<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s Black Friday shopping season and as I’m sure you’ve all noticed, retail and shopping outlets have started advertising eye popping deals to entice buyers. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here at MoneyRise we want you to make smart money decisions, so we are going to share some quick tips about how to make the most of the Black Friday deals. If you use this season well, you&#8217;ll get really great deals at prices that save you money! </span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Don&#8217;t Buy Anything Just Because It&#8217;s On Sale</strong><br />
</span></span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you buy an item worth ₦10,000 for  ₦7,000, you did not save  ₦3,000, you spent  ₦7,000. Don’t be enticed to spend money you were not going to spend. Only spend money on what you already need. Which means you should have a list of what you want to buy, and stick to it. That nice blender selling for 40% off is not meant for you, if you already have a blender at home. Don’t play yourself. Be disciplined.</span></span></p>
<h2><strong>Not Everything Is Cheaper On Friday</strong></h2>
<p>Don’t just think, <em>&#8220;Well, its Black Friday, so everything I buy is probably cheaper.&#8221;</em> It doesn’t work like that. Some outlets don’t do deep enough discounts. Some intentionally inflate their supposed original price to make their discounts look deeper than they are. To get the best deals, do price comparisons ahead of time, check many sites to know what a fair price is and if you’re actually getting a good deal or not. Bonus points if you already did this weeks or days ahead of time.</p>
<h2><strong>Have A Shopping Budget</strong></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Please there is life after Black Friday. There is the Christmas season, and that three-month period between December 31st and January 31st. We all know that period. You need your money to last through all that. So know exactly how much you can put towards your Black Friday shopping and once you hit that amount, stop. Ties right back to point one. Don’t get carried away.</span></span></p>
<h2><strong>Some Things Are Cheaper Offline</strong></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Black Friday seems to be an eCommerce driven activity. There are often better deals in the physical store, or in the open market. I’ve seen bargain hunters go offline, and find items at prices that make Black Friday deals look like daylight robbery. It may not be as convenient as ordering, but the savings might just be worth it. Another advantage of shopping offline is that you can leave your ATM/Credit card at home and only go with the money you’re willing to spend. If it’s gone, you’re done.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Save As You Shop</strong><br />
</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you’re going to spend during shopping season, use it as an opportunity to also save. For every  ₦5,000 you spend on shopping, invest  ₦5,000. It helps you avoid the guilt that comes with shopping, and also keeps something away to grow and possibly fund your future purchases. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One of the smartest things you can do with your money is to earn dollar returns on it with Rise. Get started at </span><a href="http://www.risevest.com"><span style="font-weight: 400;">www.risevest.com</span></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">


How To Make The Most Of Black Friday Shopping


<p><em>“Since the last two years that I invested in Stocks on Rise, my stock has been down by 50%, and it just keeps going down. What should I do?”</em></p>



<p>If you’re a stock investor, you probably have asked this question about your stock portfolio or know someone who has. This is a common and expected outcome with stock investing as stocks are generally considered to be high-risk investments because of how unstable their prices are; they can rise and fall significantly in a short period.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Although high-risk investments can make you a lot of money in a short time, they can also lose you a lot of money in a short time.&nbsp;</p>



<p>A share or stock is a piece of ownership in a company. When you own a share, you own a piece of a company which allows you to share in the company’s profits (in the form of dividends) and capital gains (when you sell your share at a higher price than you bought it).&nbsp;</p>



<h2>What should you do with high-risk investments like stock when it&#8217;s down 50% or any other percentage at all?</h2>



<h3>Understand how the investment works</h3>



<p>Stock prices do not only go up; they also go down. A stock’s price can rise by 1000% in one year and fall by 50% in another year. For example, Tesla’s share price rose almost 1300% between the 3rd of January 2020 and the 5th of November 2021. However, between the 5th of November 2021 and the 18th of November 2022, the share price has fallen by over 55%.</p>



<p>While it is very hard to see your stock portfolio down significantly, it is not unusual for stocks to go up and down. By understanding this risk, you can prepare yourself to invest for the long term.</p>



<h3>Invest for the long term</h3>



<p>The stock market rewards long-term investors richly. Investing for the long term (5-10 years or more) allows you to wait during market downturns like these. The average return of the US stock market over the long term is just above 10%, which means you can double your money every 10 years.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In the long term, stocks go through peaks and troughs. Depending on your investment goals, you can sell during the peaks and make even higher returns. But if you are at least patient to invest for the long term, you can make several multiples on your investment.</p>



<h3>Have an emergency fund</h3>



<p>An emergency fund is 3 to 6 months of your monthly expenses saved up in a place where you can quickly get your money out in cash if you need it in an emergency.</p>



<p>To invest for the long term, you need to invest money that you will not need in an emergency. To help you prepare for this, you should also have savings and an emergency fund separate from your stock investment.</p>



<h3>Try not to micromanage your investment</h3>



<p>Try not to check your investment every day. It’s not healthy for your mind or for your investment portfolio. If your stocks are up, you might feel pressure to sell earlier than you would have if you were not looking at it. If your stocks are down, you might feel pressure to sell earlier and miss out on the recovery.</p>



<p>Look away from your investment when it’s down significantly. If possible, forget about it completely. Maybe check it every few months to see how it&#8217;s doing.</p>



<h3>Don’t sell and look for somewhere else to buy</h3>



<p>When your stocks are down significantly, you need a larger increase to recover your capital. For example, if your stock portfolio is down 50%, you need the stock to rise 100% to recover your capital. See the table and chart below.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/3S4SvEZvBFws8Io_HLM0JBts2BkW_XF87GZ24dYyjqDb27F8Lkfob_VqeVZpyn-AJl4feaBd5cfVtEbLpF7ujP2E2NaaCozRjLtx-rgQeEaC3Q1aCeCptUlzrtm1s7EzHYgWjs0kbRtJeZGLsK8dgn08BN7f-g8t4hHNTjgkpeKI7mYz6fphbsM8yRevWg" alt=""/></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/BUw2Wkw7FBqRJSBzl9drqueG46HThMB2ZN-b_UsO2ojb-fQq0wKn9WusUH5GdbbuTwJQdttsHpzz0EhrvK3BZCl75lNTtSbAx1Umsa4mNWQBitA3kXdIzLbE9Jul8G56IfnElrEtTLT6QF9O4AqoJ2N1epnH8RkKTFZd1qKQUd9mmYH-kORNeiVF4R2DGg" alt=""/></figure>



<h3>Buy More</h3>



<p>Instead of waiting around, you can buy more at the fallen price to reduce your loss so you don’t need the stock to rise too much to recover your losses. This technique is known as Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA).</p>



<h3>Cut your losses</h3>



<p>Alternatively, you can sell your stocks and cut your losses. Some stocks never recover; they only keep falling till they get delisted and become worthless. If you don’t believe the stock will ever recover, it might be better to get 50% of your capital than none of it.</p>



<p>Risevest is constantly making changes to our stock portfolio to ensure our investors make the best returns. Check out our portfolio <a href="https://risevest.com/stocks">here</a>.</p>


What To Do If Your Stocks Keeps Going Down

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Teni, Sugar Mummy of Risevest.

Secure Your Money

Rise Leaderboard Winner


<p>For the average American, attending Harvard is a very tall dream; for Nigerians, however, the dream is twice as tall. Regardless, Destiny did it.</p>



<p>Growing up in the <em>trenches</em> and attending a relatively poor school, little Destiny had no idea that he’d one day attend Harvard. In this episode of #MoneyRise, he tells us about his journey, beating all odds to get there, and what attending Harvard feels like.</p>



<h3><strong>What was growing up like?</strong></h3>



<p>Growing up was okay. I only look back and talk about it now as having grown up comparatively poorer than many of my contemporaries. If you give birth to a child now, and you&#8217;re in the trenches, and all his friends are in the trenches, your child wouldn&#8217;t wake up thinking, &#8220;oh, we&#8217;re so broke.&#8221; As long as you&#8217;re paying his school fees, giving him food, he plays football with his friends in the sand, bathes in the rain, the child will be happy. This is because children don&#8217;t typically know if they are poor. A child begins to know his family is poor when he leaves the most comfortable zone he&#8217;s been in, meets other people, and compares his life to others. When he has something to compare against, in a negative way, he begins to feel inferior. He realises that he&#8217;s probably from a place where they don&#8217;t have what it takes to look that way. The more comparisons he makes, the more he realises who he is and his social stratification.</p>



<h3><strong>Hmm, deep.&nbsp;</strong></h3>



<p>Yes. My point is that I had a normal upbringing for a person who grew up in the settlement that I did. I could perhaps say that I experienced three different stages growing up. Childhood experience was basically waking up to normal routines, going to school, playing the local type of football in the sand, and stuff like that. But the older I grew, the more I realised we were in a terrible social situation. The realisation dawned on me when we changed schools because it became increasingly problematic for my dad to cater to all our school fees. My siblings and I had to go to another significantly cheaper school. Being around the new students, I saw that they were different from those in the school I was from, which was comparatively better. It wasn&#8217;t spectacular, but it was relatively better. From there, things took a downward spiral. I grew up in one of the harshest environments in Benin. They call it Sakponba. It&#8217;s probably the Edo state equivalent of Mushin in Lagos.</p>



<h3><strong>How does one go from a place like Sakponba to Harvard?&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></h3>



