6 Life-saving Tips for Harmattan

Yaay! It’s January, that time of the year that always comes with the joy of giving, bright lights, shiny presents, and loads of food. It is also a time that comes with cold, dry winds, haziness and a lot of dust. Harmattan is coming and these are six life-saving tips to help you stay productive and healthy regardless of the season.

WOOL FOR THE WIN

It is always cold during harmattan and to protect yourself from the cold, you should wear more wool-based cloths as against cotton which is common and mostly suitable for other seasons.

BUILD YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM THIS SEASON

It is necessary to eat a healthy and balanced diet to help your body fight against diseases that might occur as a result of the weather condition. A proper diet containing protein, carbohydrates, a bit of fat and vitamins, helps to make the immune system stronger to better fight infections. Hydrate regularly by taking lots of water during this dry season.

BODY CARE

To avoid excessive dryness of the skin and hair, bathe with moisture retaining soaps and thereafter regularly apply moisturizing creams, oils or lotions. Hand creams should also be used intermittently during the day and at bedtime.

Protect your lips with lip balms, gloss or chap sticks to avoid lip cracks, peeling and dryness. Also moisturize your lips at night time for a complete save from cracks.

Also avoid burning refuse and bushes this period. The fire could become uncontrollable and result in the loss of lives and valuable properties.

HOME CARE

Your home and its surroundings should be made as clean and as dust-free as possible. Doors and windows should always be shut to avoid letting in dust and harmful bugs. Inflammable objects like petrol, gas, wood and alcohol should also be put away and preventive measures taken to avoid fire outbreaks as this season makes it easy for intense fire accidents.
Also avoid burning refuse and bushes this period. The fire could become uncontrollable and result in the loss of lives and valuable properties.

GOOD HEALTH IS GOOD LIFE

Excessive exposure to the cold and dryness that comes with this weather can increase the risk of illnesses like pneumonia, arthritis and rheumatism. This season also causes catarrh, sore throat, sneezing and the possibility of cough so it is best to curtail exposure to the dry winds and dust. The eyes should be washed with clean water and sunshades used to protect them from particles. Asthma patients should also make sure to have their inhalers close at all times.

DRIVE FOR THE WEATHER

Driving this harmattan season calls for care. Be it in the morning or at night, it is important to see and be seen. It is typically foggy in the mornings, ensure your fog lights (if your car doesn’t have these, use low beam lights) are on. Also remember not to drive fast to stay safe on the road.

These are basic tips for protecting yourself and your loved ones from the adverse effects of this weather condition. Can you imagine the other natural forces you could also protect them from with a Protection Plan?

At ARM LIFE, we do more than just protect you; we make sure you can access life assurance benefits while you are alive.

How to take your New Year goals beyond January

Beginnings are beautiful. Everyone loves the exhilarating feeling that comes with starting. The dawn of something new seems to awaken fresh hope in our hearts, propelling us to dare to dream. We make plans, new resolves, set goals, envision possibilities…For a few golden days or even weeks, there is a spring to our step, a purpose to our every action, we believe anything is possible. Until time proves us wrong and months pile, leaving our dreams stranded in imagination lane, our hopes depleted, and our drive gone. We trudge through the year, looking forward to a brighter day, praying for a miracle or just accepting fate.

Popular statistics reveal that only 8% of New Year resolutions made in January make it to March. But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can transcend from Dreams Ville to Action Lane. You can back up your aspirations with steps. The goals you set in January can become realities in June. You can look back in December with even more than you anticipated. It depends on you. How? Here are just three things you need to do.

  1. Don’t just wish, set goals

What is the difference between a wish and a goal? Goals are calculated projections, feasible, achievable and time bound aspirations while wishes are just desires. Goals are within your reach, you can work towards making them happen, wishes on the other hand happen upon you, if they happen at all. Stop wishing, start setting goals.

