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6 Ways Your Investments Can Fund Racial Justice 6 Ways Your Investments Can Fund Racial Justice

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6 Ways Your Investments Can Fund Racial Justice

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Protests against racism have demanded that we take action in our police department and other systems that historically oppressed people with color, including the financial system.

You can also join the protests by donating to organizations fighting for racial injustice or shopping at Black-owned companies.

“What comes after protests is money, and money is what will make change sustainable,” says Tiffany Aliche, a financial educator and founder of The Budgetnista.

These are six ways you can support racial equality with your investment portfolio.

1. Invest in Black-owned businesses and funds that support racial Justice

Kenneth Chavis is a senior wealth manager at LourdMurray and a certified financial planner. He says that investing in stocks of Black-owned businesses can offer two main benefits to investors: diversification as well as the potential for high performance.

Diversification, which means spreading your portfolio among companies from different industries and locations, is crucial to reducing your risk. It also helps you choose companies with different sizes. Chavis points out that small businesses are known for their potential growth. “Keeping in mind the fact that some Black-owned businesses are smaller, there are tons of research that suggests that the probability that a small company will outperform the average big company over long periods of times — or just the broad marketplace — is extremely high.” You’ll need to carefully vet your investment.

There are very few of these stocks that are listed on the public exchanges. It is difficult to weed through stocks and build a portfolio without extensive research. So another option is to use your dollars to invest in mutual funds or exchange-traded funds that will do that work for you. The NACP ETF tracks Morningstar Minority Empowerment Index. It provides exposure to companies that comply with the NAACP guidelines. However, the NAACP does not endorse or sponsor the fund. All net advisory profits from the fund’s management fees are donated to NAACP. There is also a growing number of ESG funds, or funds that are graded using environmental, social and governance criteria.

2. Explore peer-to-peer lending

Peer-to-peer lending companies like SoLo Funds give people who have historically been overlooked by financial institutions and traditional loan programs the ability to access capital. The terms of the loan are set by SoLo borrowers, with no formal approval. Lenders get “appreciation tips” and there are no minimum requirements. You can start with any amount.

Chavis states that peer-to-peer lending is beneficial for asset diversification. P2P loans are not usually correlated with the stock market. He adds that it is a great way to assist disadvantaged communities to access capital for personal or business purposes.

One of the main risks associated with P2P lending is that the borrower might not be able repay the loan. SoLo attempts this by giving every borrower a SoLo score. This acts as a platform-specific credit rating and is based upon your initial registration and how your loans have been handled. Chavis recommends that you diversify the loans you offer. This will help reduce risk.

3. 3.Invest in companies that support racial justice financially

Public companies can be rewarded with your investment dollars if they donate money to support racial equality. Many large corporations have made pledges of money over the years to support anti-racism initiatives. You are supporting companies that put their money where it is needed by investing in them. It is also possible to see if the company has a CSR initiative, which supports local communities.

Aliche also says that spending money is the same as investing money. You might not see a return if your stock is not actually owned by you, but you are putting money into these companies.

She recommends that you review the company’s website, social media and who is on their staff before spending any money. Aliche says it is crucial to spend your money with companies who are aligned.

4. Look into real estate crowdfunding or startups

Although you may not yet be an angel investor, you can still invest in cool startups that aren’t yet publicly traded. Republic lets investors find emerging businesses for as low as $10 and get in on ground floor. The site also lets you filter listed businesses to those with Black founders (as well as to those with female founders and other socially responsible investing criteria).

Buy the Block is a crowdfunding platform that allows you to invest in real property and in some cases the businesses they will house. It’s all about giving people an equity stake in their communities, as well as working to stop gentrification. You can invest on Buy the Block for a minimum of $100 (which is significantly less than most real estate crowdfunding platforms). Many of the projects on Buy the Block are located in historically Black neighborhoods.

You could lose all of your investment in real estate crowdfunding or startups. Do your research before you make any investment.

