan with specific consideration to leadership training, partnerships, technology, participant outreach, financial independence, diversity, equity and inclusion

The group also suggested creating a written plan with a timeline and cost estimate for complying with the Real Estate Standards Organizations (RESOs) Data Dictionary by July 2022.

Other recommendations included adding listing broker attribution in the IDX and VOW policies and requiring MLSs to offer participants or their designees a single data feed and a brokerage back-office feed.

The list of potential changes could grow as the advisory board prepares for another meeting in October.

The MLS Issues and Policies Committee and NAR Board of Directors are set to vote on the policies on Nov. 13 and 15, respectively, during the REALTORS Conference & Expo.

Jordan Grice is RISMedias associate content editor. Email him your real estate news to jgrice@rismedia.com.

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NAR Advisory Board Approves Motion to Alter MLS - RisMedia.com

Investing seems to be everybodys favourite pastime these days. Making money has become quick, exciting and easy. Even at current high valuations, investors are diving in based on the liquidity and the fear of missing out. It seems like prices can only go up, irrespective of the fundamentals. No wonder cryptocurrencies are thriving.

For those who have made fabulous returns in the past one year, or those wondering whether to invest now or those disciplined investors unsure if they made the right allocations, this is the right time to assess how well you are preserving your hard-earned money. Here is how you can do so.

1. Ask yourself why you are investing. Is it to meet financial goals or because everyone is making money and you are missing out on some quick returns? If financial freedom is what you are working towards, then how do your current choices of investment work towards helping you achieve this? Are your priorities being overshadowed by current market happenings? For example, are you moving out of systematic investment plans (SIPs) into direct stocks just because stocks have good short-term performance? It is not easy to consistently beat the indices in the long run. Similarly, if you are moving from fixed deposits to NCDs, you are putting your financial goals at risk.

Financial independence is available to those who learn about it and work for it. Build an investment strategy if you do not have one, and for those who do have one, evaluate how your current actions are impacting the investment strategy.

2. Have you got the right information? To develop an investment strategy, the right information is a must. Investment decisions are based on hearsay or information shown in a way to influence positive buying decisions. Online platforms show last three- to five-year performance, and that too absolute returns and not risk-adjusted performance. With periodic rebalancing in bundled stocks/ETFs (exchange-traded funds), comparing them with a benchmark or another basket is difficult. In products such as P2P, details about the regulated entity are sketchy. Re-examine the current holdings thoroughly and exit if what you discover doesnt suit your risk profile.

3. Are you setting the right expectations? I find investors expecting 20-25% returns from equity portfolios, which gets extrapolated to other investments, too. Investors also do not know the right way to calculate returns and often make decisions based on absolute returns. Further, returns are considered on a gross basis and not net of expenses, taxes and inflation. The wrong returns projections make financial plans go awry. The investment horizon is an important factor for these predictions to play out, and that, too, needs to be set fittingly. Go with conservative returns assumptions, say, 10-12% per annum in equities over a 7-10 year period and recalibrate your plans accordingly.

4. Are you ready to face a deep correction? In the past too, markets have run up quickly and strongly, and have fallen equally faster and deeply. Can you and your portfolio withstand a crash like the one just 18 months back, in March 2020? If not, it is time to move some part of the portfolio to less risky, uncorrelated asset classes, even if it means missing out on some returns. Certainly, unregulated investments like bitcoin should be exited.

5. Do you have a financial plan? Financial goals are typically met with long-term systematic investing in consistently returning instruments. Moreover, asset allocation determines portfolio returns. Create a financial plan and tag assets to goals to check if they will actually work for your financial goals. A financial plan can bring discipline in otherwise ad hoc investments. It helps you save your most precious assettime.

Without a game plan and without a strong sense of faith in what you are doing, it is going to be really hard to preserve wealth.

Mrin Agarwal is financial educator and founder, Finsafe India.

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Five mantras to preserve wealth in wild markets - Mint

Vtivek Ravi, Product Manager in the Risk and Compliance Department at EstateGuru, a property-backed loan marketplace catering to retail investors, joined the company at their Tallinn office around seven months ago.

Vivek notes that his goal is to learn more about the overall risk and compliance space and he wants to help EstateGuru with complying with applicable regulations. He also shared that he wants to make this compliance process as hassle-free as possible for any investor who plans to use their platform.

