 |
| (L-R) Patience Jonathan, Titi Abubakar & Bola Shagaya |
I have my own
little calculation which I am happy to pass on to you. I learned it from an
Internet site a while back and it has stood me in good stead. Basically for an
investment to work for me means I am looking for returns that will double my
money in five years.
little calculation which I am happy to pass on to you. I learned it from an
Internet site a while back and it has stood me in good stead. Basically for an
investment to work for me means I am looking for returns that will double my
money in five years.
The calculation
I use is to divide the interest rate into 72 to find out how long it will take
me to double my money. For example, if the interest rate on a particular
investment is 6 per cent, then it will take me 12 years (72 divided by 6 = 12) to double my money. Too long for me;
So, I would be looking for an interest rate (known as a ‘return’) of around
14.4 per cent (I know, I know, you’d be lucky at the moment but this is only an
example). This works for any amount of money incidentally.
I use is to divide the interest rate into 72 to find out how long it will take
me to double my money. For example, if the interest rate on a particular
investment is 6 per cent, then it will take me 12 years (72 divided by 6 = 12) to double my money. Too long for me;
So, I would be looking for an interest rate (known as a ‘return’) of around
14.4 per cent (I know, I know, you’d be lucky at the moment but this is only an
example). This works for any amount of money incidentally.
“There’s a Chinese proverb: The more you know, the
more luck you have’. So it is that the more money you gain, the more knowledge
of the markets you’ll need. Take it slowly and build a portfolio based on
experience, knowledge, decent advice, up-to-date research and helpful friends”.
So, if you want
to know what interest rate to look for divide 72 by the number of years you are
prepared to wait. 72 divided by 5 = 14.4%. Gosh, something useful for you there
and I did all the work for you.
to know what interest rate to look for divide 72 by the number of years you are
prepared to wait. 72 divided by 5 = 14.4%. Gosh, something useful for you there
and I did all the work for you.
For me,
therefore, any investment that looks like it won’t double my money in 5 years I
pass on or, if it makes financial sense to get out (i.e. no penalty for doing
so), I will let go of. I have my criteria, you need yours.
therefore, any investment that looks like it won’t double my money in 5 years I
pass on or, if it makes financial sense to get out (i.e. no penalty for doing
so), I will let go of. I have my criteria, you need yours.
Perhaps you need
to let go when:
to let go when:
• You feel in
your waters that something is not right.
your waters that something is not right.
• The market has
taken a downturn.
taken a downturn.
• You read
something that makes you curious or suspicious of a particular investment.
something that makes you curious or suspicious of a particular investment.
• You need the
money for something better, hotter.
money for something better, hotter.
• The investment
hasn’t been doing well for a while and is sluggish.
hasn’t been doing well for a while and is sluggish.
• You’ve
achieved your maximum profit and its time to get out.
achieved your maximum profit and its time to get out.
• You’ve lost
interest in a particular investment and simply can’t be bothered any more.
interest in a particular investment and simply can’t be bothered any more.
• You have
changed emotionally or ideologically and need to move on – perhaps you only
invested green and now want mainstream or vice versa.
changed emotionally or ideologically and need to move on – perhaps you only
invested green and now want mainstream or vice versa.
• The investment
isn’t fashionable any more – old hat can be costly if the return isn’t there.
isn’t fashionable any more – old hat can be costly if the return isn’t there.
• You need to
spread your portfolio around to minimize losses in a recession or down market.
spread your portfolio around to minimize losses in a recession or down market.
• You bought
blind and now have more information – and can see our fingers getting burnt.
blind and now have more information – and can see our fingers getting burnt.
• Throwing good
money after bad will just aggravate the situation – cut your losses and get out
(see Rule 74).
money after bad will just aggravate the situation – cut your losses and get out
(see Rule 74).
There’s a
Chinese proverb: The more you know, the more luck you have’. So it is that the
more money you gain, the more knowledge of the markets you’ll need. Take it
slowly and build a portfolio based on experience, knowledge, decent advice,
up-to-date research and helpful friends. And if an investment isn’t
Chinese proverb: The more you know, the more luck you have’. So it is that the
more money you gain, the more knowledge of the markets you’ll need. Take it
slowly and build a portfolio based on experience, knowledge, decent advice,
up-to-date research and helpful friends. And if an investment isn’t
Working, know
when to let it go.
when to let it go.
I know a man who
bought shares in his company when he worked there – a good investment at the
time as he bought them at a discount as an employee perk. After he left the
company, he found out from contacts that the company was beginning to get into
trouble and read about industry changes that he knew would be bad for the
company. Sadly he was too lazy to do anything about his shares and didn’t sell
when there was the first sniff that all wasn’t well. The value of these shares
is now a half of what it was. He knew when to let go – but he didn’t do it.
bought shares in his company when he worked there – a good investment at the
time as he bought them at a discount as an employee perk. After he left the
company, he found out from contacts that the company was beginning to get into
trouble and read about industry changes that he knew would be bad for the
company. Sadly he was too lazy to do anything about his shares and didn’t sell
when there was the first sniff that all wasn’t well. The value of these shares
is now a half of what it was. He knew when to let go – but he didn’t do it.
From The Book; The Rules of Wealth by
Richard Templar
Richard Templar
(Read Rule
74 of Rule of Wealth tomorrow on Asabeafrika)
74 of Rule of Wealth tomorrow on Asabeafrika)
Read-to-Wealth Series
POWERED BY:
