One of the best decisions I’ve made: automatic savings

When I graduated from medical school, one of the best things I did was set up automatic savings. I made a budget that had about 25% taken away in taxes, decided to live on 50% of my income, and made the bold move to have the remaining 25% placed in an entirely separate account. This account was reserved for building wealth through saving, investing, and paying off debt. It was one of the best things I did and here’s why:

1. It allowed me to grow my emergency fund. One of the best things about having part of my paycheck go into an entirely different bank account was being able to save money in a separate place. Because the money in this account isn’t connected to my checking account, I couldn’t spend it. Month after month, the money just kept adding up and before I knew it, I had saved thousands of dollars in an emergency fund. I remember looking at the account 6 months after I started saving and being so proud of myself. It made me even more motivated to keep saving. Plus, it gave me a sense of relief to know that I money to cover unexpected expenses.

2. I started investing early for retirement and building my net worth. Another awesome thing about automatic savings was that I was able to start putting money into my retirement account. Unlike money sitting in my savings account, the money I had automatically deducted from my check for retirement was being invested in a way that would make me even more money in the future. Although retirement may be decades away, I need to start saving and investing now in order to have enough money in those accounts to cover all of my needs. I don’t want to be relying on social security checks from the government trying to make ends meet on a small sum of money when I’m in my 60s. I instead, plan to invest the money now in a way that would allow me to live the life I want free from financial burdens.

3. I paid off a lot of debt. Regardless of whether you hate debt or don’t mind it, paying it off can feel like a weight lifted off your shoulders. Although I entered a loan forgiveness program for my student loans, I still had other credit card debt I needed to pay back. Unlike most people who go straight into medical school from undergrad, I lived in Washington, D.C for two years before starting medical school. Although that time was rewarding, I racked up lots of credit card debt. (The city was super expensive, and I used credit cards to cover some of my bills since my salary was low) By the time I left the city, I had thousands of dollars of debt to repay. When I got my first job as a doctor, I had hundreds of dollars automatically withdrawn from my separate account each month to pay off this debt. By the end of my first year as a doctor, I was credit card debt free! Now, instead of spending hundreds of dollars on a credit card payment each month, I’m able to invest even more money towards retirement and raise my net worth.

4. I now have money for vacations, Christmas gifts, and other indulgences. Along with investing for retirement, building my emergency fund, and paying off debt, having a portion of my check automatically sent to a separate account also allowed me to save money for things that bring me joy. I now have some money in a “vacation fund” so I can take trips and create memories with friends without racking up debt. I have also been able to save money each month for Christmas gifts so that my spending in December doesn’t put me in a financial hole for the next year. Plus, I have money saved for expensive purchases like a new phone or laptop should I need it.

5. I learned how to live below my means. I think this is by far the most important lesson I learned. As a physician, my life is a little different from most. I spent many years in school living off of student loans, and now must spend a few more years in residency where I’m paid a low salary by the government. However, once I finish residency, my salary quadruples. It’s an interesting timeline. Since there’s so much hard work and delayed gratification involved to get to the end goal, it can be very tempting to “not worry about money” and simply get what I want because I know that eventually I’ll be able to afford it. Although this seems fine, many people with this thought process inflate their lifestyles by too much, rack up lots of debt, and are unable to retire when they’d want to because they didn’t save enough money earlier on in their lives. I don’t want that to be me. Learning to live below my means has taught me to be less materialistic, more giving, and more appreciative for the things I have. It has also helped me learn to be humble and not to compare myself to other people. In other words, living below my means helped make me more mature.

My point? As you can see, automatic savings in a separate account has had many benefits on my life. Although it can be difficult to live on half of my paycheck while others seem to be living a much more lavish lifestyle, I realize that the sacrifices I make now will pay off in the end. Practicing self-discipline by saving money, is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Want to Invest in Real Estate? Consider REITs

As we continue to mature and focus on our careers, we may start to prioritize building wealth. Many people use retirement accounts and the purchase of stocks and bonds to grow their money over time but there are other ways to build wealth. Another type of investment to look into is real estate. Although there are many different types of real estate investments, one option to consider is real estate investment trusts also known as REITs.