<p>I would ascribe most of it to the quality of the conversations I had with my dad at a very young age. Although the conversations may have been few, as my dad was not always around, they shaped my mind. As a parent, beyond having money, one of the things you should never neglect is taking time to expand your children&#8217;s imaginations. They must be able to stand with their contemporaries and feel that regardless of their social stratification, they&#8217;re still up there through the accumulation of knowledge and utilisation of their intellect. My father understood that. I remember when I was still early in primary school, he&#8217;d sit with my siblings and me and talk about Shakespeare, literature, arts, and history. Not that these things directly impacted us, as you can see that I&#8217;m not a literature scholar, but they broadened our minds. They put us in a mental space that made us feel like we had enough stuff and material to give to the world, much more than we even realised at the time.</p>



<h3><strong>Uh huh</strong></h3>



<p>I remember when things took a downward spiral, as I mentioned earlier, and we were so broke. We would travel to the village after school closed for the holiday. There, I&#8217;d see proper village kids who had not even gone to school and mostly slept in mud houses with no beds or electricity. They would wake up and go straight to the farm or river. It was a different life from what I was used to. Whenever we went to the village, we&#8217;d go to the cassava farm to help my grandma. While I integrated easily into the setting, I never felt like I belonged there, nor did any of the conversations diminish my sense of wonder. Again, I attribute this sense of imagination and self-expectations to the quality of conversations I had growing up.</p>



<p>I say this because children are generally perceptive. They imagine things, and the ideals they come up with become the yardstick for self-measure. It is the job of their teachers, parents, or guardians to nurture that sense of imagination during the formative years of the kids in their custody. Ideals are essential. You see how children love cartoons; or stories of superheroes. They visualise these fantasies, and these fantasies inspire the deployment of their enormous potentials. Kids need those ideals to work with. It&#8217;s just like how Christianity or Christ is the ideal against whom we measure our sense of humanity or morality. Like Fyodor Dostoevsky, a philosopher I admire, said, &#8220;without God, life is chaos.&#8221; He essentially meant that without a spiritual idea to guide us, our energies would dissipate. It&#8217;s like entropy. And if you remember, the second law of thermodynamics basically tells us that when entropy is left unchecked, systems will dissolve into chaos. So it&#8217;s not a question of whether God is real or not real. People have an ideal they imagine as an internal guide that helps measure their actions. For kids, this imagination has to be developed in a way that makes them feel powerful &#8211; like the characters in the cartoons they watch. The ideals may be fantasies, but they&#8217;re essential. They teach children that a lot of things are possible. If you constrain a child&#8217;s imagination, they may never make it. A child who grew up in Mushin will never get into Harvard. Children need to dream brightly, and they need help in shaping these imaginations. A potent way to help is to broaden their knowledge, feed their curiosities, and empower them with words that give them a sense of self-replenishing belief in their potential. And that is something my dad was able to impact on us at a very young age.</p>



<h3><strong>What was your dream growing up?</strong></h3>



<p>Different things, actually. There was one time I thought I was going to be a zoologist. Lol. I had a few dogs I was caring for. I would also go to the market to buy native rabbits and pigeons, construct cages, and keep them all there. But the truth is that I didn’t want to be a zoologist. I was just a dreamer; I always felt I could do anything. I was like that rebellious child, bubbling with a lot of potential. I didn’t know how to channel it, so I was trying my hands on everything. I didn’t have a particular thing I was sure I wanted to do. I never dreamt of being a lawyer. I only had one lawyer uncle, and we started talking when I was already far in secondary school. So growing up, I did not exactly dream of being a lawyer.</p>



<p>My uncle eventually made me see that I could be a lawyer, which I don’t regret as I’m doing a pretty good job at it. But Law was never part of the initial plan.</p>



<h3><strong>What was Law like in UNIBEN?</strong></h3>



<p>It was amazing. I enjoyed reading and understanding what it was, even though I wasn’t passionate about practising it, especially in the formative days of my university life at UNIBEN. But I loved studying the course and what people had to say about it. I found it fascinating and challenging. I had a fantastic time at UNIBEN.</p>



<h3><strong>Interesting! How did you feel graduating top of the class, the first one in many years.</strong></h3>



<p>Surreal. There are not enough words to express that feeling. It was a memorable day when I got the news that I had made a first-class. It was surreal. I remember that some students were writing exams that day at the faculty of law, UNIBEN. I remember how many students ran out of their exam halls as the news spread through the faculty. The lady, who was the first ever to have a first-class in law, had long left the faculty. So every single person at the time had not seen it happen at all. I was the first person they saw do it, so it was crazy. The happiness in the faces of many is hard to erase. I actually broke down into tears because it was too much for me. It is an experience to remember.</p>



<h3><strong>Was there a point you ever thought you weren’t going to finish with a first class?</strong></h3>



<p>Yeah, absolutely. That happened in my 400L. It was the only time I had less than a first-class GPA. From 100L to my 500L, I was top of my class, and I always ended the session with a first-class GPA. 100L was a 4.9 GPA, 200L 4.7 GPA, and 300L was a 4.8, and it kept going on, except for 400L when I got a 4.1. It was the most challenging level for all of us. And it was the only level when I did not get an A in a law course in both semesters (I got 2 Bs in my Law of Evidence). Usually, I’d have As in my law courses in both first and second semesters or at least an A in one of the semesters. But 400L was different. That made me question my chances of having a first-class because it was then that I had become very intentional about it. And then, you hear some people make snide remarks like, “Hm. Let’s wait till you get to 400L,” not because they do not want the best for you, but because it’s just their reality. 400L is typically tough for everyone. So when I got to 400L and dropped to a 4.1, I doubted if I would still make a first-class. But I picked myself up in my final year and made a perfect 5.0, which cumulatively gave me a first-class CGPA.</p>



<h3><strong>Impressive. You’re clearly one of those people with “</strong><strong><em>two heads.” </em></strong><strong>What was law school like?</strong></h3>



<p><em>*Laughs. </em>Law school was easier compared to UNIBEN. I didn’t feel so much pressure until exams drew closer. I was generally just relaxed. I felt less pressure and was just reading, having fun, and enjoying the experience. It was amazing. Easy for me to say anyway, but that is just the truth.</p>



<h3><strong>You mentioned not being passionate about practising law, so what did you do after you were done?</strong></h3>



<p>I actually practised. That was even the highlight of my professional and academic trajectory, using my impressive academic background to get into a good law firm and then practising in the areas I enjoyed. I was in the energy &amp; natural resources practice group of Banwo &amp; Ighodalo for roughly three years. It’s an internationally recognised corporate law firm that advises blue chip companies and top corporations on some of the most market-defining transactions. I did quite well, I guess, and even got promoted before leaving my former place of work. I am always grateful for the experience. I did a lot of corporate work at the highest level in Nigeria, shaping and preparing me for the place I am now – Harvard.</p>



<h3><strong>Quite inspiring. How do you handle the pressure of finishing with a first class and everyone’s expectation of the best from you?</strong></h3>



<p>Well, I generally don&#8217;t pay so much attention to that. The people who expect the best from you cannot define the best. What exactly is the best? You can make all As and think it cannot get better than that, but someone comes some weeks or years later and makes all As in 5mins. The point is that there is always something ahead. There&#8217;s always something going to beat what you&#8217;re doing, so I don&#8217;t put pressure on myself. I came here with nothing; there&#8217;s technically nothing to lose. As humans, all we&#8217;re trying to do here is make sense of the many cards we&#8217;re dealt. I&#8217;m driven because I want to reach that point where I can freely choose to do the things I love. The freedom to truly choose our passions is the ultimate ambition. That&#8217;s the end goal. When you have that end goal, you can deal with everything along the way. All the pressures won&#8217;t matter as long as you achieve your end goal. You can decide to go down freely or stay up there. That&#8217;s how I handle the pressure; I choose what matters, prioritise them and ignore the rest.</p>



<h3><strong>Tell us about Harvard. How did it happen?</strong></h3>



<p>I applied to Harvard sometime last year and got in. I would attribute the desire for it to the friends I have, where I worked, and the quality of persons I worked with in my former place of work. Some of my former colleagues are Harvard graduates, and staying around them made me see that it was possible, regardless of where I came from. I&#8217;ve been around lawyers who attended Oxford, Cambridge, and other Ivy League schools. The truth is that if you hang around such people for a while, you begin to see that you, too, can achieve these things &#8211; to the extent that you have the academic and/or professional pedigree to back it up. I started thinking about it, and my friends encouraged me to go for it. I eventually did. I applied, despite the rigorous requirements and application process. I knew it was a highly competitive application, so I gave it my best shot. Harvard is arguably the hardest institution to get into, at least in the US. It&#8217;s tougher for JD students, no doubt, but highly competitive for LLMs. They deal with an average of 20,000 applications from around the world, and up to 7,000 applications for LLM programmes. Clearly, one has to be outstanding and brilliant to make the cut, other ethereal factors notwithstanding.</p>



