Statistics show that many people aren't saving for retirement Others may have far more than enough How do you find the right balance Yes saving too much for retirement is possible although many more folks aren't saving enough What does Scripture tell us about responsible savings Brian Holtz fills us in today Brian Holtz is the Chief Operating Officer at Compass Financial Ministry and the author of Financial Discipleship for Families Intentionally Raising Faithful Children It's essential to save and invest enough for retirement but it's just as misguided to prioritize that above all others right The Bible gives us [... more]

Proverbs reads The prudent sees danger and hides himself but the simple go on and suffer for it The word insurance isn't in the Bible but it does say that it's wise to protect your financial holdings and insurance is one way to do that Understanding Essential Insurance PoliciesInsurance is a fundamental aspect of financial planning For most of us unless we have vast wealth diversified across numerous investments insurance serves as a critical safety net So what insurance policies are necessary Auto and Home InsuranceAuto insurance is generally required by law if you own a vehicle Homeowners insurance is [... 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]

What does it mean to be Rich Toward God It doesn't mean just giving money and possessions away Anyone can do that And the spiritual ramifications are different depending on your heart But Jesus is inviting us to set our hearts on an imperishable inheritance So here's the context a man from the crowd asks Jesus to settle an inheritance dispute and Jesus deflects that question He gets to the heart of the issue by telling a parable about man's greed and envy not just the man who asked the question or had the issue but ours So this parable [... 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]

So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God Luke Chad Clark is Executive Director here at FaithFi and over the last several months our team has been working on a brand new -week study on the Parable of the Rich Fool called Rich Toward God INTRODUCTION TO THE RICH TOWARD GOD STUDYThe Rich Toward God '' study emerges from FaithFi's mission to equip Christians with tools and resources for integrating faith with financial decisions aiming to help believers see God as their ultimate treasure The parable of the rich fool serves as [... 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]

WILL BASICS A will is a simpler document that names an executor and beneficiaries It must go through probate court and becomes public record potentially delaying heirs' access to assets Drafting a will through an estate attorney is recommended to minimize probate delays typically costing around TRUST BASICS Trusts manage assets both before and after death bypassing probate and keeping transactions private Types include revocable living and irrevocable trusts with the former being alterable during the grantor's lifetime Trusts can designate a successor trustee to manage assets if the grantor becomes incapacitated ensuring continuity and privacy KEY REASONS FOR A [... more]

Matt Syverson is a Certified Financial Planner and Certified Kingdom Advisor in Overland Park Kansas He's also a specialist in helping families understand and set up ABLE accounts WHAT ARE ABLE ACCOUNTS AND HOW DO THEY COMPARE TO EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS ABLE accounts akin to education savings accounts in terms of contributions and tax treatments are designed to assist individuals with disabilities by allowing for the accumulation of resources without affecting their eligibility for government assistance ABLE accounts initially referred to as A plans are intended for individuals with disabilities allowing them to save beyond the typical asset limits set [... 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]

FINANCIAL ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENTUNDERSTANDING THE HEART'S ROLE IN FINANCIAL ATTITUDES Financial attitudes reflect one's spiritual health as wrong attitudes towards money and possessions stem from the heart mirroring a broader spiritual condition Jesus identified the root of evil thoughts including greed and envy as originating from the heart Mark - highlighting the spiritual battle within THE BATTLE AGAINST SINThe struggle with sinful attitudes like envy pride and greed is common even among devout believers like the Apostle Paul who shared his own struggles in Romans - Overcoming these attitudes requires divine intervention as Paul acknowledges deliverance through Jesus Christ CULTIVATING RIGHT [... more]

Ron Blue is the co-founder of Kingdom Advisors author of a shelf-full of books on biblical finance including Master Your Money HELPING A DAUGHTER WHO'S GOING THROUGH A DIVORCE WHAT'S THE BEST APPROACH Support must be dynamic adapting as circumstances change Emotional spiritual and financial challenges intertwine requiring sensitive navigation Equitable treatment among siblings means addressing each child's unique needs especially in crisis HOW DID YOU AND JUDY DECIDE ON THE EXTENT AND MANNER OF HELP The decision on how much to help was made progressively acknowledging the fluid situation post-divorce The process involves constant reassessment based on changing needs [... more]

DECIDING WHEN TO START RECEIVING SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITSIt's recommended to delay receiving Social Security benefits until Full Retirement Age FRA of or as benefits are permanently reduced by about for each year you start taking them before reaching FRA BREAK-EVEN POINT FOR DELAYING SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITSIf you delay receiving Social Security benefits until FRA it takes nearly years to recoup the money you missed by not taking benefits early After around age you'll be financially ahead each month for the rest of your life LIFE EXPECTANCY CONSIDERATIONS FOR SOCIAL SECURITYOnce you reach age the average life expectancy is for females [... 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]