What are REITs? Real Estate Investment Trusts (also known as REITS) are large funds that are full of real estate investments. These investments can be single-family homes, multifamily homes, apartments, or commercial buildings. Just like you can purchase an individual stock from one company, you can also purchase an individual REIT, which is a small share of a company that owns various forms of real estate. I prefer to invest in stocks via index funds and I also prefer to invest in REITs through index funds. A REIT index fund is a large fund full of smaller REITs that are each invested in many different types of real estate. When you invest in REIT index funds you are a partial owner of several different types of real estate investments, just like when you invest in other index funds you are a partial owner of several different types of stocks or bonds.

Why are REITs a good option? REITs are another type of investment option that can help you make a profit on your money, especially the money you have in retirement accounts. Many people use their employer-sponsored 401Ks or IRAs to invest in various types of stocks and bonds. REITs give you a chance to add index funds that are full of real estate deals. Adding real estate to your investment portfolio can make your portfolio more diverse (since you’re adding another investment class), increase your profits (since they have the potential to make you even more money each year), and add increased protection for your investments (since it can shield your money from some of the day-to-day changes and volatility of the stock market).  For example, there may be times when certain stocks and industries lose some of their value, but real estate prices don’t change as often. Regardless of the economy, everyone needs a place to live.

How do REITs compare to other types of real estate? REIT index funds are very large real estate funds full of smaller real estate deals and each of those smaller deals are invested in many different types of real estate. By investing in REIT index funds, you own a small part of hundreds if not thousands of real estate deals. Unlike investing in real estate directly by purchasing homes or buildings alongside other investors or with your own money, when you invest in REITs you are much more removed from the daily operations of the properties. You are not making decisions on which properties to purchase, how to manage/renovate them, or when to sell them. Because you have less responsibility, you make less profit than more direct investors. However, you also have less risk. If one property fails to sell in a timely manner you are not out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. REITs give you a chance to get started in real estate and diversify your portfolio in a safe, less-aggressive, more “hands-off” way.

How do they compare to other types of index funds: REITs are similar to other types of index funds that are full of stocks and bonds. Because they are so similar to these other investments, you can usually add REIT index funds to your retirement accounts or purchase them the same way you purchase other index funds. In terms of investment returns, the percentage return on your profit can vary from year to year, but over a longer span of time, REITs tend to do pretty well. Over the past 5 years, investors who had REITs made over 15% profit on their money, those who invested solely in index funds with stocks made an average of 10% profit of their money. Past performance doesn’t guarantee future returns, but REITs can certainly be a good type of investment to have in your portfolio.

FYI: If you’d like to learn more about REIT index funds check out Vanguard, Fidelity, or other investment institutions. If you’d like to read about individual REIT stocks to consider, check out this article.

5 Things To Do Financially In The Month of July:

July 1st is a big day in the medical world. It’s when graduating medical students start their first day as doctors, and experienced resident physicians get “promoted” with more responsibilities and a pay raise to match. Whether you’re in the medical field or not, the start of July marks the halfway point of the year and can be a great time to re-evaluate your finances and make any necessary changes. Here are 5 things we should all be sure to do in July:

1. Create a spending plan. For the interns who are now getting paid, the residents physicians experiencing a salary increase, or the attending docs that have more money than they ever have before, now is the time to create a spending plan. Going from barely having any money to a steady [large] paycheck can be exciting. However, if you don’t manage your money wisely, you may find that your money is gone sooner than you think or realize that you wasted it on things you didn’t need. Having a spending plan can help prevent this from happening. It’s having a basic outline of the things you need to purchase and reserving money for other things that may be important to you, without going overboard. It’s determining which bills and other costs you need to cover each month (rent, electricity, internet, car insurance, etc) and thinking about how much money you also need to set aside for other things like groceries, gas, personal grooming, etc. The goal is to figure out the max amount you can afford to spend on certain items each month so that you never have an issue paying your bills and have also managed to save money for other priorities and still have some money left over to enjoy.

2. Make sure you have insurance. You can try your best to plan for certain life events and expenses, but you can’t predict everything. For large expenses that we can’t predict, we need to have insurance in place to cover those costs. Although signing up for insurance may not be the most exciting task to complete, it’s absolutely essential. We all need some form of medical insurance to cover basic health expenses, prescription costs, and any hospital bills. We also need long term disability insurance so that we have income security in case we get diagnosed with an illness or get an accident that precludes us from working at our full capacity. Lastly, those with families or other people who rely on their income also need term-life insurance so that their families have a means of financial support if they happen to die before they have become financially independent.  

