PITFALLS FOR LEADERS

"WORK HARD AND BECOME A LEADER." PROVERBS 12:24

If you are a leader, try to avoid these pitfalls:

1. Micromanaging vs. Leading.  Managing people requires an eye for detail, whereas leading involves vision-sharing, goal-setting and motivating.  And you must know the difference.  When you micromanage rather than lead, morale plummets because people need clear objectives and the freedom to figure out how to reach them.  Do not micromanage; it diminishes the sense of 'ownership' those under and around you need for good team dynamics and problem-solving.
2. Confusing Individual Loyalty with Team Building.  It is good to work closely with key individuals, but it is also important for people to stay 'connected to each other' [Romans 12:5].  Make sure everybody gets to be on the team, feels valued and learns to interact with one another.
3. Being Afraid to Try Things.  Stretching people into new areas means they will make mistakes.  While locking them into the same routine may keep them [and you] safe, it takes the motivational wind out of their sails.  Being a leader means risking other people's failures and biting your lip as you let them 'toddle' out into the unknown.  Like a parent who prays harder when their teen takes the family car out for their first drive, you must accept that some challenges which frighten you are liberating to others.  Solomon said, 'Work hard and become a leader.'  That raises a question.  If you are leading others, who is leading you?  The best way to lead, is to follow God and obey His Word!

STRIVE FOR INTEGRITY, NOT POPULARITY

"The integrity of the honest keeps them on track...."  Proverbs 11:3

Joseph refused the advances of Potiphar's wife, not because he thought he could not get away with it, but because he knew he could not live with himself if he accepted them.  The world needs people who cannot be bought; whose word is their bond; who put character above wealth; who possess opinions and a will; who are larger than their vocations; who do not hesitate to take chances; who would not lose their individuality in a crowd; who will be as honest in small things as they are in great things; who will make no compromise with wrong; whose ambitions are not confined to their own selfish desires; who will not say they do it "because everybody else does it"; who are true to their friends through good report and evil report, in adversity as well as in prosperity; who do not believe that shrewdness, cunning and hardheartedness are the best qualities for winning success; who are not afraid to stand for the truth even when it is unpopular; who say "no" with emphasis, even though the rest of the world says "yes".

In what he calls a compromise of integrity, Psychiatrist Leo Randall analyses the relationship between former President Nixon and some of his closest confidants in the Watergate scandal.  He records a conversation between Senator Howard Baker and Nixon aide Herbert Porter.  Baker: "Did you ever have qualms about what you were doing?" Porter: "No!"  Baker: "Why?"  Porter: "Group pressure.  I was afraid of not being considered a team player."  So strive for integrity, not popularity!

HOW LONG WILL THIS ATTACK LAST?

"Having Done All...Stand." Ephesians 6:13

The size of the prize determines the severity of the fight.  The enemy knows your vulnerabilities and he will push you to your limits.  When he does, remember: "Blessed is the man who endures...when he has been approved, he will receive the crown" [James 1:12].  "Approved" means victory qualifies you for greater things.  "Endures" means your staying power is being tested.  So, "having done all...stand."  You say, "How long will this attack last?" The prince of darkness hindered Daniel's prayers for 21 days [Daniel 10:13].  Goliath defied the armies of Israel 40 days and nights [1 Samuel 17].  Your enemy is relentless; you must be too. When it comes to prayer, your persistence overcomes his resistance.  "You have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise" [Hebrews 10:36].

David did not get into trouble with Bathsheba until he left the battlefield.  It is the safest place to be.  So stay there, keep fighting and God will come to your aid.  When Joshua needed extra time to defeat his enemies, the sun stood still.  God was saying, "As long as the sun does not go down you will not go down either, for the same power that is holding it up is holding you up."  Isn't that great?

Jesus healed people in different ways.  Some He spoke to, others He touched.  One day, He told 10 Lepers to go and show themselves to the Priest.  And the Bible says: "As they went, they were cleansed" [Luke 17:14].  They were probably wondering, "When will it happen?  How will it happen?"  Faith does not demand details, it just keeps moving obediently forward, believing God for the right result!