  1. Break it down

It is important that you break that overarching goal into smaller units. Identify what your overall goal is, then break it down into smaller goals that lead to the ultimate result. If for instance your goal for 2020 is to travel abroad for Christmas, start by determining how much you will need to make that trip in December (Overarching goal -raise 2 million Naira for vacation). Take it further by calculating how much you will need to put aside every month to accumulate that amount (Monthly goal- invest 100,000 every month). Next you need to ascertain what lifestyle changes are necessary to enable you put aside that amount every month (Weekly goal- reduce Friday night hangout to last Fridays of the month alone).  You can attack your weight loss goal, networking goal or whatever goal with the same model.

  1. Take action

Don’t just determine to eat less or save more or spend less time on social media, put things in place that will propel you to do it. You might need to get an accountability partner to monitor your social media addiction, set up a direct debit mandate to ensure you put funds aside for investment consistently, download an app to monitor your expenses, register at a gym, create a meal plan, purge your house of everything unhealthy- do whatever needs to be done.

Let this be the year you actively pursue your goals. Every day, go to bed with the satisfaction that you are one step closer to realising your ambitions.

Asset & Resource Management Holding Company Limited Invests in Trove Technologies Ltd to deliver access to global investment opportunities

Asset & Resource Management Holding Company Limited (ARM) is making an equity (investment) in Trove Technologies Ltd (Trove) – a micro-investing application that allows users to invest in financial securities in Nigeria and international markets.

This move is in line with the company’s dedication to leverage technology as a means to change how clients access and consume financial services.

It will be recalled that in May 2019, ARM had partnered with Ventures Platform to launch Labs by ARM which focused on supporting start-ups utilizing technology, applications, and services to solve specific problems. Trove emerged as one of the six participants in the program.

ARM will utilize the Trove application to offer her clients the opportunity of trading in Government Bonds, Stocks, US Exchange Traded Funds and Stocks of US companies. With the NYSE and NASDAQ having a market cap of $30.2 Trillion and $10.1Trillion respectively, making them the most valuable markets which have also consistently outperformed every other market, Nigerians through the use of Trove can have access to these markets.

ARM clients with the ARM Stocktrade App are able to seamlessly participate in the global economy and own shares in valuable companies such as Facebook, Lyft, Pinterest and Zoom to name a few without the need to reside in the US or have social security numbers.

The team behind Trove are repeat founders and finance professionals with experience working in companies in the financial sector such as Goldman Sachs and UBS Investment Bank. They are optimistic that Trove will address the existing bottlenecks in the Nigerian investment space such as lack of access to mature markets while giving Nigerians the chance to take control of their savings and investments.

Speaking about the partnership, Managing Director of ARM Financial Advisers Limited Mrs. Henrietta Bankole-Olusina said “We believe that this is a wonderful opportunity to enlarge the investment playing field for our valuable clients enabling them to trade in diverse stocks and accumulate wealth globally from the comfort of their homes. It is also our hope that this partnership will encourage more millennials to explore the world of investing in order to build a future of realized ambitions.”
The ARM Stocktrade App can be downloaded at the tap of a button on Google Playstore or iOS store.

ABOUT ARM
Established in 1994 as an asset management firm, Asset & Resource Management Holding Company (ARM HoldCo) offers wealth creation opportunities through a unique blend of traditional asset management and alternative investment services. ARM currently manages total assets of circa N980 billion (as at December 2018), has an AA rating from Agusto and Co. and was named Best Fund Manager, Nigeria by Capital Finance International. The Firm is regulated by the Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). ARM is headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria with offices across the country.

