A recent survey shows that most parents think they should teach their kids financial literacy the good news is that many are actually doing it Still other parents may not know how to teach their kids financial responsibility Ron Blue joins us today to discuss how he and his wife Judy did it Ron Blue is the co-founder of Kingdom Advisors and the author of many books on biblical finance including Your Kids Can Master Their Money Fun Ways to Help Them Learn How The Importance of Financial Education at HomeA recent survey by the Bank of Oklahoma Financial reveals [... more]

We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin - Romans Being born again in Christ changes a person We re given a new nature that fights against our old corrupt nature Sometimes the evidence of this is in the area of finances Straight ahead a journey to faithful stewardship Bobby s TestimonyIt's always a great privilege to connect with people answer their financial questions and offer help whenever possible Recently we spoke with Bobby from Nebraska [... more]

From hats in the hall closet to bats in the belfry we can help you save money on the basics Today we ll offer you a few common-sense strategies for saving money on three basic necessities clothing utilities and home maintenance Saving on ClothingWhen it comes to clothing it s easy to get tempted by sales or the latest trends This is especially true if you have kids especially teenagers with rapidly changing sizes and opinions on what s cool But keeping your family s wardrobe sharp doesn t have to break the bank Shop Thrift Stores You don t [... more]

For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them - Ephesians Our good works are not for our sake but for God s sake to give Him glory Investing gives us a powerful way to do that Today we ll talk with Dr Finny Kuruvilla about investing to change the world Dr Finny Kuruvilla is the Co-Chief Investment Officer and Founding Member of Eventide Asset Management an underwriter of Faith Finance He holds an MD from Harvard Medical School a PhD in Chemistry and Chemical Biology from [... more]

If you re drowning in debt and someone offers a lifeline make sure it s not really an anchor You have a few different options for paying off debt but they are definitely not all equal You have debt settlement debt consolidation and debt management Neile Simon joins us today to explain the difference Neile Simon is a Certified Credit Counselor with Christian Credit Counselors CCC an underwriter of Faith Finance Debt Consolidation A Quick Fix with Hidden DangersDebt consolidation is often seen as an attractive option because it combines multiple debts into one loan with an interest rate between [... more]

The poet Ogden Nash once wrote Some debts are fun when you are acquiring them but none are fun when you set about retiring them One thing s for sure getting into debt is much easier than getting out of debt so the more you know about debt and credit the better off you ll be Author Dr Shane Enete joins us again today to discuss his take on that double-edged sword Dr Shane Enete is an Associate Professor of Finance at Biola University and the author of the brand new book Whole Heart Finances A Jesus-Centered Guide to Managing [... more]

Is Jesus Lord of all your affairs or is there still one part of your life where you insist on being in charge That one area all too often is money We all have to make a decision Will we live in God s economy or man s Sharon Epps is here today to help us understand the difference Sharon Epps is the president of Kingdom Advisors FaithFi s parent organization Kingdom Advisors serves the broad Christian financial industry by educating and equipping professionals to integrate biblical wisdom and financial expertise Being In the World but Not Of the World [... more]

Therefore do not be foolish but understand what the Lord s will is - Ephesians That verse is a good reminder that to follow God's will we must first know it for all areas of our lives including finances Brian Holtz joins us today with a question Does your budget reflect God s priorities or yours Brian Holtz is the Chief Operating Officer at Compass Financial Ministry and the author of Financial Discipleship for Families Intentionally Raising Faithful Children Ownership vs Stewardship One of the fundamental concepts of Christian finances is the distinction between ownership and stewardship Psalm reminds us [... more]

Well it s hard to believe but soon the kids will be heading back to school Are you ready to start the new school year on the right foot Could you use a few tips Well you re in for a treat Crystal Paine joins us today with some great advice to make your back-to-school experience easier Crystal Paine is the founder of MoneySavingMom com and the author of The Time-Saving Mom How to Juggle a Lot Enjoy Your Life and Accomplish What Matters Most Budgeting for Back-to-School EssentialsAs the new school year approaches parents are reminded of the inevitable [... more]

By wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches - Proverbs - Faithful stewardship requires us to make wise financial decisions manage and grow assets and protect our families from hardship Are you ready if you re suddenly disabled or incapacitated Valerie Hogan joins us with a checklist to prepare you for it Valerie Hogan is an attorney a Certified Financial Planner CFP a member of Kingdom Advisors as well as the co-author of Wise Women Managing Money Expert Advice on Debt Wealth Budgeting and [... more]

