A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous - Proverbs We re all familiar with that verse but do we fully understand its meaning Is it only about money I ll talk about that with Harlan Accola today Harlan Accola is the National Reverse Mortgage Director at Movement Mortgage an underwriter of Faith and Finance He is also the author of Home Equity and Reverse Mortgages The Cinderella of the Baby Boomer Retirement The Misconception of Leaving a Financial InheritanceAs Christians we often forget that the most important [... more]

Is it the best of times or the worst of times Well it all depends on if you re trying to buy or sell a house It really is a matter of perspective Home values remain sky-high and are likely to continue rising in the foreseeable future How you view that depends on which side of the transaction you re on Navigating the Current Housing Market Tips for First-Time Home BuyersIt may be the worst of times if you're a first-time home buyer Home values have never been higher thanks to the continued high cost of building materials inflation and [... more]

It s the th of July the day we celebrate our nation s independence It s also a great day to take stock of your financial independence Are you on the road to financial freedom Or are you falling under the bondage of money It s one or the other Either you control your money or your money controls you The Gift of Financial FreedomIndependence gave our nation freedom and financial independence provides us with the freedom to make choices When we control our money we can decide where and how we live where we work and how much we [... more]

Homeowners now have an average of nearly in home equity and the nationwide total is staggering at trillion Home equity is undoubtedly one of our largest assets So how do the biblical principles of stewardship apply to it Harlan Accola joins us today to discuss this Harlan Accola is the National Reverse Mortgage Director at Movement Mortgage an underwriter of Faith and Finance He is also the author of Home Equity and Reverse Mortgages The Cinderella of the Baby Boomer Retirement Understanding Reverse MortgagesToday s reverse mortgages are not the same product that gave the name such a negative reputation [... more]

You've heard the expression Pennywise and pound foolish Here in the States we could say Pennywise and dollar foolish A good example is when someone is more concerned about the interest they're getting on their savings account than the interest they're paying on their mortgage Top Tips to Save Big on InterestWhen managing your finances shopping around for the best interest rates on savings is wise However focusing on reducing the interest on your mortgage can have a much bigger payoff Consider the total interest paid over a -year fixed-rate mortgage It's a powerful motivator to pay off your mortgage [... more]

In Matthew Jesus called us to be wise as snakes and gentle as doves But can we be gentle and wise when standing up for biblical principles and our voting rights as investors It's the annual shareholder meeting season for public corporations meaning companies will hear about their policies from investors Jerry Bowyer joins us today with a biblical perspective on corporate engagement Jerry Bowyer is the President of Bowyer Research and our Resident Economist here at Faith Finance He is the author of The Maker Versus the Takers What Jesus Really Said About Social Justice and Economics You can [... more]

God Owns EverythingNow to be sure the message that God owns everything and we don't is something we need to hear repeatedly That's probably why the Bible repeats this teaching several times Job needed reminding Job - reads Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said 'Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge Dress for action like a man I will question you and you make it known to me Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth Tell me if you have understanding Who determined its measurements surely you know [... more]

Must-Have Financial SkillsThe first skill is an attitude The Bible says God owns everything as in Psalm The earth is the Lord's and everything in it the world and all who live in it Understand that nothing belongs to you even you You are a manager of God's resources which should change your perspective on money and material things The number two financial skill you'll need is planning A dream without a plan is just a wish they say And wishes won't buy you a house The fundamental planning tool we recommend is a budget otherwise known as a spending [... more]

Why do reverse mortgages still have a bit of a PR problem Many people are not aware that federal regulations were put in place in to address issues with the product and protect consumers However some bad players still gave the product a bad reputation by taking advantage of vulnerable seniors in the past Now there are new laws and safeguards by the FHA for widows to be protected and financial assessments to assure someone can afford taxes and maintenance which are recent within the last years or so to eliminate problems in the program How is a HECM Home [... more]

Historical Context and Modern ImplicationsAfter crossing the Jordan into the promised land the Israelites fought the battle of Jericho Joshua was their leader and the Lord gave them the victory In Joshua the general reminds his people of God's faithfulness to them at Jericho and through their history He ends by making that memorable statement of faith As for me and my household we will serve the Lord As Christians in a non-Christian culture we are also called to take a stand We can either choose to serve the gods of this world or the Lord It's not easy for [... more]

SPIRITUAL BOTTOM LINE OVER FINANCIAL CONCERNS The true bottom line for believers in Jesus is our identity in Christ providing us peace and assurance that our sins are paid for as highlighted in the hymn Jesus paid it all This foundational truth encourages believers to rest in God's role as protector and provider alleviating worries about financial matters SCRIPTURAL ENCOURAGEMENTS AGAINST WORRY Matthew Jesus teaches not to worry about material needs emphasizing God's provision for all creation thus underscoring our value and God's care for us over our material concerns Numbers Highlights God's unchangeable and trustworthy nature contrasting human unreliability [... more]