HAPPINESS KEYS [PART TWO]

"Blessed...are those who hear the Word...and obey."  Luke 11:28

Jesus said, "[Real] life is not measured by how much you own" [Luke 12:15] but by how you live.  That is why it always wise to:

1. Challenge Yourself.  Examine how you spend your leisure time.  After a long day, it is easy to relax in front of the television but you will be happier if you are physically and mentally active.  Go for a walk, play with your children, take time to read God's Word and pray, even when you do not feel like it.  Jesus said that in order to follow Him, we "must give up the things [we] want" [Luke 9:23].
2. Reach out to others.  The smallest good deed is worth more than the most impressive intention, so if you want to help yourself, help others.  Not only will it make you feel better, being around other people who are giving of themselves keeps you connected to a larger cause.  The enemy does not mind you talking about your faith as long as you do not practice it, whereas God never teaches us anything without giving us an opportunity to put it to work.  That is why Jesus said, "Blessed...are those who hear the Word...and obey."
3. Be more patient.  A man who rode the ferry to work prided himself on his punctuality.  But one day he overslept.  Fearing he would be in trouble with his boss, he raced to the dock only to see the boat six feet out from the terminal.  Taking a leap, he landed on the deck.  Smiling, the Captain said, "Great jump! But if you had waited another minute we would have docked and you could have walked on."  Do not be in such a hurry; give it a little time.  "Patience...can...overcome any problem" [Proverbs 25:15].

HAPPINESS KEYS [PART ONE]

"If you know these things."  John 13:17

If you want God's best, do not just think about how to invest your money, think about how to invest your life.  Jesus said, "If you know these things...happy...are you if you...do them."  Living this way means:

1. Making time for friends and loved ones.  "Let no one seek his own, but each...the other's well being." [1 Corinthians 10:24].  George Eliot wrote: "Oh, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person; having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but to pour them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then, with the breath of kindness, blow the rest away."
2. Giving thanks.  If you cannot be grateful for what God has given you, look around you and be grateful for what He has protected you from.  The enemy does not have to steal anything from you, just make you take it for granted.  "From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another" [John 1:16].  The excitement of a new car or a salary increase soon passes, but anytime you stop to count your blessings you start feeling better.
3. Practicing contentment.  A gardener who had tried everything to get rid of a wide spread plant of the composite family having yellow flower heads and deeply toothed, edible leaves wrote to the Department of Agriculture for help.  "What can I try next?" he asked.  "Try getting used to them!" came the reply.  In life, you get what you focus on!  That is why Paul writes, "Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure and lovely and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise" [Philippians 4:8]. 

WORKING WITH DIFFICULT PERSONALITIES

"As much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men."  Romans 12:18

Many people dream of being in full time ministry.  Their goal is to work where there is praise music playing and co-workers praying.  With Scripture verses on the wall and crosses around every neck, they image such a place to be holy, always joyful and peaceful.  They believe that in such a place one of their primary sources of stress - getting along with difficult people - will disappear.  Don't you believe it!  Paul and Barnabas, two great Christian leaders, fought so badly over John Mark that they had to split up.  The early church experienced financial squabbles, moral scandals and doctrinal disputes.  Understand this: until the Lord comes back you will always experience difficulty relating to certain people.  There is very little difference in how people operate when they are under pressure.  The mind is not new, it is constantly being renewed - even the minds of Christians.  This does not mean they are not sincere, it just means they are not as mature as they should be.  Pettiness, greed, ambition and favoritism all creep in as the enemy fires his darts and hopes to create a flame.  So if we are going to thrive in our hostile environments, we must increase our capacity to work with difficult personalities.  How?  By God's Word before you get to work.  By committing to be Christ-like on the job in your attitudes and actions.  Will you always succeed?  No! Will you be stretched?  Yes!  Can it be done?  Absolutely!  "My grace is sufficient for thee" [2Corinthians 12:9].  How do you become more gracious?  By drawing each day on God's grace!