Some people learn from the mistakes of others Unfortunately some people have to be the others You certainly don t want to be one of the others who must learn things the hard way by making mistakes Today we'll talk to Ron Blue about some of the biggest financial mistakes you want to avoid Ron Blue is the Co-Founder of Kingdom Advisors and the author of many books on biblical finance most notably Master Your Money A Step-by-Step Plan for Experiencing Financial Contentment Setting Financial GoalsRon emphasized the importance of establishing clear financial goals Without clear financial goals you're essentially [... more]

Do you use a credit union Or have you never considered using one Credit union members know their advantages and million nationwide can't be wrong Aaron Caid joins us today to discuss the pros and cons of credit unions and spoiler alert there aren't many cons Aaron Caid is the Chief Marketing Officer at Christian Community Credit Union an underwriter of Faith Finance What are the pros of joining a typical credit union Credit unions are member-owned cooperatives Members are customers and stakeholders governed by a volunteer board selected from the member base They also have voting rights on credit [... more]

We'd like to think that our actions are always pleasing to God and certainly don't offend Him but we also know that isn't always true Christians are called to do good works so the world will see them and God will be glorified So it shouldn't surprise us that God takes stinginess and generosity personally Randy Alcorn joins us today to discuss this Randy Alcorn is a New York Times bestselling author of over books on Christian Living and the Founder and Director of Eternal Perspective Ministries His ministry focuses on helping others use their time money possessions and opportunities [... more]

The Power of TrustProverbs - says Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight This establishes our role as stewards and God as the owner which gives us the freedom to look to Him for His plans for our money and not worry about our plans The Power of FocusThe power of focus is to ask God what the next thing He would have us do is and to focus on that one thing until we progress on it [... more]

Dreaming of a retirement escape but worried about hidden costs or missing your favorite activities As Peter Richon with Richon Planning and Erin Kennedy discuss retirement offers an opportunity for new beginnings and adventures but before you move Peter recommends you first consider Cost of Living essential when trying to figure out if your retirement savings and income will be sufficient to maintain your desired lifestyle Healthcare Access and Quality which becomes increasingly important and often expensive as we age Social Support Network Moving often means leaving behind friends and support networks that can be a tough transition Tax Implications [... more]

It All Starts With CommunicationCommunication is crucial for estate planning in blended families highlighting the importance of being open transparent and truthful While this may be difficult at times it's essential for bringing issues to the forefront suggesting that effective communication is the foundation for addressing the unique challenges blended families face in estate planning How do blended families with different goals work it out When spouses in blended families have different goals they should prioritize seeking understanding and compromise Seek first to understand and then to be understood emphasizing the value of asking questions like tell me more about [... more]

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths - Proverbs - Why are people so worried about the economy these days Part of the issue is concern about a number of factors including the upcoming US election high inflation high interest rates and various geopolitical issues like what's happening with China Taiwan Ukraine and the Middle East How are people dealing with this uncertainty Uncertainty for many people leads to fear especially for those on a fixed budget or [... more]

CONSIDERING THE FUTURE POST-HIGH SCHOOLRob discusses the pressure high school seniors and their parents face concerning post-secondary education and emphasizes the importance of aligning educational choices with financial realities He stresses the goal of avoiding college debt through early savings exploring scholarships and considering alternatives to a four-year college such as technical schools online courses and military service Financial planning for education should begin early incorporating discussions about affordability and scholarships Exploring educational alternatives can provide viable paths that align with career goals and financial constraints Completing the FAFSA is essential for all college-bound students to assess eligibility for financial [... more]

Carolyn Calupca on the program was a long time senior producer at Crown Financial Ministries where she worked closely with Larry Burkett for many years She's now a frequent contributor here at Faith and Finance and the author of our new -week study guide Rich Toward God A Study on the Parable of the Rich Fool WHAT IS THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF THE PARABLE OF THE RICH FOOL Jesus delivers this parable in AD during a time of significant political and spiritual tension in Judea under Roman rule As Jesus moves toward Jerusalem for the last time he attracts a [... more]

It rsquo s important to plan where you rsquo re going and financially that plan is called a budget which helps you decide where your dollars will go But are there some dangers associated with budgeting On today's Faith amp Finance Live host Rob West will talk with Chad Clark about the dangers of budgeting Then Rob will tackle your calls and financial questions nbsp See omnystudio com listener for privacy information [... more]