3. Get a handle on your student loans. Many people have student loans. Physicians who are in residency or young professionals who work for non-profit hospitals and public institutions may qualify for public service loan forgiveness (PSLF) or some other type of student loan forgiveness plan. In order to sign up for this program or ensure that your payments over the last 12 months were properly counted, it is essential that you complete the employer certification form each year. Anyone with federal student loans may also want to consider signing up for an income driven repayment plan like PAYE or REPAYE so that your monthly payments are based on your income instead of a much higher amount that you may not be able to afford. Those who are already enrolled in an income driven repayment plan must complete the mandatory annual recertification to remain in the same plan each year. Once you determine a repayment plan and re-certify any forms, it may also make sense to have your monthly payments automatically withdrawn from your bank account. Many loan servicers will even lower your interest rate if you sign up for these automatic payments.  

4. Pay down your debt. For those who want to build wealth and become less reliant on each paycheck, it’s imperative that you prioritize paying off your debt. Many people accumulated credit card debt in their early twenties or have used credit cards to cover moving expenses, furniture costs, or previous vacations. Other people may have taken out car loans or borrowed money from other sources to make ends meet. Although it may not be feasible to pay all of our debt off instantly, it’s important to come up with a feasible payment schedule to get rid of the debt sooner rather than later. Simply paying the minimum amount each month will cause us to pay a lot of extra money in interest and may really impede our ability to build wealth and financial security. Making a goal of having at least one of our credit cards or loans completely paid off within the next 12 months might be a decent place to start.

5. Start investing. Part of adulting means setting aside money for retirement, creating a savings account and investing money in a way that helps build your net worth. Many people have elaborate investment plans or try to play the exhausting game of picking individual stocks to purchase. While that may work for them, investing doesn’t have to be complicated. You can start by funding your employer-sponsored retirement account and a Roth IRA (or backdoor Roth IRA). Simply choose a percentage of your income you want to contribute towards retirement (ideally, you’d want to start off around 10%) and choose to invest the money in various index funds or a target retirement fund that invests your money in thousands of different stocks and bonds. When I started residency, I prioritized paying off debt and only contributed about 5% to retirement. Once I paid off the debt, I drastically increased that percentage and started fully funding my emergency fund and other savings.

My point? If you want to ensure you’re on the road to financial stability and independence, start by completing the 5 steps above.

4 Reasons You Should Choose Financial Independence

Financial independence (F.I.) is when you have accumulated so much wealth or resources that you are no longer dependent on your job for money. While some people may feel like financial independence is an unrealistic pipe dream, I’d argue that its possible for many of us and definitely something we should all strive for. Here’s why we should all care about and choose F.I.:

1. It can decrease [financial] stress in your life. Although money can’t “buy happiness” a certain baseline level of resources can certainly decrease stress. Many Americans live paycheck-to-paycheck and barely have enough money to cover all of their monthly expenses. Others of us may be a bit more financially stable but still wonder how we will repay all of our student loan debt, afford rising health care expenses, or fully fund our retirement. These worries can cause stress and decrease the quality of our lives. Saving money from our main jobs, investing in appreciating assets, and establishing multiple streams of income can help ease this worry. It allows us to become less dependent on each paycheck and establish the financial independence that decreases these financial stressors.  

2. It gives you more control over your life. Another perk of being financially independent is the ability to have more freedom in your life. When money is not the main objective, you can be more selective with the jobs you take and the work you do. You no longer have to feel burdened by the need to work a decent-paying job that you don’t like. You now have the freedom to select work that fulfills you, regardless of how much it pays. You can also have more control over your daily schedule and more autonomy with your work commitments. When you are able to work a job that you actually enjoy, one that fulfills you and allows you to contribute to society in a meaningful way, you also create more happiness that can have a lasting effect. Establishing financial independence can help make this a reality.