IN THE END, IT'S WORTH IT

"God intended it for good."  Genesis 50:20

What happened to Joseph was not fair!  When your family sells you as a slave and your boss' wife has you wrongly imprisoned on rape charges, you tend to ask, "Lord, what's going on?"  Before God promoted Joseph to the palace he wanted to know how he would hold up under pressure.  And the same goes to you.  Joseph was called to save his family and lead this nation.  But big assignments call for big tests of character.  You do not always understand this when you are going through the fires of refinement.  When Joseph's brothers finally stand before him as ruler of Egypt he tells them "You did not do it to me, God orchestrated the whole thing."  Talk about seeing things clearly!  Someone else's action against you is not the bottom line.  And the reason is simple: God knows that somewhere down the line He will be able to use all that painful stuff to bring your life into focus and accomplish His purposes.  With God it is never too late!  Have you ever been to a real pizzeria?  Not the kind where everything is pre-packaged and a 13-year-old can do it.  No, the kind of place where they take a ball of dough, slam it down, twirl it around, flatten it, then put it into a high degree oven.  That is what is required for the pizza to hold all that good stuff they plan to put on top.  Think of yourself as pizza dough and God as the person working it.  He's got some good stuff He wants to lay on you, but before He can do it He is got to knock you into shape.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE NEW PENSION SCHEME

The new pension scheme is contributory, fully funded, privately third party custody of the funds and assets based on individual accounts.  It ensures that everyone who has worked receives his or her retirement benefits as and when due.  It covers all employees in the Public Service of the Federation, the Federal Capital Territory and the Private Sector of the economy.  The existing pensioners, employees who have three years or less to retire and the categories of persons covered by the provisions of section 291 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are exempted from the new pension scheme.  Any employee with more than three years to retire comes under the new pension scheme.

The new pension scheme is mandatory for all categories of employers and employees covered under the Pension Reform Act.  There is no merger of private sector pension with that of the Public Sector pension since the sources of funding are not the same.  However, both are now being regulated under same rules and regulations.  The main objectives of the Pension Reform Act 2004 are as follows:

·         To ensure that every person who worked in either the Public Service of the Federation, Federal Capital Territory or Private Sector receives his or her retirement benefits as and when due.

·         To assist improvident individuals by ensuring that they save in order to cater for their livelihood during old age and

·         To establish a uniform set of rules, regulations and standards for the administration and payments of retirement benefits for the Public Service of the Federation, Federal Capital Territory and Private Sector.

This is different from the old pension scheme because most of the old pension schemes are not fully funded.  Therefore, upon retirement, there were no ready funds to pay the pensioners.  The new pension scheme is fully funded.  Money is contributed into individual employee’s Retirement Savings Account [RSA] and when he or she retires, there will be money in his or her RSA to pay his or her pension.  Private sector pension schemes will be allowed to continue provided if there is evidence to show that the pension scheme is fully funded at all times, any shortfall made up within 90 days, pension fund assets are segregated from the assets of the employer/company, the pension fund assets are held by a licensed Custodian and the scheme is specifically approved by the National Pension Commission [PenCom].

An employee shall make monthly contributions of a minimum of 7.5% of the total of his or monthly emoluments [that is, monthly basic salary, transport allowance and housing allowance] into the RSA.  The employer also shall contribute a minimum of 7.5% of the employee’s monthly emoluments towards the retirement benefits of the employee.  However, an employer can make all the contributions on behalf of the employee without making any deduction from the employee’s salary except that such contribution by the employer shall not be less than 15% of the monthly emoluments of the employee.  Your contributions are just savings out of your emoluments towards your old age and the employer’s contribution will only increase such savings.  Pension contributions are paid directly to the PFC to be held on the order of the PFA.  A fully funded pension scheme exists where pension funds and assets match pension liabilities at any given time.