It rsquo s important to plan where you rsquo re going and financially that plan is called a budget which helps you decide where your dollars will go But are there some dangers associated with budgeting On today's Faith amp Finance Live host Rob West will talk with Chad Clark about the dangers of budgeting Then Rob will tackle your calls and financial questions nbsp See omnystudio com listener for privacy information [... more]

Chad Clark is Executive Director here at FaithFi WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF HAVING A BUDGET A budget while essential for managing finances comes with potential dangers such as idolizing money succumbing to pride and relying more on the budget than on God Idolizing money can occur when constant monitoring of finances leads to an excessive focus on money instead of God Pride can emerge from achieving financial goals leading to self-boasting rather than recognizing God's provision Relying too heavily on a budget may restrict following God's promptings that go beyond our financial plans HOW CAN WE AVOID THESE DANGERS [... more]

I tell you use worldly wealth to make friends for yourselves so that when it is gone they will welcome you into eternal dwellings Luke Rachel McDonough is a Certified Financial Planner a CertifiedKingdom Advisor and a regular FaithFi contributor WHAT IS THE BEST INVESTMENT YOU EVER MADE ACCORDING TO RACHEL MCDONOUGH Rachel recounts a story of investing not in stocks or bonds but in a person's life with a simple act of kindness She met a woman who identified herself as a witch and was initially very hostile With just Rachel and her friends paid for the woman's phone [... 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]

GOD'S CREATION AND EXPECTATIONS God created humanity in His image as reflected in Psalm and Ephesians These Scriptures emphasize His intention for His people to live justly and righteously THE REALITY OF FINANCIAL INJUSTICE The world marred by sins such as greed envy dishonesty and pride often leads to the unfair financial exploitation of others a stark reality that Christians must recognize BIBLICAL WARNINGS AGAINST FINANCIAL INJUSTICE The Scriptures provide clear warnings against various forms of financial injustice Proverbs and caution against oppressing the poor teaching that such actions lead to poverty and are an insult to God Proverbs denounces [... more]

Art Rainer is Director of the Institute for Christian Financial Health which administers the Certified Christian Financial Counselor program WHAT DO CHRISTIAN FINANCIAL COUNSELORS DO Christian financial counselors aim to integrate God's design into financial decisions They guide individuals and couples through making wise financial choices establishing healthy financial habits and increasing biblical and financial literacy They help you understand and pursue God's design for money They guide you in wise decision-making and developing sound financial habits They increase your understanding of both biblical and financial principles WHO NEEDS A CHRISTIAN FINANCIAL COUNSELOR We actually have a list of signs [... more]

You won't find the word budget in the Bible but it does say a lot about stewardship and budgeting is stewardship Having a spending plan and sticking to it is the only way to control your money stay out of debt and gain peace of mind about your finances When you practice faithful stewardship you no longer have to worry about your money because you've accepted that it's God's money He owns everything So budgeting is a key part of stewardship BIBLICAL BASIS FOR BUDGETINGProverbs emphasizes the need to be aware of one's assets Know well the condition of your [... more]

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN BUDGETING SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT Perspective is key in creating and adhering to a budget Budgeting is often viewed as a necessary but challenging task similar to a diet Success in budgeting hinges on understanding the 'why' behind it Differentiating between your financial goals what you want to do and the underlying reasons why you're doing it is crucial AS BELIEVERS WHAT SHOULD OUR 'WHY' BE IN BUDGETING Our 'why' should align with scriptural teachings recognizing God's ownership over everything Believers should form their own 'why' statements reflecting a commitment to stewardship based [... more]

Brian Holtz joins us again today He is the Chief Operating Officer at Compass Finances God's Way He's also the author of Financial Discipleship for Families Intentionally Raising Faithful Children HOW DO YOU RAISE FAITHFUL CHILDREN AS FINANCIAL DISCIPLES A financial disciple learns and applies Jesus' teachings about money and possessions and also shares this knowledge with others Parents should instill in their children the understanding that everything belongs to God as stated in Chronicles and Psalm It's crucial to teach children about stewardship and faithful management of resources following God's goals rather than personal ambitions WHAT ARE THE FIVE [... more]

Art Rainer is a regular contributor here at Faith and Finance and the author of several books including The Marriage Challenge A Finance Guide for Married Couples WHAT ARE SOME WARNING SIGNS THAT INDICATE A COUPLE MAY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MONEY Frequent heated arguments about money are a major red flag It's concerning if discussions about budgeting spending debt or giving lead to intense disagreements Financial infidelity is another critical issue This includes hiding purchases maintaining secret bank accounts or credit cards or exceeding spending limits without informing the spouse Using money as a weapon in the relationship is a [... more]