3. It lets you have more meaningful experiences with the people you love. One of the benefits of having your finances in order with a fully funded retirement account and little dependency on your next paycheck, is being able to enjoy your wealth. Although buying possessions and having more “stuff” can bring us temporary pleasure, lasting happiness often comes from spending quality time and having meaningful experiences with the people we love. Think about how happy you could be if you could travel to anywhere in the world with the people closest to you. Or, if you could do the thing you like most around the people you love most. Having the ability to spend more time with your children, go to work each day doing what you enjoy, visit your family and friends frequently, relax often, or travel the world can result in more sustainable levels of happiness and increase the overall joy we have in our lives.

4. It gives you the chance to have a bigger impact in the world. Although you don’t need money to make a difference, having money allows you to make a bigger impact and do so in a way that doesn’t jeopardize your own well-being. When you no longer have to make the choice between helping your family members and paying your own bills, its much easier to help others. When you no longer have to choose between financing your children’s education and contributing to charity, it much easier to give. When your financial matters are taken care of and you are less dependent on your paycheck, it becomes a lot easier to contribute to others and oftentimes you can give to even more causes, organizations, and people than before. Having the ability to improve lives and outcomes can drastically increase your own life satisfaction and create an inner peace and happiness that lasts longer than you can imagine.

How to Invest Money from your Side Gig

There are many different ideas for a side gig and several different options for what we can do with money from our side gig, but what about investing it? There are 4 ways I’ve considered investing the money from my side gig and each have their own pros and cons. They are:

1) Put the money into a Roth IRA. This allows me to invest in index mutual funds in a way that’s tax free and will gain interest overtime. When I take the money out in retirement, I can do so tax-free. Plus, if I happen to need this money before that to put a down payment down on a home, pay off some of student loans, invest in real estate, or pay some unexpected medical expenses I can do so without any penalties.

2) Increase the money I contribute to my job’s 401K. Technically you can’t put your side income into a work 401K but you could open up a solo 401K or increase the percentage of money you contribute to your work 401K up to the $19,000 yearly limit. The benefit of this is that you are still investing toward retirement in a way that’s tax efficient and you don’t have to worry about managing another retirement account with different investments. Plus, if you have federal student loans like I do and are on an income-driven repayment plan going for public service loan forgiveness, increasing the percentage you contribute toward your 401K actually lowers your monthly student loan payments which may leave even more money in your pocket each month.

3) Open a taxable “brokerage” account. If you have already contributed the max amount to your retirement account or Roth account but still want to invest in stocks and index funds, open up a brokerage account. This will allow you to invest in the stock market in a way that will gain you interest over time but isn’t tied to your retirement. This means if you happen to need the money for home renovations, better car, or a lavish vacation you can have your broker sell some of your stocks and get the money you need when you need it. Opening up a taxable “brokerage account” isn’t the most tax-efficient account since you will pay taxes on the profits you make but it gives you easier access to your money when you need it.

4) Invest in real estate. One of the main ways many American’s build wealth is through Real estate. Not only can it help you get higher returns on your investments which increase your profits, but it also allows you to do so in a way that’s tax-efficient and even tax-free. If you already have a decent chunk of money in your work retirement plans invested in index mutual funds perhaps you may want to diversify your invests a little and get started in real estate. You could start buying rental properties to increase your monthly cash flow and become an active investor who can write off taxes from your day job, you could start investing in crowdfunding deals or real estate syndications with other investors who focus on making money from apartment deals as a more passive investor, or you could simply start buying smaller properties and renting them out over time, or even just invest in some Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITS) which are like index mutual funds for real estate deals. There are many options available.

My point? The correct option may differ for each person. If you are young, haven’t maxed out your retirement accounts, and don’t need the extra cash on hand, perhaps putting the money into a Roth IRA or extra money in your job’s 401K may be the best option. If you’ve already maxed out your retirement accounts or think you might need this money before you turn 55, then perhaps opening up a brokerage account may be the best move. Although you pay a little more in taxes it may provide the flexibility you need to take the money out if an emergency arises. If you already have a good chunk invested in the stock market perhaps you should consider other investment vehicles like real estate. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be rich to invest in real estate and there are many different options that may suit your lifestyle and risk tolerance best. Right now, I’m putting extra money into retirement accounts, but I plan to invest a lot more into real estate once I finish my residency training. Look into the different types of investment options and choose the one that may be best for you, keeping in mind that it may vary based on your life circumstances and net worth.

Are Student Loans Good Debt or Bad Debt?

