VM Elevate - November 2023

VM ELEVATE

PARENTING HACKS! MAKING PARENTING EASIER THROUGH POSITIVE FINANCIAL HABITS

Maximise Your Leisure Time With Strategic Financial Practices - Page 2

Creating your own positive parenting niche - Page 4

Thriving Together: Celebrating 145 Years of Inspiration and Impact!

- Page 5

Transform Your Everyday.

NOVEMBER 2023

OCTOBER 2022

FINANCIALLY WISE

Maximise Your Leisure Time With Strategic Financial Practices

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n today's fast-paced world, it can feel like there's never enough time for the things we truly enjoy. Between work, family, and social commitments, our schedules are often packed to the brim, leaving little room for relaxation or leisure time. However, there are strategic financial practices you can adopt to free up your time and create more opportunities for leisure.

Automate Bill Payments and Savings One of the biggest time drains can be paying bills manually and transferring money into savings accounts every time you get paid. Thankfully, it’s now easier than ever to automate these tasks with platforms like VM Express Online.

By setting up automatic payments, you can stop trying to remember due dates and ensure your bills are always paid on time. You can also automate your savings deposits by setting up a standing order from the account that receives your salary to your savings account. This simple step can help you save consistently without having to think about it.

Embrace Passive Income Opportunities Passive income is money you earn with little or no ongoing effort. By investing in assets that generate passive income, like interest-bearing savings accounts or unit trusts, you can create a stream of income that doesn't need you to be actively involved. This can free up more time for you to focus on the people and the things you love, knowing you have a steady source of funds coming in.

Get Guidance from Financial Experts Navigating the world of finance can be overwhelming, especially for those who are new to investing or managing their money. Consider seeking guidance from a financial expert, such as a VM Financial Services Specialist or Wealth Advisor. These professionals can provide you with personalised advice, help you develop a financial plan, and make informed investment decisions. By outsourcing your financial management, you can save time, reduce stress, and gain peace of mind.

Prioritise Rest and Leisure Rest and leisure are not mere luxuries; they are fundamental pillars of a healthy and fulfilling life.

When you prioritise rest, you allow your body

While not exactly a financial practice, prioritising rest and leisure, is an investment in your physical and mental health, which in turn enhances your productivity, creativity, and resilience. and mind to recharge, repair, and rejuvenate.

Leisure, on the other hand, provides an outlet for creative expression, stress reduction, and personal fulfillment. While not exactly a financial practice, prioritising rest and leisure, is an investment in your physical and mental health, which in turn enhances your productivity, creativity, and resilience.

In today's demanding world, it's easy to fall into the trap of believing that more work and less rest equate to greater success. However, this mindset is detrimental to your long-term health and holistic well-being.

Incorporating these practices into your life can significantly reduce the time you spend managing your finances, freeing up more time for you. Whether you use it to connect with loved ones, pursue hobbies, or simply relax and rejuvenate, having more time to yourself can enhance your overall well-being and happiness.

Remember, time is a valuable resource, and it's important to use it wisely. Embrace the power of strategic financial practices to create a schedule that allows you to work smarter, not harder, and enjoy a fulfilling life that brings you joy.

PRODUCTS AND SOLUTIONS

Creating your own Positive Parenting Niche

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any parents have echoed that they wish there was a manual that came with parenthood, outlining how to create the best environment for their children. We, however, can all agree that while there are no instructions for doing such an important job, we must find our own unique ways to nurture these little ones into well rounded human beings.

Here are four (4) tips that you can use to create your own positive parenting niche: 1.

Create an environment for the development of resilient children, through open and healthy communication. Allow children to express their emotions and ideas respectfully and without judgement. This will enable them to process their experiences freely and develop emotional intelligence.

2. Parent the child in front of you. There’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach to parenting a child because of their different personalities and experiences. Explore options for discipline and praise, then assess what is impactful.

