Some think it's too much that Diddy's son got a $350,000 car for his 16th birthday - do you agree?
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
LeBron James' Mother and Her Son's Teammate: Overkill?
Is it right for LeBron James to be so distracted by the rumor that his mother is sleeping with his teammate?
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Boyce Watkins on ABC News - Love and Money Questions to ask Your Partner
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Finance Professor - Syracuse University
As a Finance Professor, I find it incredibly ironic that many people get married without talking about money. They talk about every kind of compatibility from emotional, to spiritual, sexual, and professional, but they seldom take the time necessary to ensure that they can tolerate the idea of sharing their financial life with a person who may not be on the same page. This problem is compounded in black relationships, where many women describe economic hurdles as one of the reasons that black women have trouble finding the right mate.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Dr. Boyce Watkins on ABC News: Love, Money and Divorce
Watch Dr Boyce Watkins, Finance Professor at Syracuse University on ABC News discussing money and divorce - how to do it the right way.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Dr. Boyce on Money: Checking Your Financial Security
by Dr Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University, Your Black World
I'd like to ask you a quick question that I ask my students here at Syracuse University. It is also a question I had to honestly ask myself when I thought I was on top of the world after spending 12 years going through college and graduate school to earn a PhD in Finance (which was unbelievably difficult). The question is this: Do you have financial security? If you don't have financial security, do you at least have job security? If you believe your job is secure, then how many jobs do you have?
If you are like most Americans, you probably have just one job. I am not here to tell you that this is wrong. But, I am here to tell you that you might want to rethink what it means to be economically secure.
At worst, economic security is not provided by just having a high income. In fact, in some ways, having a high income can make you less secure, since you are more likely to have higher monthly expenses. To some extent, having a high income from just one job can fool you into believing that you are financially secure, when the truth is that you might be one paycheck away from economic disaster.
****************************************************
Brought to you by The Great Black Speakers Bureau, the top black speakers bureau in the world and Your Black World where you can get black news and black social commentary from Dr. Boyce Watkins and other leading black scholars.
****************************************************
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
The Economic Policy Institute – 2/16/10
12/07/09
American Indians and the Great Recession—Economic Disparities Growing Larger
Issue Brief
11/12/09
Getting Good Jobs to People of Color
Briefing Paper
07/21/09
Unequal unemployment—Racial disparities in unemployment vary widely by state
Issue Brief
03/09/09
Stuck in Neutral: Economic Gains Stall Out for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in 2000s
Briefing Paper
10/31/08
Hispanics and the economy: Economic stagnation for Hispanic American workers, throughout the 2000s
Briefing Paper
09/18/08
Reversal of fortune: Economic gains of 1990s overturned for African Americans from 2000-07
Briefing Paper
01/18/08
What a recession means for black America
Issue Brief
Web-only Content
Date
Title
Type
12/16/09
A bleak future for black children
Analysis & Opinion
12/09/09
High unemployment: A fact of life for American Indians
Economic Snapshots
11/12/09
Reversing the Decline in Good Jobs [event]
Other
11/10/09
Jobs creation effort needs to focus on good jobs
Economic Snapshots
09/18/09
Three lessons about black poverty
Analysis & Opinion
07/08/09
African Americans see weekly wage decline
Economic Snapshots
04/22/09
Among college-educated, African Americans hardest hit by unemployment
Economic Snapshots
09/05/08
Jobs Picture, September 5, 2008 - Special Issue
Economic Indicators
08/04/08
Understanding the black jobs crisis
Viewpoints
06/10/08
Subprime mortgages are nearly double for Hispanics and African Americans
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
News: Homeowners Walking Away from Mortgages
updated 12:25 a.m. ET, Wed., Feb. 3, 2010
In 2006, Benjamin Koellmann bought a condominium in Miami Beach. By his calculation, it will be about the year 2025 before he can sell his modest home for what he paid. Or maybe 2040.
