- “Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said he expects the value of Saudi Arabian Oil Co. to exceed $2 trillion as the kingdom prepares to sell part of the company in what could be the world’s largest initial public offering.” This IPO is a part of Saudi Arabia’s plan to change the economy and reduce its reliance on oil. It’s important to keep an eye on Aramco.
- “On April 18 the company announced that it had completed its acquisition of GE Capital Bank‘s online deposit platform and taken on $16 billion in deposits. Retail customers can now open a savings account at GS Bank, an online-only platform, with a deposit of as little as $1.” This account currently offers an Annual Percentage Yield of 1.05% and is competing with Ally and Synchrony Financial. “GS Bank is trying to bring in more mass-market deposits by offering attractive interest rates.” I prefer to keep my options open and not have all my eggs in one basket.
- “When Facebook made the decision to acquire the new social media startup, Instagram, back in 2012 for $1 billion, critics were skeptical about the prospects of the photo-sharing platform adding value to Facebook’s business. In hindsight, the decision seems to have been a brilliant one on the part of Facebook. In a recent report, analysts at Credit Suisse Group projected Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) will receive more than triple Instagram’s purchase price via the app’s revenue this year alone.” Consider Instagram, and Facebook’s presence in our own lives and in the lives of millennials. “The Credit Suisse report forecasts $572.5 million generated in revenue from Instagram in the first quarter of 2016, and an overall $3.2 billion for the entire year. The projection indicates an accelerated profitability as the photo-sharing app begins to introduce new ad revenue strategies. (To learn more about Instagram, read: The Story of Instagram: The Rise of the #1 Photo-Sharing App (FB).) Premium video is projected to contribute $260 million to Facebook’s total ad revenue.” Sharing technology will only get more and more advanced as the technology accelerates. It’s important to remember that even with this technology to remain genuinely connected to people through their heart, mind, and spirit. People don’t care about how much you know. People want to know how much you care.
http://www.bankrate.com/lite/smart-spending/financial-lessons-from-game-of-thrones-1.aspx
- For the Game of Thrones fans, here’s an interesting article found on Bankrate.com. “Both ‘Game of Thrones’ (and the books) have more to teach us about economic and social life than we might think,” says McCaffrey, a postdoctoral fellow who teaches economics at the University of Illinois at Springfield.” It’s never too soon to prepare for what’s ahead. “A great way to prepare for your future is to begin saving early. Starting in your 20s gives you at least 40 years to grow your money.” It’s important to pay your debts. “Paying your debts promptly is always wise advice. Even better is to make sure you don’t incur more debt than you can pay.” It is important to carefully plan your estate. “The show demonstrates — in extreme terms — how badly things can go when you don’t designate heirs.” Use all the financial tools and resources available before you entrust your money to a “financial expert.” “The constant backstabbing on “Game of Thrones” makes a viewer wonder about the challenge of thriving in a world where trust is in short supply.” You must have a global macroeconomic perspective, because the world will impact your world. “Like the characters in “Game of Thrones,” we live in a big world. But unlike those characters, we have ways of staying informed about the faraway forces that impact our lives and wallets — whether it’s a European debt crisis or economic pressures from China.” Women unfortunately do not receive the same equal pay as men. “Though women have achieved positions of power and wealth in our society, challenges remain, just as Brienne and Arya have found.” You should have an insurance plan in place to cover a long term disability. “Having good health insurance is one thing, but even the best policies cover only your immediate medical care. If you’re unable to work because of a disability, you need a financial Hodor to carry you.” These examples are valuable lessons that can be applied in your daily life. “The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.” (Proverbs 21:20 NIV)
http://ziglarvault.com/three-biblical-lessons-on-setting-goals-and-following-through/
- In this article, Bryan Flanagan from More Encouragement for the Sales Professional uses the story of David from 1 Samuel in the Old Testament to show that following through on a goal can be a battle. “First and foremost, David’s attitude was very positive,” Flanagan writes. David didn’t care that Goliath was much larger than him, he only cared about going out there and winning. Approaching the process of setting goals and following through begins with a hopeful, positive outlook. You should be excited to not only reach your goals, but also eager to work for your goals despite knowing hardships may be waiting for you. “Secondly, David was prepared. You noticed that he chose five rocks. And, he chose five smooth, flat river rocks. (His plan was to have a few stones in reserve in case he ran into any objections),” Flanagan writes. David knew exactly what he needed to win, a key component of setting goals and following through. Give yourself all of the tools to succeed—most of which you already have inside you. Lastly, and maybe most importantly, David had “an incentive, a goal, a motivator.” David came from humble beginnings, Flanagan reminds us, he was never wealthy, famous or noble. What does this teach us? Setting goals and following through isn’t something reserved for those who are already successful. Let your hardships and your desires become motivators for you to set higher standards for yourself. Being action oriented and taking initiative to set yourself up for success is something David definitely showed us how to do.” The key piece is to follow all three steps, and more importantly to be consistent.
Please let me know if you have anything I can agree with you in prayer about, or if you’re in need of a financial checkup. Go to the contact me section located at the top.
“But those who want the best for me, Let them have the last word—a glad shout!— and say, over and over and over, “ GOD is great—everything works together for good for his servant.” I’ll tell the world how great and good you are, I’ll shout Hallelujah all day, every day.”
Psalm 35:27-28 MSG
Pursuit of Excellence 
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