February is Black History Month. Jean Augustine in 1995 passed a motion in Canada’s House of Commons to officially recognize February as the month to honor Black Canadians. I am proud to present Kunle Tauhid. Kunle is smart, intelligent, humble, and someone who works hard, an example of a successful immigrant in Canada.

Kunle Tauhid is Vice President of Financing and Consulting at BDC. The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) promotes entrepreneurship by providing highly tailored financing, venture capital, and consulting services to entrepreneurs. As the Vice President for the Financing and Consulting Business in Eastern and Northern Ontario, he is responsible for leading a team of dedicated sales force that is focused on growing existing client relationships and helping Canadian entrepreneurs achieve their goals. Kunle talks about his own journey as an immigrant to Canada.

Kunle, please tell me a little about you?

My name is Kunle Tauhid, from Nigeria, married to Esther and we have two kids, Alexandra (21) and Andrew (19) both students at York University.

Your hard work, persistence is an inspiration to me.  Walk me through your immigration to Canada, the challenges and how you ended up at BDC?

Thanks, Jerry. My family immigrated to Canada in 2002.

I was a professional banker in my native country Nigeria where I obtained a Bachelors’s degree in finance and a master’s in banking and international finance from two elite Nigerian universities. Canada is an international hub of immigrants and professionals but luckily, having come from a Commonwealth nation it was easy to get my degree accredited and recognized as an equivalent to a Canadian university, through the University of Toronto.

I had a challenge getting into the system and getting senior leadership roles. In Nigeria, I had a decade of experience in banking, of which the last 3 were in leadership roles. It was a humbling experience, which I am thankful for, to have had to start from scratch again being given an opportunity to work for RBC as a bank teller. My last role in Nigeria was as a Manager responsible for a team of professionals with all the perks such as an official car, driver, return tickets and spending allowance to Europe for vacation.

Talk a little about your faith and how it helps you daily?

As an immigrant to Canada required taking a leap of faith for both myself and my wife. We had and have no immediate family here and relied on mostly information from friends who had come earlier. Our faith in God and the comfort of knowing that we had a Church family to come to through the International Church of Christ of which we were members in Nigeria helped a lot. The Church community here helped us a lot in our initial settling down and finding resources for us and the kids. I have to confess that the transition of my career was tough. I was able to overcome the challenges, learned humility through Christ. I had highs and rejoiced and lows and I cried. However, a great combination of hard work, positive attitude, and determination never fail.

Give my audience three tips on their household finances?

First, don’t spend what you don’t have. As an immigrant to Canada coming from a cash environment taught us this lesson early.
Secondly have a budget every month. We have been married for over 23 years and never gone a month without writing out our budget. A budget that is not documented is not a budget. It saves you a lot of stress
Third have a backup plan. Save for the rainy day.

How important is it for someone to maintain their credit rating?

In North America and indeed most credit-driven economies a positive and good credit rating gives you access to opportunities. Not only do you need a good credit history for access to financing but you also need it to earn your income. Today employers as part of due diligence use one’s credit history as a determining factor to hire as it speaks to one’s character. Landlords use it to determine if one will be a good renter. I cannot overemphasize the importance of a positive credit rating and history. And there are very simple tricks to maintaining that.

Explain the different kinds of credit ratings?

In Canada, Equifax and TransUnion are the two major rating agencies and the higher one’s credit score the better their rating. They range from poor, fair, good to excellent. Good to excellent give you better access to personal and commercial credit facilities

How has becoming a husband changed your life?

Becoming a husband has made me a better man. I have been blessed by God to have a beautiful and God-fearing woman, Esther as a wife for 23 years. Lessons in humility, listening, caring, extending grace, giving people a benefit of doubt and most important having someone to share with have come from being a husband. Despite being the finance “man” of the home, the discipline of having a budget came from my wife even before we got married. I made a lot more money than her but was always broke before the next pay cycle. It was my wife (fiancé at the time) who introduced me to the concept of budgeting and since then we have not looked back.

Has your approach to life and finances changed after having children?