As mentioned in a blog post by EstateGuru, Vivek aims to support very low-risk investment products that [are] accessible to everyone and help them achieve some form of financial independence.

He added that since working at EstateGuru for around seven months, hes been focused on being transparent enough to actually give out all the information to the investors in advance to help them make a choice that best suits them.

Vivek believes that the company has not yet reached its peak or full potential yet. He added that its a growing company and the growth that has already happened is exceptional. He further noted that any exceptional talent joining will get an opportunity to learn and grow together with the company.

As noted on its official website, the average return on investments via EstateGuru is 11.32%. Investors earnings via the platform have reached 33,245,784 at the time of writing.

And 438,371,763 has been lent so far. There are currently 95,364 investors on EstateGuru and growing and presently there are 2733 funded loans.

As confirmed by the company, all loans are secured with a mortgage and subjected to complex, data-driven risk analyses by [their] team of seasoned real estate professionals before being released to [their[ investors.

The EstateGuru team notes that once they release a project to their investor pool, the funding round begins. The company adds that as soon as a project is fully funded (which can take as little as a few minutes) the contracts are signed and the money is released to the loan applicant.

The borrower makes their repayments according to the agreed repayment schedule while the investors can track all repayments on their personal portfolio page, the EstateGuru team explained.

They also mentioned:

EstateGuru utilizes wide-ranging risk assessment technology to analyze hundreds of data points in support of the decisions made by our credit team. From the hundreds of applications originating in different European countries every month, we only release those that pass our stringent screening process on our investment platform.

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Vivek Ravi from EstateGuru Is Focused on Low-Risk Investment Products, Accessible to Everyone for Achieving Financial Independence - Crowdfund Insider

Financial independence liberates a person from spending time for earning and lets the person enjoy life by pursuing what he/she aspires to do.

Everybody wants to become wealthy and financially independent. Financial independence liberates a person from spending time for earning and lets the person enjoy life by pursuing what he/she aspires to do.

For those, who dont belong to wealthy families, becoming financially independent needs meticulous financial planning and proper execution of the plan.

The journey to become wealthy involves the following steps:

The first step is saving by spending less money than the amount of earning. To save more, a person needs to maximise the earning and minimise the spending.

To earn more, one has to enhance his/her skill sets and pursue a career that generates maximum possible income.

To spend less, a person has to control his/her spending instinct. One must avoid falling into a debt trap by taking loans or buying things on EMI that result in an obligation to pay from future earnings for the current consumption.

Most important is inculcating the habit of saving from the first day of starting earnings.

Mere saving is not enough as money saved would lose its purchasing power if kept idle. So, after saving, money should be invested so that it grows at a higher pace than the rate of rising prices or the rate of inflation.

How to manage your finances for prosperity, wealthcreation

While the capital invested in fixed-return instruments is considered safe, the returns generated are not enough to beat the inflation in the long run. So, fixed-return instruments like fixed deposit (FD), bonds etc are appropriate for short-term investments, but to create wealth, an investor has to take some calculated risks and invest in equities.

Equities are capital investment and are subject to market risks. So, equity investors face capital risk as the value of investment fluctuates in tandem with market fluctuations. So, a person should never invest in equity the money needed at a short notice or the emergency money. Only that money may be invested in equities that may be spared for the long term and the investor may wait patiently for the market to rise and the money to grow.

As equities provide superior return than other financial instruments in the long run, they are the ideal financial instrument for wealth creation.

However, to maximise investments, if a person invests all his/her savings without following the financial basics, the journey to become wealthy may get interrupted and the dream of becoming financially independent may get shattered.

Following the financial basics is needed to build a foundation to begin the journey of wealth creation without any interruption.

The financial basics are

Anybody may face an unforeseen emergency situation that demands immediate spending. So, before starting investing, an emergency fund must be created out of the money saved. For this, some liquid cash may be kept at home, some money in savings bank accounts and some in short-term instruments from which money may be readily taken out. One must keep enough money in an emergency fund that supports at least six months expenditures.

By taking insurance, one may reduce the uncertainty of spending by shifting the insurable risks to insurance companies by paying a premium, the amount of which is predictable or certain. One must take cover against unpredictable medical expenditure in case of medical emergency and hospitalisation by taking a health insurance cover. Similarly, one must protect the persons financially dependent on him/her by taking a cover against premature death through term life insurance.

