What’s stopping you?

What’s stopping you?

 

One of my biggest frustrations is in trying to assist people in understanding the importance of creating passive income avenues for themselves.

 

So often I look into the eyes of the people I am speaking to when it comes to talking about money – and I love to speak about money – and all I can see reflecting back at me is fear or avoidance, and sometimes even anger.

 

I could go into a deep philosophical chat on our emotional attachments and responses to money, but to be honest none of that really matters unless most people start working with and growing their money despite how they might feel about it.

 

We are entering a time when every single person out there must be considering a way to create some form of passive income for themselves. The world is changing, our economies are changing. Unemployment levels are climbing, artificial intelligence isn’t coming, it IS here. If you want to be safe and have a secure financial future, you cannot afford to not have passive income.

 

This is also something that takes time to build up, so the sooner you start, the better a position you will be in the future. Though there are two very, very important aspects to look at to help you to ensure a better financial future for you and you family. The first, as I have mentioned, is creating passive income. The second is finding a store of wealth – that is an asset, that may have slow growth, but it will last the test of any economic woes – gold and silver are a good example of this.

 

I can also go on about inevitable economic collapse, though I feel I am a little under qualified for this (however check out Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad Radio Show packed full of all the details of what you need to know in this area), what I can say to you is that as you are looking to create a better financial future for yourself, really take into account what type of investments you are looking at.

 

Make sure that you are investing in products, services, commodities, and businesses that are moving with future trends.

 

Here is an example for you; eco-consciousness is becoming more and more a part of our lives. We are living in a time when we have seen huge changes in the one thing that us humans have been traditionally too stubborn to change, and that is in our diets and the way we eat.

 

With year on year growth in the plant based food industry, the future forecast of this industry will be on the upward trend for some time. If you want to invest in a business that will create sustainable future growth, have a long hard look at this industry.

 

Here is a project you might be interested in, if you are a keen investor: https://www.investmentnetwork.co.za/business-proposals/soy-free-tofu-brand-15-1217042

 

Now let’s look at your store of wealth and traditional versus modern investments that can secure a future passive income for you.

 

One of the best long-term (yes, time to be a bear) investments to consider is cryptocurrencies. My favourite at the moment is Solana – and that is purely because its blockchain has so much possibility, and it is currently one of the easiest, cheapest and most eco-friendly blockchains out there. It has some serious growth ahead of it.

 

Here is a rather unique investment opportunity, a lodge based on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal is expanding its real estate by looking for equity investors – however they are doing this by creating NFTs (NonFungible Tokens) on the Solana blockchain, where investors can buy into the investment with Solana, earn rental income in Solana AND take advantage of the growth of this cryptocurrency – now there is some out of the box thinking for you. (Scroll to the bottom of this article to view more on this project’s white paper).

 

Both of the projects I have mentioned are investment opportunities that show how entrepreneurs are taking advantage of market trends and the new economy, and they are making it AFFORDABLE for anybody to invest. These are just two examples, but there are many more out there.

 

As with all investments, do your homework, look at how much risk you are willing to take, and make the decision for yourself. But whatever you do, take steps today to start growing your portfolio, and growing your investments for future passive income… for future financial wellbeing… for future happiness.

 

Stay Well

Nathalie

 

 

 Introducing the Firefly NFT A new solution to passive income.

 

Disclaimer: Firefly NFT and Firefly Eco Lodge Pty Ltd, do not represent or operate as a Financial Service Provider. Neither the company, its owners, or its representatives or employees, represent a financial body or financial service provider, and do not claim to be financial advisors in any way.

This document does not qualify as financial advice, but as an investment opportunity. As with all investment opportunities, profits cannot be guaranteed, and there is the possibility of loss. All investors agree to this risk, and are encouraged to do their own research.

 

Financial independence: a 21st century problem.

 

The world is changing. The 20th century saw unprecedented levels in financial growth. It was a time when if you got yourself a good job, or even a career, and threw yourself into your work, you could make yourself a good living. And if you invested right, even become wealthy. This was a model we imagined would stand forever, but in the third decade of the third millennium, this model is faltering.