<h3><strong>Omoh</strong> </h3>



<p>Interestingly, they don’t require you to write lengthy essays, just 1500 words. They want to see how you can concisely put your best foot forward, making it even more difficult. If they allowed 5000-word essays, people would have a lot to say and probably have more chances to razzle-dazzle. But writing convincingly and concisely is a much harder task. Also,&nbsp; your CV has to portray a demonstrated history of excellence and leadership. These are critical to the selection process. While it is not a compulsory requirement, Harvard admits an overwhelming amount of first-class students, those with stellar academic backgrounds. When you come here, you’ll be astonished by the sheer number of first-class students around. It’s almost as though Harvard wants to feel lucky to have you in the hopes that your future will reinforce their belief in you, an eventuality they want to take credit for. So when they look at your application and don’t feel like you’re that ‘person,’ they probably will not consider you. The application has to convey a compelling story, an enthralling picture of who you are, what you have done, and a pattern to the things you can do in the future. In summary, Harvard came about primarily because of the friends I have and my environment, like my workplace. You take a shot at anything when you are in a place that makes you feel like you can achieve anything.</p>



<h3><strong>What’s Harvard like?</strong></h3>



<p>It&#8217;s nothing like I&#8217;ve seen before. To start with, the environment is highly intellectually charged. It&#8217;s very competitive because there are a lot of smart folks here. The teaching style is also very different. Students are required to contribute during classes, hence are compelled to study hundreds of pages before each class. You could have a class at 12 noon the next day and will have to read about five different papers cumulatively running into 100 pages, which you will do for other courses. Harvard employs the Socratic method of teaching, which basically involves asking questions to drive lectureship. Sometimes, you already know you&#8217;re the one to speak in some classes because they have a schedule for people taking turns to answer questions in each class. Some Professors are more brutal; they just cold-call you and ask you questions on the spur of the moment. Your contributions in class also contribute to your overall grade for the course at the end of the semester. So you&#8217;ll find that your colleagues are enthusiastic about making contributions in class. Even if you are a shy person, you have to get into the game, which is part of the training they give you. The experience has been amazing; the lecturers are pretty amiable and accessible. You can reach out to them just as you imagine in a typical western institution. They&#8217;re very open to your ideas, comments, and criticisms.</p>



<h3><strong>How has your life changed since you joined Harvard?</strong></h3>



<p>The level of my critical reasoning has increased because every moment I&#8217;m asked a thing, I think it through before I answer. I&#8217;ve also become more accepting and intellectually patient. One problem that many intelligent people have is that when they try to understand a thing or engage in an intellectual conversation and it&#8217;s not going the way they expect, they become uncomfortable, sometimes abandoning it altogether. Fighting to see it through often makes them feel less intelligent. At Harvard, my lecturers will always remind you that you&#8217;re dealing with the product of thousands of intellectuals. So you just have to be intellectually patient in order to learn. And I&#8217;ve learnt just that because there&#8217;s really no way around it, even if you were the smartest person in the world. That&#8217;s been the major part of my learning here, being intellectually patient and more open to criticism.</p>



<h3><strong>What advice do you have for every child living in Sakponba?</strong></h3>



<p>Expect great things from yourself; that’s number one. Once you’ve achieved that, you’re like 50% ahead. Then put in the work, and everything will fall into place. The other day, Tunde Onakoya and I were chatting on Whatsapp, and I was telling him the same thing I just said. Tunde Onakoya was just a regular guy who went to Yabatech, training children to play chess. You could observe through the videos of those children he made and his efforts that he expected himself to be the one doing it. It’s like a messianic complex; you see yourself as the person who should be doing it. It’s an expectation you put on yourself and run along with it. Greatness follows the expectation; that is the trajectory. I can’t point to one person who has done something great but didn’t invest their time and effort into it, nor can I remember those who did not expect such great things from themselves. It’s the driver and the fulcrum. This is something that I always take the opportunity to tell people every time — expect great things from yourself. That’s the best message I can ever give to anyone.</p>


From Sakponba To Harvard, Here’s How Destiny Is Achieving Great Things From A Small Place.


<p>The year is wrapping up, and many of us are already closing out on our finances. First, we hope you learned a lot and accomplished some of your financial goals in 2022. It has been an incredibly rocky year to be an investor, and the effects of inflation have been tough to manage.&nbsp;</p>



<p>However, as we enter the last month of the year, it&#8217;s time to consolidate the wins and prepare ourselves financially for the coming year. So we have compiled a short list of four things you should do before 2023. Here&#8217;s that list below:</p>



<h2><strong>Take Stock of 2022</strong></h2>



<p>Review your income this year. How much have you made in total from all income sources? How much have you spent? How much did you save and invest? What did you spend your money on? What goals did you achieve, and which were deferred or cancelled? Be able to articulate and understand your financial history in 2022 so that you can extract the lessons, adjust your plans and decide what to focus on, what to do more or less of and what your financial goals should be in 2023. This process will be much easier if you&#8217;ve been maintaining a budget throughout the year.</p>



<h2><strong>Understand the Lessons of History/Take A Long View</strong></h2>



<p>Everyone is currently worried about the bear market and all the economic uncertainty we&#8217;ve had to deal with this year, from rate hikes and inflation to geopolitical flare-ups and climate issues globally. There&#8217;s the temptation to become pessimistic and overly defensive about your finances and behave like this is the worst time in history. </p>



<p>But anyone who stops and takes a historical view will realise that times like these have come and gone before, and people not only preserved their wealth during such times but actually grew it. There has been double-digit inflation in the US before, and the world has had worse geopolitical issues. We&#8217;ve also had worse bear markets and stock market drops before. And things always bounce back. Markets recover. </p>



<p>Economies grow again. There is a path to navigating periods like these, and panicking and avoiding your long-term financial goals because you are worried about turbulence is not helpful. Take a longer view and stay the course.</p>



<h2><strong>Understand and settle your tax obligations </strong></h2>



<p>If you are under a Pay As You Earn (PAYE) setup, knowing if your employers are remitting all the required taxes is crucial. Have you paid any portion you are liable for? Is your tax clearance certificate up to date? Have all the numbers ready way before you need them. For people in the US, now is the time to gather all your tax records before next year’s filing deadlines. Make sure you sort out all these on your own so you can file your tax return early next year.</p>



<h2><strong>Check your investment portfolio </strong></h2>



<p>After the year, some of your investments have gained, and some have lost value. Now is the time to rebalance your investments to reflect your goals and the level of risk you can carry in your current reality. Are you more exposed to crypto than you should be at this point? Then push more of your money into safer investments like real estate. Make sure your portfolio aligns with your long-term investment plan and strategy. Are you investing enough to have enough retirement income? If you&#8217;re above 30, it&#8217;s almost mandatory that you&#8217;re investing at least 20% of your income now. If you&#8217;re below this number, cut expenses and step it up.</p>



<h2><strong>Set your 2023 goals</strong></h2>



<p>Once you&#8217;ve done all the above, then you are in a good position to set your financial goals for 2023, and develop a clear plan to achieve them. Mark them out, write them down, and put them somewhere you can see them. Now, you&#8217;re ready to flex your <em>Detty December</em> and usher in the new year in style. Enjoy the rest of the year!</p>


5 Things to Do Financially Before 2023


<p>Financial independence is everyone’s dream. We all want to attain that level where we do not want to rely on others to get what we want. We see a dress we like, we go to the store and place an order. We could travel the world or visit new places at a whim. Those Udacity courses that we can only afford to think of, and not actually take them because of poor finances become less of an issue. We can even go on to easily take care of black taxes or avoid being the black tax ourselves! All these and even more are things financial independence can buy you.</p>



<p>Achieving financial independence may not be easy to achieve; it requires conscious efforts, planning and dedication. However, it is not impossible to achieve. With these steps you can go on to live that life of freedom and financial independence you’ve always dreamed of.</p>



<p><strong>1. Start by evaluating your current financial situation</strong></p>



<p>Before you start your journey to achieving financial freedom, evaluating your financial situation is essential. What debts do you have? How much money do you earn each month? What are your monthly expenses? By taking a close look at your finances, you can start to develop a plan for getting out of debt and building up your savings.</p>



<p>There is a lot of advice out there on how to be financially independent, but how do you know if you&#8217;re really ready to take the plunge? The first step is to evaluate your current financial situation. Take a close look at your income, debts, and expenses. Are you bringing in enough money to cover your costs? Do you have any debt that could be holding you back? Are there any areas where you could cut back on spending? Once you have a clear picture of your financial situation, you can start to make a plan for how to achieve financial independence. Remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint. Don&#8217;t try to make too many changes all at once. Take things one step at a time, and eventually you&#8217;ll reach your goal.</p>



<p><strong>2. Make a budget and stick to it</strong></p>



<p>Once you know how much money you have coming in and going out each month, you can start to make some adjustments to ensure that you are living within your means. Track your spending for a month or two so that you can get an idea of where your money is going and what areas you can cut back on.</p>



<p>A budget is an important tool that can help you take control of your finances and achieve your financial goals. But creating a budget is only half the battle; you also need to stick to it. Here are some tips for how to <a href="https://risevest.com/blog/how-to-make-a-budget-youll-actually-use">create a budget that you can actually stick to</a>.</p>



<p>First, start by evaluating your current spending pattern. Where are you currently spending most of your money? Once you have a good understanding of your spending habits, you can begin to adjust them as necessary.</p>



<p>Next, make sure to include all of your essential expenses in your budget. This includes things like rent or mortgage payments, utility bills, food, and transportation costs. Once you have accounted for all of your necessary expenses, you can then start to allocate funds for other items such as entertainment, savings, or debt repayment.</p>



<p>Finally, remember that budgets are not static; they should be flexible and allow for some wiggle room. If you find yourself constantly going over budget in one area, consider making adjustments to other areas of your budget or finding ways to reduce your overall spending. By following these tips, you can create a budget that works for you and helps you achieve financial independence.</p>