Not at all. With life, God comes first and we teach our children to understand the same. The values that were instilled in us by our parents, we instill in our children. The financial discipline we had before having children is what we still maintain and our kids see and luckily are embracing those values as well. They understand that credit card is not free money and is used to create a positive credit history. My daughter has a credit card but uses it to make purchases that she already has the cash to pay for and as soon it is done, she transfers money to pay off the balance even before the statement arrives.

Give new immigrants some tips, advice on how to become successful like you?

Canada is a great country and every employer wants to hire and grow with employees that will help them succeed.

As an immigrant to Canada, do not be intimidated by the color of your skin, your accent or foreign degree. This is a beautiful country that is inclusive and embraces diversity. Be confident in your abilities and skill set. Be humble. Your first job may not be the high-power job you had in your country. Take your entry-level job as your door opener that will enable you to prove your mettle and capabilities. Come daily with a positive attitude and can-do mentality. Do not settle. Do not join water cooler conversations at work. Focus on your job and give it your best daily. Your employer and manager will reward those that help them succeed. Develop yourself professionally at an earlier opportunity and keep learning and taking personal lessons. There are many free resources that can help you to be better at your job. Give back. Volunteer, be part of your community.

Most importantly hold on to your faith. God and your faith that saw you through and brought you to this country don’t change.

When we move to a new country, we need to acquire a new skill set, explain what it means to do that for the corporate world?

As an immigrant to Canada, we may never get a job exactly in the field we were in, so it is important to be open-minded. For example, my wife worked in a PR agency in Nigeria but we found out quickly that the setting was different here and so we acted quickly after trying for a couple of months. She looked at other options for a career that she would enjoy. Since she liked working with kids and had lots of fun in our Church’s children’s ministry decided to go back to school to obtain an Early Childhood Education certificate in one of the colleges here. A job was waiting for her as soon as she was done schooling and she had a good career working for YMCA starting as a daycare teacher and rising through the ranks to a manager and then Director before leaving for another opportunity.

Tell me little about your culture, and where can I find good Nigerian food in Toronto?

I am from the western part of Nigeria of the Yoruba tribe. What we call Naija proper.  There are a few good Nigerian restaurants in the west part of Toronto, especially on the Jane street axis and Weston road. There is also a popular “suya “joint in the Etobicoke area.

As an immigrant to Canada, how do you balance faith, family, finance and food in the 21st century?

The 21st century is a fast-paced era in every aspect of life. With advanced technology, family dynamics have changed. Gone are the days when as kids fun was all outside playing soccer, running around, playing in the rain. As an immigrant to Canada and to keep one’s sanity there has to be balance. I have to remember that creation was set by a higher power and our wisdom with which we make things happen here is superseded by a higher power. I remain grounded in my faith.

The post How to be a Successful Immigrant in Canada appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.

Amira Irfan is an inspiration to bloggers and to women. She is a successful entrepreneur, lawyer, and business coach, and she runs a successful group for bloggers. I catch up with Amira to get to know her a little bit better and get an understanding of how bloggers can protect themselves.

Amira, a pleasure to have you on my blog. Please tell my audience something important about you.

Thanks, Jerry! Happy to contribute. My name is Amira, and I’m a business lawyer, six-figure blogger, and coach who helps entrepreneurs protect their online business legally. 

I’ve helped more than 10,000 entrepreneurs with my best-selling legal templates and affordable services as a lawyer for 9 years now. I still work full-time as a lawyer while I run a successful online business in my precious little free time! 

What is A Self Guru about?  Why did you start it, and who is your audience?

Great question! When I launched my business and decided on this name, the thought was that you are A Self Guru when you are the master of your own destiny and hence, in charge of your future! This became my blog’s tag line. 

So my target audience is anyone who wants to become their own boss, meaning entrepreneurs like you and me. I started my business because I saw so many entrepreneurs struggling with the legal side of their business, and I wanted to offer services and products that you could actually afford without having to hire a super expensive lawyer. 

That’s why you will find tons of easy business and legal tips to help you along your self-employment journey!

You have a successful blog. Walk me through some of the steps of having a successful blog?