Stock Recommendation for the Week, December 16, 2019

The Nigeria’s bourse closed the prior week negative, shedding 119bps to close at 26,536.21 pts with market capitalization losing N154.1 billion. Last week’s decline was spurred by Telecom (-1.54%), Banking (-1.23%), Cement (-1.80%), Food (-1.27%) and Personal care (-2.61%) sectors. Sell offs were seen in MTNN (-2.29%), GUARANTY (-2.34%), STANBIC (1.90%), UBA (-1.49%), FBNH (-2.26%), DANGCEM (-1.89%), CCNN (-2.08%), UNILEVER (-2.38%) and NESTLE (-3.70%) WoW, muting gains in NB (+2.93%) and GUINNESS (+1.72%) amongst others.


• Dangcem– STRONG BUY (FVE: N240.87): DANGCEM’s earnings will be pressured this year (EPS: N14, vs N22 in 2018) owing to lower volumes in Nigeria business (due to increased competition from BUA Cement) and some of its Pan Africa business, as well as high base of tax credits from last year. However, DANGCEM currently trades at FY 19E P/E of 11x on our estimates, which is cheap compared to WAPCO and CCNN of 17.7x and 16.8x, respectively. We believe current valuation is unjustified given the superior ROE of 24%.

• Zenith Bank Plc – STRONG BUY (FVE: N31.50): We have made adjustment to our FY 2019 expectation for Zenith Bank following some surprises in the Q2 numbers. In specifics, we revised net interest income lower due to compressed yields on its loans and treasury asset (H1 18:10.6%, H1 19 9.1%) amidst contraction in funding cost. Elsewhere, we adjusted NIR higher due to upward review of electronic fee income and trading book. Thus, we now forecast PBT of N218 billion (-5.5% YoY), while we cut our FVE to N31.57/share (previously: N33.71/share).

• Nestle Plc – OVERWEIGHT (FVE: N1447.39): Amongst the food producers, Nestle Nigeria Plc has managed to stay afloat, reporting modest growth in earnings amidst incessant competition. For 9M 19, EPS expanded by 11.2% YoY to N46.48 driven largely by the absence of impairment charges which created a high base for input costs over the same period last year. Asides from improved earnings, its strong cash balance, return on equity and 100% dividend payout further supports the case for a STRONG BUY rating.

• Nigerian Breweries Plc – STRONG BUY (FVE: N75.82): Intense competition from International Breweries (IB) and graduated excise duty (+17% YoY) that kicked-off in Jan-19, revenue growth is expected to be slow even as we expect higher finance cost (+38% YoY) to be another pressure point to earnings this year. However, given our case for a slight improvement in volumes and decline in cost of sales (-1.1% YoY) which translates to gross (+120bps YoY) and EBIT (+101bps YoY) margin expansion, the misery seems moderated. Overall, the net impact of all our adjustments translates to PBT of N29.9 billion and EPS of N2.58 (+6.3% YoY) over 2019.

• Seplat Plc – STRONG BUY (FVE: N828.90): Seplat’s total production declined in Q3 19, as the drop in gas production offset improvement in the oil segment. That said, we remain positive on growth in production going into the final quarter of the year (especially in oil) and into 2020 as Seplat increases capex. Cashflows remain healthy. Upsides reside in the ANOH Gas project and acquisition of Eland Oil & Gas Limited.

Kindly, visit ARM Research Portal for full stock reports.

Picture Credit: PremiumTimes.Com

A cheat guide to staying fit this Christmas

Christmas

What is Christmas without food and drinks? No wonder some of us come back in January with a resolution to shed those mysterious pounds that somehow snuck in unnoticed.

We have all been there. Oh, the torture! But hey, there’s good news.

Here are ways to curtail any unnecessary weight gain this Christmas without hitting the gym – because honestly, who wants to be at the gym at Christmas?

Eat before going out

Don’t skip meals. Try to eat something before heading out. Doing this helps you avoid the temptation to overindulge yourself or eat a lot.

Drink moderately (and responsibly)

It’s okay to be merry and enjoy a few glasses. But it is best to watch your drinking since alcohol, soft drinks or other juices will only add more calories to the ones you’ve already eaten.

