Economy

Investments : Your Money Working Hard For You

MICHIGAN CHRONICLE — Saving money is certainly better than spending it frivolously.

Published

7 years ago

February 23, 2019

By Jordan Woods

Saving money is certainly better than spending it frivolously. But being responsible also means spending so that our money works for us even when we’re sleeping. Investing, particularly in the stock market, can be scary or intimidating, especially when you’re just starting. However, it should be an important aspect of your long-term goals (remember, we’re working to build generational wealth). This installment will give you the framework to become a savvy investor by exploring some examples investment vehicles in terms of risk and potential return, and providing you with resources to plan your investment strategy.

Investment Vehicles

1. Low Risk:

Certificates of Deposit (also known as “CDs”) give your money to the bank for a specific period of time, giving them extra cash on hand. In turn, you receive a more predictable return ( typically 0.5-3%) at a rate that is often higher than that of savings accounts. CDs are also covered by the same FDIC insurance that your bank is, further protecting your investment.
Treasury Bonds are fixed-interest U.S. Savings Bonds issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. They are fully backed by the United States government and are considered to be among the safest investments one can make, but do not reach their maturity date for 10+ years after being bought.

Medium Risk:

The most talked about investment vehicle is the stock market. You can buy stakes of ownership yourself, or you can put your money in the hands of an group of finance professionals who focus their time on finding the best mixed of investments for a consistent, positive return (typically around 5-10%).
A Mutual Fund is a company that pools money together from investors and then invests that money in stocks, bonds, short-term securities, etc. They help to mitigate some of the risk through diversification, but also can include som riskier investments as part of their portfolios, meaning that they can reap some of the rewards of high-risk investments without exclusively relying on those investments.
An Index Fund (or ETF) is a type of mutual fund that is designed to invest in, and thus replicate, the performance of one particular type of investment. For example, an S&P 500 ETF would invest money across all of the S&P 500 companies, so that the fund’s performance matched that of the S&P 500.

High Risk:

Junk Bonds are bonds that promise higher interest payments than regular bonds, primarily because they come with a higher risk of default, because the entity issuing them is in poor financial shape. These bonds are typically issued by companies looking to raise capital quickly.
Cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin) are digital assets that serve as mediums of exchange, using cryptography to ensure more secure financial transactions. Many types of cryptocurrencies experience large swings of positive and negative returns that are unpredictable, but if caught at the right time can potentially increase your positive return tenfold– or more. Many, if not most cryptocurrencies have no official backing, further exposing your investment.

These are just some of the many ways that exist for you to invest your money. No matter how you choose to invest, one essential guideline is to spread out your portfolio across a few different investment vehicles. This practice, known as diversification, is a prudent response to the fact that some investment types, and individual investments within each type, are more volatile than others. ROI is the percentage of your original investment that you have gained or lost since you decided to invest. An acceptable ROI from following sound investment principles is typically around 7-8% over the long term. This is including outlier investment scenarios where people made and kept large sums of money in a short period of time. Keep this in mind when deciding where to invest and when analyzing your portfolio’s performance. Two things we all can and should do are to start small, and then remain patient with our investments. Often lower average positive returns over time also come with less risk, and vice versa. First Independence Bank’s Asset Allocation calculator can help you create a balanced portfolio and their Investment Returns calculator can help you track and meet your long-term investment goals.

Keep an open mind when easing your way into investing. Whether you’re saving for college, looking to start a business, or looking towards retirement, keep in mind the typical timeline for returns for the things you choose to invest in and how that aligns to the timeline for your reason(s) for investing. Working with an investment professional and doing your own research will help you create and stick to a dynamic investment strategy that is based solely on your personal financial goals instead of those of other people.

This article originally appeared in the Michigan Chronicle.

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Bay Area

Oakland Mayor Pushes Charter Overhaul to Clarify Roles in City Government, Increase Accountability and Improve Service Delivery

Under the proposal, the mayor would serve as Oakland’s chief executive, overseeing city departments, implementing policy, proposing the annual budget, and managing day-to-day operations. The measure would also give the mayor veto power over legislation and the budget, though the City Council could override a veto with a two-thirds vote.

Published

1 week ago

May 17, 2026

Oakland Post

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee. File photo.

By Oakland Post Staff

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee is backing a sweeping proposal to restructure Oakland’s government, arguing the changes would make City Hall more accountable and improve the delivery of basic services like public safety, homelessness response, and infrastructure repairs.

The charter reform measure, introduced April 7 and co-sponsored by Oakland City Council President Kevin Jenkins, would ask voters in November to approve a “strong mayor, strong council” system designed to create clearer lines of authority inside city government.

The City Council, meanwhile, would maintain legislative authority by adopting ordinances, approving budgets, conducting oversight hearings, and confirming key mayoral appointments. The proposal would also create an Independent Budget and Legislative Analyst Office to provide nonpartisan fiscal and policy analysis for councilmembers.

“I’ve spent months listening to Oaklanders across every neighborhood about what they expect from their city government,” Lee said. “The Charter Reform Working Group’s engagement made clear that residents want a system where there are no questions about who is responsible for delivering results on public safety, homelessness, infrastructure, and basic services.”

Jenkins said the proposal would strengthen both executive leadership and council oversight.

