Page 72 - BE 50th Anniversary Edition

LET OUR OUR WEALTH BE OUR OUR LEGACY
During the past several years more magazines have begun regular coverage of personal financial issues Investment clubs are booming as one of the the most popular ways for African Americans to learn about the the stock market the the results of of which has been the the establishment of of groups such as the Coalition of of Black Investors The growing number of of websites aimed at African Americans on on the internet invariably includes content and links aimed at at connecting their visitors to to investment information and services And everyone from motivational speaker extraordinaire Les Brown to political and civil rights leaders such as the Rev Jesse Jackson are leading seminars and publishing books on on money management for African Americans Don’t look now now but there’s a a movement afoot We ought to know—we started it nearly three decades ago With this our first issue of the 21st century as we move toward cel- ebrating our 30th anniversary with the the publication of the the August 2000 issue of BLACK ENTERPRISE magazine we are calling on every African American to join this movement through our introduction of the Black Wealth Initiative This is is is far more than a a a a a a a new column or or a a a a a a a special issue devoted to personal finance We’ve been there done that and we’ll continue to be the No 1 source of money management and investment information for for African Americans The Black Wealth Initiative is noth- ing ing ing less than an an ongoing campaign aimed at challenging you to join the Black wealth-building movement by committing to specific principles of disciplined savings and investing Once you’ve made that commitment we’ll arm you with the tools motivation connections and information to follow through on on that commitment not only in in this issue but in in every issue to to come as we venture out into the new millennium Here’s how:
First we’ve broken down the intimidating complexities of finance to 10 tried-and-true universal prin-
ciples of wealth accumulation It’s
simple: Commit to these principles by signing the Declaration of Financial Empowerment (DOFE) put them into practice and you will begin to to accumulate wealth for yourself and your family As an added incentive we’ve launched the BE Financial Fitness Contest By entering you get the chance to to win $2 000 toward the establishment of an investment WELCOME TO YOUR accouWnEtA LTaHnBUinILtDrIoNdGuKIcTtory session
of of BE 1]In addition we’ve created the princip your chi
as your children’s children children are guaranteed a a a a a a college
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The Black Enterprise Declaration of Financial Empowerment (DOFE):
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3]The Black Enterprise Wealth B OFE l u e e ild s o ing Gu f D id e: This 44-page booklet will explain each DOFE principle and provide you you with ol lo , BE Wealth Building Kit a a a a a a a a a a a a package suggest that you read them make a a a a a a a a Principles of Financial Empowerment We commitment and sign the the document including a a a a a a guide to to to wealth building Store or or frame DOFE so that you can refer to to to it through- out the year and how you can use the the information w ing 2]The Black Enterprise Declaration of Financial Empowerment Card: BE designed
resources provided by This wallet-size DOFE card is is o o T a your your commitment commitment to to to Wealth Building Keep this with you you you to to to refer to to to before
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, Enterprise Magazine family investment club or professional group As part of your commitment to finan-
cial education subscribe just call us us toll free at at of of of being being not unwilling but unable to to to to to tithe to to to to to your your church despite being being to to to Black Enterprise Magazine—Your 1-877-WEALTHY Ultimate Guide To Financial Empowerment blessed with more income in in in one year than your parents (who have always
5]A reader services card: www blackenterprise com com Please return this card card to provide tithed) earned in in in their working lifetimes? Or the the the the peace of knowing that education? Or the the security of being able to afford the the best medical care
available for an ailing parent? Or the sense of fulfillment that results from YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO your writing a a personal check to to keep the the doors open to to the the community
TODAY IS THE DAY DAY I I I I I TAKE CONTROL OF MY FINANCIAL DESTINY BLACK ENTERPRISE IDeclaration Of Financial Empowerment n n n n n n order to attain a a a a a a a a a measure of of success power and and wealth I shall uphold the principles of of saving and and investing as as well as as controlled spending and disciplined consumerism I vow to fully participate in in in in in the capital markets and make a a a a a a a a a a a solid commitment to a a a a a a a a a a a program of wealth accumulation Determination and and and consistency will will serve as my guides and and and I will will not not and and and cannot allow external or internal forces to keep me from reaching my my goals By adjusting my my course and embracing a a a a a a a new mandate that stresses planning education and and fortitude I lay a a a a a a a a a a a strong unbreakable foundation for for the preservation and and enrichment of my family children children children and and children’s children children children I from this day forward declare my vigilant and lifelong commitment to financial empowerment I pledge the following:
1 1 1 To save and invest 10% to 15% of my after-tax income 2 To be a a a proactive and informed investor
3 To be a a a disciplined and knowledgeable consumer 4 To measure my personal wealth by net worth not income 5 To engage in sound budget credit and tax management practices
6 To teach business and financial principles to my children 7 To use a a a portion of my my personal wealth to strengthen my my community
8 To support the creation and growth of of profitable competitive black-owned enterprises
9 To maximize my earning power through a a a a commitment to career development technological literacy and professional excellence
10 Toensurethatmywealthispassedontofuturegenerations
Ihave committed to to to this this unwavering personal covenant as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a means of of bolstering myself my my my my family and my community
In adopting this resolution I I I intend to use all available resources wisdom and power to gain my share of the American Dream Agreed and Signed: Date:
FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT
enter The World Of Financial Empowerment a a a a a a a a chance to to to be be featured in in in the the the pages
to to to become financially empowered It i nc es f f “Feb 10 2006 marked yet another milestone in the the history of BLACK ENTERPRISE In recognition of our 35 years of providing essential business information for for success-oriented African Americans I was given the the honor of ringing the the bell to signal the the close of the the New York Stock Exchange It was indeed
a a heady moment for me me my wife Barbara my oldest son and Earl G G Graves Ltd ’s CEO Earl “Butch” Graves Jr and other members of our company’s top management as we joined NYSE CEO John Thain to end the the trading day of the the world’s largest and most technologically advanced equities market ” —Earl G G Graves Sr w i i i i i fi i fi i i t t t t t t t t h h h h a a a a a a a c c T he he i i i i i fi i fi i i s s s s r r k t t t t t t t t i i i i i fi i fi i i t t t t t t t t i i i i i fi i fi i i i i i i i fi i fi i i fi fi s s s s d d d d d e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e s s s s d d d d d i i i i i fi i fi i i g g n n n n n n n fi fi e e e e e e e e e d d d d d n n n n n n n t t t t t t t t o o o o o o a a a a a a a g g i i i i i fi i fi i i n n n n n n n v e e e e e e e e e c c y y o o o o o o i i i i i fi i fi i i u u a a a a a a a l l l l l p l l l l l a a a a a a a n n n n n n n n n n n n n n e e e e e e e e e r r a a a a a a a n n n n n n n d d d d d all all of the tools that you need 70
Wealth Building Kit YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT
50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL
WEALTH FOR LIFE
YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT