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Ignore This Bad Financial Advice That’s Everywhere Online

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Ignore This Bad Financial Advice That’s Everywhere Online

Here’s my two cents: The financial advice doled out by “experts” on TikTok or personal finance “gurus” on Instagram is always going to be a little shitty. Even if what they are telling you isn’t egregiously wrong or an attempt at scamming you, it’s probably oversimplified.

Then again, weighing any kind of generalized financial advice is tricky. If you’re not getting tips and tricks from influencers, you might be stuck following outdated lessons from your parents’ generation. Outside of hiring a professional financial advisor: Who and what can you trust?

Here’s some of the most pervasive financial advice that you’re better off ignoring, and what you should consider instead.

“All debt is bad.”

Debt is scary, but the idea that “all debt is bad” is an oversimplification. There is such a thing as good debt—the most obvious example being your credit history.

Using a credit card is the number one way to build your credit score, assuming you actually pay it off in full at the end of each month. You need to dabble in debt in order to rent an apartment, buy a car, take out a loan, or make pretty much any major financial move. If you have credit card anxiety as a result of the “all debt is bad” mentality, you can break free by using a credit card to make small, regular purchases without racking up a high balance.

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Outside of building your credit score, you may need to take on debt for unforeseen circumstances. When this happens, the little voice in your head screaming “all debt is bad!” can send you into panic-mode, which is often a surefire way to make ill-advised financial decisions. Instead of avoiding debt altogether, go in with a plan—and if you’re already in debt, here’s our guide to getting organized and getting out of it.

“Skip your morning latte to save money.”

I will sing this from the rooftops, avocado toast in hand: Your morning coffee habit is not to blame for your debt. As we’ve previously covered, your small, daily purchases don’t affect long-term finances the way conventional wisdom often insists they do. On the contrary, the psychological boost of these small indulgences can give you a healthier approach to money, helping you make more sound financial decisions in the long run.

Think about it like this: Even if your morning routine costs you $35 a week, it’s not going to make the difference between long-term financial security and a life of chronic debt. It’s up to you to budget that $5 coffee after consciously deciding that it’s worth the comfort it brings you. It’s really about becoming a more conscientious spender.

“Buying a home is always better than renting.”

This may have been true for our parents and their white picket fences. These days, however, the decision to buy versus continuing to rent is far from one-size-fits all. The New York Times has a useful interactive calculator that considers all of the factors that go into whether your should rent or buy, like rental costs, mortgage rates, where you live, and how long you plan on living there. If homeownership is on your horizon, here’s what you need to know before buying a home.

“Don’t talk money.”

Many of us have internalized shame and discomfort when it comes to “money talk.” However, opening up conversations about money allows all of us to learn from each other’s mistakes and make more informed financial decisions. Starting off with trusted family and friends, consider aiming for increased transparency around other taboo money topics (like discussing how much money you make with friends and coworkers).

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“Buy this cryptocurrency!”

Okay, this one is a little tongue-in-cheek. But it’s important to understand that crypto is inherently risky business, and anyone who insists on getting you to buy a specific cryptocurrency probably doesn’t have your best interests at heart.

You’re not crazy for erring on the side of caution with a relatively new, highly speculative investment. If someone in your life insists on arguing for crypto with you, here’s what you should say to get them to back off.

Questions to ask yourself before considering taking financial advice

Before you follow someone’s financial advice, ask yourself these three questions about the advice-giver.

  • What are their credentials? There is no fiduciary standard to becoming a “guru.” Check for certifications qualifications like a CPA (certified public accountant) or RIA (registered investment adviser). If they were born into wealth and have a history of trying to be an influencer in one way or another, be skeptical of their tips and tricks.
  • Is this too good to be true? Generally, avoid “get rich quick” investment advice. Because if it were actually true, why would this person be sharing it with millions of people? If you can’t run it buy a financial advisor, at the very least, do your own research before trusting an Instagram infographic touting an effective investment strategy.
  • Is this person trying to sell you something? This is the most import thing to consider before taking someone’s financial advice. Be wary of buying certain products or stocks, especially when the person recommending them is a stranger on the other end of a TikTok account. At the end of the day, no stranger is looking out for your finances out of the goodness of their heart if they can make a buck buy selling you something.

Finance

White & Case advises on IPO of Aadhar Housing Finance Limited | White & Case LLP

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White & Case advises on IPO of Aadhar Housing Finance Limited | White & Case LLP

Global law firm White & Case LLP has advised the book running lead managers on the initial public offering (IPO) of Aadhar Housing Finance Limited, a housing finance company focused on the low-income housing segment in India.

“White & Case teams in Singapore, Hong Kong, New York and London successfully advised on a notable IPO in the Indian market, which marks a significant milestone for Aadhar Housing Finance,” said Rahul Guptan, a partner at White & Case who co-led the Firm’s deal team. “This transaction was complex and executed within very tight timelines across multiple jurisdictions, demonstrating our global team’s expertise and commitment.

Aadhar Housing Finance Limited is one of India’s largest housing finance companies, dedicated to supporting the low-income sector.  With branches across 20 states and union territories, the company offers tailored credit solutions to its clients and boasts the highest Assets Under Management and net worth among its peers.

BCP Topco VII Pte. Ltd., the promoter of Aadhar Housing Finance Limited, is an affiliate of funds managed and/or advised by affiliates of Blackstone Group Inc.

Citigroup Global Markets India Private Limited, ICICI Securities Limited, Kotak Mahindra Capital Company Limited, Nomura Financial Advisory and Securities (India) Private Limited and SBI Capital Markets Limited acted as the book running lead managers for the transaction.