“I’ve long believed Oakland works best when residents have clear lines of accountability and a government structure that aligns responsibility with results,” Jenkins said.

The proposal follows recommendations from the Mayor’s Charter Reform Working Group, co-facilitated by the League of Women Voters of Oakland and SPUR.

Over five months, the group conducted more than 60 interviews, held 14 public meetings across Oakland, and engaged more than 750 residents while reviewing governance models used in other cities.

“The process of engaging residents across Oakland surfaced the governance clarity Oakland needs,” said Sujata Srivastava of SPUR. “The Charter Reform Working Group has produced a thoughtful set of recommendations that if adopted could strengthen accountability and improve service delivery across city government.”

Polling cited by the mayor’s office suggests voters may be open to the changes. A February 2026 poll by the East Bay Polling Institute found 64% of voters support adopting a strong-mayor system. Separate polling conducted by the Oakland Chamber of Commerce and David Binder Research found support ranging from 61% to 63% among likely voters.

The measure is scheduled to be heard by the City Council Rules Committee on May 21. If approved by the council, it would appear on the November 2026 ballot, where Oakland voters would have the final say.

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Bay Area

How Is AI Affecting California? The State Wants You to Share Your Story

The program marks the first time the state has opened the platform to all Californians. State officials said the effort is designed to give residents a direct role in discussions about how AI should be regulated and used as the technology rapidly expands across industries.

Published

1 week ago

May 17, 2026

Oakland Post

iStock

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced May 7 that California is expanding its Engaged California digital democracy initiative statewide, inviting residents to help shape future state policies on artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on jobs and the economy.

“We’ve got to be clear-eyed about this moment: AI is moving fast, bringing enormous opportunity, but also real risks,” Newsom said in a statement. “Californians deserve a seat at the table as we shape what’s to come.”

The initiative will roll out in two phases. Beginning immediately, Californians can sign up online to share how AI is affecting their work and communities and provide ideas for possible government action. Later this summer, a smaller group reflecting the state’s workforce demographics will participate in live discussions focused on developing policy recommendations.

State officials said the goal is to identify areas of agreement among Californians and provide policymakers with public feedback as the state develops future AI regulations and workforce strategies.

Engaged California is modeled after digital democracy programs used in Taiwan and is intended to encourage structured public discussion rather than social media-style debate. Officials described the effort as a form of “deliberative democracy” aimed at helping residents engage directly in state decision-making.

“The more Californians are engaged in the democratic process, the better able we’ll be to confront the challenges we face together,” said Nick Maduros, California Secretary of Government Operations, in a statement.

The statewide launch builds on two earlier pilot programs. One pilot gathered public input following the Los Angeles firestorms to help guide recovery efforts, while another collected ideas from state employees about improving government operations.

California has positioned itself as a national leader in AI policy and development. Since 2023, the Newsom administration has introduced initiatives focused on responsible AI use in government, cybersecurity protections, workforce training and regulations targeting risks such as deepfakes and AI-generated robocalls.

The state has also partnered with companies in Silicon Valley — including NVIDIA, Google, Adobe, IBM and Microsoft — to expand AI education and workforce training programs across California schools and universities.

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Activism

California Launches Free Diaper Program for Newborns Statewide

The initiative, called Golden State Start, will provide 400 free diapers to every newborn delivered at participating California hospitals beginning this summer. The state is partnering with Baby2Baby, a California-based nonprofit that distributes essential items to children in need nationwide.

Published

1 week ago

May 17, 2026

Oakland Post

iStock.

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday that California will launch a first-in-the-nation program providing free diapers to families with newborns, part of a broader effort to lower costs for parents and improve infant health outcomes.

The initiative, called Golden State Start, will provide 400 free diapers to every newborn delivered at participating California hospitals beginning this summer. The state is partnering with Baby2Baby, a California-based nonprofit that distributes essential items to children in need nationwide.

State officials said hospitals participating in the program will give families the diapers when they are discharged after birth, helping parents leave with an immediate supply of newborn essentials.

“Every baby born in California deserves a healthy start in life,” Newsom said in a statement. He said the program is part of California’s broader affordability efforts, which also include free school meals, universal preschool for four-year-olds and expanded after-school programs.

The announcement comes ahead of Mother’s Day and is tied to the administration’s broader CalRx initiative, which aims to reduce costs for essential products and medications. State officials said California is also exploring ways to lower diaper prices by challenging high costs from major brands.

The first year of the program will prioritize hospitals serving large numbers of Medi-Cal patients, with plans to expand to additional hospitals and birthing centers over time. Officials said the effort is intended to reduce financial pressure on low-income families and improve infant and maternal health by ensuring parents have access to clean diapers.

“California families deserve to feel supported during one of life’s more exciting, yet vulnerable transitions,” First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom said in a statement. She said the program would allow parents to focus on caring for their newborns instead of worrying about basic supplies.

According to Baby2Baby, one in two families in the United States struggles to afford diapers. The organization has distributed more than half a billion items to children over the past 15 years through partnerships with shelters, hospitals, foster care programs and schools.

State officials said Baby2Baby will oversee diaper purchasing, warehousing and distribution through its existing hospital and community partnerships across California.