Dale Vermillion is the author of Navigating The Mortgage Maze The Simple Truth About Financing Your Home HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE CURRENT TREND IN MORTGAGE RATES Mortgage rates are stabilizing currently fluctuating around to expected to gradually decrease over the coming months Rates have become more stable recently bouncing around a consistent range Predictions indicate a potential drop below by the end of the year Stability and future trends are largely influenced by inflation and bond market conditions WHAT IMPACT MIGHT THE FED'S EXPECTED INTEREST RATE CUTS HAVE ON MORTGAGE RATES Though Federal rate cuts don't directly correlate with [... more]

IMPACT OF COVID ON HOUSING MARKET AND RENT VS BUY DEBATEThere's no question that we're still feeling the impact of the COVID pandemic The COVID pandemic significantly disrupted the housing market increasing home prices and rental rates making it challenging for first-time home buyers Also during that time rental rates also skyrocketed In the age-old debate rent vs buy things have shifted CURRENT HOUSING MARKET CONDITIONS Skyhigh mortgage payments On average new mortgage payments are now higher than apartment rents the largest gap in years according to CBRE Low first-time home buyer activity Only of buyers were first-timers in the [... more]

Neile Simon is a Certified Credit Counselor with Christian Credit Counselors and underwriter of this program WHAT ARE SOME TRIED AND TRUE WAYS TO AVOID DEBT AND PROMOTE FINANCIAL WELLNESS Neile Simon from Christian Credit Counselors shares key strategies to manage finances effectively emphasizing the importance of budgeting reducing debt and saving for emergencies Creating or updating a budget is crucial Most Americans need to revisit their budgets especially to adjust for inflation Your budget should track major expenses such as housing food transportation and more It's also wise to review and possibly reduce subscriptions to entertainment services by examining [... more]

Leo Sabo is president of the Christian Stewardship Network and a Faith and Finance contributor He also knows a thing or two about starting a stewardship ministry THE FUNDAMENTAL IMPORTANCE OF STEWARDSHIP MINISTRIES IN CHURCHESBiblical Foundation Stewardship ministries are vital as they align with biblical teachings about money and possessions which are prevalent throughout the Bible Discipleship and Purpose These ministries guide congregants in using money as a tool for fulfilling their God-given calling and purposes emphasizing discipleship in financial matters STEPS FOR ESTABLISHING A STEWARDSHIP MINISTRY IN A CHURCH Securing Leadership Support Begin by gaining the church leadership's endorsement [... more]

Tim Macready is head of Global Multi-Asset Investing with BrightLight an EverSource Wealth Advisors Team HOW DID YOU BECOME INTERESTED IN AND A LEADER IN THE FAITH-BASED INVESTING MOVEMENT Tim grew up on the mission field and returned to Australia for studies initially working with pension plans His desire to do something meaningful led him to a faith-based pension fund in Sydney For years he has explored what it means to be a faithful steward of God's resources now working with pension funds investment advisors and families at the intersection of faith and investing CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN [... more]

SCRIPTURES ON FEAR AND GOD'S PRESENCE Jesus asks a powerful question about worry in Matthew asking Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life Romans encourages reliance on God instead of falling back into fear For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons by whom we cry 'Abba Father ' Faith is the opposite of fear and fear is a tool used by Satan to distract from God's goodness COMMON WHAT-IF FEARS AND THEIR FUTILITY Rob lists common [... more]

If anyone does not provide for his own and especially for those of his household he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever Timothy It's a pleasure to welcome Harlan Accola back to the program Harlan is with Movement Mortgage an underwriter of this program He is also the author of Home Equity and Reverse Mortgages The Cinderella of the Baby Boomer Retirement WHY ARE REVERSE MORTGAGES REFERRED TO AS THE CINDERELLA OF RETIREMENT PLANNING Reverse mortgages are seen as the Cinderella of retirement planning because they have been underestimated but hold significant potential for aiding in [... more]

This year plan a Christ-centered celebration without any of the financial regrets As in so many areas of life parents have opportunities here to set an example Here are four ways you can do that Set a good example with your attitudeTheParentCue org suggests that you do one less thing this year Make family time a priority during the weeks leading up to Christmasstart a new tradition this year One of Rob's favorites is the Jesse tree Go to faithward org for daily Bible readings and printable ornaments for the Jesse tree put the phones downpray together Stick to your [... more]

A Home Buyer's Market With Dale VermillionNormally November through February are the slowest months of the year for home sales and that means buyers have more bargaining power Will it happen this year Dale Vermillion gives us his take on the market today Dale Vermillion with us again today Dale's the author of Navigating The Mortgage Maze The Simple Truth About Financing Your Home CURRENT TRENDS IN INTEREST RATES AND MORTGAGES Dale Vermillion notes that interest rates are continuing to rise but there's hope for decreases in as predicted by the Mortgage Bankers Association Assumable mortgages are becoming somewhat more [... more]