The Retirement Savings Account [RSA] is similar to a bank account except that no contributor can withdraw money from the RSA before his or her retirement.  The PFA is required to invest the money and issue statements of account at least once every quarter to the contributor.  Movement from one employment to another does not affect pension under the new scheme.  The Reform has removed the bottleneck associated with transfer of service from one organization or sector to another, especially with regard to qualification for pension and the sharing formula for payment of pension as between employers.  When you change jobs, the RSA remains with the PFA of your choice for as long as you want.  You simply notify new employer of the details of the PFA that manages your account and thereafter, your contributions will be sent to the Custodian of the PFA.

Employee’s right to accrued retirement benefits for the previous years he or she has been in employment is guaranteed by the Pension Reform Act 2004.  In the case of the Public Service of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, where pension scheme was unfunded, the right would be acknowledged through the issuance of a “Federal Government Retirement Bond” to such employee.  The bond will be redeemable upon retirement of the employee.  The Federal Government has established a Retirement Benefits Bond Redemption Fund Account in the Central Bank of Nigeria.  The Federal Government is already making a monthly payment into the Fund of an amount equal to 5% of the total monthly wage bill payable to all employees of the Federal Government and the Federal Capital Territory.  Any company operating a Defined Benefit Scheme must, in addition to satisfying other conditions specified in the Act, open RSAs so that the pension funds can be held by a Custodian.

In the case of funded pension schemes in the public service of the Federation and the private sector, employers shall undertake actuarial valuation of the employee’s accrued benefits and credit the Retirement Savings Accounts [RSAs] of the employees with such funds and in the event of any deficiency, the shortfall shall become a debt and shall be treated with same priority as salaries owed.  The employer shall also issue a written acknowledgement of the debt and take steps to meet the shortfall.

When a PFA [Pension Fund Administrator] fails or is liquidated, the pension funds and assets in the Retirement Savings Account [RSA] are kept by the PFC [Pension Fund Custodian] and as such the liquidation of the PFA will not affect the funds and assets.  Besides, every PFA is expected under the Pension Reform Act 2004 to maintain a statutory reserve fund as contingency fund as may be determined by National Pension Commission.  The Pension Reform Act 2004 allows any employee to complain about any PFA to the National Pension Commission [PenCom].

The Government cannot tamper with the pension funds in your RSA because the Government cannot have access to the account.  Besides, the Government is primarily concerned with ensuring the safety of the money in your RSA through the enforcement of strict rules and regulations.  The new pension scheme entrenches the principles of transparency and accountability as reflected in the reporting requirement of the PFAs and PFCs to the Contributor and the National Pension Commission.  An employee has the right to choose who manages his RSA and the right to receive statements of his account on quarterly basis with details of contributions made and returns on investment.

Upon retirement, an employee can withdraw a lump sum from the balance standing to the credit of his or her RSA provided the balance after the withdrawal could provide an annuity or fund monthly payments that would not be less than 50% of his monthly pay as at the date of his or her retirement.  However, an employer may choose to pay any other severance benefits over and above the retirement benefits payable to the employee subject to the terms and conditions of his or her employment.  A programmed withdrawal is a method by which the employee collects his or her retirement benefits in periodic sums spread throughout the length of an estimated life span.  While an annuity is an income purchase from an approved life insurance company which provides monthly or quarterly income to the retiree during his or her life time.

Where an employee who has been contributing under the new pension scheme dies before his or her retirement, the retirement benefits shall be paid to his or her beneficiary under a Will or the Spouse and children of the deceased or in the absence of a wife and child, to the recorded next-of-kin or any person designated by him or her during his or her life time or in the absence of such designation, to any person appointed by the Probate Registry as the Administrator of the Estate of the deceased.

DEVELOPING FRIENDSHIPS

"A friend loves at all times." Proverbs 17:17

Dr. John Maxwell writes: "If you want deep lasting friendship, you cannot always be the strong one.  And that can be frightening; especially if you have had someone hurt or manipulate you.  But you must let a friend see you in your weakness.  Some of us have never done this, and we wonder why we are lonely.  We are going to have to get vulnerable to have a true friend.

