The Gift of Perspective

This faith and finance podcast is underwritten in part by Cross International. Among the poorest of the poor in countries like Malawi, Uganda and Zambia, the needs are enormous and children are among the most vulnerable. But when you partner with Cross International, you can make an eternal impact one child at a time. Visit our local in-country ministries to help kids and communities thrive.

Share the love of Jesus with an Sagittarius. Well, if there's one book in the Bible that invites us to zoom out and take an honest look at life, it's Ecclesiastes. It's raw, reflective, and unafraid to ask big questions. What's really worth pursuing? What has lasting value?

What are we building and why? Our new study, Wisdom Over Wealth, explores the book of Ecclesiastes with these questions in mind. It helps us see how financial wisdom fits into the broader story of a life lived for God.

I'll tell you how to get your copy in a moment. In our everyday financial lives, it's easy to be consumed by the immediate, this week's bills, that investment opportunity, or the looming tax deadline. Every issue seems urgent. But what if, instead of focusing on just one puzzle piece, we looked at how it fits into the whole? What if we could pull back and see our finances as part of a much bigger story?

That's the gift of perspective. It lifts us out of the weeds and helps us see clearly. When we understand how our financial choices connect to our spiritual priorities, we begin making wiser, more intentional decisions. Ecclesiastes invites us to take a mile-high view of not just our money, but life itself.

The preacher, on whom this book is based, says he has seen all the works done under the sun and found them to be vanity, a chasing after the wind. Not because work or wealth are bad, but because when they become our ultimate goals, they leave us empty. That's a message we need in a culture that's constantly telling us to buy more, earn more, and do more. But Ecclesiastes points out that it's all meaningless if disconnected from God's purposes. This doesn't mean that wealth is meaningless, far from it. When we view money through a biblical lens, we understand that it's not something to be worshipped or hoarded.

It's a tool to be used for kingdom purposes. When stewarded wisely, wealth can be used for incredible good, to bless others, to support ministry and to bring glory to God. That's where Ecclesiastes speaks into stewardship. It reminds us that we don't truly own anything. Everything we have is entrusted to us by God.

We're stewards, not owners, and that changes everything. It changes how we think about earning, saving, giving, and even retiring. It redirects our focus from accumulation to impact. Instead of asking, how much can I gain, we begin to ask, how can I use what I have to reflect God's character? That's the heart of biblical stewardship, living with open hands, trusting God as our provider and using what we've been given for his glory. Ecclesiastes also teaches us something else that's crucial for our financial lives, contentment. The writer encourages us to enjoy our work, to appreciate what we have, and to find joy in the simple gifts of life. It's a call to be present, to stop comparing and to stop chasing. Whether we're in a season of plenty or in a season of little, contentment helps us stay grounded.

It reminds us that peace isn't found in having more. It's found in walking with God, where we find lasting peace, no matter our financial situation. So how do we begin to cultivate this perspective? How do we step back and see our finances in light of God's larger story?

Start by asking some honest questions. What truly matters to me? What do I want my financial legacy to be? How can I reflect God's values and how I manage his money? When you pause to reflect, you begin to see money not as the end goal, but as a resource to be used wisely and generously. Perspective leads to peace, because it ultimately leads us back to God. It frees us from the endless striving and invites us into a deeper trust in his provision. That's why we're so excited to make our new study, Wisdom Over Wealth, available to you.

Through the book of Ecclesiastes, this study can help you gain the clarity and confidence you need to steward your finances with purpose. This month, when you give a gift of $35 or more to Faithfi, we'll send you Wisdom Over Wealth as our thank you. Just visit faithfi.com slash wisdom to request your copy today. That's faithfi.com slash wisdom. All right, your calls are next, 800-525-7000.

We'll be right back. We work, we earn, we save, but is that all there is? The book of Ecclesiastes gives us an entirely new perspective on money that impacts our day-to-day lives. Faithfi's study, Wisdom Over Wealth, unpacks life-changing biblical truths about wealth, work and contentment. This resource will help you grow in how you handle wealth by deepening your trust in God.

Get your copy when you become a Faithfi partner with a gift of $35 a month or $400 a year at faithfi.com slash partner. As the leading advocate for the Christian financial industry, Kingdom Advisors serves the public by promoting the integration of a biblical worldview across every aspect of the financial services industry. And we serve a growing network of thousands of Christian financial professionals equipping and empowering them to carry biblical financial wisdom to their clients, peers, and community. For more information, visit kingdomadvisors.com.