As many of us are well aware, the cost of a college education has rapidly increased. In fact, many college graduates finish school with tens of thousands of dollars in student loans to repay. While some people feel as though the price of their degree was worth it, many others aren’t so convinced. Truth is, student loans can be “good debt” for some people and “bad debt” for others. Let’s determine where it falls for you:  

1. Did you actually earn a degree? Many people finish high school and enroll in a college with good intentions to get their degree. Unfortunately, life doesn’t always work out as planned. Due to the rising cost of tuition, work obligations, competing expenses, or family responsibilities, some people may have to post-pone their college dreams. Accumulating student loan debt, without a tangible degree to increase your potential job opportunities and salary can be detrimental to your finances. If you obtained a degree then the student loans may be "good debt." If you didn't then they may be "bad debt." 

2. How much debt do you have? While getting a college degree is a notable accomplishment, it’s important to examine if you did so at a fair price. Some people get scholarships to pay for the entire cost, others have to maximize federal and private loans to cover their basic needs. Where do you fall on this spectrum? The more debt you have, the more you may have to consider whether the debt was worth the added benefit of the degree.

3. Were you able to get a job after graduating? Not all colleges are created equal. Some schools may be better at helping their graduates get jobs than others. Unfortunately, not all degrees are created equal either. Some degrees such as those in engineering or science may be more marketable or have better job prospects than others in language arts or history. If you earned a degree but are struggling to find a job with that degree, then it may be time to question if the loans you took out to get the degree was money well spent. 

4. Does the job you got earn you a decent salary? “Decent” can vary from person to person. The general rule of thumb is to make sure your student loans don’t exceed your [projected] income. For example, if you get a degree in education and the average salary for teachers is $45,000 then your student loans should not exceed $45,000. Some people extend this rule to 1.5x their salary, but usually anything more than can be challenging to pay back. Although these rules may not apply to everyone, having a general guideline can help us ensure that we aren’t borrowing more money than we’ll be able to repay. If you borrowed less than 1.5x your salary then perhaps the student loans were a good investment. 

5. Does the degree you earned lead to other opportunities? Taking out student loans can be about more than getting a degree to increase your pay. Aside from the job opportunities and salary the degree may or may not have afforded you, think about other opportunities. Did the skills you learned with the degree allow you to accomplish a lifelong goal? Did the people you met while getting the degree give you access to lucrative networks and people that can help you going forward? Did it provide you with invaluable life lessons, maturity, or the self-confidence needed to help you gather the courage to go after your goals with reckless abandon?

My point: Obtaining student loans to attend college is something that is commonplace. While the worth of a degree shouldn’t be judged purely on how much money it cost you or the job you obtained afterwards, one must be realistic. If student loans are going to be considered “good debt” then we must ensure they meet a few criteria. We should refrain from taking out much more than our projected salary, use the degree to advance in our careers, and leverage our time in college to obtain access to other invaluable opportunities.

6 Questions To Help Determine Your Life Purpose:

One of my favorite finance books is How To Think About Money by Jonathan Clements. Along with helping reframe our view about money he also helps us rethink our lives in general. Here are 6 questions from his book that can help us determine our life purpose and overall goals.

1. “If money were not an issue what would you do with your time?” Many of us are so accustomed to our lives. We go to our jobs 5-6 days a week and maintain our focus on paying bills and providing for our loved ones. However, thinking about what we would do with our lives if money were not an issue is an exercise worth pursuing. It can even help us determine our goals and passions in life. The remembrance of these interests could motivate us to pursue our dreams even more relentlessly than we have before.

2. “If you had to write your own obituary, what accomplishments would like to be remembered for?” Being given the task of writing down our achievements for people to remember after our death can help us think about which accomplishments truly matter to us. More importantly, it helps us prioritize our achievements. We get a better sense of which goals mean the most to us and can better understand the achievements that may have defined our lives. This question can also help us think about the mark we think we’re leaving in the world and give us a better idea about which future goals and accomplishments we should work toward.

3. “Think back over your life. When were you the happiest and what were you doing?” Many of us start our careers by making decisions for ourselves, but as we get older with more responsibilities we begin to consider the needs and thoughts of others as well. Although it is good practice to keep the desires of others in our minds, we must not forget about the things that make us truly happy – like quality time with our families, priceless moments with our friends, the feeling of accomplishment after giving a great presentation or the joy felt after seeing our dreams finally come into fruition. Thinking about our happiest moments can center us. It can encourage us in tough times and serve as a great reminder about the things that truly matter in life. The busier we are, the more important it is to keep these things in mind.