<p>We also <a href="https://risevest.com/blog/family-budget-why-you-need-one">wrote</a> about family budgets and why you should have one.</p>



<p><strong>3. Invest in yourself</strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="257" height="196" src="https://money.rise.capital/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Investing-2.jpg" alt="Savings and investing Risevest article" class="wp-image-1531"/></figure>



<p>One of the best ways to improve your financial situation is to invest in yourself. Consider taking courses or attending seminars that will help you advance in your career. The more money you make, the easier it will be to reach your financial goals.</p>



<p>Many people believe that the key to financial independence is making a lot of money. However, the real key is learning how to invest that money wisely. By investing in yourself, you can set yourself up for a bright future regardless of how much money you make. The first step is to create a budget and stick to it. This will help you to curb your spending and start saving for your future. Once you have built up a nest egg, you can start investing in stocks, mutual funds, or other vehicles that have the potential to generate long-term wealth. By taking the time to invest in yourself, you can achieve financial independence and secure your financial future.</p>



<p><strong>4. Stay disciplined with your spending:</strong></p>



<p>It can be easy to overspend when you use credit cards or loans to finance purchases, but it’s important to keep yourself in check. Try using cash instead so that you are more aware of what you are spending. Additionally, make sure you only buy what you need and avoid impulse purchases.</p>



<p>There&#8217;s no question that learning how to be financially independent is a life skill that everyone should master. After all, money is one of the most important things in our lives. It can buy us the things we need and want, and it gives us the opportunity to live the lifestyle we desire. However, financial independence doesn&#8217;t come easy. It takes discipline and hard work to earn and save money. And it requires even more discipline to resist spending it unnecessarily.</p>



<p>If you&#8217;re struggling to stay disciplined with your spending, here are a few tips that may help:</p>



<p><strong>a. Keep track of your expenses:</strong> Knowing where your money is going is the first step to controlling your spending. Make a budget and track your progress to see where you can cut back.</p>



<p><strong>b. Set limits for yourself:</strong> Determine how much you can afford to spend in different categories, and stick to those limits. Don&#8217;t allow yourself to exceed them, no matter how tempting it may be.</p>



<p><strong>c. Delay gratification:</strong> Impulse buying is one of the biggest enemies of financial discipline. If you see something you want, wait a day or two before purchasing it. This will give you time to consider whether you really need it or not.</p>



<p><strong>d. Find alternatives to spending money:</strong> There are many ways to enjoy yourself without spending money. Find activities that you enjoy that don&#8217;t require spending, such as hiking, biking, or reading books.</p>



<p>Learning how to be financially independent takes time and effort, but it&#8217;s well worth it in the end. By following these tips, you can develop the discipline you need to reach your financial goals.</p>



<p><strong>5. Invest in long-term savings plans</strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://money.rise.capital/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/RISE002-copy-10-1024x576.png" alt="five ways you are investing wrongly Risevest" class="wp-image-1770" srcset="https://money.rise.capital/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/RISE002-copy-10-1024x576.png 1024w, https://money.rise.capital/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/RISE002-copy-10-300x169.png 300w, https://money.rise.capital/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/RISE002-copy-10-768x432.png 768w, https://money.rise.capital/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/RISE002-copy-10-1536x864.png 1536w, https://money.rise.capital/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/RISE002-copy-10-1568x882.png 1568w, https://money.rise.capital/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/RISE002-copy-10.png 1921w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>It’s important to think about the future and not just the here and now when it comes to your finances. Try setting aside money each month into a savings account or investing in a retirement fund so that you will have something to fall back on down the road.</p>



<p>You can also buy stocks, which are a piece of a company that you can own and that can give you money if the company does well. You can also buy bonds, which are like IOUs from the government or from a company.</p>



<p>When you buy a bond, you&#8217;re lending money to the government or the company, and they promise to pay you back over time with interest. Or you could invest in a fund, which is a group of different investments put together. Funds can be made up of stocks, bonds, or both. There are many different types of long-term savings plans, and each has its own risk and reward. You can talk to a financial advisor to figure out what might be right for you. But remember: the best way to be financially independent is to start saving early and often. The sooner you start investing, the better off you&#8217;ll be in the long run.</p>



<p>Read about savings and investments, their differences and which of them leads to wealth creation in this <a href="https://risevest.com/blog/savings-and-investment-what-makes-the-difference-in-wealth-creation">article</a>.</p>



<p><strong>6. Live below your means</strong></p>



<p>One of the keys to financial independence is learning how to live below your means. This doesn’t mean that you have to live like a pauper – but it does mean being mindful of your spending and choosing wisely when it comes to making major purchases. For example, instead of buying a new car every few years, try driving an older model for longer or taking public transportation instead.</p>



<p><strong>7. Invest with Risevest</strong>: </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://money.rise.capital/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SYlSmOVc-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1827" srcset="https://money.rise.capital/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SYlSmOVc-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://money.rise.capital/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SYlSmOVc-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://money.rise.capital/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SYlSmOVc-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://money.rise.capital/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SYlSmOVc-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://money.rise.capital/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SYlSmOVc-1568x1045.jpeg 1568w, https://money.rise.capital/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SYlSmOVc.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><a href="https://risevest.com/">Risevest</a> is a great way to get started on your journey to financial independence. We are an investment platform that helps you reach your financial goals, whatever they may be. Whether you&#8217;re looking to save for a down payment on a house or you&#8217;re trying to build up your wealth, we can help you get there. With Risevest, you can invest in a variety of assets, including stocks, Real-estate and fixed- income. And all the work is handled by experts who track all the support and share updates with you, so you don’t have to do any of it yourself. All your investments and returns are in dollars, so you have excellent protection from inflation and devaluation. And finally, risevest charges you only 0.5% in management fees to invest in high-quality assets and manage your money for you. So if you are currently not using risevest, you need to ask yourself why.</p>


How To Be Financially Independent


<p>Hi Risers,</p>



<p>We have some GREAT news! When we started our journey in 2020, our mission was to help our users across Nigeria to build their wealth in dollar-denominated, cash-generating assets like real estate, fixed income, and stocks. </p>



<p>More than two years later, we are proud to announce that Rise has now completed its federal registration with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and is now a US Registered Investment Adviser.</p>



<h2>What does this mean for you?</h2>



<ol><li>We are now registered with and recognized by the most important investment regulatory body in the world.</li><li>We can enter into more global partnerships and bring additional offerings to our users.</li><li>We can now open up the beauty of Rise to users across many other countries including the US and the rest of Africa.</li><li>You can have extra confidence in the quality of assets on Rise and the investment team that helps you manage your wealth.</li></ol>



<p>Our mission is to make the best global investment opportunities available to you wherever you are and now, we just got another step closer to the goal. We are proud of the work we do, and we are especially glad that you are part of our journey. Thank you for growing with us.</p>



<p>Love and Returns<br>The Rise Team</p>



<p>The financial markets have been facing a rough time lately, with the value of both stocks and cryptocurrency declining dramatically in the past weeks. If you&#8217;re like many people, you&#8217;re probably feeling pretty rattled. After all, watching your portfolio take a hit is not fun. But before you panic, it is important to remember that market volatility is inevitable. We wrote about how you can take advantage of market downturns <a href="https://risevest.com/blog/stock-market-downturns-might-be-good-for-you-heres-why">here</a>.</p>



<p>We also have some pointers for you if you&#8217;re experiencing losses and looking for safe places to generate a return. Here are three of them:</p>



<p><strong>Rise wallet Plan:</strong> The Rise wallet plan is a great way to protect your money while generating positive returns. With the Rise wallet, you can earn 8% annually in USD, and unlike stock market investing, there&#8217;s no risk of losing money with this wallet plan. So if you&#8217;re looking for a safe and easy way to earn decent returns on your money, the Rise Wallet plan is worth considering. Just deposit your money into your Rise Wallet and watch it grow. There are no fees or minimums, and you can withdraw your money at any time. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1024" src="https://money.rise.capital/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Dollar-sign-teal-Obinna-Oti-2-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1829" srcset="https://money.rise.capital/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Dollar-sign-teal-Obinna-Oti-2-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://money.rise.capital/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Dollar-sign-teal-Obinna-Oti-2-300x300.jpg 300w, https://money.rise.capital/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Dollar-sign-teal-Obinna-Oti-2-150x150.jpg 150w, https://money.rise.capital/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Dollar-sign-teal-Obinna-Oti-2-768x768.jpg 768w, https://money.rise.capital/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Dollar-sign-teal-Obinna-Oti-2.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>Fixed Income Plans:</strong> Investing can be a tricky business. While you want to ensure you&#8217;re getting a good return on your investment, you also want to take on a little risk. With the Rise Fixed Income Plan, you can get the best of both worlds. This plan allows users to earn 10% interest on their investments annually, even in these uncertain economic times. And with yields rising, there&#8217;s a good chance that this figure will go up in the near future. So if you&#8217;re looking for a safe and profitable way to invest your money, the Rise Fixed Income plan is worth considering.</p>