Thank you! I’ve worked day and night with my full-time job to become a six-figure blogger. I can’t outline the exact steps I took because as entrepreneurs, we are constantly evolving! 

There’s always so much to learn and implement but there were a few crucial blogging courses I took in the beginning to start my blog and those were instrumental in my success. 

Since then, I’ve made tons of other business investments that have further propelled my success allowing me to make $35,000 in a single month!

The best advice I would give is to NOT waste time trying to figure out everything on your own. Time is money and treat it like that! 

Whatever you decide to pursue, learn from the best and invest in the right business tools and resources right away because that would speed up your progress and you will get your desired results much faster.

What attracted you to become a lawyer and what advice you have for young girls wanting to become one?

One of the big reasons I became a lawyer was because my father got sued as a business owner when I was still in college studying to become a doctor. Life took a sharp turn and before I knew it, I was helping my dad figure out all the legalities of a $90,000 lawsuit that lasted for an entire year! 

It left us financially broke and my dad had to start his business all over again. That lawsuit left a permanent scar on me, and I didn’t want to see any other entrepreneur, any other family suffer as we did! 

So instead of going to medical school, I ended up going to law school instead and never looked back! Everything about the law has also been much more fascinating and impactful, and I absolutely love working as a business lawyer. 

It gives me a great sense of purpose helping other entrepreneurs avoid the big legal mistakes that could turn their life upside down (like what happened to my dad and our family). 

As for any young girls wanting to be a lawyer, I’d say only pursue it if it’s your passion and you love the law otherwise, you would be miserable. 

Unfortunately, I know tons of unhappy lawyers and when I say I love the law – people look at me funny because it’s rare to meet someone like me. Most lawyers are not happy practicing the law.

So only pursue it as a career if it excites you and keeps you awake at nights because you really enjoy it, not because you have to. 

Tell us about your legal templates for entrepreneurs?

There are 10+ affordable legal templates I sell on my blog that all entrepreneurs need every day for their business. These legal contracts and documents have helped thousands of bloggers and entrepreneurs. 

Some of the most popular legal templates are below, and they all are important for different reasons:

1. The Legal Bundle For Your Website 

The Legal Bundle is an instant download of my 3 best selling legal templates + 9 bonuses you need to comply with the laws, avoid GDPR fines and sleep peacefully at night knowing your online business is protected legally. 

2. Sponsored Posts Contract Template 

You use this contract template to quickly and easily collaborate with brands like a pro to produce sponsored content (blog posts, social media posts or video) and build lasting relationships without getting into legal issues. You also get $500 in bonuses! 

3. Freelance Contract Template 

The Freelance Contract template (also known as the Independent Contractor Agreement) is an instant download of my most popular legal contract you need to avoid lawsuits and sleep peacefully at night knowing your online business is protected legally, PLUS get $550 in 3 special bonuses you don’t want to miss! 

4. Guest Blogger Template 

If you are accepting guest posts on your blog then you MUST have this template that includes all the guest post guidelines and legal provisions you need to protect yourself from copyright violations and more. 

5. Affiliate Agreement Template 

If you have your own affiliate program then you must have your affiliates accept these terms and conditions before they start promoting your products to protect yourself from their legal mistakes! 

6. Confidentiality (Non-disclosure agreement) Template

This contract allows you to protect your business information and secrets before collaborating and sharing your business with others. 

For example, if you are hiring a virtual assistant for your business or someone else to help you with your business, you would want to enter into this NDA agreement to make sure the other person doesn’t steal your business information after learning the ins and out. 

7. Media Release Agreement Template 

You need this contract before you start using someone’s name, image, video and other intellectual property in your business and promotions to avoid getting sued and violating their legal rights.

8. LLC Operating Agreement Template  

You need this Operating Agreement to separate your business from YOU. This is the legal contract that shows to the court that your business is separate from your personal assets so you are not legally responsible for your business debts and lawsuits. 

9. Coaching Agreement Template

Use this contract with your coaching clients while working 1:1 or providing group coaching to protect yourself and get paid and it includes tons of other important legalese and disclaimers you need as a coach to protect yourself from lawsuits! 