4. “If you had enough money to cover your financial needs for the rest of your life, would you change your life, and if so, how?” This question makes us really think about how we spend our time and how we are living our lives. Are the things we do each day and the careers we chose things we do just for money or is there some other tangible benefit? If we are only doing certain jobs because of the money we earn then perhaps we should consider switching to something else that might bring us more happiness or meaning. Life is too short not to find happiness in our jobs and free time.

5. “If your doctor told you that you only had 5-10 years left to live but that you’d feel fine up until the end, would you change your life and if so how?” Instead of focusing on how money may have influenced our career decisions, this question asks us something different. What are our life priorities? If we know we have limited time on earth, what are the things we want to accomplish with the time we have left? Perhaps we’ve always wanted to write a book, travel to a certain country, start a charity, or raise children. This question makes us really think about the “big” things in life and challenges us to prioritize them now since life isn’t promised to us.

6. “If your doctor tells you that you only have a single day left to live. What do you think you would have missed out on? What would you be sad you didn’t get to do?” Answering this question can help us determine what we must do in our lives. What I like about this last question is that it isn’t just about accomplishments or goals. It can also be about the “little” things in life that mean a lot to us. Did we treat people the way wanted to? Did we spend our time on earth doing what we loved? Did we prioritize our family? Would we be happy with the life we have lived? If the answer to any of these questions is no, we should actively work on changing our lives, NOW.

As you answer these questions above, I hope it makes you think about your life, priorities, achievements, and future goals. Working through these scenarios can help us determine what’s truly important to us. Who knows, it may even be the key to unlocking a lifetime of happiness.

5 Things you can do to support Black Americans and fight against injustice

Over the past few weeks, there have been several events, from Coronavirus to racial injustice, that have affected our jobs and the way we work. Although we may be focused on our careers, there are several things everyone can do to be even more supportive in the fight for racial equality.  

1. Be a visible ally. Show up to protests, post information in support of racial equality on social media, sign petitions for change, and help amplify the voices of Black people in productive ways. Correct others when they say something that minimizes the efforts of those fighting for justice. Encourage others to do the same.

2. Take action against inequality. Minimize purchases from companies that have not expressed a genuine interest in recognizing that #BlackLivesMatter. Donate to people, organizations, and causes that are fighting for justice, peacefully protesting inequities, and working to change our country for the better.

3. Educate yourself on the systemic injustices that exist. Go to reputable sources to inform yourself of the racial disparities that exists in police arrests, criminal charges, and prison sentencing. Understand the systemic structures in place that negatively impact or hinder the progress of African Americans. Read books (like White Fragility by Robin Diangelo, How to be Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi, or The new Jim Crow by Michell Alexander) and listen to a podcasts centered on Black issues (like 1619 , About Race, and Code Switch) so you are educated on what inequities exist and better understand the plight of those who may look and think differently than you are accustomed.

4. Apply pressure on persons in power to ensure justice is served. Contact your local police chief and state attorney general asking for police body cams to be turned on at all times, improved methods of evaluating police misconduct, and standardized officer trainings that minimize the use of undue force and shootings during civilian arrests. Support campaigns like 8cantwait.org. Contact your mayor, governor, and state representatives asking them what policies they are enacting and supporting to help decrease racial tensions and health care disparities in your city.

5. Help right the wrongs by increasing opportunities and resources for African Americans. Choose an area of interest ranging from economic advancement, educational attainment, criminal justice reform, and health care improvements to focus on. Contribute to organizations committed to achieving justice. Support black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs. Consider donating to historically Black colleges and universities or creating scholarship funds for minorities at your alma mater. Create and support programs at your local church or surrounding community committed to teaching financial literacy, expanding career opportunities, and providing healthcare access.

My point? Many Black Americans would love to have non-black allies who are committed to supporting the fight for racial equality. We, as Black people, want to know that we can count on you to speak up against injustice, support policies that promote equality, and vote for politicians who help ensure these propositions are passed in Congress. Even if you aren’t Black, these are things you can do to show that #BlackLivesMatter.