Matthew - Consider the lilies of the field how they grow they neither toil nor spin yet I tell you even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these John Putnam is a certified financial planner a Certified Kingdom Advisor and founder of Smarter Stewardship a marketplace ministry HOW DO YOU COUNSEL PEOPLE WHO WORRY ABOUT MONEY ESPECIALLY WITH TALK OF A LOOMING RECESSION John Putnam discusses Matthew - and what it teaches us about God's provision and the importance of not being anxious Focus on God's provision as shown in nature to minimize worry Striving [... more]

REFLECTION ON LAST YEAR'S PREDICTIONSBob Doll reflects on his previous year's predictions noting that while they achieved a accuracy rate it fell short of their usual mark The unexpected strength in the economy and labor market combined with a decrease in inflation led to deviations from their projections The economy was stronger than expected preventing the anticipated recession Inflation continued to decrease but did not reach the central bank's target of Stock market valuations increased particularly for a small group of high-performing stocks OUTLOOK ON THE US ECONOMY FOR THE UPCOMING YEARBob predicts a mild recession for the upcoming year [... more]

WHY ARE BENEFICIARY DESIGNATIONS IMPORTANT Beneficiary designations are crucial because they're an easy quick and free way to transfer assets accounts and insurance benefits after passing away They take precedence over wills or trusts and are significant because they skip probate and remain private Beneficiary designations offer a straightforward method to transfer assets after death They are prioritized over estate planning documents and bypass the probate process Keeping them updated and accurate is crucial for ensuring assets are distributed as intended WHAT ARE THE KEYS TO REMEMBER ABOUT DESIGNATING BENEFICIARIES When designating beneficiaries it's important to consider various account types [... more]

The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it the world and those who live in it for he has founded it on the seas and established it on the rivers Psalm - Mark Regier is Vice President of Stewardship Investing at Praxis Mutual Funds WHAT IS STEWARDSHIP INVESTING AND HOW DOES IT INCORPORATE CREATION CARE Stewardship investing is an approach rooted in biblical principles emphasizing responsibility and management of all that God has entrusted to us It involves recognizing God's ownership over everything and managing resources wisely and according to His wishes This philosophy extends to caring [... 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]

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change James Ken Boa is a pastor and founder of Reflections Ministries Russ Crosson is executive vice president and chief mission officer of Ronald Blue Trust This is the second of our interviews about a book they co-authored titled Leverage Using Temporal Wealth for Eternal Gain WHAT IS BIBLICAL LEVERAGE AND IS GIVING TO CHURCH AND MINISTRIES CONSIDERED BIBLICAL LEVERAGE Biblical leverage is the concept of using one's financial resources in ways that [... more]

CAN YOU OUTGIVE GOD God gave His only Son for our salvation demonstrating the ultimate generosity John Our generosity will always fall short in comparison but this shouldn't discourage us from giving HOW DOES GOD'S GENEROSITY AFFECT US The Bible does tell us of the transformative power of acknowledging God's generosity God's generosity is evident in His sacrificial love even when we were sinners Romans Embracing a generous spirit is part of our faith journey and a way to trust and participate in God's kingdom SHOULD FEAR OF LACK STOP US FROM GIVING What about financial security when giving Trusting [... more]

Jeanne McMains Executive Vice President of Offerings and Marketing at the National Christian Foundation For more than years she's helped families create a fun and lasting giving experience HOW CAN FAMILIES ENHANCE THEIR GIVING PRACTICES DURING THE HOLIDAYS Create a thriving family giving culture by engaging in generosity activities together Right size the giving experience to suit children or grandchildren's capacity to understand and participate Cultivate a culture of grace allowing the family's giving practices to develop organically over time WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES ILLUSTRATING THE IMPORTANCE OF RIGHT SIZING THE GIVING EXPERIENCE A single mother overwhelmed her daughter with [... more]

Sharon Epps is the president of Kingdom Advisors WHAT ARE THE BASIC WAYS MONEY CAN BE USED Money is represented by the live owe grow pie We say pie as that illustrates the fact that it needs to be divided up because there are a limited number of pieces Debt has several dangers it can be economically dangerous as compounding can work against you spiritually dangerous because it may prevent opportunities for God to intervene and psychologically dangerous as it can induce anxiety and threaten marital unity Proverbs mentions that the borrower becomes a slave to the lender indicating the [... more]

Live give owe and grow are principles that guide our money management and today we're focusing on owe or debt The Bible doesn't explicitly state that borrowing is wrong but it does caution that debt can be enslaving and change relationships between borrowers and lenders SIMPLE BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES FOR HANDLING DEBTRepay what you borrow Psalm teaches The wicked borrow and do not repay but the righteous give generously Free yourself from debt as quickly as possible Proverbs carries the stark warning The rich rule over the poor and the borrower is slave to the lender And finally we are to [... more]