Making Money an Asset to Marriage With Gary ChapmanMoney is usually cited as one of the top reasons for divorce It's almost never seen as a way to actually strengthen a marriage Gary Chapman joins us today to talk about how you can make that happen Gary Chapman is a pastor speaker counselor and author of several books on Christian relationships - DEBUNKING THE MYTH MORE MONEY BETTER MARRIAGE Dr Chapman clarifies that having more money does not necessarily improve a marital relationship He emphasizes that some of the happiest and strongest marriages involve couples who are just making ends [... more]

A Home Buyer's Market With Dale VermillionNormally November through February are the slowest months of the year for home sales and that means buyers have more bargaining power Will it happen this year Dale Vermillion gives us his take on the market today Dale Vermillion with us again today Dale's the author of Navigating The Mortgage Maze The Simple Truth About Financing Your Home CURRENT TRENDS IN INTEREST RATES AND MORTGAGES Dale Vermillion notes that interest rates are continuing to rise but there's hope for decreases in as predicted by the Mortgage Bankers Association Assumable mortgages are becoming somewhat more [... more]

There rsquo s no doubt that a reverse mortgage could make your retirement years more comfortable But are there other reasons to take advantage of this type of loan On the next Faith amp Finance Live host Rob West will welcome Harlan Accola to give us a fresh look at reverse mortgages Then Rob will tackle some questions on various financial topics nbsp See omnystudio com listener for privacy information [... more]

There's no doubt that a reverse mortgage could make your retirement years more comfortable But are there other reasons to take advantage of this type of loan On the next Faith amp Finance Live host Rob West will welcome Harlan Accola to give us a fresh look at reverse mortgages Then Rob will tackle some questions on various financial topics See omnystudio com listener for privacy information [... more]

Harlan Accola is National Reverse Mortgage Director at Movement Mortgage which is an underwriter of this program He is also author of the book Home Equity and Reverse Mortgages The Cinderella of the Baby Boomer Retirement WHAT IS THE BIGGER PICTURE AROUND REVERSE MORTGAGES BEYOND THE COMMON PERCEPTION A reverse mortgage is like a savings account or retirement fund but for your home equity allowing you to unlock and use the money invested in your home It is government-guaranteed for safety ensuring you can use your home's value without the risk of owing more than the home's worth It transforms [... more]

According to the car shopping site iSeeCars com used car prices have jumped over the past several years Here are some tips to take the edge off of that sticker shock OUR TIPS FOR BUYING A USED CAR Establish Your Budget Determine how much you can afford whether paying in cash or financing ensuring the payments fit within your budget Aim for a down payment of - and keep the loan term as short as possible ideally three years Choose the Right Make and Model Consider your family size cargo space needs safety and vehicle reliability and be open to [... more]

INTEREST RATESMortgage interest rates are still elevated around But Dale says what's unusual here is that typically when inflation drops rates drop along with it because the bond market which drives interest rates on mortgages generally responds favorably That has not been the case for the last couple of months And that's due to some other factors For one the Fitch downgrade of the U S government's credit rating was a big deal that really held back rates But Dale adds that a number of signs point to being a much better year in terms of interest rates Doug Duncan [... more]

When you think about it the amount of interest you pay over the life of a -year mortgage should be plenty of incentive to pay off the loan as fast as possible Let's say you take out a -year mortgage at At the end of that term you'll have paid almost in interest alone making the true cost of the home closer to But let's say with years to go you decide to put an extra a month against the principal That will actually shave off six years and months' worth of payments and save you just over in interest [... more]

The National Association of Realtors reports that in the first quarter of home prices actually rose in out of metro markets around the country That happened even as the Federal Reserve continued to raise interest rates pushing the average mortgage rate to nearly This isn't how things typically work When mortgage rates increase prospective buyers typically bow out resulting in fewer sales which then causes prices to fall That's Economics When demand falls so do prices But that's not happening partly because demand is not falling Prospective home buyers have apparently gotten used to the higher rates and are staying [... more]

RENT OR BUY It used to be almost universally true that at least in the short term it was cheaper to rent a home than to buy one But that's not necessarily the case today Aimee says some markets are seeing a staggering increase in rent Limited supply is one of the factors that has driven up both rental and purchase prices in recent years She says Part of it is the fact that there's a continually rising number of what they call new home creations which are new people needing to buy homes And the pace of building is [... more]

As Christians we tend to think of giving as a personal thing mdash we rsquo re called to do it But what about a business Should charitable giving on a corporate level be a consideration On today's Faith amp Finance Live host Rob West will talk with Aimee Dodson about what happens when a business gives back to God rsquo s Kingdom nbsp See omnystudio com listener for privacy information [... more]