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Want to become wealthy? Not following the financial basics may shatter your dreams - The Financial Express

With the release of the latest James Bond movie, No Time to Die, two more women are joining the list of actors considered Bond girls; although that name feels pretty outdated. Essentially, a Bond girl is any woman with a key role in a Bond movie, but as the years have passed, these actors have gotten more and more to do in the films. In the early days, Bond girls were often there just to appear in a bikini or even be killed off partway through the movie. But not much anymore. Just look at the character Nomi, who is played by Lashana Lynch in No Time to Die, which comes out this week. Yes, she's a woman in the film, but she's also the first female 007 agent in the movies.

There have been many, many women in the 25 James Bond films that have been released over the past several decades. Here's a look at what 10 classic era Bond girls are doing now.

RELATED:Ranking Every James Bond Movie, From Worst Reviewed to Best.

Ursula Andress is considered the first Bond girl, though there were two other women with smaller roles in the first Bond movie, 1962's Dr. No. Andress played Honey Ryder opposite Sean Connery. The Swiss actor also starred in Clash of the Titans, She, and the 1967 James Bond parody movie Casino Royale.

Andress, now 85, had her last film appearance in 2005's St. Francis' Bird Tour, but stopped working consistently in the late '80s. She has one son with her ex and Clash of the Titans co-star Harry Hamlin.

"After being the first Bond girl, I had offer after offer and could take my pick of the roles that were around," Andress told The Sunday Post in 2018. "It's a mystery. All I did was wear this bikini in Dr. Nonot even a small oneand whoosh! Overnight, I made it. It gave me financial independence and changed my life completely."

Italian actorDaniela Bianchiplayed Bond girl Tatiana Romanova in the second movie, 1963's From Russia With Love. Bianchi's career as an actor lasted about 10 years, with appearances mostly in Italian and French films. Like Andress, she also appeared in a Bond parody, this one called Operation Kid Brother.

Bianchi retired from acting in the late '60s and married Alberto Cameli, a shipping magnate with whom she had a son. Cameli died in 2018. Now 79, Bianchi made her most recent film appearance in the 2012 Italian documentary, We're Nothing Like James Bond.

Mie Hama played Kissy Suzuki in 1967's You Only Live Twice. The Japanese star is also known for the movies King Kong vs. Godzilla and King Kong Escapes. Hama mostly retired from acting in the mid-'70s, though she did appear in one more film, Kitchen, in 1989.

Hama married television executive Mitsuru Kaneko, and they were together until his death in 2018. They have four children.

"It was an honor to be a Bond girl, but once was enough," Hama told The New York Times in 2017. "I didn't want that image to stick with me. I am actually a subdued and steady person, but I felt that somewhere beyond my control, others were creating a character named 'Mie Hama.'" According to the article, the 77-year-old went on to be an advocate for preserving old farms, a TV and radio host, and an author of 14 books about topics including raising children and self-discovery.

Jill St. John played Tiffany Case in Diamonds Are Forever, Connery's sixth Bond movie. St. John was the first American actor to play a Bond girl. In addition to the 1971 movie, St. John appeared in many films and TV shows, particularly in the '60s, including Come Blow Your Horn, in which she starred alongside Frank Sinatra.

St. John continued acting after being a Bond girl. Her most recent role was in the 2014 Hallmark Channel movie Northpole, in which she appeared as Mrs. Claus alongside her husband Robert Wagner as Santa Claus. The 81-year-old has been married to Wagner since 1990, but they knew each other long before that. They've co-starred in several movies and TV shows, including the miniseries Around the World in 80 Days.

Trina Parks became the first Black Bond girl when she appeared in Diamonds Are Foreveras henchwoman Thumper. While Parks is considered the first Black Bond girl, the first Black Bond girl to be involved romantically with the secret agent came two years later with Gloria Hendry in Live and Let Die. Parks, who is a dancer, appeared in two movies before Diamonds Are Forever: Beyond the Valley of the Dolls and The Great White Hope.