That's kingdomadvisors.com. Well thanks for joining us today on Faith and Finance, helping you be that wise and faithful steward we know you desire to be as you manage God's resources. We want to help you look at money management through the lens of biblical wisdom realizing there's a stark difference between a biblical worldview and a secular worldview. Of course that applies to every facet of our lives, but that certainly includes this area of money management. We know that you were created with a longing for abundance and security and significance and the world will tell you you can find that in the things of this world, namely wealth and money and the things that money can buy. We know that's a lie.

That's not true. It's fleeting. It's temporary and it will never fill that God-sized shape in your heart and in your soul. And so when we see God as our ultimate treasure and money as a tool to accomplish his purposes, to provide and to enjoy and to give to those in need, to even fund the Great Commission, it's a good gift used for God's purposes. We want to help you do that and navigate those practical decisions you're making each day in your financial lives. So whether it's your lifestyle, your spending plan, maybe it's your debt repayment, should use the snowball or the avalanche or you've never heard of those, well let's talk about it. Maybe it's your giving strategy and how you can give more wisely through a charitable gift annuity or a donor advised fund, a tool that allows you to perhaps expand and extend your giving beyond what you ever imagined. We'd love to talk about that. Or perhaps today it's your investment portfolio. How do you navigate this market?

Any of those topics are in play. The number to call with your questions is 800-525-7000. Again that's 800-525-7000. You can call right now.

We'll begin taking those calls here in just a moment. But first, in the news today, a new report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reveals that taking a more hands-on approach to long-term care planning can make a huge difference when it comes to costs. Here's what experts recommend. First, start early.

It's never too soon to begin planning. So talk to your family about long-term care needs and finances before the situation becomes urgent. Consider family help. Think about who in your family might help with care.

Could they offer financial support? Start those conversations now. Make your home ready. If you want to stay in your home, now's the time to make sure it's set up for the future.

So small adjustments like removing stairs or widening doorways can make a big difference. Prepare financially. Look into long-term care insurance. Having a plan in place will keep you from scrambling later on. Next, it's a good idea to get a long-term care policy in place between 55 and 65.

That's going to be the ideal time. Basically if you can do that in your 50s, even better, get the longest term possible and that will help to keep the premiums lower. I think the key here is that you recognize these policies are expensive and you need to have room in your budget for there to be premium increases.

They do go up and they have gone up dramatically as the cost of healthcare has gone up with them. You have a carrier that's committed to this space and it really has been reduced to probably five or six key players in this space that are committed to the long haul to long-term care insurance. You will also want to make sure that you have, I would recommend at least, an independent agent who can help you find the best policy and company because depending on your health status, you may find that one company looks more favorably on that from an underwriting and a premium standpoint than another.

You'll certainly want to get with that company so long as it's got good financial strength and they are rated and reviewed so you'll want to check that as well. But again, make sure you can absorb those premium increases. Here's the reality, 70% of Americans over 65 will need some sort of long-term care usually between 18 months and three years and full nursing care can run $100,000 a year or more. So you having a policy that if it doesn't cover 100% of that would at least shoulder some of that financial burden, it could be the difference in you eroding your assets and needing to depend on a Medicaid approved facility. So check it out, this is probably the biggest financial risk in this season of life is the need for expensive long-term care.

But the key is a few small steps now can give you peace of mind later. All right, let's dive into your questions today. Again, the lines are open, we're ready for you. If you have a financial question of any sort, go ahead and call right now, 800-525-7000. Sandy's standing by to take your calls today. All right, we're going to dive in here and Oregon is where we'll begin.

Hi, Lynn, how can we help you? I'm thinking of putting some money into a fixed indexed annuity. It's tied to the NASDAQ FC index and I'm wondering if what you think of that product and if there, it seems like I remember you mentioning reviewing agencies and what their ratings should optimally be.

Yeah, very good. Yes, so fixed indexed annuities can be a decent option for retirees. It's really for those seeking principal protection with some market linked growth.

So it's kind of a middle ground between a fixed annuity, which would be a lower return with a guaranteed rate and a variable annuity, just straight variable annuity with a little bit of an elevated risk. So they credit interest based on an index. Now in your case, what was the index you said it was linked to? It's linked to a NASDAQ F as in Frank, C as in Charles index.

Okay. Yeah. So the NASDAQ FC.

So yeah, that would be a little more concentrated just because the NASDAQ is going to be more heavily focused toward the tech industry and in particular, more of those big tech, big tech stocks that are mega cap, meaning they're, you know, they're large in size. And so is this a bank of America product or something else? Yes. Okay. Yeah. It's a bank of America product. Yes. I've seen that.

Yeah. So it's linked to the NASDAQ 100, which you know, has Apple and Amazon. And so it is going to provide potentially a little bit more in the way of return, but a little less diversified and a little more concentrated into one particular sector of the market. How does this fit alongside other investments?