“People like me are beginning to feel like suckers,” Mr. Koellmann said. “Why not let it go in default and rent a better place for less?”
After three years of plunging real estate values, after the bailouts of the bankers and the revival of their million-dollar bonuses, after the Obama administration’s loan modification plan raised the expectations of many but satisfied only a few, a large group of distressed homeowners is wondering the same thing.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Study Finds Financial Benefits to Marriage
Historically, marriage was the surest route to financial security for women. Nowadays it's men who are increasingly getting the biggest economic boost from tying the knot, according to a new analysis of census data.
The changes, summarized in a Pew Research Center report being released Tuesday, reflect the proliferation of working wives over the past 40 years — a period in which American women outpaced men in both education and earningsgrowth. A larger share of today's men, compared with their 1970 counterparts, are married to women whose education and income exceed their own, and a larger share of women are married to men with less education and income.
"From an economic perspective, these trends have contributed to a gender role reversal in the gains from marriage," wrote the report's authors, Richard Fry and D'Vera Cohn.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Financial News: Jobs Come and then Go
By Chris Isidore, senior writerJanuary 8, 2010: 11:31 AM ET
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Employers once again slashed a substantial number jobs off their payrolls in December, according to adisappointing report from the government Friday. But there was a small glimmer of hope as well.
The payroll number for November was revised to a net gain of 4,000 jobs. That's the first increase in jobs in nearly two years. The government had previously indicated that 11,000 jobs were lost in November.
Click to read.Friday, January 8, 2010
Why Black Women Are Not Getting Married
Dr. Boyce Watkins and S. Tia Brown discuss some of the reasons that Black women are deciding not to get married.
Why Black Women Are Not Getting Married
Dr. Boyce Watkins and S. Tia Brown discuss some of the reasons that Black women are deciding not to get married.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Dr. Towanna Freeman: How do you find a way to be happy?
|
The following is an excerpt from the book, “The Millionaire Mentor” by Towanna Freeman (click her name to buy the book) Happiness is a Choice You Make |
| If you are not a happy person that is a choice you are making. You have full control over your life and the decisions that you make. There are many factors which people measure happiness. Some people think money is happiness however they may absolutely miserable with what they do on a daily basis to make their money. |
| You might look at people who have absolutely everything and you strive to be like them. These things may be wealth, possessions, status, or even the position you hold at work. These things don’t create happiness. Happiness is a choice. |
| There are many people who have wealth and a high status who are completely miserable. They may be lonely, divorced and more. Happiness comes from within. These people may be working jobs they absolutely hate but just have a knack for making money. |
| Happiness is Subjective |
| There are things in life that can make you happy that are subjective. They are subjective because happiness comes differently for everyone. |
| You might find joy and happiness seeking thrills through rides like roller coasters and bungee jumping. This thrill may be more than torture for someone with a fear of heights who would never step foot on a roller coaster or ever be brave enough to jump from a bridge suspended by a bungee cord. |
| Everyone seeks happiness in their own way. What makes you happy is a natural high that you deserve to seek. There is nothing wrong with the things that you find joy in. You may be told you are crazy but that is because of the subjectivity. |
Monday, December 21, 2009
Dr. Boyce Money – The Latest – 12/21/09
Dr. Boyce Money
-
How a Happy Meal Can Cost You Half a Million Dollars
Many of us don't spend much time thinking about retirement planning. We figure that it's something ...
-
Sinbad: Comedian Files for Bankruptcy After Going Broke
It turns out that Sinbad is broke. The comedian declared bankruptcy on December 11th of this year, ...
-
Man Gambles Away $127 Million Dollars - Dr. Boyce Money
Terrance Watanabe has a serious problem. The 52-year old man went into Harrah's casino, got drunk ...
-
Gatorade Drops Tiger Woods Drink: Dr. Boyce Money
Gatorade has dropped Tiger Woods, well, at least they dropped his drink. The new Gatorade drink, ...
-
Prosperity Gospel and the Black Church: Legitimate or Not?