<p><strong>Real Estate:</strong></p>



<p>It&#8217;s no secret that the US economy has been in a bit of a downturn lately. But despite all the doom and gloom, one sector is still strong — real estate. And the Rise Real Estate Plan is generating impressive returns, averaging 12-15% per year.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://money.rise.capital/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SYlSmOVc-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1827" srcset="https://money.rise.capital/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SYlSmOVc-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://money.rise.capital/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SYlSmOVc-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://money.rise.capital/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SYlSmOVc-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://money.rise.capital/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SYlSmOVc-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://money.rise.capital/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SYlSmOVc-1568x1045.jpeg 1568w, https://money.rise.capital/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SYlSmOVc.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>A big part of our success has been our Airbnb rentals. By leveraging the sharing economy, we&#8217;ve been able to maximise our profits while providing our guests with a unique and affordable lodging experience. And as the demand for Airbnb rentals continues to grow, our returns will only go up.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://money.rise.capital/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Rise-airbnb-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1831" srcset="https://money.rise.capital/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Rise-airbnb-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://money.rise.capital/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Rise-airbnb-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://money.rise.capital/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Rise-airbnb-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://money.rise.capital/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Rise-airbnb-1536x1025.jpeg 1536w, https://money.rise.capital/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Rise-airbnb-1568x1046.jpeg 1568w, https://money.rise.capital/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Rise-airbnb.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>So if you&#8217;re looking for a stable investment that can provide healthy growth, you should consider the Rise Real Estate Plan. With our proven track record of success, you can be confident that your money is in good hands.</p>



<p>As we face economic uncertainty, having a solid plan for your finances is more important than ever. Risevest offers a unique opportunity to create fixed-income or real estate plans that can provide you with positive returns even during this downturn. And if you just want to fund your wallet and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing your money is working for you, Risevest is still a great option. Visit <a href="https://risevest.com/">here</a> or download the Risevest app to get started today.&nbsp;</p>


3 Safe Places To Invest During This Down Market


<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/A5PNrnqRWQvmSwL7GyihLPcLvs15GQY0OmfmnGoZatopSPNDMmYjMyCPWeN4AlSWfD6wI38dozVtEntbIu6TX4P8CrZhEMov2IwC9mKu4dp_nFd45Vq5r1QR4gWuNNZNE1HZphe9Gi7O-CxnSZyKTF8azuxwy7Q97PTv5uu4NfsRrEgvx-h0TGe9O2zjYQ" alt=""/></figure>



<p>This <a href="https://twitter.com/salemkinging/status/1582259634680713216?s=46&amp;t=t82GCl_eP0AlQD5t69j6HA">question</a> caused a bit of a stir on Nigerian Twitter. Almost everyone dreams of winning Big Brother Naija or the lottery, but most people don’t think about what exactly they will do if that ever happens. As Mike Tyson says, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” In this case, everyone dreams of becoming a millionaire overnight till they actually make it.</p>



<p>Suddenly coming into a lot of money can be great, but it takes a lot of discipline to maintain, which many people do not have. . There are so many stories of lottery winners going from being broke to rich, and back to being broke in a few years. This is because suddenly having a large sum of money like $100,000 is a unique situation most of us are unfamiliar with, so handling it may not be easy.&nbsp;</p>



<p>What are the first five steps you should take if you suddenly make $100,000?</p>



<h3><strong>First step, do NOTHING</strong></h3>



<p>Yes, you read that right. Do nothing. We tend to make more mistakes when we rush to do things. There is no timer on the money. You don’t need to spend the money immediately. Delaying your reaction will save you from making rash decisions that you may regret. Take a deep breath, and take time to get your mind used to the fact that you just made a lot of money.</p>



<p>Resist the urge to significantly change your life. Making life-changing money doesn’t mean you have to rapidly change your life or lifestyle. Don’t dramatically quit your job or buy your dream car or upgrade to an expensive luxury apartment or house. Do nothing; keep your lifestyle the same until you mentally get used to having a lot of money.</p>



<p>To help you with this, find the safest fixed deposit account where you can earn decent interest on your savings and deposit the cash there for a few months, say 90 days. It might be best to go with the most reputable traditional bank with low risk of failure because you don’t want to lose your money as fast as you made it.. This is not the time to try out new schemes. Go traditional; go very safe.</p>



<p>While your money sits in the account for three months, spend time learning about your investment options. Read about the investment opportunities you can explore; there are loads of free personal finance materials online. Listen to top finance podcasts, watch top finance YouTube channels, and read or listen to finance books and audiobooks. Do this to know what investment options you have.</p>



<h3><strong>Don’t tell the world</strong></h3>



<p>In the sharing world we now live in, there is often the urge to go sharing everything on social media to get the huge dopamine hit that comes in the form of likes, retweets, and congratulatory comments. Don’t fall for it. Only share this news with people closest to you whom you really trust, like your spouse.</p>



<p>When you overshare, you increase the likelihood of suddenly having lots of long-lost family and friends popping up, hoping you can share your wealth with them or invest in their new life-changing business ideas. Also, sharing can expose you to a greater risk of theft. It also opens you up to advice from different people, which leaves you confused on the right decision to make.</p>



<h3><strong>Next, take stock of your life and make a plan</strong></h3>



<p>Do you currently owe any money? How much debt do you have? Does the debt cost you a lot of money in the form of high interest? Consider paying off some or all of your high-interest debt if being debt-free is a high priority for you. If the money you owe is only a small fraction of $100,000 (e.g., $5,000 or less), pay it off, even if it’s a low-interest loan.</p>



<p>What were your financial goals? Did you plan to go to school, own a house, car, etc.? You now have the capital to get started on your goals. But don’t just go spending all the money on fulfilling your financial goals. Do it the smart way.</p>



<p>How can you use the money you have as capital to help you eventually meet all your financial goals? Consider speaking to a financial advisor that can help you create a unique plan tailored to help you meet your goals.</p>



<h3><strong>Fund your savings and an emergency fund</strong></h3>



<p>An emergency fund is 3-6 months of your monthly expenses. E.g., if you spend $500 every month between food, rent, entertainment, etc., your emergency fund would be $1500 to $3000.&nbsp;</p>



<p>You can also have up to 1 year of expenses in your emergency fund to give you more breathing room and a larger pot to rely on if you need money in an emergency. Put this money in a low-risk account that can give you some interest but is highly liquid, so if you need the money urgently, you can easily access the money anytime, any day.</p>



<p>Also, have savings separate from your emergency fund. Your savings can be used for non-urgent needs or wants. You can put about 10% of your money in savings. In this case, $10,000.</p>



<h3><strong>Invest</strong></h3>



<p>Coming into a lot of money can make you rich for a bit, but investing in the right places can make you and your future generations wealthy.&nbsp;</p>



<p>After paying off your debts and funding your savings and emergency fund accounts, you should have about $80,000 to invest. You don’t have to invest all that money at once. You can slowly deploy the money over a year or more. Build a portfolio of low-risk, medium-risk, and high-risk assets.&nbsp;</p>



<p>You can invest some of it in bonds, mutual funds, real estate, stocks, and crypto, depending on what you understand and believe are valuable and have the potential to grow. You can manage some of those assets on your own and start a plan with <a href="https://risevest.com/">Risevest’s </a>low, medium, and high-risk investment plans.</p>



<h3><strong>Splurge</strong></h3>



<p>You just hit it big, so it’s okay if you want to splurge. Everyone splurges from time to time. Whether it&#8217;s a new piece of clothing, a night out at a fancy restaurant, or a weekend getaway, we all have our own little indulgences that make us feel good. And while there&#8217;s nothing wrong with treating yourself every once in a while, it&#8217;s important to splurge wisely. The key is to find a balance that works for you and your budget. So go ahead and splurge on that new outfit, but be sure you do it responsibly!</p>



<p>With these five steps, you are almost guaranteed to make the best of your money. Congratulations, you’ve blown, don’t blow it!</p>


What Would You Do, If you Suddenly Made $100K


<p></p>



<p>Should you Invest in Meme stocks?</p>



<p><em>Short answer:</em> no</p>



<p><em>Long answer:</em> Still no, at least not with money you don’t mind lighting on fire.</p>



<h2>What are meme stocks?</h2>



<p>Meme stocks are stocks that gain popularity on social media, which causes their share price to rise astronomically in a very short time. For example, meme stocks can rise over <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/32000-return-3-weeks-meme-stock-you-never-knew-oghenerukevwe-odjugo/?trackingId=fICAR%2FCpS5egOI8%2FQkIhzQ%3D%3D">32,000% in less than one month</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This means a $1000 investment in that stock would be worth over $320,000 in less than one month! That’s a huge mouth-watering opportunity. So if this can happen with a meme stock, why should you not invest in them?</p>



<h2>Why you should not invest in meme stocks</h2>



<h3>You could lose a lot of money</h3>



<p>If you get in at the wrong time, you could lose 99% of the money you invested. Recently, a little company named AMTD Digital saw its share price soar from $7.80 a share to a high of $2,555.30 apiece! Today the share is trading at around $160.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Anyone who bought a share worth $7.80 is still sitting on a lot of profit, but anyone who bought in at $2,555.30 is down almost 95%!</p>



<p>By the time a stock reaches meme stock status (high popularity), it’s most likely too late. That price could be the highest price that stock will ever get, and anyone who buys at that point could lose over 90% of the money invested.</p>



<p>So instead of turning $1000 to $320,000 in less than a month, you would turn $1000 to less than $100 in the same time.&nbsp;</p>



<h3>You’ll never know when to sell</h3>



<p>Suppose you bought some stock before the meme rally began or just at the start, and you made a 1000% profit; it’s still bad for you. Why? Because you’ll never know when to sell.</p>