 

Thanks to technological advancements, especially in the field of artificial intelligence, ‘work’ is becoming obsolete. A case in point: lawyers. In 2015, the gross unemployment rate in the USA stood at 3%, while unemployed lawyers stood at 11% - almost three times the national average. Only 63% of bar-qualified lawyers found full-time employment. And this is just an example. The human factor in ‘work’ is dropping by the day. While some professions will never fall by the wayside – somebody needs to cut hair and put braces on the kids – the fact is that most jobs are vulnerable to takeover by computers, automation, and artificial intelligence. The net result is that more people are staring into an uncertain future which may be technologically fantastic, but does not offer the average person the chance to find a ‘job’ anymore.

This brings with it a massive opportunity. As almost everyone knows, working for a living actually sucks. Fortunately, there is an alternative that can generate income and avoid a job market becoming obsolete. That alternative is nothing new, it is simple passive income. Instead of working for money, let your money work for you.

This you’ve heard before. It has been the mantra of bank managers and investment advisors for years. (The joke being that bank managers and investment advisors also just work for a living, and their jobs are on the line in the new world as well.)

However, in the past, ‘passive income’ suggested that one needs to make a sizable investment and reap the rewards which trickled in slowly. “Invest at 23, and if you manage to live to 70, you too can be rich.”

This model just does not work for most people because it is too inaccessible, too long-term, and just... boring!

Digital assets: a 21st century solution.

The greatest financial invention of all time — maybe even greater than the invention of money itself — came on 3 January 2009 when the first ever Bitcoin block was mined. Bitcoin, first seen as a novelty, became the highest yielding asset class in history. Never before has so much value been created in such a short time. This is of course remarkable, but not the focus of the Firefly solution. The focus comes from the fact that Bitcoin demonstrated it was not just feasible, but actually desirable, to have digital assets. And where there are assets, there are opportunities for financial management.

A brief look at the very recent past showed an explosion of traditional financial products being created for the digital world we live in. Not just are jobs becoming obsolete, banks themselves are becoming footnotes of history. One of the most fundamental advances in this technology is the creation of the non-fungible token, commonly referred to as an NFT.

In short, an NFT is a “digital original” which cannot be copied. A simplified example: anyone can right-click-save-as an image off the internet and have that image stored on their computer, and a theoretical infinite instance of that image can be downloaded and saved. (Same goes for downloading music or movies or... well, anything in the digital sphere). There was simply no way to know which digital asset was an original, and which one is a copy.

This is where NFTs came in, as (among other functions) a way to secure digital ownership. Imagine: a digital asset that could not be copied or forged, but even if it was, had no value as a copy/forgery. All the value remains in the original. This digital asset functions just like a real-world asset: it can be bought and sold. It is an inheritable product; you can leave it to your children. It may be ‘just’ ones and zeroes on a computer, but it is every bit as real as the coins you put into a vending machine.

Firefly Eco Lodge: Where 21st century digital solutions meet the timeless physical world

All the talk of computers and digital assets and artificial intelligence does not negate the fact that we always have lived, and will always continue to live, in a physical world. We cannot eat, sleep, or clothe ourselves digitally. We can have cybersex, but intercourse will never go away. We can go shopping for new shoes in virtual reality, but the mud on your boots is physical.

The Firefly NFT is a product that bridges the gap between the digital and real worlds and brings with it an antidote to extreme long-term, inaccessible, complicated — and boring! — investment strategies.

The Firefly Eco Lodge is a 8.6 hectare (21 acre) lodge near Port Edward in the southern part of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, bordering on the famously beautiful Wild Coast of the Eastern Cape. As one of the most scenic and dramatically picturesque parts of the country, the lodge is surrounded by forests and bodies of water, a short stroll delivers one to the golden beaches of the warm waters of Indian Ocean coast. Bird life and wildlife are abundant; the pollution and crowds are not.