Brian Holtz is the Chief Operating Officer at Compass Finances God's Way He's also the author of a brand new book Financial Discipleship for Families Intentionally Raising Faithful Children WHY A BOOK ABOUT MONEY FOR PARENTING Jesus used money in parables to teach spiritual lessons making it relatable and insightful for teaching children Managing money according to God's principles impacts our relationship with Him ACTIVE VS REACTIVE PARENTINGActive parenting involves setting goals and preparing children for future financial decisions Reactive parenting addresses issues only as they arise often in a negative context WHY A BOOK ABOUT MONEY FOR PARENTING Jesus [... 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]

HELPING CHILDREN GRASP SPIRITUAL TRUTHS BEHIND THE FINANCIAL ONES Age-appropriate lessons include introducing the concept of money and work around age three to five Spiritual lessons include understanding that God created everything and that work is a gift from God Gratitude and thanksgiving should be emphasized as well as the importance of budgeting The three-jar method saving spending giving can be introduced around age five Saving for the future and generosity are important spiritual principles to instill Around ages to children can learn about earning money and that work is a gift from God Chores can be tied to allowances [... more]

In Matthew Chapter Jesus tells the parable of two builders a foolish one and a wise one The wise builder builds his house on a rock and the storm can't destroy it but the foolish builder builds his house on the sand and when a storm comes it all gets blown away Jesus tells his disciples that everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like the wise builder As with all of Jesus's parables there's an underlying message for us here about God's kingdom and how we should live This parable about the wise [... 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]

Have you ever thought something was difficult so you didn rsquo t even try to do it Unfortunately a lot of folks think that about creating a spending plan But the good news is you don rsquo t have to be a rocket scientist to draft a budget On today's MoneyWise Live Rob West will share some budgeting basics to help get you started Then he rsquo ll answer your questions on various financial topics nbsp See omnystudio com listener for privacy information [... more]

Michelle Singletary discusses wise money management during the economic downturn She'll help you with the basics of getting out of debt budgeting and saving when money is tight Part of Receive the book What To Do With Your Money When a Crisis Hits for our donation of any amount Plus receive member-exclusive benefits when you make a recurring gift today Your monthly support helps families thrive https donate focusonthefamily com don-daily-broadcast-product- - - refcd Get more episode resources http www focusonthefamily com episodes broadcast being-wise-with-your-money-during-a-crisis-part- -of- featured-resource-ctaIf you've listened to any of our podcasts please give us your feedback https [... more]

Michelle Singletary discusses wise money management during the economic downturn She'll help you with the basics of getting out of debt budgeting and saving when money is tight Part of Receive the book What To Do With Your Money When a Crisis Hits for our donation of any amount Plus receive member-exclusive benefits when you make a recurring gift today Your monthly support helps families thrive https donate focusonthefamily com don-daily-broadcast-product- - - refcd Get more episode resources http www focusonthefamily com episodes broadcast being-wise-with-your-money-during-a-crisis-part- -of- featured-resource-ctaIf you've listened to any of our podcasts please give us your feedback https [... more]

Order the Book An amazing Widow - Mirium Neff and her CFP daughter - Valerie Hogan share insights for managing money [... more]

Chris and Jenni Graebe both grew up with very strong opinions on how marriage should look They eventually went to other couples who were years ahead of them and compiled a list of biblical lifestyles of rhythms that married couples can create in their lives In this interview they'll focus on the important rhythms that have helped them through the years Receive the book The Rhythm of Us for your donation of any amount Plus receive member-exclusive benefits when you make a recurring gift today Your monthly support helps families thrive https donate focusonthefamily com don-daily-broadcast-product- - - refcd Get [... more]

Do you have a morbid fear of budgeting similar to claustrophobia Does it make you feel like the walls are closing in on your lifestyle On the next MoneyWise Live Rob West will share how to overcome your fears and beat your budgetphobia Then he'll answer your calls and questions on various financial topics See omnystudio com listener for privacy information [... more]

Did you know that two thirds of smartphone users have at least one budgeting app They've discovered how easy it is to keep tabs on their money from anywhere On today's MoneyWise Live host Rob West will talk with Chad Clark about how to make your life easier by choosing the right budgeting app Then Rob will take your calls on various financial questions from a biblical perspective See omnystudio com listener for privacy information [... more]