10. Interior Design Contract Bundle 

This contract bundle includes my 5 essential legal templates you need plus 10 bonuses to protect your interior design business. It’s perfectly customized for Interior Designers including eDesigners giving you all the legal documents and contracts you need to work with clients. 

Talk to me a little about the city you live in. The food scene and some favorite restaurants?

I live in South Florida, about 45 minutes from Miami. If you have ever been to Miami then you know we are famous for our beautiful beaches and amazing food! There are so many great choices for restaurants depending on what you like to eat. 

Rapid-fire questions

Favorite food Mexican and Italian 

Favorite book Too many! Here’s one – Million Dollar Habits by Brian Tracy

Favorite actor Tom Cruise and Matthew McConaughey

Any book you are reading now Right now, I’m buried into the blogging courses I’ve bought to grow my business  

Three people you would like to have a meal with and what is one question you would ask them?

1. Oprah Winfrey – what keeps you motivated?
2. Tony Robbins – what are your best tips for entrepreneurs?
3. Amy Porterfield – how do you manage to look so good on camera and connect with your audience effortlessly? 

If you were chosen to go to Mars and can take only 5 personal things what would those be?

It depends on the duration! If I’m just visiting then probably nothing. I’d like to be in the moment and enjoy the full experience

The post Amira Irfan: Lawyer, Six Figure Blogger, Business Coach appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.

Few events in life can be as profound and challenging as a divorce. It is one of the most painful and emotional experiences. You get angry, lonely, anxious, bitter, and desperate. Your identity is at stake and it can shake the very foundation of your life.

You have to deal with a number of issues: financial, emotional, professional, parenting, health, and spiritual. This article will deal with only the financial aspect of a divorce.

Legally this is a life-changing event. It is in your best interest to separate emotional attachment from strategic decisions.

Mediation, arbitration, litigation, and the collaborative process are some of the legal choices available. You need to educate yourself and see which is the most beneficial to you.

Mediation is a safe process provided by a neutral third party to help resolve issues that arrive during the divorce. It saves you money compared to going to court. You participate in the resolution.

Arbitration is a procedure in which a dispute is resolved by the agreement of parties to a binding decision by one or more arbitrators.

Collaborative Divorce is a family law process. It helps couples work with their lawyers in order to avoid uncertain outcomes in court. It best meets the specific needs of both parties and their children without the underlying threat of contested litigation.

Litigation is a process where your lawyer represents you in court. A judge makes the final decision. This can become a long, expensive, and cumbersome process. You should choose a lawyer that specializes in family law, and make sure you have a written fee agreement.

Have realistic expectations. A divorce will affect your lifestyle. Prepare a budget for yourself. Write down all your income minus your expenses. Differentiate between wants and needs. Try to stay away from debt.

Check your credit report. If all your credit cards were in both names, cancel the cards and order new ones in your sole name. Inform the credit agencies about your divorce.

Inform your bank and close the joint accounts. Open an individual account.

A house will be a major asset that belongs to both of you. Calculate the total carrying and operating costs to see if you can afford it on one salary. If not then you need to consider selling the house.

Check for beneficiaries on TFSA, RRSP, RRIF, LIF, and Life Insurance policies. Life insurance policies have an option of revocable or irrevocable beneficiaries. Remember to have your will updated.

Have the pension appraised. Some plans are easier to value and contribute. Others have a vesting schedule, defined benefits, and defined contributions.

Would you rather have a forty thousand-dollar BMW or a forty thousand-dollar GIC when dividing assets?   If you look at it from a depreciation point of view then the GIC is a better asset.

In the eyes of the Canada Revenue Agency, not all assets are equal. So, consider all the tax issues. A spousal RRSP cashed within the first three years will become income for the contributor rather than the recipient.

Make sure you have adequate health coverage. A visit to the dentist without coverage is expensive.

A divorce can put your best-laid plans to ruin. Focus on the future and make some good financial decisions.

Photo Credits: Eric Ward Bill Oxford Melinda Gimpel

The post Divorce From a Financial Perspective appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.