Founded with values of sustainability and ethical consumption, Firefly Eco Lodge is the thinking person’s holiday destination.

And now you can own part of it.

‘Property’ has always been an important, if not vital, asset in both wealth creation and passive income creation. But property is expensive. Not many people can fork out money for a property and wait the twenty years to make a return on investment. For those who can afford to buy investment properties, returns are exponential and well worth the money, but it is an investment strategy that requires financial input the most of us just do not have.

But property is not just expensive, it is also ‘clumsy’. To buy a property, even if one has the money, there are numerous credit checks and financial hoops and tax implication red tape to cut through, and the process takes months to complete, let alone start earning a return on investment. This expensive and complicated process makes investment in property a bridge too far for the average person.

This is where the Firefly NFT comes in. The Firefly NFT enables one to buy a portion of real-world, brick-and-mortar investment properties, and gain returns on that. No longer does one have to invest in a whole building or project, but you can buy as much of it as your budget will allow. And the best part: there are no credit checks, no red tape, no hassle. And it all happens instantly. Literally anyone can do it from anywhere in the world, at any moment in time. It is that easy! With just a few clicks of a mouse – or taps on a screen - you can own a part of Firefly Eco Lodge and gain passive income from your investment.

When you want to get rid of it, you can sell it – perhaps even at a profit! - with the same lack of fuss or red tape. And you can even leave it in your will for your beneficiaries, just like you

could a traditional investment, because it is a traditional investment, just one done in the digital world where the hassle of lawyers, banks, and credit checks are unnecessary.

The Initial Firefly NFT Proposal – Codename: Wild Banana

Firefly Eco Lodge is an established going concern. But it can be, will be, so much more! We are proposing a five-phase roadmap for development and improvement.

The initial offering of the Firefly NFT is a 10,000-strong block of NFTs. A maximum of 9,000 NFTs are up for sale at a price of 0.75 Solana each. (At the price of writing, a Solana is around $88.00 – ZAR 1,400). This represents 100% equity of phase one of Firefly Eco Lodge.

 

We codenamed this phase ‘Wild Banana’ because that is the name of a cluster of ten new holiday suites we are building, as well as upgrades and improvements to the premises.

The return on investment is as simple as it can be: quarterly income from Wild Banana will be calculated and distributed to all holders of the Firefly NFTs. Every three months, you will get Solana paid into your wallet. Residual income without working a day for it!

But wait, as they say on the television, there’s more.

The Firefly Eco Lodge Roadmap

Wild Banana is just phase one – there are four more phases proposed, each of which will have their own batch of NFTs, each with their own benefits. Each with even more investment opportunity.

Phase 1: Wild Banana Suites

• Launch of educational material — articles and videos — to assist potential investors

• 9,000 NFTs launched on Solana blockchain

• Project’s full design drawn up and legislative approval and clearances attained

• Upgrade to general fences, walling and security of lodge

• Initial building of first ten bed-and-breakfast suites

 

Phase 2: Crowned Crane Suites

• Ten suites from Wild Banana - income producing and made available to clients

• Second batch of 9,000 NFTs launched on Solana blockchain

• Upgrade to general entertainment areas of lodge

• Building of second batch of bed-and-breakfast suites – The ‘Crowned Crane’ Suites

 

 

• Beginning of upgrade of parking areas

 

Phase 3: Somanga Suites

• Twenty suites from Wild Banana and Crowned Crane - income producing and made available to clients

• Third batch of 9,000 NFTs launched on Solana blockchain

• Building of third set of ten bed-and-breakfast suites – ‘Somanga’

• Continued upgrade of parking areas

• Upgrade of staff areas and staff quarters

 

Phase 4: Blue Duiker Suites

• Suites from Wild Banana, Crowned Crane & Somanga - income producing and made available to clients

• 30,000 NFTs launched on Solana blockchain

• Building of up to thirty-two bed-and-breakfast suites

• Continued upgrade of parking areas

• Upgrade of support areas

 

Phase 5: Investment Portal

• By the end of Phase 4, up to sixty-two bed-and-breakfast suites will be launched, made available for rental, and produce income for investors.