Nearly every African American knows just how important the black church is to our community. We ...
-
Inner City Schools: Funding Should be Equal Across the Board
The following is an excerpt from the book, "Black American Money." I saw some random "expert" on a ...
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Why Are Black People Not Getting Married?
Are the men or the women to blame for the reason that black people are not getting married?
Dr. Boyce: How Does Prosperity Gospel Work Anyway?
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University
Nearly every African American knows just how important the black church is to our community. We also know about "prosperity gospel," the act of preaching about God within the context of wealth building. I admit that this form of faith is a bit odd to me. I am a Finance Professor and I become confused when my pastor talks about money more than I do. The saddest truth is that it's hard to tell the difference between a pastor and a pimp: Most pastors aren't pimps, but any pimp could be a pastor. The same skill set is required in both professions.
My father is a preacher, but he almost never preaches about money. I've never heard him asking for money on the pulpit, or mentioning that giving money to him is one of the keys to gaining access to heaven. But I don't presume that my father is right about all things, and given that I write about money on a regular basis, I have gained an appreciation for what financial resources can do to enhance your life. Also, one must be aware of the pragmatic realities of running a church: You have the building fund, bills to pay every month and any community service initiatives that the church chooses to pursue. The proper use of money can certainly enhance your ability to do God's work.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Keeping the Cost of Your Funeral Low
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University
Funerals are never fun. They are emotionally draining and you are forced to endure the shock of knowing that your loved one will never be back in your life. In addition to the emotional devastation, you have to deal with the financial burdens of paying for someone to be buried. We all know that funerals are not free or cheap, and the last place you want to be cheap is when it comes to burying the person you love.
But there are ways you can keep the cost down. They say you can't take the money with you, but someone who doesn't plan for their death may be taking their relatives' money with them to the grave. Here are some ways that you can bury on a budget: giving relatives dignity without creating financial hardship.
There is a funeral cost calculator on FuneralswithLove.com that helps you to figure out how much your funeral might cost and whether or not you're going to be able to pay for it. Effectively, the cost estimator first determines your total resources from prepaid expenses, personal savings/investments, and death benefits. Once you know what is available to you, you have to determine how much you want to spend. Some of us want to go out in style and some of us figure that since we're dead, our relatives should be the ones having all the fun.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Mother, Wife and Businesswomen: How do you Balance?
In this episode of Financial Lovemaking, Dr. Boyce and Tia talk with Towanna Freeman, an author, speaker, wife and mother on how to balance love, life, and success.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Black Entrepreneurship: Towanna Freeman Talks about Being an Entrepreneur
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, AOL Black Voices
An entrepreneur doesn't think like everyone else. She is willing to take chances, disciplined enough to focus on a dream and passionate enough to pursue that dream. Towanna Freeman is in that category. AOL Black Voices had the chance to catch up with Towanna, to get some advice on striking out on your own, as well as managing a marriage, children and career, all at the same time.
1) What is your name and what do you do?
Have you noticed how so many people seem to be living an unbalanced life or living beneath their full potential? Well, I assist people, particularly women, who are ready to take life changing action to get that sense of balance back along with that greater feeling of fulfillment and happiness. I am also the principal consultant of Towanna Freeman & Associates, a management consulting firm with the primary emphasis on leadership coaching and employee performance improvement; the founder of the Young Women's Empowerment Network a nonprofit organization that produces empowerment workshops, conferences, and other special events for teen girls; and the author of "Purposeful Action, 7 Steps to Fulfillment."
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Financial Lovemaking: Shooting Your Daughter's boyfriend
We all want to protect our kids, but does it make sense that Wade Edwards shot his daughter's boyfriend?
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Dr. Julianne Malveaux Breaks Down Unemployment
The bureau of labor statistics issues a report, The employment situation, on the first Friday of every month (www.bls.gov). For the past several months, the report has contained no surprises. We know the jobless situation is getting worse, and we only wait for their statistical confirmation of our pain.