5. 5. Rethink your bank

Consider a Black-owned bank if your current bank isn’t meeting your needs. A 2019 FDIC study found that minority deposit institutions are more likely to originate mortgage loans for minorities than non MDIs. Some institutions are also designated Community Development Financial Institutions. This means that 60% of their financing activities are geared towards low- and medium-income people.

Aliche says, “I love small, local banks.” “Don’t hesitate to ask about initiatives for the African American community at banks that reinvest in your community. They might have more community-focused initiatives even if they aren’t African American-owned banks.

6. Learn from and collaborate with Black financial professionals

Working with a Black financial advisor not only invests your money back into the community, it helps that advisor continue adding their perspective to the predominantly white space of financial advice. The Association of African American Financial Advisors has a list of Black financial advisors.

Black-owned investment platforms offer financial guidance and can be used to help you invest. Freeman Capital, a Black-owned, -founded investment platform, recognizes the wealth gap and provides everything you need, from automated investing to consultations and CFPs.

Michael Caine is the Owner of Amir Articles and also the founder of ANO Digital (Most Powerful Online Content Creator Company), from the USA, studied MBA in 2012, love to play games and write content in different categories.

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Collaboration Chronicles: 5 Tips for Partnering with Other Businesses to Create Mutual Success

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Partnering with other businesses can be a powerful strategy for growth. By leveraging complementary strengths and resources, both parties can achieve more together than they could alone. It can increase your reach and lead to shared success.

However, successful partnerships require careful planning, clear communication, and a commitment to mutual benefit. Although you can buy corporate gifts to express appreciation, that’s not the only way to strengthen relationships. Also, consider the five following tips:

  1. Identify Complementary Businesses

The first step is to look for businesses that offer products or services that complement yours without directly competing. This creates opportunities for cross-promotion, referrals, and bundled offerings that appeal to a broader customer base.

For example, a wedding planner could partner with a florist, photographer, and catering company to offer comprehensive packages. A strategic partnership like this can also help in reaching new audiences and expand your reach in the market.

  1. Define Mutual Goals and Expectations

Before entering into a partnership, make sure both parties have a clear understanding of the objectives, expectations, and desired outcomes. Establish measurable goals, such as increased sales, expanded reach, or improved customer satisfaction. 

You’ll want to clearly define each partner’s responsibilities, timelines, and metrics for success so there’s no ambiguity about the end goal. And you should each know what to expect in terms of delivery to make that happen.

  1. Develop a Collaborative Marketing Plan

Create a joint marketing plan that leverages the strengths and audiences of both businesses. Collaborate closely to identify each company’s unique selling points, target demographics, and marketing channels.

Then, develop strategies that allow you to cross-promote and reach a wider audience by tapping into each other’s customer base. You can create co-branded content such as joint blog posts, videos, or social media campaigns that showcase how your offerings complement each other.

Consider package deals or discounted bundles where customers can purchase your combined products or services at a reduced rate. This incentivizes them to try out both offerings and experience the synergies firsthand.

  1. Foster Open Communication and Trust

Effective communication is essential for a successful partnership. Without open and consistent dialogue, misunderstandings and misaligned expectations can quickly derail even the most promising collaborations.

Schedule regular check-ins, whether weekly or monthly, to discuss progress toward shared goals. These meetings provide an opportunity to review metrics, address any concerns or roadblocks, and explore new opportunities that may have arisen.

During these check-ins, encourage transparency from both parties. Be open and honest about challenges, successes, and areas that may need adjustment. Maintaining transparency builds trust and allows you to address issues proactively before they escalate.

  1. Measure and Refine the Partnership

Establish a system for regularly tracking and reporting on key performance indicators (KPIs) that align with your shared objectives. This could include metrics such as sales figures, website traffic, customer acquisition rates, or customer satisfaction scores.

Gather data from various sources, including sales reports, website analytics, customer surveys, and financial statements. Analyze this data thoroughly to identify areas where the partnership is excelling or falling short.

This will help to keep you agile and open to change. As both businesses grow and evolve, the initial terms of the partnership may also need to be updated to maintain relevance and mutual benefit.