According to a 2020 interview with From Tailors with Love, Parks is a dance instructor, and she directed, wrote, and choreographed a show in 2010 called Black & Brown Anthology. In 2018, Parks, now 73, told Richmond Magazine that she was cast thanks to her dance and karate background. "I didn't know who Sean Connery was at that time," she said. "I kind of knew about the James Bond thing, I was from the dance, theater world, and that was more so my world than film."

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Roger Moore's second Bond movie,The Man with the Golden Gun,featured Britt Ekland as Mary Goodnight. Ekland was famous before appearing in the 1974 film, thanks to roles in Get Carter, The Wicker Man, and The Six Million Dollar Man. She was married to another star, actor Peter Sellers, from 1964 to 1968. She also dated Rod Stewart for a couple of years soon after the Bond film came out.

Ekland continued acting throughout the '70s and '80s, but her acting career slowed down in the '90s. She did go on to appear in some reality shows more recently, including the British series I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! in 2010 and the Swedish series Let's Dance in 2018.

In a September episode of Loose Women, Ekland, 78, said that after seeing an early screening of No Time to Die, she changed her mind about thinking Bond girls should always be called "girls."

"I have always maintained that it has to be a 'Bond girl,'" she said on the show. "But I've changed my mind. Last night [at the premiere], the Bond women were just that. And they were also incredible. They were quick, fast. They were great actresses. They were very physical. They never showed their bodies. And they were just great Bond women."

Maud Adams was a Bond girl in two movies. First, she played Andrea AndersinThe Man with the Golden Gun. Then, she played the titular character in Octopussy in 1983. In both films, she acted alongside Moore. Adams was a model before becoming an actor. In addition to the Bond movies, she also appeared inTattoo and Rollerball and in many TV series.

Adams stopped acting as frequently beginning in the 1990s. In 2000, she appeared on an episode of That '70s Show alongside other Bond girls, including series regular Tanya Roberts. The 76-year-old actor has been married to her husband, Charles Rubin, since 1999.

"It's been a very nice club to be a part of over the years," Adams told Umgs in 2018. "Obviously, [the movies] have changed completely the direction of my life. I look back on them very fondly and how incredibly lucky I have beenthey are fantastic memories; they will always be a part of me."

Barbara Bach appeared in the 1977 Bond movie, The Spy Who Loved Me, as Anya Amasova. Prior to beginning her career as an actor, Bach was a model who appeared in magazines such as Vogue and Seventeen. Her pre-Bond acting credits included several Italian movies.

Bach stopped acting in the mid-'80s. Now 74, she has been married to Beatles drummer Ringo Starr since 1981, and has two children from her first marriage to Count Augusto Gregorini. In 1983, Bach told People(via ABC News) that Bond was "a chauvinist pig who uses girls to shield him against bullets."

Carole Bouquet appeared alongside Moore as Melina Havelock in 1981's For Your Eyes Only. The model and actor had appeared in a few, mostly French movies and TV series prior to becoming a Bond girl, but her acting career has only grown since.

Bouquet, 64, continues to act to this day. Her film appearances include the Wasabi and Too Beautiful for You, for which she won the Csar Award for Best Actress. American audiences might recognize her from an episode of Sex and the City. Bouquet spoke about her time making For Your Eyes Only with Singapore's Todayonline in 2011, and said she found it "boring." Asked if she would do another Bond movie, she said, "Of course, not. And by the way, it's extremely boring to do a James Bond movie. It's very fun to watch, but it's awfully boring to do because you fake everything You don't act. It's stunts." But, she added, "It's like an offer you can't refuse. It's like the sentence in The Godfather."

Carey Lowell played Pam Bouvier with Timothy Dalton as Bond in the 1989 movie License to Kill. Like many of her fellow Bond girls, she was a model before becoming an actor. At the time that she appeared in License to Kill, she had been a couple of movies.

Lowell went on to act in films including Sleepless in Seattle and Leaving Las Vegas. One of her other most famous roles was playing assistant district attorney Jamie Ross on Law & Order. Lowell has two children; one with her second husband, Griffin Dunne, and one with third husband, Richard Gere. The 60-year-old actor's recent roles include appearances on Blue Bloods and Bull.

RELATED:This Former Bond Girl Says She "Ruined Her Face" With Plastic Surgery.

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Here's What 10 Classic Bond Girls Look Like Today - Best Life