This month the unemployment rate rose to 9.8 percent. More than 200,00 jobs were shed, but more than that, more and more people are shrugging the labor market off, feeling that they can't find work. The 9.8 percent for everyone translates into 9 percent for whites, 12.7 percent for Latinos, and 15.4 percent for African Americans. But the reported data are only part of the fact. According to BLS, the real overall unemployment rate is more like 17 percent. Using the same algorithm, the rate for African Americans is more like 27 percent.
Translation. One in six Americans is jobless. More than one in four African Americans cannot find work. Everyone else in the universe has been bailed out, especially the bankers and mercenaries of our world. What about the people, the ones who need their job to buy food, to pay for school supplies, to sustain families? These are the folk who have been ignored by the so-called economic recovery, the folks who have been shrugged off by the notion that the economy is in recovery.
Visit Your Black World
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Black Financial News: Insurance Costs Overwhelming Many Americans
"The high cost of each premium and the high deductible a person or family must pay per year is my biggest complaint against health insurers."
"For example, I pay around $300 a month for my wife and me for basic coverage, and pay a deductible of $750 each every year, not to mention a co-pay of $15 to $20 at the window."
"My yearly income is around $32,000 a year. Very little is left for goodies. Meanwhile, a doctor takes in $80 to $120 a visit that lasts 15 to 20 minutes. Imagine how much he makes a day, a week, a month, a year. Plenty of goodies here."
Visit Your Black World for Black News!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Devin Robinson Says We should Boycott Haircare Products for One Week
Atlanta, GA October 5, 2009 - Professor Devin Robinson, an economics professor at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, GA and best-selling author of Taking it Back: How to Become a Successful Black Beauty Supply Store Owner, will lead a one week long boycott against Non- Black Owned Beauty Supply stores.
Robinson stated, "Blacks make up 96% of the consumers of these stores, yet represent less than 5% of the retail ownership." As a previous owner of 3 locations, Robinson understands the industry inside out and offers comprehensive solutions for Blacks to recapture this industry. "The problem is with the distributors. Distributors are mainly Non-Blacks and they handpick who they will distribute products to. This oftentimes leaves aspiring black owners disenfranchised", said Robinson.
Visit Your Black World for Black News!
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Get Sponsored!—Identifying the One Person Who Can Change Your Career Overnight
Even when I was a Vice President at Dell Computers, one of the most cutting edge companies on the planet, our problems remained the same. The variables changed, but the bottom line always came down to figuring out how to sell to one customer at a time. Reaching this critical objective becomes more complex as technology changes and the world becomes more advanced. As complacent as we’ve gotten with new technology and global opportunities, this much has become clear: what got you here won’t get you there. In fact, what positioned you here, might not even keep you here…
…At least, not without a sponsor.
These days competition isn’t just stiff, it’s rigid. You need every advantage you’ve got, particularly if you’re a recent grad, female or minority. Think hard work, an MBA and a well-rounded resume will get you to the top? Think again; that might be what got you here, but to get there – the proverbial corner office or CEO’s chair – you’ll need more than just a spotless resume and a 4.0 GPA; you’ll need a sponsor.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Black Scholar Comments on pending sale of Ebony Magazine
Business knows one only color – green. Whether one has a history of success or newfound fame, businesses must continue to make a profit. Unfortunately, the announcement recently made by Johnson Publishing Company, Inc. the world's largest African-American-owned and-operated publishing company, reflects the simple fact that long-term financial projections reveal that there is more month left than money. A painful pill to swallow for many in the black community due to the legacy of this family and its mission; however, there are important 21st century business lessons to highlight from this sad prospect. First, know and stay in tune with your audience. The graying demographic that historically supported Ebony can’t be relied upon for financial stability in recessionary times. New money is found in collaborative and results-based (not old school relationship) marketing. Sadly, time is really, really money in today’s new economy. Second, embrace technology or get left behind. Experts have clearly articulated the dying of print media over the past decade. Those who chose to sleep in and ignore the warnings are now locking the doors and turning in keys. Americans want and deserve information fast and accurate. The Internet provides that medium. And lastly, in times of struggle God always provides an opportunity. The leaders at Johnson Publishing have a tremendous asset in their people. They are creative and passionate about their community and they should be given the chance to provide direction. This moment is not the time for consultants and clairvoyants with crystal balls to steer the way. Truly listen to the heart and soul of the company – the journalists and staff – and make the necessary decisions to be a viable institution for another 63 years. Hey! No pressure but the Black community, avid readers or not, depends on it.