Establish Mutually Beneficial Partnerships

A strong partnership is built on clear communication, shared goals, and a commitment to creating a win-win situation for all parties involved. If you follow these tips, you’ll form a partnership that creates value for both businesses and their respective customers.

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Digital Fortresses: How Peniel Solutions Safeguards Valuable Data in the Cloud

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Earlier when technology was far from being intervened, the safety of one’s assets was a lingering threat. Now diverse fields across the world have advanced greatly in numerous domains. Resources are less likely to be in possible danger of any kind of burglary or fraud. Since then, mankind has attained a maximum level of civilization. This progression has resulted in tremendous security checks on one’s hard-earned valuables, not to forget the law and order sustained in order to get justice for those individuals suffering from wrongful acts of theft. 

However, the blessed progression in technology has also paved the way for unlawful acts of misconduct in terms of scams and embezzlement. The digital era being bountiful in modern times has also become the sole modem to one’s secret files and valuable data across the globe. This confidence in the virtual aspect paves a feasible path for notorious hackers to misuse treasured documents that can cause serious damage to one’s organization. The rise of serious concerns in the cybersecurity departments gave birth to noteworthy products like TransAccess GovCloud Records with its integrated user behavior utility (UBC) utility, developed by Peniel Solutions, LLC to help identify bad actors using our proven cybersecurity measures. TransAccess GovCloud Records which is the flagship software as a service (SaaS) solution developed by Peniel Solutions, LLC (PSL), was established in 2000 by early entrepreneurs James McGriff and Veronise J. Wright. The company was founded as a federal agency provider of outsourcing services with a focus on business process management. The goal of PSL is to make it easier for government agencies, its partners and businesses to share vital business information. The company’s top priority is innovation, with the goal of consistently creating new offerings within its current portfolio. Developing and acquiring new intellectual and technology assets is a key component of PSL’s growth strategy, which aims to increase client solutions and market penetration. 

PSL is an expert in transforming business processes for the federal government through technology. The company offers a 24×7 support model thanks to well-honed processes and procedures; it also regularly exceeds quality standards, accelerates service delivery by 10%, and improves client ROI by 20% on average.

The 4 major services that the company is known to provide are as follows;

Online Safety

Peniel Solutions offers continuous cybersecurity protection against growing cyber threats directed toward government entities in the United States. By correcting vulnerabilities in real-time, they provide comprehensive cybersecurity services that thwart known as well as emerging threats. Additionally, the program offers vulnerability and risk assessments and covers:

Risk Management Framework; Continuous Monitoring; Hacking Detection; Security Architecture Review; Systems Security Engineering; Security Operations Center

TransAccess Record Management GovCloud Records

They specialize in removing adversities associated with the conventional paper-based process by providing a scalable document management system with adaptable solutions and a streamlined user experience. This service makes sure that all organizational documents are easily accessible without requiring the installation of any software. 

Software Engineering Peniel Solutions

Utilizes scrum, agile, and DevOps approaches to provide ISO and CMMI Development-Certified software engineering solutions that prioritize quality in both traditional and mobile applications. Moreover, it covers end-to-end AI/ML DevSecOps strategies which are the ultimate solution for agencies and businesses that want to secure and streamline their software development process. PSL offers a comprehensive suite of features including static analysis of infrastructure-as-code, unsupervised anomaly detection on events, natural language query of documentation, automated red team attacks, predictive threat modeling, and self-healing and response. These cutting-edge features are designed to give agencies and businesses the confidence and peace of mind they need to reach their full potential. 

Cloud Solution

PSL helps clients with DevOps, cloud application migration, and application management by leveraging AWS’s GovCloud and its partner status.

PSL possessing more than 20 years of experience and a CMMI Level 3 accreditation, is an established Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB). As a GSA-approved supplier with expertise in Electronic Records Management Solutions (ERMS), PSL guarantees adherence to OMB and NARA’s M-23-7 requirements. Additionally, PSL has strengthened data management and compliance by successfully implementing an ERMS for the FHA’s Department of Urban Development. Furthermore, with the Highly Adaptive Cybersecurity Services (HACS) certification from the GSA, PSL offers security solutions to protect federal data.