As work hours shrank during the COVID crisis and resulting shutdowns many turned to budgeting to help stretch their precious dollars But why are some people still not budgeting On today's MoneyWise Live host Rob West will talk about the likely reasons why some people still are not using a spending plan Then he'll answer your calls on various financial questions from a biblical perspective See omnystudio com listener for privacy information [... more]

As work hours shrank during the COVID crisis and resulting shutdowns many turned to budgeting to help stretch their precious dollars But why are some people still not budgeting On today's MoneyWise Live host Rob West will talk about the likely reasons why some people still are not using a spending plan Then he'll answer your calls on various financial questions from a biblical perspective See omnystudio com listener for privacy information [... more]

Developing a budget isn rsquo t difficult if you know how much money you have to spend But what if your income keeps changing Then what do you do On the next MoneyWise Live host Rob West will explain that when you have irregular work hours and pay budgeting on a variable income isn rsquo t hard mdash you just need to know a few helpful tricks Then he rsquo ll answer your financial questions from a biblical perspective That rsquo s on MoneyWise Live where biblical wisdom meets today rsquo s finances mdash weekdays at pm Eastern pm Central [... more]

On this episode Master Registered Financial Consultant MRFC and Dave Ramsey SmartVestor Pro Peter Richon discusses budgeting and creating a spending plan for your working career and for retirement and the important differences between the two [... more]

On this episode Master Registered Financial Consultant MRFC and Dave Ramsey SmartVestor Pro Peter Richon discusses budgeting and creating a spending plan for your working career and for retirement and the important differences between the two [... more]

The old ldquo tried and true rdquo cash envelope budgeting system will help you spend less nbsp But many folks prefer to use credit and debit cards instead So is there a way to successfully stick to your budget while using both methods of payment nbsp On the next MoneyWise Live hosts Rob West and Steve Moore have a way for you to get the best of both worlds Then it rsquo s your calls and questions on the financial matters you rsquo d like to discuss A hybrid envelope system on the next MoneyWise Live at pm Eastern pm [... more]

In this week's episode Peter Richon discusses common problems that should be addressed when talking about your money From budgeting to life insurance tune in to learn how to address these topics [... more]

Maybe you rsquo ve done your share of talking about a budget but you rsquo ve never gotten around to implementing one Or you rsquo ve tried and failed so your method may need a bit of tweaking On the next MoneyWise Live hosts Rob West and Steve Moore talk us through some basics we can use to fine tune our spending plan It rsquo s budgeting for beginners on the next nbsp MoneyWise nbsp Live at pm Eastern pm Central on Moody Radio [... more]

As if this year and upcoming national election needed another contentious issue a seat on the US Supreme Court has become vacant after the death of long-time Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Ginsburg or the notorious RBG as she was known was a heroine to the left for her court opinions in favor of abortion homosexual marriage and other liberal causes That she died in the waning months of President Trump's first term giving him the opportunity to appoint a third Supreme Court justice and flip a liberal seat to a conservative one has caused the left to melt down [... more]

North Carolina's state transportation budget is full of cracks potholes and detours That's the conclusion of the John Locke Foundation's top budget analyst Senior Fellow Joseph Coletti He dissects key problems with the state Transportation Department's budgeting practices Gov Roy Cooper recently issued a statewide order for North Carolinians to wear face masks in public Even if Cooper has the power to issue that order it presents practical enforcement concerns Jeanette Doran president of the N C Institute for Constitutional Law discusses both the order's questionable enforcement mechanism and legal questions surrounding Cooper's order State lawmakers continue to show interest [... more]

Just because something rsquo s never happened to you it rsquo s easy to think that it won rsquo t nbsp But the reality is we are all vulnerable to crisis The coronavirus pandemic is a case in point On the next MoneyWise Live hosts Rob West and Steve Moore talk with Howard Dayton about preparing for the next crisis through budgeting It rsquo s all about planning for a financial disaster instead of reacting to it on the next MoneyWise Live at pm Eastern pm Central on Moody Radio [... more]

Peter Richon is joined by the host of the CentsAble Chat podcast series www centsablechat com Bobbi Olsen Bobbi is a financial and budgeting coach helping people get a better handle on and mindset about their money [... more]

The John Locke Foundation and a dozen other public policy groups in other states have joined together to support a nationally significant court case designed to protect workers' rights The case involves a professor at a northeastern public university campus He challenges a law requiring him to be linked to a labor union he opposes Jon Guze John Locke Foundation director of legal studies discusses the case's significance He explains why JLF is taking part in the case Social justice is playing an increasingly disturbing role in American higher education That National Association of Scholars documents that role in a [... more]