God created human beings for work emphasizing its importance throughout the Bible for personal growth and God's glory Adam and Eve were given the responsibility of caring for the Garden of Eden showcasing that work was a gift to maintain their relationship with God Despite the challenges brought about by sin the desire for meaningful work persists within people Many individuals are working multiple jobs influenced by financial constraints with more than million workers in such situations as of Keeping multiple jobs organized is crucial requiring task schedule and contact management whether using online apps or traditional planners Effective communication [... more]

Jerry Bowyer is our resident economist and author of The Maker versus the Takers What Jesus Really Said About Social Justice and EconomicsToday we're continuing our series on just what a Christian economic worldview should look like and how we can return to God's plan for a healthy economy Last time Jerry told us that we have to see and think clearly and understand that an economic system fits together coherently with cause and effect We need to see that the God who made man and the God who made the earth is one God with one mind and we [... more]

Without counsel plans fail but with many advisers they succeed Proverbs Well as you know we always recommend you look for a financial advisor with the Certified Kingdom Advisor Designation and you can do that by going to FaithFi com and clicking on Find a CKA When you do you'll also find a long list of questions you can ask potential advisors We're going to give you some of them today though because folks have been asking The first thing you should understand is that the type of advisor you're interviewing will determine what you ask And that only makes [... more]

THE TROUBLING NUMBERSFor the first time credit card debt has surpassed trillion and is now at trillion In the second quarter alone it shot up billion or Now compare these numbers to the overall household debt which spiked by trillion since the end of before the pandemic Household debt includes credit card debt mortgages student loans and car notes And credit card debt is now almost of the average household debt That is very concerning when you think about how expensive a car or a home is People are really drowning in debt because of these higher interest rates and [... more]

Your first step before making any financial decisions should always be prayer You should invite God to be a part of all your financial affairs and decisions especially now as you begin the process of settling your loved one's estate It is enough simply to pray for wisdom in this challenging time James teaches If any of you lacks wisdom let him ask God who gives generously to all without reproach and it will be given him Romans reveals just how much the Lord wants to guide and strengthen you It reads The Spirit helps us in our weakness For [... more]

Give justice to the weak and the fatherless maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute Rescue the weak and the needy deliver them from the hand of the wicked Chikondi Phiri is Country Director of Family Legacy Missions Zambia empowered by Family Legacy Missions International a ministry that is literally changing the lives of thousands of kids in Zambia today Most Americans don't understand how desperate many of Zambia's children are for basic things like food shelter and education In a country with about six and a half million children more than a million are orphaned due to [... more]

Some folks question whether it's okay to ask God for financial help So first off let's dispel the notion that God doesn't care about your money or that it's wrong to pray about your finances Nothing in the Bible says that If it's important to you it's important to God He wants to be a part of your life your whole life I John says This is the confidence we have in approaching God that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us Now there are two key points in that verse First you can ask God [... more]

Years ago when online banks were first appearing we got a lot of calls from folks wondering if they were safe Now it seems we're getting that call volume again with folks wondering if putting their money in an online bank is a prudent thing to do possibly as a result of a few bank failures this past spring Banking is perhaps the most heavily regulated industry in the U S but it isn't foolproof Managers are human and humans make mistakes There will always be bank failures but the system we have in place makes bank closures rare and [... more]

THE PARADOX OF PROSPERITYThis is one concept in a video series he released a few years back on what he calls Transferable Concepts things that he can share in a or -minute speech And he shares these things over and over and over again because they're transferable and they're concepts that can change the way people view stewardship or money and money management And one of the most compelling illustrations he shares is his own personal story Ron says When Judy and I got married we lived in a trailer on campus at Indiana University It was sq ft It [... more]

Whole Life StewardshipGenesis says And God said to them 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth ' That verse presents what's often called the creation or cultural mandate which in turn is the foundation of whole life stewardship We'll talk about those ideas today on Faith and Finance THE CULTURAL MANDATESo what exactly is the cultural mandate It's the very first set of orders given to man in the Garden [... more]

Do you like helping people get their finances in order Maybe you have a gift for numbers If so then we have some good news for you On today's Faith amp Finance Live host Rob West will get an update from Kurt Cornfield about a career path for undergraduate students in Christian Financial Planning Then Rob will answer your questions on different financial topics nbsp See omnystudio com listener for privacy information [... more]

Are you ever tempted to attribute the success you rsquo ve had in your career to your own talents or capabilities If so it may be good to remember how the Bible tells us that it rsquo s God who gives us the power to get wealth On today's Faith amp Finance Live host Rob West will remind us we should always thank God for our abilitiy to earn a living Then he rsquo ll answer your calls on various financial topics nbsp See omnystudio com listener for privacy information [... more]

MWL MWL THU - - MWL THU - - MWL THU - - Eventide MWL THU - - MWL THU - - See omnystudio com listener for privacy information [... more]