3. Happy parents, happy household - find time for a mental health break. Parenthood can be stressful especially while balancing personal and professional responsibilities. It’s therefore important that you give yourself grace when faced with challenges and do things that you enjoy from time to time.

4. Teach your children about money. There are some things as adults that you wished you knew sooner. One of those is likely, money management. Expose your children to this topic in their early years and help them understand how money works by helping them develop a habit of saving. This will help them to appreciate its value and make better financial decisions as they grow older.

And, we have provided more tips and resources for you to hone your parenting skills in our Positive Parenting YouTube series.

VM Foundation initiated the series to create a digital village for parents who seek to develop closer relationships with their children or simply navigate parenthood in their everyday lives. The series was created in 2020 “as a response to cries for help

from parents who shared their challenges through forums and parenting hotlines during and after the pandemic. VM wants parents to know that we are here to help them and to provide resources for them to tap into – their cry for help is not going on deaf ears” Samantha Charles – CEO for VM Foundation. The episodes explore a range of topics, discussing mental health, navigating fatherhood and supporting the family, the importance of play, self-care for parents, as well as providing contacts for counsellors and institutions that can assist with parents who are yet to find their footing.

This year, we collaborated with the parents of 5 and entertainment personalities Tammar and Wayne Mitchell, more popularly known as Tami and Wayne Marshall, to share their experiences on how they have created a balance in their lives as parents. This series is aimed at providing relatable insights into balancing work, family, and future planning, including financial considerations, as well as emphasizes the importance of preserving one's individual identity and dreams while supporting the aspirations of their children.

Of course, not everything will apply to each household, but there is always a takeaway - either a fresh perspective or a parenting hack. Whether you are a new parent or experienced, we can learn, teach and grow together to create more positive parenting solutions. Click here to watch this and other episodes and share with us your takeaways.

VM Foundation

Thriving Together: Celebrating 145 Years of Inspiration and Impact!

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he world was a very different place back in 1878 when VM Building Society first opened its doors and offered its first mortgage loan to a hardworking, ambitious teacher from Portland.

This was just 13 years after the Morant Bay Rebellion, a period rife with social and financial inequity. But, even in those challenging times, a bold dream was born – one built on the principle that all people deserve the dignity of equal access to financial empowerment, and inclusion in the systems of upliftment that had for too long been reserved for the privileged few.

This is the foundation on which VM was established. In each ensuing decade, we have remained true to our promise to partner with the Jamaican people to help them achieve financial wellbeing, regardless of social standing or circumstances.

Responding to the changing needs of our Members, our operations have grown to become what is today - the Strong, Integrated VM GROUP with offerings that go well beyond traditional savings and mortgage loans. And in

This year, we marked a new era with the formation of new holding companies, VM Financial Group and VM Innovations Limited. recent years, we have accelerated this growth with a purposeful transformation – through digital innovation, cultural evolution, international growth and a proactive drive to develop and enhance our product and service offerings.

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In 2021 we underwent a brand transformation, to bring our storied history as a beloved global player in the financial sector, into alignment with our brand image. And this year, we marked a new era with the formation of new holding companies, VM Financial Group and VM Innovations Limited.

All this we achieved through the unwavering loyalty and faith you, our Members and clients, have in us.

Now, 145 years since our very first day, while much has changed, some things have remained the same. And that is the sacred dream we all hold in our hearts to build for ourselves and our families, tomorrows that are better than our yesterdays; and the enduring strength and boldness of the Jamaican spirit in reaching for that dream.

Like that teacher from Portland all those years ago, we understand that for many of us, the path to generational wealth is hard work, commitment and ownership. We firmly believe that despite the many societal ills that challenge us, this can be a reality for all.

It is our mission and our promise – to continue to stand with you into any great future you can dream of. We are certain that together, hand in hand, we can thrive and achieve a more inclusive and empowered financial future for all Jamaicans.

Anniversary Message to VM Group Members & Clients

COURTNEY CAMPBELL

Group President & CEO