<p>Knowing when to sell an ordinary stock is incredibly difficult. It’s very hard to time the market. But with meme stocks, it’s even more difficult. You’ll be torn between 2 questions:&nbsp;</p>



<p>“What if I sell now and the rally continues?”&nbsp;</p>



<p>or&nbsp;</p>



<p>“What if I don’t sell now and the stock crashes and never recovers?”&nbsp;</p>



<p>Except you can see the future, you’ll never know the right answer. Do you sell now and risk losing 1000% more gains or do you hold and hope it doesn’t crash 50% in the next hour?</p>



<p>Also, the usual “invest for the long term” strategy will not work here because those gains can quickly disappear and never return if the company never produces enough value to justify the new valuation. For example, if the company cannot generate 100 times the value they are currently generating, it may never reach that high share price again.</p>



<p>So even if you time it right, it’s still probably not a good idea.</p>



<h3>Even if you win, you lose</h3>



<p>&#8220;Making money through an early lucky trade is the worst way to win. The bad habits that it reinforces will lead to a lifetime of losses.&#8221; &#8211; <a href="https://twitter.com/NavalismHQ/status/1563252188486434816?s=20&amp;t=Ny91WxUgv441jscc51zKnw">Naval</a></p>



<p>Naval meant that even if you are part of the lucky few that successfully 1000x their money from meme stocks, you still probably lost. This is because making that kind of profit brings with it a lot of bad habits that will likely lead you to lose more money in the future.</p>



<p>Two bad habits that could make you lose money include</p>



<h4>Confusing luck with skill&nbsp;</h4>



<p>Being able to pick the right meme stock to buy at the right time and sell at the right time is not a skill anyone can develop and consistently replicate. However, we, as humans, tend to equate success with skill. E.g., the more successful you are, the more skillful you are.</p>



<p>If you can make enormous returns in such a short time, then you must be skillful at it and can probably do it again and again. So you will probably try to do it again. And this is what will lead to bad habit 2.</p>



<h4>Not adequately considering the risk of an investment</h4>



<p>Because once you’ve made a 1000x return in 10 days, 8% returns in 1 year simply will not satisfy you. It’s simply too small.</p>



<p>But, you probably won’t consider that high-risk investments come with a high risk of loss. The person who got lucky with one meme stock is unlikely to be lucky with another. And even if they are, eventually, they would likely end up investing in something where they could lose a lot of money.</p>



<p>And because they don’t have the appetite for less risky investments that offer steady returns over decades, they also miss out on the opportunity to benefit from compound interest.</p>



<p>So even when they won, they probably eventually lose.</p>



<h3>They are simply overpriced</h3>



<p>A stock is not just a bet. It is ownership of a piece of a business. The stock price is the value investors are willing to pay in exchange for the future value investors believe those companies can deliver.</p>



<p>If you were a bread seller, would you buy a loaf of bread that you know is worth 100 for 1,000 in hopes that you can find someone to sell that loaf to at 2,000, or would you buy a more reasonably priced loaf?&nbsp;</p>



<p>If you double as a bread seller and gambler, you might go for the 1,000 option and end up losing all that money. While the bread seller can eat the bread if no one buys it at the higher price, the meme stock investor will not be able to consume their shares any other way.</p>



<p>Buying an overpriced item is only rational if you can find someone to sell it to at an even more outrageous price. If not, it’s not the sensible thing to do.</p>



<h2>Conclusion</h2>



<p>Meme stocks can be very enticing. While we all wish we could turn $100 into $10 million in ten days or less, that’s unfortunately not how money works. Avoid meme stocks and only put money you can afford to lose if you must indulge.</p>


Before You Invest in Meme Stocks, Read This!


<p>The UK’s official currency, Pound Sterling, recently hit an all-time low against the dollar. Financial markets currently see a 60% chance of the US Dollar reaching parity with the British Pound, i.e., $1=£1. At the time of writing, the exchange rate is $1=£0.94; just a year ago, it was $1=£0.73.</p>



<p>A few months back, the Euro was at parity with the dollar, that is, $1=€1. Some people have bought dollars at over ₦720 recently. Japan’s government had to intervene to buy more Yen to prop up the Yen exchange rate to the dollar. Even cryptocurrency prices have seen some weakness due to the strengthening dollar.</p>



<p>The dollar is clearly not anyone’s mate. For over a year, the US Dollar has been strengthening relative to other major global currencies. Why is the dollar so strong right now, and how can you benefit from the dollar’s strength?</p>



<h2>Why is the dollar so strong right now?</h2>



<p>The US Federal Reserve has been aggressively raising interest rates to quench burning inflation. Higher interest rates relative to other developed markets make US bonds more attractive. This makes investors convert their local currencies to dollars to invest, which strengthens the dollar.</p>



<p>Also, the US Dollar is the world’s reserve currency. When there’s an economic crisis, global investors tend to run to the USD as the safe haven currency of choice. The world is currently in a crisis of soaring inflation and a possible global recession.</p>



<h2>Why are other currencies weak?</h2>



<p>There are unique reasons for each currency’s weakness.</p>



<p>The Pound has been weakening relative to the dollar over the last year due to rising UK inflation and recession fears. Before the most recent plunge started, the pound was already down over 20% relative to the US Dollar in the last year. The recent slump was due to the massive tax cuts the new British Prime Minister, Liz Truss, and Chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, announced. Investors fear these tax cuts will fuel already soaring inflation because it will give all citizens more money to spend.</p>



<p>Relative to the dollar, the Euro is weak due to the Russia-Ukraine war, which caused an energy crisis in the Eurozone. As gas and oil prices soared, high inflation came. And because Europe had negative interest rates and started raising rates later than the US, it weakened the Euro.</p>



<p>The Yen&#8217;s weakness resulted from US interest rates being higher than the Japanese. Unlike most countries today, Japan doesn&#8217;t have a high inflation problem. Japanese inflation currently sits at 3%, and the Japanese central bank is looking to stimulate inflation, not curb it, like the rest of the world. Compared to US bonds, the lower interest rates Japanese bonds offered made investors sell their Yen and demand more dollars.</p>



<h2>How can you benefit from this?</h2>



<p>You can benefit from the strength of the US dollar by saving and investing in dollar-denominated assets like the ones offered by <a href="https://risevest.com/">Risevest</a>. In light of recent developments, your Japa funds, travel funds and other international spending budgets may be better kept in dollars.</p>



<p>Other currencies should eventually regain their strength when their Central Banks raise interest rates to match the US, control inflation and avoid a recession. Till then, the US dollar continues to reign supreme.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Start a plan with Rise today.</p>


Is The Dollar Your Mate?


<p>Many many years ago, humans invested in gold and lands and livestock. We understood the need to keep money for the future, in hopes of having them double or triple in value. However, with technology and time, investing has evolved to what we have now: stocks, real estate, bonds, crypto and so much more.</p>



<p>Many of our parents and the parents before them never got around to investing for many reasons, ranging from lack of money to not having an idea how investing works.</p>



<p>Today, investing has become a wave, which is great as more people&nbsp; will grow and protect their wealth.</p>



<p>However, we’ve also found that many are going about investing the wrong way, and we would like to address some of these mistakes so that, hopefully, you correct them before they derail your investment journey. So without further ado, here are five ways you might be doing your investing wrong.&nbsp;</p>



<h2><strong>1</strong>, <strong>Having a lottery mindset</strong></h2>



<p>A lottery mindset is putting in a small amount but expecting a big payout in a short time. Many people go into investing with this mindset, which is why they fall for <a href="https://risevest.com/blog/ponzi-scheme-in-nigeria-robbing-peter-to-pay-paul">Ponzi schemes</a>, give up on investing too quickly or are disappointed by actual investing results. Investing is not a way to “blow” overnight. It is a disciplined way of securing your financial future and achieving your financial goals by purchasing and owning assets that will gain value over time. It is not a way to get rich quickly.&nbsp;</p>



<h2><strong>2</strong>, <strong>Trying to trade stocks or forex by yourself.</strong></h2>



<p>These days, a lot of platforms allow you to trade by yourself, which may seem easy; all you need to do is find your favourite companies and then buy or sell their stock. But look at the numbers: you pay a fee when you buy, andyou pay another fee when you sell. You typically don&#8217;t make enough returns to cover both expenses and still make money. A lot of times, you lose money, and still pay those fees. You also don&#8217;t invest based on what delivers the best returns, but based on what is popular or in the news. And rather than stick to your investments, you sell at the first hint of bad news. That is a terrible way to build long-term wealth.&nbsp;</p>



<h2><strong>3,You do not use Risevest</strong></h2>



<p>Yes, that’s right. We know. Hear us out: on <a href="https://risevest.com/">risevest</a>, you have not only stocks but our rental properties and fixed income assets providing strong diversification even in down times. And all the work is handled by experts who track all the support and share updates with you, so you don&#8217;t have to do any of it yourself. All your investments and returns are in dollars, so you have excellent protection from inflation and devaluation. And finally, risevest charges you only 0.5% in management fees to invest in high-quality assets and manage your money for you. So if you are currently not using risevest, you need to ask yourself why.</p>



<h2><strong>4</strong>,<strong>You invest funds that you need within a few months</strong>&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Some people&nbsp; treat their investment accounts like they treat their bank accounts: they deposit today, and withdraw tomorrow. Or next week. Or next month, which is a wrong way to invest. Only invest money you do not need in the short term. Investing is like planting a seed. If you are a farmer, will you uproot the seeds you plant every few weeks because you are hungry? And if you do, will you get a great harvest? No. Investing takes at least a year to show results and around three to five years to see compound growth. So if you need money you can withdraw from time to time, create a short-term plan, and leave it in your wallet or emergency fund. Don&#8217;t invest it and then break it within a short period. You won’t get good results that way.</p>