"Friends serve each other.  When was the last time you performed an act of servant-hood for a friend to whom you are devoted?  If you cannot remember, you are probably living with a core of loneliness.  A friend is someone you commit to not because of what they can do for you, but just because they are your friend.  And friends listen, even though they are busy.  Listening is an act of love.  It says, "I am going to put my own agenda on hold and devote myself to knowing and caring for you."  Friends are not generally looking for someone who can talk very impressively or cleverly or with great wit.  Mostly what they are looking for is a world-class listener.  Furthermore, when something goes right, friends celebrate.  Do you do that?  When was the last time one of your friends had God bless them - and you threw a party?

"If you are not in this kind of friendship right now, you cannot make it happen, but you can open yourself up to it.  You can start pursuing it.  You can ask God to guide you.  You can take little relational risks.  And if you already have friends like this, prize them, protect them, enrich them in every way, and take that friendship as deep as you can."

PERSONAL FINANCIAL PLANNING 2013 [PART TWO]

SOURCES OF EARNING INCOME

•      There are several sources of earning such as salaries, rent, interest, dividends, etc.

•      There are basically two types of income:

1. Earned Income: Salary
2. Passive Income: Real Estate, Rent and Capital Appreciation, Royalties, Businesses run by others, Stocks, bonds, mutual funds.

Employee’s Primary Income

•      Reviewed salary–a new financial empowerment

•      Monthly salary.

•      Annual Bonuses

•      Promotion differentials.

•      Loan schemes, Advances, Housing Allowances, Personal Loans etc.

•      Estacode, training allowances, per diem.

•      Share of profits, share of dividend etc

Employee’s Other Streams of Income

•      Interest from fixed deposits or savings accounts.

•      Dividend from stocks and shares.

•      Rental income (from flats, houses, market stalls and shops etc.)

•      Land and Buildings (buying and selling).

•      Angel capital (investing in small businesses).

•      Farming/Poultry/Fish Farming.

•      Trading Joint Venture (JV)

•      Importation (JV) amongst others.

•      Bonus shares from existing holdings.

Creating Multiple Streams of Income

•      Start today to develop many sources of income.

•      Leverage on core talent, skill, job or business. Get organised!

•      Diversify one stream, or use income from one to create others

•      Never jeopardize your employment i.e. your core stream of income

•      Use /leverage services of professionals/others to develop multiple streams,  e.g. stock brokers, estate agents, friends etc.

•      Get involved in the up-coming Fidelity Co-operative Society.

•      Choose your multiple streams development partners very carefully. Persons who are serious/like minded with integrity.

•      Get started, no matter how small. From little acorns really big oak trees grow.

Becoming a Landlord

•      Choose your area of interest 

•      Do your search – Legal Dept. will assist

•      Funding – Outright, installment or counterpart funding (i.e. two people paying for a plot of land jointly)

•      Start gradually – monthly, quarterly etc. Remember little drops of water make a mighty ocean.

•      Be focused and determined – You will get there!

Summary Rules of Acquiring Money

1. Pay yourself first
2. Control your expenditure
3. Invest your money where it will labour for you and increase your wealth
4. Invest wisely – where it is safe and consult with wise men
5. Own thy home – it reduces your cost of living and makes available more of your earnings for the gratification of your needs
6. Ensure a future income – provide for your future retirement

CADBURY BOURNVITA YUMMY LIFE PROMO

The Life Enriching Journey of Cadbury Bournvita Yummy Life Promo

Cadbury Nigeria Plc., the leading company in manufacturing food drinks in Nigeria embarked on a National Consumer Promotion Scheme 3 months ago for its flagship brand - Bournvita tagged “Cadbury Bournvita Yummy Life Promo” to excite and reward its loyal consumers across the country. It was aimed at delighting, rewarding and providing a superior life for the consumers of the brand in Nigeria.