Stay active

It is very hard, almost impossible to find time amidst the activities of the season to exercise. But try to do as much as you can. Little things like simply walking some more, chasing the kids around or using the stairs can burn some calories too. If dancing is your thing, dance like no one is watching. You’ll be having fun and burning some calories too, win-win.

Drink plenty of water

Water can satiate your appetite and keep you hydrated all the time. Plus, it will also help prevent a possible hangover if you go aboveboard with the alcohol.

Order your meals with caution

If you’ll be going to restaurants or ordering your meals, think more of protein and veggies, less of carbohydrates. And don’t forget that salad dressings often pack lots of calories, so order them on the side that you can control how much you’ll be using.

Enjoy yourself

It’s a festive season. So, enjoy the foods and drinks you love but in small/moderate portions and move as much as you can in the ways that you actually enjoy.

This cheat guide can help set you on the right track weight-wise, health-wise and ready for the New year.

But if all else fails, wear black. We hear it’s slimming 😉

Have a Merry Fit Christmas!

ARM Trustees bags international award for Private Trust

ARM Trustees has been recognized with an award for its contributions to Private Trust Law practice in Nigeria.

The award was given by Lawyers World, a United Kingdom-based awarding body on July 12th. 2019, named ARM Trustees in the Global Category of outstanding Private Trust law specialists following the success and growth of the Private Trust business, its international and local collaborations and several other factors taken into consideration by the voting public. The announcement was made after a comprehensive collation of thousands of voting nominations sent in from voters over a period of 12 months.

In response to this award, Mrs. Folashade Adeloye, Managing Director of ARM Trustees Limited said “We are delighted to receive this award and also accept it as a challenge to do even more in ensuring that  our clients receive the best strategies for effective estate planning. We remain focused on helping our clients preserve and enhance their wealth for generations to come.”

Established in 2001, Lawyers World Awards boasts of providing definitive guides to the world’s leading law specialists. They have awarded hundreds of outstanding law specialists from over 20 countries in various categories since 2011 in their Global and Country Law experts Categories respectively.

GIFTING GUIDE FOR A LUXURIOUS SEASON

GIFTING GUIDE FOR A LUXURIOUS SEASON

It’s that time of the year when there’s festive cheer.

But it can also be a demanding period. Gift shopping for your loved ones – and the underlying anxiety of finding the perfect luxury present – can quickly become a chore.

From thoughtful, small luxuries to splash-the-wealth statement gifts, we have taken the hard work out of modern luxury gifting by putting together an ultimate gift guide that will delight your loved ones – from the style savant, to the urban jet setter, and the liqueur connoisseur.

Whether purchasing a present for a family member who deserves something extra special, or seeking an item for that friend with impeccable taste, at the heart of gift-giving is a desire to select thoughtful pieces that will make someone’s life feel a little more decadent. Here, a little inspiration to guide you in the right direction.

Rare, Vintage and Special-Edition Wine

Charles Krug’s three-bottle Vintage Selection Cabernet Sauvignon set containing 1979, 1989, and 2009 vintages. Spanning a 40-vintage range, the set is ideal for Cabernet lovers and offers a unique chance to give a wine that is both ready to enjoy now, and bottles that could cellar for another three decades. With more than 157 years of winemaking expertise, Charles Krug is the ultimate winery destination.

| charleskrug.com

Bespoke Monogrammed Linen

Specialists in handmade linens and tableware, Julia B’s logo, “Handmade for Life,” quite deliberately refers not only to the fact that the company’s products are made by hand, but equally that they are made to last a lifetime and beyond, often becoming heirlooms that are passed from generation to generation. Most of the brand’s designs cannot be produced by machine.
| juliab.com

The Chameleon Ring by Annoushka

Available exclusively at Harrods (UK), the Chameleon ring may be fine jeweller Annoushka’s greatest engineering coup yet. This 18ct yellow gold and sapphire ring wraps around your finger with an interchangeable middle stone-slot in striking malachite in the morning; lapis lazuli at lunch and a beguiling tiger’s eye for after dark. Price: £12,500