<h2><strong>5</strong>, <strong>Last but not least, you like to follow the crowd</strong></h2>



<p><em>Anywhere belle face</em> is not an investment strategy. “This is where it&#8217;s happening”&nbsp; is not good investment advice. Stop chasing what is hot, what is cool or where everyone else is investing, and find the right place and thing to invest in. If you need to check where everyone is investing to know where to invest, you probably should not be doing your investing by yourself. It might be true that there is safety in numbers, but it’s important to have a mindset of your own and also do thorough research before you invest . Invest in things you understand that are resilient and will perform well over time. Your investment journey is not a popularity contest. &nbsp;</p>



<p>So that’s it. Till next time, keep funding your Rise plans. And if you are yet to get on the Rise wave, visit our <a href="https://app.risevest.com/login">website</a> to sign up or download Risevest from the app or play store.</p>


Five Ways You Are Probably Doing Investing Wrong


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<p>We know we’ve not seen you in a while because you’ve not seen money in a while; inflation is eating all of it. The price of everything is soaring everywhere, all at once.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Every week, we write to you about how costs have risen. A few weeks ago, it was about the cost of a pot of jollof; last week, it was the value of ₦73,000 in 2014 versus now. The rising cost of living has everyone by the neck. What can you do to relieve the pressure?</p>



<p>There are two main ways to survive rising inflation</p>



<ol><li>Earn more</li><li>Spend less</li></ol>



<p>As easy as it may sound, it’s not. If it were, everyone would be doing it. Let’s break it down further.</p>



<h2>How can you earn more?</h2>



<p>At the start of 2022, we shared <a href="https://risevest.com/blog/7-ways-you-can-make-money-in-2022">7 ways to make money</a>. These ways include&nbsp;</p>



<ol><li>Making money from solving problems around you: Money is a reward for solving problems and creating value. If you can find a big enough problem around you that you can solve, you just might get someone to pay you to solve it. An example is providing a solution to slow online transactions, or solving the problems associated with delivery.&nbsp;</li><li>Teach something you’re an expert at: The popular saying “those who can’t do, teach” no longer applies in 2022. The new saying should be, “Those who can do, should also teach, making money from both.” What would you say is your most marketable skill? Could be anything from writing to cooking. You can make some money from teaching people how to do it as well as you do.</li><li>Sell your skills directly on and offline: If you don’t have the teaching bug, you can stick to doing and even take your <em>doings </em>online if you haven’t already. Learn about <a href="https://risevest.com/blog/how-to-make-money-online-in-nigeria">8 ways you can make money online here</a>.</li><li>Learn a new skill and move into a different profession: You can also learn a skill you need to pivot into a higher-paying profession. While you can learn almost everything for free at the prestigious University of YouTube, you might also need to pay for a course or direct coaching. Consider it an investment in yourself. You sometimes need to spend money to earn money. Before you begin, it is paramount to do your research to know if it’s worth it.</li><li>Stay in the same profession and switch to a higher-paying company: If you’re already in your dream profession, you can consider moving into a higher-paying company or role. Can you expand your responsibility and earn more money with your current employer or elsewhere? If yes, then do it.</li><li>Be a part of the sharing economy: Share something you own for a fee. This can be your car with Uber or your living space on Airbnb. Join <a href="https://risevest.com/blog/my-name-is-chinedu-and-this-is-how-i-make-my-moneyrise">Chinedu in making money from the sharing economy</a>.</li><li>Negotiate a higher salary or more benefits: We know, the economy is choking everybody, even your employer. Though it might be tough, it’s worth the try. Here’s a step-by-step process on <a href="https://risevest.com/blog/how-to-negotiate-a-higher-salary">how you can negotiate a higher salary</a>.</li></ol>



<p>These seven ways we’ve listed above can help you earn more, but that might not happen immediately. So while you work towards earning more, what can you do to reduce your spending?</p>



<h2>How to spend less</h2>



<p>The first step is to get a budget and stick to it. We know, not the B-word again. Budgets are so hard to make and stick with. Don’t worry; we made a sure guide on <a href="https://risevest.com/blog/how-to-make-a-budget-youll-actually-use">how to make a budget you’ll actually use</a> just for you. For those with a family to take care of, we also have <a href="https://risevest.com/blog/family-budget-why-you-need-one">something to help you with family budgeting</a>.</p>



<p>Now that you have your budget, what’s next? You’re probably already doing this obvious one: cutting back on non-essential spending. Nigerians are great at slowly downgrading things from necessities to luxuries. Find the little things here and there you can cut back on.</p>



<p>Can you buy the same thing for cheaper? A consistent little ₦100 difference when added up can make&nbsp; something huge. Remember, little drops make an ocean. If you haven’t already, compare prices between your regular shopping spot and other places. Can you get things cheaper elsewhere?</p>



<h2>Bulk buying discounts&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Can you form a group with some friends to get a discount on essentials if your order is large enough? Who knows, there are probably cooperatives already doing this around you, but you’ve not heard about them because you haven’t asked. Ask around and see.</p>



<p>The inflation problem is oppressing everyone, everywhere, all at once. However, we hope that these tips we’ve provided can help you fight it.. We also hope to see you not just survive this inflation situation but thrive so we can keep helping you smash your long-term investment goals.</p>


Tips To Survive Rising Inflation

Good Investments For Beginners: All You Need To Know


<p>If you&#8217;re looking for how to invest in foreign stocks, there are a few things you need to know. In this blog post, we&#8217;ll discuss the basics of investing in foreign stocks and provide some tips on how to get started.</p>



<p>We&#8217;ll also take a look at some of the benefits of investing in foreign stocks and talk about some of the risks associated with this type of investment.</p>



<p>So if you&#8217;re thinking about expanding your portfolio into foreign markets, read on for more information.</p>



<h2><strong>What are Stocks?</strong></h2>



<p><a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/stock.asp">Stocks</a> are a type of security that allows stockholders to have a share or ownership in a company. Stocks are also called equities. When you own stocks as an investor, you gain through capital appreciation which happens when the stock prices go up.</p>



<h2><strong>Why and how to invest in foreign stocks.</strong></h2>



<p>There are a few key reasons why investors might want to consider adding foreign stocks to their portfolios. One reason is that foreign stocks can offer opportunities for diversification. By investing in companies based in different countries, investors can help reduce the overall risk of their portfolios.</p>



<p>Another reason to invest in foreign stocks is that they may offer higher potential returns than domestic stocks.</p>



<p>Additionally, investing in foreign stocks can also provide opportunities for capital growth and income generation, as many of these stocks pay dividends.</p>



<p>Finally, investing in foreign stocks can give investors exposure to new markets and industries that they would not otherwise have access to. This can provide opportunities for growth and portfolio diversification.</p>



<h2><strong>Why do people invest more in the US stock market?</strong></h2>



<p>There are a number of reasons why investors may want to consider adding foreign stocks to their portfolios, particularly US foreign stocks.. One reason is that these stocks can offer investors exposure to different economies and growth opportunities around the world.</p>



<p>Additionally, by investing in foreign companies that are doing business in the United States, investors can benefit from the stability of the US economy and markets. These companies may be less risky than those located in developing countries like Nigeria.</p>



<p>The US economy and markets are considered to be more stable than most other countries. This is largely due to the size and strength of the US economy, as well as the depth and breadth of the US markets.</p>



<p>Also, the US government and financial system are considered to be more reliable and stable than those of other countries.</p>



<p>However, there are some risks that could cause a downturn. For example, the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/business-45899310">trade war</a> with China could hurt the economy, and rising interest rates could cause a stock market crash.</p>



<h2><strong>Being mindful of international trade wars before investing</strong></h2>



<p>The trade war with China is an ongoing<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_conflict"> economic conflict</a> between China and the US which could hurt the US economy in a number of ways. One way is that it could lead to a slowdown in economic growth.</p>



<p>This could happen because the <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/news/what-are-tariffs-and-how-do-they-affect-you/">tariffs</a> that are being imposed by the US and China will lead to higher prices for consumers and businesses in both countries. This will reduce demand, which will lead to a slowdown in economic growth.</p>



<p>Another way the trade war with China could hurt the US economy is by causing job losses. This could happen because the tariffs will lead to a decline in exports, which will lead to fewer jobs in the export-related industries.</p>



<p>It could also lead to job losses in the industries that import goods from China, as these industries will have to pay more for the goods they import.</p>



<p>Now, let&#8217;s talk about some of the ways rising interest rates could affect the US stock market. It&#8217;s better to be aware of this before making your decision to invest in foreign stocks.</p>



<h2><strong>9 ways the rising interest rates could cause a US stock market to crash</strong></h2>



<p>What are <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/interestrate.asp">interest rates</a>? They are the amount a lender charges a borrower, often a percentage of the initial amount. When there’s a rise in these rates, it could cause the US stock market. Here are ways that can happen:</p>



<p>1. As interest rates rise, it becomes more expensive for companies to borrow money. This could lead to a slowdown in economic growth and a decline in stock prices.</p>



<p>2. Higher interest rates could cause investors to shift their money out of stocks and into safer investments like bonds, which may lead to a decline in the stock market.</p>