The Yummy Life Promo which was hinged on the basis that everybody who participated in the promo is a winner fulfilled its promise of rewarding and enriching thousands of participants across the country.

Speaking regarding the Promo, the Corporate Affairs Manager, Cadbury West Africa, Mr. Kufre Ekanem expressed great satisfaction with the participation of the esteemed consumers of the brand in the promo which he said was evident in the several millions of entries received within the 11 weeks duration of the promotion.

Kufre revealed that Cadbury Bournvita Yummy Life Promo has produced a total of 11 Millionaires doling out N1 Million grand cash prize to eleven lucky winners in 11 weeks, eleven others won N250, 000.00 each, 65 consumers won N100, 000.00 each and a total of 300,000 consumers won N500 worth of airtime for the entire 11 weeks duration of the promo, taking the total worth of prize won to over N200, 000,000.

With the Cadbury Bournvita Yummy Life Promo, Cadbury Nigeria Plc has once again reinstated its commitment to giving back to our loyal consumers by rewarding them and touching their lives more than ever before. So far, more than 300,000 consumers have won prizes in the promo”

Also speaking at the draw, the Brand Manager, Cadbury Bournvita, Mrs. Adebola Williams expressed the company’s sincere appreciation to the consumers for making Bournvita their preferred beverage drink and for participating in the Cadbury Bournvita Yummy Life Promo.

She further reinstated the company’s commitment to continue to reward and give back to its loyal consumers which she said will continue to build a lasting brand affinity and engender deeper connection between the brand and the consumers.

Commenting on the promotion, the Legal Officer, Lagos Lottery Board, Miss. Mayowa Okuyiga commended Cadbury Nigeria Plc for its high sense of integrity and transparency of process throughout the 11 weeks duration. She applauded the company’s sincerity in the way and manner in which the draw was conducted openly, free and fair, stating that “everybody was truly a winner in the promo”.

She further encourage consumers to continue purchasing either the 450g, 900g or refill packs of their favourite food and beverage drink and enjoy its offering of non-stop vitality.

VALENTINE’S DAY - LOVE IS NOT JUST FOR COUPLES!

Who says that this day should be restricted only to romantic love?  No other day can conjure such powerful imagination of love.  It is a commercially driven day that provokes strongly divided reactions to the perplex display of hearts, and fanciful wishes of romance.  For those in stable, loving relationships, the day offers a wonderful opportunity to express or reaffirm their love.  For those who are recently bereaved, divorced, or single, this is a day that can trigger feelings of overwhelming loneliness and grief.

While Valentine’s Day is merely an arbitrary day that we use as a light hearted way to express our feelings to our partners, it is also true that this day sustains the myth that all couples are happy.  With divorce rates where they are in Nigeria, it is apparent that not all couples are “loving”.  Without intending to bash this “feel-good” day, after all, we can all benefit from an expression of love, it seems that Valentine’s Day may be more widely accepted if it was truly a day for love.  Not just romantic love between couples, but love in all of its forms. 

Many people who find themselves alone on this day, struggle with past hurts, grief, and feelings of inadequacy.  While they are bombarded with images of happy couples, it is important that they remember that their identity is not defined by their relationship status. A person’s worth comes from who they are, not who they are with.  While most would agree that this is true, it doesn’t dull the inevitable feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy that arise when surrounded by the existing love heart at every turn.

So how to deal with these feelings when colleagues receive flowers, lovers seem to be everywhere and romantic cards take over every store front?  While some may choose to avoid the day by staying at home, or just take steps to avoid “happy couples”, it seems that a different approach might offer a more gratifying result.

What about a perspective change?  What if we were to adopt the idea that Valentine’s Day is not just for couples, but for everybody?  While your friends might be buying flowers for their partners, consider the people in your world that you love, and that love you back.  Something special for your mother and a telephone call to your father, perhaps your daughter including siblings will appreciate flowers as much as any lover will.  Maybe spending the evening with your son watching a game would be one way to express your particular brand of love.  Random acts of kindness can bring a surprisingly wonderful sense of well-being.  