• A total of 57,000 Firefly NFTs would be available on the open market.

• Upgrading of online processes to allow investors to easily track and trace their investments.

 

The Numbers:

Naturally, your first question should be “Yes, but is it actually a good investment? Can’t I just leave my money in the bank and gain interest, or get a higher yield on other investment vehicles?”

We’re glad you asked, because we’ve got the answer ready for you. The numbers show that at 55% occupancy rate, we will return a 10.68% per annum return. How does this compare with banks? Depending where you are, and how much you are prepared to invest, a commercial bank will return from as low as 0.25% per annum — often not even enough to cover fees — to a max of around 7% for long term fixed investments. We’re already higher than most banks.

In fact, the Firefly NFT is more or less on par with the S&P 500, which over the last nine years delivered 13.3% APY average.

Nine years? Isn’t that an odd number? Yes, it is. Because our calculations show a 100% return on investment in 9.4 years. This is slightly worse than the S&P, but only slightly, and a lot more accessible to the common man in the street.

But let’s compare apples with apples: the Firefly NFT is a traditional property investment. If you were to invest in a property, you would look at paying off a bond in twenty years, and in getting your money back from rental income after about 12-15 years. We can beat that.

And this is with a 55% occupancy rate, which is far below the industry standard. If we push that up to 66%, we have a rate of return of 13.24%. If we get up to 70% occupancy — the industry standard — the annual return rockets up to almost 15%.

And if we play it the other way? To break even over 20 years – paying back a bond – we need a paltry 30% occupancy.

As said in the disclaimer: all investments have risk attached, and homework should be done. The Dow Jones (at the time of writing) is delivering MINUS 18%...

Bottom line: We are low-balling at 55% occupancy, which will deliver an APY of 10.68%, which is a good investment in anyone’s language.

What’s the catch?

As the legal disclaimer says: there is always risk in any investment. Some investments have lower risk with lower returns, some have higher risk with higher returns. The Firefly NFT is no different. There are always risks involved.

However, the main catch is that this is still a traditional property investment, with many of the same aspects of traditional property. Seeing a net return on investment will take some time. The entire concept is structured around the idea that it will not take as long as traditional property to see an ROI, but it will still take a few years before you will see profit on your initial investment. This is not a get-rich-quick scheme. This is a faster-than-traditional-markets passive income opportunity. This is an accessible passive income opportunity.

A secondary ‘catch’ is that upon the sale of the Firefly NFT, Firefly Eco Lodge PTY Ltd will earn a 10% commission in order to do the necessary administration. Issues of automation and job redundancies aside, there are still some administrative tasks to be done by Firefly Eco Lodge PTY Ltd.

Another important clarification: Each phase of NFTs will only apply to that phase of the project. IE: NFTs from Phase One will only apply to profits from Phase One, and will not be eligible for a share in the profits from Phase Two, and vice versa.

Hidden benefits

Many investments have hidden pitfalls. Investing in the Firefly NFT has hidden benefits. When Solana launched, it was valued at less than a Dollar. Your Solana income may stay the same, but the Dollar value of that Solana will rise and fall with the market. And given how well the digital asset classes are doing, this bodes well for the future of your Solana coins.

Another hidden benefit of this project is that it is subject to supply and demand. The current offering of Phase One is, as mentioned, 0.75 Solana. But as Firefly Eco Lodge becomes more successful, the demand for Firefly NFTs will go up, and therefore the price of your NFT will go up with it. It is entirely possible to sell your Firefly NFTs for more than you bought it, not just making passive income from your investment, but making a profit from the sale of your NFTs.

How to Buy

Easy as pie. First you need a wallet, and you can get one at https://solflare.com/. When that is done, hop on over to https://solsea.io/collection/621b1bfd4254e37dd8b51540 and start buying.