Dr. Deborah Stroman is a Professor at The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and an expert on Leadership. To contact Dr. Stroman for speaking engagements or media requests, please click here.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Black Financial News: Ebony Magazine is About to Be Sold
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, MSNBC’s TheGrio.com, Your Black World
The black journalism students here at Syracuse often come to me to find out how the industry works. They sometimes instinctively wonder if their professors' stories about being in a CBS newsroom in 1982 are going to help them survive in a world run by Twitter, Myspace and Facebook. The answer is a resounding "probably not."
While respecting the journalism professors teaching their classes, I simply use examples like Ebony Magazine to help them realize that black media is changing, and sites like theGrio.com, BlackVoices.com, and TheRoot.com, are examples of how black media has evolved. In fact, a journalist who doesn't understand technology and business models is in danger of starting his/her career as a dinosaur.
When it comes to recent reports about Ebony Magazine being offered for sale, I admit that I was saddened, but not surprised. The Ebony Fashion Fair has become one of the most celebrated events in black America, and the magazine has been nothing less than a tremendous source of national pride since its creation in 1945. But in the age of the web, oversized bureaucracies can be crushed under the weight of their own arrogance. Bloated payrolls, pompous corporate functions and a sense of entitlement make them easy prey for quick, hungry and rapidly evolving competition.
In spite of the tremendous love we have for Ebony/Jet, the truth must be confronted when realizing that it is what radio was to TV or what the train was to the airplane. Like radios and trains, there is still a place for print media, but that role is no longer dominant. The current economic climate only accelerated the inevitable, since advertisers were eventually going to stop spending $50,000 for magazine ads when they can buy the same number of eyeballs for $5,000 or less.
I present the following 5 questions I'd like to ask out loud about both Ebony Magazine and the state of African American media:
Visit Your Black World for the latest in Black News
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Ever Thought Hard about Property Insurance? Well, you need to think again
Most of us know very little about the ins and outs of property insurance. Christopher Chestnut is not in that category. As a prominent attorney out of Florida, Mr. Chestnut has taken on multi-million dollar cases and handled some of the most complex lawsuits imaginable. As one of the leading young black attorneys in America, Chestnut has been recognized by President Obama for his outstanding accomplishments.
I spoke to Chris this week about Property Insurance and what it can do to make your life a little simpler. Here is what he had to say:
1) If you rent, make sure you have renter's insurance. Also, make sure your landlord has homeowner's insurance, since renter's insurance only includes the contents that are INSIDE the house
2) Check your landlord's insurance regarding injuries on your rented property. Most people are unaware of the fact that the homeowner is liable in the event that someone is injured on their property. Even if the children across the street climb the fence to get into your yard, you are liable if one of them gets hurt. Find out how your landlord's homeowner's insurance would cover you if someone has an accident.
THE QUEEN DOES IT ALL
Keep a Child Alive's 2009 Black Ball, an annual benefit to raise funds dedicated to providing life-saving treatment and support to children and families affected by HIV/AIDS, will take place on Oct. 15 in New York.
Keep a Child Alive Co-Founder, Alicia Keys, will serve as host and musical director of the Black Ball with fellow Global Ambassadors Iman and Padma Lakshmi as co-hosts. Last year’s Black Ball honoree Queen Latifah will serve as emcee.
Technorati Tags: queen latifah,black celebrity gossip
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