For those who struggle with this day, it might be helpful to spend time with friends or family - people with whom you have already established positive, loving relationships.  It could be a time to focus on what you have, rather than on what you feel you are missing.  Create new traditions.  Invite your single friends over for dinner and take foods to your neighbors who are always there for you. 

As with anything in life, being prepared for a challenging situation can make all the difference in the world.  Do not let another Valentine’s Day sneak up on you and leave you feeling badly.  Take control. Plan how you want to spend it.  Plan how you can create a day that actually makes you feel good.  Incorporate all the normal, healthy coping strategies that are useful in all situations.  Get enough sleep, maintain your normal routines of diet and regular exercise draw upon your inner strengths, and above all, surround yourself with people who comfort and sustain you.

Valentine’s Day offers us a unique opportunity to undertake a new perspective on how we choose to celebrate love.  The traditional approach with flowers, cards, and romance works beautifully for some.  For others, a display of love towards children, parents, or friends can be equally rewarding.  But in the midst of all the various means of displaying love to others, let us not forget the benefits of looking after our own needs.  This Valentine’s Day, offer yourself the same thing you give to all of the loved ones in your life, and make the effort to show yourself a little love!

Somebody said the difference between courtship and marriage is like the difference between the pictures in a seed catalog and what actually comes up in your garden.  But it does not have to be that way.

PERSONAL FINANCIAL PLANNING 2013 [PART ONE]

Home Truths

·         Whether you are tired or not, you will retire or be retired from your job.

·       Whether you want to or not, you will grow old & feeble if you live long enough.

·     Whether you want to or not, your family, relatives and friends will need your financial support.

·         Whether you like it or not, you will either live under a roof or under the skies; you will eat whatever you have to eat and wear whatever you have to wear.

·         Whether you like it or not, nobody can love you more than you love yourself.

What is Personal Financial Planning [PFP]?

•      A committed interest in managing your financial resources.

•      Distinguishing between needs and wants.

•      Making plans for satisfying your needs.

•      Making provision for times of lack.

•      Taking charge and responsibility for your finances.

•      Foregoing current benefits for future benefits.

•      Investments.

What Does PFP Involve?

•         Pay yourself first by saving

•         Educate yourself.

•         Think Long Term.

•         Give reasonably.

PFP Principles – Pay Yourself First By Saving

•      This is indispensable! It is also the most difficult thing to do!

•      Start with the “rule of ten” – Save 10% - 20% of your monthly income and work up as your earnings increase.

•      Set up a Standing Order TODAY!

•      Open a separate account (Savings or Fixed Deposits)

PFP Principles – Educate Yourself!

•      Read financial pages, read books and articles on financial planning

•      Talk to like minded people who inspire and challenge you.

•      Deepen your skills on the job.

•      Attend training programmes.

•      Acquire new skills.

•      Acquire new academic and professional qualifications.

PFP Principles – Think Long Term  

•      Raise financially responsible children

•      Teach them early to learn to save and manage wealth.

•      Don’t over protect your children from the valuable experience of lack - Raise them so they can compete and survive.

•      Make investments for them in their names from an early age.

•  Invest in the improvement of your children (and your spouse) educationally and professionally.

PFP Principles – Give Reasonably

•      Give a Portion of your earnings to God (tithes etc.). The scriptures says there is blessing in giving.

•      Set aside an amount as a monthly charity budget and ensure you stick to it.

•      In Personal Financial Planning, where friends and relatives are involved, always practice restraint – give reasonably.

•      Be careful when giving. You have a responsibility to your family as well.

Ponder This?

Of 100 people who started working at age 25, by the time they were 63 years old:

•      63% were dependent on their off springs, relatives, friends or charities.

•      29% were dead.

•      3% were still working.

•      4% had accumulated adequate capital for retirement.

•      Only 1% was truly “wealthy”.

•      It is not how much you earn that matters but how much you can save and invest.