Ok, so “Shift Happens”!
My last blog had me facing several upcoming challenges. What a difference two weeks can make… My health crisis has resolved favourably without the need for time missed from work or lost pay. Whew; one obstacle overcome! At the beginning of the week I advanced tuition fees from my credit card for my next course at school, only to get an email the following day cancelling the course at the school’s request, wherein I’ll be receiving a full refund. So, until I’m able to sort out a new course in a few weeks time, I’ve bought a little time to manage the finances on that. I went for further training at work and there has been more discussion about the evolution of my role so I’m feeling re-energized by possibilities and the potential for my professional development overall. Lastly, I’ve decided to join an investment club to get myself off the ground financially and am feeling excited and cautiously optimistic about my future!

We are rolling into the final 12 weeks of 2006 and I’ve been reviewing the goals I set at the New Year. So far I’m making a decent job of the process. There are some areas I’d hoped to be further along in, yet I can feel momentum increasing and am aware that simply having set the goals is pushing me to keep at things - even if my pace is inconsistent at times.

This is what has me feeling excited about the investment club. A group of us will be getting together to pool our money and choose investments to make. We do our own investing, online, minimizing fees and commissions and requiring us to do our own thorough research and investigation about the companies and their potential for profitable returns. We will choose an executive and each of us holds a vote in the choice of investments made, 2/3 majority ruling. We enter a partnership agreement to be part of this club and make a commitment to a five year involvement in the process, meeting monthly. Some of you may balk at that, however, at this point in my life, if I hope to get ahead financially, I know that making a commitment to meet monthly about my investments and begin educating myself along with my Club peers will create a positive spiral upward in my life. As I become more educated and informed by the process of investing my money myself, instead of simply handing it over to someone else, I will become empowered and far more in touch with my Financial Self. I will not simply want to be a person who has and knows about money, I will be a person who has and knows about money. I’ve been involved in this process of self-education for 10 years on & off…more off than on. I’m ready to take it to the next level.

So the club empowers me because it makes investment manageable. To invest money, one needs a certain minimum to make it worthwhile considering fees/commissions/loads, even if “self-serve online”. That minimum is currently unreachable to me as one person with limited income. However, by pooling funds with other members, I will be making the same size contribution that was going into my savings account but it now has 15 times the power and therefore we can have enough to invest the minimum much sooner than I could on my own. What’s even better is that we can invest in stocks that have much higher returns than my measly 3% savings account! The report I’ve had from a previous group member is their returns were about twice what I’m receiving on my current holdings, a very inviting prospect indeed. There are caveats to be considered, this isn’t for everyone. For me, it’s something that fits my financial needs, my schedule and my desired level of involvement with my money.

As with any learning any new skill, I’m a little nervous. I also have faith in my abilities. I have great capabilities, especially when I consider my past performance on things I was really fearful about yet always managed to get through very well, usually pleased with my efforts. This turning 40 things really has its benefits…I’m starting to get comfortable in who I am and the decisions I make and am learning to trust myself! I have to say, it’s a very good feeling. I want the same thing for you…

Cheers,