22/12/2025
THIS IS HOW GOOD INTENTIONS TURN INTO BIG PROBLEMS (PLEASE READ)
Someone asked a question under my comment section that looks simple…
but if you don’t handle it well, it can turn into serious trouble.
Please read this slowly.
A lady said:
“My friend wants to start a project by July next year.
She started depositing money into my account from November.
She will keep sending it every month till July 2026.
Please sir, what will happen to the money from January 1st?”
I told her I will answer publicly so everyone can learn.
Let me explain this like I’m talking to Mama Ngozi that sells tomatoes at Fokona Forum.
FIRST, LET ME TELL YOU THE TRUTH NOBODY TELLS YOU
Keeping money for someone else is risky.
Very risky.
Not because you are a bad person.
Not because your friend is bad.
But because life happens.
You are not a bank.
You are not an investment house.
You are not insured.
Good intentions have sent many friendships to court.
Let me explain with a simple story:
Imagine Mama Ngozi helps her neighbour keep garri inside her house.
Small small, the garri increases.
One day:
• fire
• sickness
• emergency
• misunderstanding
Before you know it, friendship enters problem.
That’s how money behaves when it’s not structured.
Let me tell you The Big Problem With Her Situation
1: The money is entering your personal account
2: It is coming every month
3: From January 1st, tax monitoring becomes tighter
4: To outsiders, it looks like your income
If tomorrow tax people ask: “Madam, where is this money coming from?”
What will you say?
“This is my friend’s money” is not documentation.
As your Financial Literacy Advocate, Here's my honest Advice:
I will give you two clean options.
OPTION 1 (BEST OPTION)
Let your friend invest the money herself
using her own name and details.
She can put it in a Money Market Mutual Fund.
Why?
• The money earns interest
• The money is safe
• The money is liquid (you can withdraw when needed)
• It is properly documented
• Tax (10%) is already handled at source
When July comes, she withdraws and starts her project.
No stress.
No explanation.
No friendship problem.
OPTION 2 (IF YOU MUST HOLD IT FOR HER)
I don’t advise it… but if you must:
Do not keep the money idle in your bank account.
Put it in a Money Market Mutual Fund.
Why?
• Idle money earns nothing
• Idle money raises tax questions
• Idle money creates suspicion
Money Market Mutual Fund:
• Grows the money
• Can be withdrawn when needed
• Already taxed (10%)
• Easy to explain if questioned
When she needs the money in July:
• Withdraw
• Give her the money
• Everyone is at peace
Let me tell you something very important.
This is 2025 going into 2026.
Systems are tightening.
Monitoring is increasing.
Excuses will no longer work.
Structure protects relationships.
Structure protects peace of mind.
Structure protects you.
PLEASE HEAR THIS
Love is good.
Helping is good.
But structure is better.
Money without structure destroys friendships.
Money with structure builds trust.
If you learn nothing today, learn this:
Never let good intentions replace proper planning.
I hope this helps someone.
I am Iking Ferry,
Your Financial Literacy Advocate
Founder, Pulseford Business School
Teaching Nigerians how to protect money, not just save it.
If this post helped you, share it.
Someone is one “help me keep money” away from a big problem.