<p>3. They could also cause the value of the dollar to increase relative to other currencies,&nbsp; leading to a decline in exports and a slowdown in the economy.</p>



<p>4. Higher interest rates may also lead to a housing market crash, which can cause a recession and a decline in stock prices.</p>



<p>5. They can lead to defaults on corporate debt and mortgage loans, causing a financial crisis and a decline in stock prices.</p>



<p>6. Higher interest rates could lead to higher inflation rates, and cause the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates even further, leading to a stock market crash.</p>



<p>7. Higher interest rates sometimes lead to a credit crunch,&nbsp; which makes it difficult for businesses and consumers to get loans,&nbsp; leading to a recession and a stock market crash.</p>



<p>8. Higher interest rates could lead to less spending by consumers and businesses,&nbsp; reducing economic growth and causing stock prices to decline.</p>



<p>9. Rising interest rates can also make it more difficult for people and businesses to afford large purchases like cars and homes. In many cases, this could cause a slowdown in the economy and a decline in stock prices.</p>



<p>But not to worry, look at the bright side, knowing how to invest in foreign stocks, particularly in the US, offers you more reward in the long run.</p>



<h2><strong>What you get by investing in the US stocks</strong></h2>



<p>1. Diversification: Investing in US stocks allows you to spread your risk across a number of different companies and industries. This can help protect your portfolio against market volatility.</p>



<p>2. Liquidity: US stocks are highly liquid, meaning they can be sold quickly and at a fair price. This makes them a desirable investment for both short-term and long-term investors.</p>



<p>3. Growth potential: US stocks offer some of the highest growth potential in the world, making them an attractive investment for those looking to grow their portfolio over time.</p>



<p>4. Stability: The US stock market is one of the most stable in the world, offering investors a high degree of security. This makes it a desirable place to park your money during times of market volatility.</p>



<p>5. Low fees: US stock brokers typically charge lower fees than those in other countries, making it a more affordable option for investors.</p>



<p>6. Dividend income: Many US stocks offer regular dividends, providing investors with a steady stream of income. This can be especially beneficial for retirees or those looking for regular income payments.</p>



<p>7. Tax benefits: Investing in US stocks offers certain tax benefits, such as capital gains discounts and dividend tax credits, which can help reduce your overall tax bill and improve your overall financial position.</p>



<p>8. Strong economic growth: The United States is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, offering investors opportunities for strong returns over time.</p>



<p>9. Robust financial system: The United States has one of the most robust financial systems in the world, offering investors greater security when investing their money.</p>



<p>10. Exposure to global markets: By investing in US stocks, you gain exposure to some of the biggest and most influential companies in the world, providing you with greater diversification and risk protection.</p>



<h2><strong>8 tips on how&nbsp; to invest in foreign stocks from Nigeria</strong></h2>



<p><strong>1. Contact a stockbroker:</strong> This is the most common way to invest in foreign stocks, as most Nigerian banks have relationships with global stockbrokers who can facilitate transactions. <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/stockbroker.asp">Stockbrokers</a> are financial professionals who work in brokerage firms or other financial institutions, executing orders in the market on behalf of clients.&nbsp;</p>



<p>To contact one, you may start your research online and gather a list of brokers or reach out to friends and network who may be able to help. Once you have your list, set up a meeting with each of them and ask them questions about their services, how they work, what their fees are, etc. After you&#8217;ve met with them all, decide which one you want to work with and sign up for an account.</p>



<p>For most of the stock brokerage firms, they have limited amounts to start with. With <a href="https://risevest.com/">Risevest</a>, a a dollar-investment company, an investor can begin with as low as $1 to begin, this remove the barrier of entry for everyone who wants in invest in foreign assets</p>



<p><strong>2. Sign up for an online trading account:</strong> A growing number of Nigerian investors are using online trading platforms like Risevest and Bamboo to buy and sell foreign stocks. This option may be more convenient and offer better prices than working with a stockbroker.</p>



<p>While this may sound like a great way to invest your funds, here are some of the demerits of using this option to invest in foreign stocks:</p>



<p>a. Lack of knowledge and experience – Trading stocks is a skill that takes time and practice to master. If you are new to the stock market, it is important to do your research and learn about the different strategies that can help you make money. Here’s an <a href="https://risevest.com/blog/how-to-be-a-good-investor">article</a> on how to be a good investor.</p>



<p>b. High risk – Trading stocks is a high risk investment and there is always the potential for losses. Before making any trades, it is important to understand the risks involved and have a solid trading plan in place.</p>



<p>c. Time commitment – In order to be successful at trading stocks, you need to be able to dedicate time to monitoring the market and making trades. If you are unable to commit the time needed, it may be better to hire a professional trader.</p>



<p>d. Stressful – The stock market can be a volatile place and traders can often experience a lot of stress when making decisions about their investments. This can be especially harmful if you are not used to dealing with stress in your everyday life.</p>



<p>e. Expensive – Trading stocks can be expensive, especially if you are not doing it yourself. Commission fees from brokers can quickly add up, so it is important to find a broker that offers low commission rates.</p>



<p>However with Risevest, we help you invest and manage your money by investing in our portfolio of 30 high-growth stocks across the US market with our equity portfolio of power stocks.</p>



<p>All you have to do is to follow these steps</p>



<p>Go to the Rise <a href="https://risevest.com/stocks">website</a>, sign up and begin your investing journey on the go.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>3. Buy exchange-traded funds (ETFs): </strong>ETFs are funds that track specific indexes or baskets of securities, and many of them include foreign stocks. This can be a cost-effective way to get exposure to a number of different foreign markets.</p>



<p>If you want to buy US exchange-traded funds from Nigeria, you need to open a brokerage account with a Nigerian broker that offers access to these products. Once your account is open, you can transfer money from your bank account to the brokerage account and then use this money to purchase the ETFs that you are interested in.</p>



<p>When buying ETFs, it is important to consider the fees that will be charged. Most Nigerian brokers charge a commission on each transaction, as well as a yearly maintenance fee. Make sure you understand these fees and how they will impact your overall investment returns.</p>



<p>Finally, always remember to do your own research before investing in any product. The best way to learn about ETFs is to read the fund&#8217;s prospects, which can be found on the broker&#8217;s website or on the website of the fund issuer. This document will give you a detailed description of the ETF, including its investment objectives, strategies and risks.</p>



<p>Below are a few examples of popular US exchange-traded funds:</p>



<p>&#8211; SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF (SPY)</p>



<p>&#8211; Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI)</p>



<p>&#8211; iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM)</p>



<p>&#8211; WisdomTree Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund (DGS)</p>



<p><strong>4. Use mutual funds:</strong> Mutual funds also offer access to foreign stocks, and many of them have mandates that allow them to invest in companies from around the world. This can be a good way to diversify your portfolio across multiple geographies.</p>



<p>An example is the Stanbic IBTC Mutual Funds.</p>



<p><strong>6. Buy shares through an international broker: </strong>If you have a specific country or region that you want to invest in, you can often buy shares of individual companies through an international broker. This can be expensive and may not be as convenient as using other methods, but it can give you direct exposure to specific markets.</p>



<p>When it comes to buying shares through an international broker, there are a few key challenges that investors need to be aware of.</p>



<p>The first challenge is that many brokers have different rules when it comes to which countries they can do business in. This can make it difficult for investors to find a broker that is able to execute their trade.</p>



<p>The second challenge is that most international brokers charge higher fees than domestic brokers. This is because they have to account for the additional costs associated with doing business across borders.</p>



<p>Finally, investors need to be aware of the potential for currency fluctuations when buying shares through an international broker. This can cause the price of the shares to change unpredictably, which can be difficult to manage for investors who are not familiar with foreign markets.</p>



<p><strong>8. Consider alternative investments:</strong> Finally, there are a number of alternative Nigerian investment options that can give you exposure to foreign stocks, such as venture capital funds, hedge funds and private equity investments.</p>



<h2><strong>How to invest in foreign stocks with Risevest</strong></h2>



<p>You can invest in foreign stocks, particularly the US stocks, on Rise. It is an investment company that deals in dollar-denominated assets like US stocks and real estate.</p>



<p>Investing in stocks on Rise gives you access to a portfolio of 30 high-growth stocks across the US market, helping you build wealth and achieve your financial goals faster and easier.</p>



<p>Why Risevest stock portfolio?</p>



<ul><li>We do the work for you and are fully committed to investing your money at the best available price.</li><li>Our transparent and low fees gives room for beginners and experts in stocks to invest their money and maximize returns.</li><li>We leverage market insights and ideas from our trusted advisors and fund managers.</li><li>You don’t have to worry too much about the market as we take on that burden for you.</li></ul>



<p>Here is a step-by-step guide on how to invest in foreign stocks with Rise.</p>



<ol><li>Download the mobile app on your app or play store or go to the Rise <a href="https://risevest.com/">website</a> to sign up</li><li>Sign up and carry out the necessary prompts.</li><li>Click on ‘Plans’ right after the homepage and select ‘Asset classes’</li><li>Click on ‘Stocks’, then click on ‘Get started’</li><li>Give your plan a name and begin investing right away.</li></ol>



<p>With these easy steps, you can become a global investor from whatever state you are in Nigeria.</p>



<p>Also read more tips on how to invest in foreign stocks <a href="https://www.forbes.com/advisor/investing/international-stocks/">here</a>.</p>