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The White & Case team which advised on the transaction was led by partners Rahul Guptan (London) and Kaya Proudian (Singapore), with support from partners Jim Fogarty, Elodie Gal, Steven Gee and Edward So (all New York) and associates Ji Yang Lim, Rachna Talati, Stephanie Zhao (all Singapore), Hilda Leung (Hong Kong) and Daniel Park (New York).

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Power Finance's (NSE:PFC) three-year total shareholder returns outpace the underlying earnings growth

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Power Finance's (NSE:PFC) three-year total shareholder returns outpace the underlying earnings growth

Investing can be hard but the potential fo an individual stock to pay off big time inspires us. You won’t get it right every time, but when you do, the returns can be truly splendid. One such superstar is Power Finance Corporation Limited (NSE:PFC), which saw its share price soar 388% in three years. On top of that, the share price is up 23% in about a quarter. But this move may well have been assisted by the reasonably buoyant market (up 13% in 90 days).

While the stock has fallen 5.4% this week, it’s worth focusing on the longer term and seeing if the stocks historical returns have been driven by the underlying fundamentals.

Check out our latest analysis for Power Finance

To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it’s a weighing machine. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price.

Power Finance was able to grow its EPS at 19% per year over three years, sending the share price higher. This EPS growth is lower than the 70% average annual increase in the share price. This suggests that, as the business progressed over the last few years, it gained the confidence of market participants. It is quite common to see investors become enamoured with a business, after a few years of solid progress.

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The company’s earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers).

NSEI:PFC Earnings Per Share Growth June 24th 2024

We’re pleased to report that the CEO is remunerated more modestly than most CEOs at similarly capitalized companies. But while CEO remuneration is always worth checking, the really important question is whether the company can grow earnings going forward. Before buying or selling a stock, we always recommend a close examination of historic growth trends, available here..

What About Dividends?

As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. We note that for Power Finance the TSR over the last 3 years was 520%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. And there’s no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence!

A Different Perspective

It’s nice to see that Power Finance shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 210% over the last year. That’s including the dividend. That’s better than the annualised return of 46% over half a decade, implying that the company is doing better recently. In the best case scenario, this may hint at some real business momentum, implying that now could be a great time to delve deeper. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Case in point: We’ve spotted 4 warning signs for Power Finance you should be aware of, and 3 of them make us uncomfortable.

Of course Power Finance may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of growth stocks.

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Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Indian exchanges.

Valuation is complex, but we’re helping make it simple.

Find out whether Power Finance is potentially over or undervalued by checking out our comprehensive analysis, which includes fair value estimates, risks and warnings, dividends, insider transactions and financial health.

View the Free Analysis

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Valuation is complex, but we’re helping make it simple.

Find out whether Power Finance is potentially over or undervalued by checking out our comprehensive analysis, which includes fair value estimates, risks and warnings, dividends, insider transactions and financial health.

View the Free Analysis

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com

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Better late than never: teach your kids good financial lessons

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Better late than never: teach your kids good financial lessons
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Parents spend many years reviewing their children’s report cards. A recent study essentially turned the tables on that, with young adults reviewing their parents’ performances, particularly in regard to financial matters. The findings weren’t good: Gen Z (people between ages 12 and 27) is the least financially confident generation, and a third of them say their parents didn’t set a good example for them.

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There’s a reason for the parents’ poor performance and a reason why young people should feel more confident about their financial futures.

Why many parents set poor examples

Before you blame your parents for not helping you get savvier, financially, put yourselves in their shoes. You might be lamenting that your school never taught you much about money, but your parents likely got even less financial schooling.

According to a 2023 Edward Jones survey, 80% of respondents said they never learned money skills in school. So, like most folks their age, your parents were just doing the best they could.

Many ended up deep in debt or facing other financial troubles, often without realizing how dangerous it is to overuse a credit card and how debt at high-interest rates can balloon over time.

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How parents today can set good examples

Here’s what your parents might have done had they known more about financial matters, and what you might do with your own kids now or whenever you have them:

  • Talk about money frequently – your financial goals, your financial challenges, how you’re overcoming those challenges, your smartest and dumbest financial moves, etc.
  • Show them your household budget and help them learn how much things cost.
  • Have them watch you shop in stores, online, wherever; talk about how you’re choosing to spend your money and point out when you decide to postpone or cancel a planned purchase.
  • Show them how to have fun without spending a lot of money, such as by hiking, playing board games, reading, playing sports with friends, and so on.
  • At the right time, start discussing the power of long-term investing in stocks. Show them how they might become millionaires one day if they save and invest.
  • If you’re an investor (and most of us should be since Social Security will not be enough to provide a comfortable retirement), let them see you investing. Talk about the investments you choose and why you choose them. Perhaps talk about companies of interest together. Eventually, help them start investing, too.

Basically, you want them to grow up fully aware of financial matters and of how to manage money sensibly.

Meet the millionaires next door. These Americans made millions out of nothing.

Why young people have a lot to be confident about

Finally, no matter how much they’ve learned or not learned from their parents, young people don’t necessarily have to despair over their financial futures, because those futures can be quite bright. Why? Simply because young people have a lot of something that’s vital to wealth building, something that most of us have much less of – and that’s time.

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Check out the table below, which shows how money can grow over time. It assumes 8% average-annual growth, though no one knows exactly how quickly the market will grow over any particular period. In the past, it has averaged close to 10% over many decades.

Source: Calculations by author.

Young people should see that once they’re earning money, if they can regularly invest meaningful amounts, they can amass significant sums, which can help them reach all kinds of goals, such as a reliable car, fully-paid home, supporting a family, enjoying a comfortable retirement, and so on.

You – and young people you know – would do well to take some time to learn more about investing. And then teach others.

The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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The Motley Fool is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news, analysis and commentary designed to help people take control of their financial lives. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

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