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5 Ways to Ensure Security of Financial Transactions in Your Business

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In the present computerized age, where financial transactions happen at lightning speed and across different stages, guaranteeing the security of these exchanges is vital for organizations. With the consistent danger of cyberattacks and deceitful exercises, protecting your financial transactions is not simply a question of consistence yet additionally critical for keeping up with the trust of your clients and partners. From executing vigorous encryption conventions to instructing your staff about likely dangers, there are a few proactive measures you can take to reinforce the security of your financial transactions.

Safeguarding Data Integrity and Confidentiality:

One of the fundamental mainstays of guaranteeing the security of financial transactions lies in implementing robust encryption protocols. Encryption includes encoding delicate information communicated between parties, delivering it incomprehensible to unauthorized entities. By encoding monetary data, for example, credit card details, personal identification numbers (PINs), and transactional data, organizations can forestall capture by malignant actors and keep up with the respectability and secrecy of their clients’ data. Businesses can also enhance their financial processes by integrating robust security measures, including the adoption of free invoice software, to ensure the secure and confidential transmission of sensitive billing information. By coordinating encryption conventions into your financial infrastructure, you make a vigorous boundary against unapproved access and information breaks.

Strengthening Access Controls and Identity Verification:

In a time portrayed by heightening digital dangers and modern hacking methods, depending entirely on passwords for validation presents critical security risks. Multifaceted confirmation (MFA) offers an extra layer of guard by expecting clients to check their personalities through numerous means, thereby mitigating the likelihood of unauthorized access to sensitive financial systems and accounts. MFA regularly consolidates at least two verification factors, for example, something the client knows (e.g., a secret word), something they have (e.g., a cell phone or token), or something they are (e.g., biometric identifiers like unique finger impression or facial acknowledgment).

Regular Security Audits and Vulnerability Assessments:

A proactive approach that conducts routine audits and vulnerability assessments to find possible flaws and vulnerabilities in your financial systems and procedures is necessary for successful security management. By overseeing thorough security evaluations, you may assess the efficacy of present security measures, ascertain if they adhere to industry norms and standards, and spot any variations or inconsistencies that can indicate potential security breaches. By employing advanced methods and automated tools, such vulnerability scanning and penetration testing, you may imitate real-world attack scenarios and identify vulnerabilities before malicious actors do so.

Secure Payment Gateways and Fraud Detection Mechanisms:

The proliferation of e-commerce and digital payment platforms has revolutionized the way businesses conduct financial transactions, offering unparalleled convenience and accessibility to consumers worldwide. Notwithstanding, with the rising commonness of online fraud and installment related tricks, securing payment gateways and implementing robust fraud detection mechanisms is imperative for safeguarding the integrity of financial transactions. Secure installment passages utilize industry-standard encryption conventions and tokenization procedures to scramble delicate installment data and work with secure transmission among shippers and installment processors. By partnering with reputable payment service providers (PSPs) and adhering to PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) compliance requirements, businesses can minimize the risk of payment card data theft and unauthorized transactions.

Employee Training and Awareness Programs:

While mechanical arrangements assume an urgent part in strengthening the security of monetary exchanges, the human component remains similarly basic in moderating insider dangers and social designing assaults. Instructing your representatives about network safety best practices and encouraging a culture of safety mindfulness are fundamental parts of a far reaching security procedure. By enabling your labor force with the information and abilities to distinguish and answer potential security dangers, you make an aggregate protection instrument that reinforces the versatility of your association’s security act.

All in all, guaranteeing the security of monetary exchanges is a continuous cycle that requires a multi-layered approach encompassing technological solutions, proactive risk management strategies, and a culture of security awareness. By executing strong encryption conventions, multifaceted confirmation tools, and secure installment entryways, organizations can brace their monetary foundation against digital dangers and shield the trustworthiness of exchanges. By focusing on security and putting resources into thorough safety efforts, organizations can impart trust in their clients and partners, guaranteeing the drawn out reasonability and progress of their activities in an undeniably interconnected world.

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