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Pebbled Leather  Mr. Thom Bag

Impeccable Italian construction by Thom Browne, coupled with 100 per cent incredible leathers. Excellent bag for a weekend. | farfetch.com | Price: $3,690.00

 Bang & Olufsen Speaker Tiles

BeoSound Shape is a wall-mounted wireless speaker system for design conscious music lovers. This set of speaker tiles delivers Bang & Olufsen’s signature immersive sound and combines it with customisable design and integrated noise dampers for improved room acoustics. Choose the number of tiles and play with endless colour combinations to create a one-of-a-kind luxury gift anyone will love. Price: €3,350.00 to €8,430.00

| bang-olufsen.com/en/speakers/beosound-shape

Amrapali Gem Bar

Situated within the Harrods Luxury Jewellery Room, Amrapali’s pick-and-mix Gem Bar is a jewellery fan’s fantasy. The Jaipur-based jewellery house unveiled London’s first Gem Bar this year, offering a kaleidoscopic rainbow of eclectic gemstones that include amber, emerald, sapphires and spinels in all shapes and sizes – and price points, ranging from £1,000 to as much as £500,000

Amrapali’s ruby and diamond ring (pictured) delivers standout glamour this season, inspired by India’s rich heritage in decorative arts. Price: £10,000

| Harrods.com

Purdey Washbag and Watch Roll

For the man who has everything, it’s the necessities that make a difference. Storage solutions don’t come more sophisticated than Purdey’s natural vegetable tanned leather washbag and Alcantara-lined watch roll, each of which is beautifully crafted and useful.

Protect your timepiece during transit with a multi-functional travel roll. The leather lid unclips to reveal a watch space and slots to carry cufflinks or rings. The internal roll lifts out and the side pops off to reveal a hidden compartment, perfect for storing secret items.

Leather wash bag, £449,

Travel watch roll, £699

 | purdey.com 

 

 

 

The post GIFTING GUIDE FOR A LUXURIOUS SEASON appeared first on Realising Ambitions.

6 Safety Tips for the Festive Season

It’s the festive season and excitement is in the air! Children and adults are getting ready to celebrate Christmas and the New Year but sometimes, celebrations can lead to accidents if care is not taken.

Here’s how to keep your family safe and healthy throughout the festive period.

Secure the house

If you will be traveling out of town, make sure you lock all entrance to your apartment to avoid your house being boggled. Also, tell your neighbours that you are going away for a while. This will help them keep an eye out in case of any suspicious movement in your apartment while you are away.

Keep the floor dry

Children will be home this period for the holiday, and they will run around with their friends. Make sure the floor is devoid of any liquid that may cause them to fall. Surely, it can be tiring watching our kids and trying to restrict them, but it can be more tiring nursing them when they have avoidable injuries.

Minimise the use of lightings

It’s the period of Christmas lights and other fancy lightings. As much as you may want to decorate your house with these lightings, you may have to scale back depending on your outlets. Check the lights’ packaging for the power output, and never plug in more than what a power outlet can handle. Don’t forget that December is the dry season where fire accidents and its wild spread is always on the high.

Eat and drink responsibly

This season, there will be lot of food and drinks to be consumed. But remember that there is a limit to what your body can take.  Over eating or drinking can result to serious health issues. You wouldn’t want to spend the rest of the year in the hospital bed, would you?

Keep alcoholic drinks out of children reach.

You are likely to get carried away due to activities of the festive period. Ensure you keep alcohol and other drugs out of reach of the children. It is for their safety.

Obey Traffic Rules

People are likely to get carried away with the frenzy and be reckless especially on the road. Ensure you obey all traffic rules while driving. Remember that disobeying traffic rules puts your life and the lives of other road users at serious risk.

We wish you a hitch-free celebration.