What else would you have alongside this? Well, that's about a half of my 401k, maybe a third actually of it. And then I also have about the same amount in stocks that I manage. And then I also have some CDs that all together are maybe half of this amount as well.

And I do have an emergency fund. Okay. Yeah.

Very good. Yeah. No, I wouldn't be opposed to this necessarily. I just think, you know, the downside to these, um, indexed annuities is that, you know, you're going to have your returns capped. And so you're giving up that cap, uh, in exchange for that down or you're taking on the cap in exchange for the downside protection, which is why they're not my favorite tool. Now, if that gives you the peace of mind and for this portion of your investment portfolio, you know, want to be able to have that, that floor and therefore you're willing to give up, you know, the upside, then certainly this could have a place, especially since it sounds like the other investments you have have unlimited upside potential. It's just that when you look at the performance of the stock market, whether it's the S and P or the NASDAQ, you know, the, the average annual returns that we see over the long haul do well when you can capture a hundred percent of the upside in those years where the market's just really taken off. And you're going to give up that in the fixed index annuity, which is, you know, that trade off that you're going to get. So it's not my first choice, but do I have a problem with this? No, they're complicated.

So you just need to understand kind of the calculations and how they're all, you know, how that's going to affect the ultimate returns that you're getting. I've got to take a break. Stay on the line. We'll finish up off the air.

We'll be right back. We are grateful for support from Crossmark Global Investments. They are a faith-based firm with a goal of offering values-based investments to help align financial choices and faith, ensuring a portfolio that reflects what matters most. Crossmark does this through investment solutions that span the capital market spectrum from large cap to small cap strategies, including equity, fixed income, and balanced strategies. They are led by industry veteran Bob Doll, CFA, a regular guest on the faith and finance program.

More information is available at crossmarkglobal.com. Jesus said, where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Today, put your heart into something that makes an eternal impact. Heart for Lebanon is sharing the gospel and protecting girls from early marriage, child labor, and violence. Your gift of $114 helps reach three at-risk girls with hope and a brighter future.

Give generously. Text faith to 98656. That's faith to 98656.

Or visit faithfi.com forward slash Lebanon. Thanks for joining us today on Faith and Finance. We're taking your calls and questions today. That number to call is 800-525-7000. That's 800-525-7000. We'd love to dive into whatever's going on in your financial life today, helping you apply biblical wisdom and make a decision with confidence so you can move forward practically. We realize whether it's living, giving, owing, or growing, there's lots of questions that come up as you manage God's money, and we'd love to be that sounding board for you. Again, that number to call, 800-525-7000.

You can call right now. We were talking before the break with Lynn about annuities. You know, just generally, here's my thoughts on annuities, is they're not my first choice.

I've said that quite a bit. The reason is that they tend to be complex. They usually have high fees, so you might have 1-2% for riders, plus surrender charges, at least for the first 7-10 years. That cuts into returns compared to a diversified portfolio. They have limited liquidity, so they have longer lockup periods that restrict access.

If you need the funds, that's a concern, or it can be. They're complex, and so terms like caps, what we were talking about with Lynn, where you have a cap on your upside, or you have a participation rate where you only get a portion of the upside in the case of the indexed annuities, is I think something that most people just don't quite understand, and what are called bonuses often confuse investors, and I think that's where it really can require a fiduciary, somebody who's acting on your behalf and is required to be able to review it for you, not somebody who's incented to sell the product because they're going to get some sort of commission, but really the person that would be serving in your best interest to look it over and say, how does this fit with my overall investment strategy? I will also say the other downside is the lower returns, so in many cases, they will underperform stocks, especially for younger retirees that are in their early 60s. Now, why do people use them?

They're not all bad at all. The reason would be if you're looking for guaranteed income, so you're looking for a steady payment for life or for a set period, that's ideal for retirement security, so think somebody that is in that season of life saying, listen, Social Security is not going to get it done. I have a lump sum of investable assets, and I'd like to be able to convert that to an income stream for myself or myself plus my spouse for the rest of our lives, and we just see great value in that. Tax deferral, so earnings can grow tax-free until withdrawal. There is that principle protection, so you can get that downside floor which shields against market losses, and then they do have these customizable riders. Even though you'll pay for them, they have options like death benefits or long-term care coverage where I started in the last segment. That adds some flexibility, so again, not all bad, and I'm not one who says there's never a place for an annuity.

For the right purpose, if you understand, you have somebody who's a fiduciary looking it over, you've got the right product for you, you've compared against the others, you understand the complexity, you're willing to live with the limited liquidity, then again, these can have a place as a part of an overall financial plan, so hopefully that helps as we think about all these different products that tend to be somewhat confusing that are out there to be considered in your own financial plan. All right, let's dive into some more questions here today. Again, that number 800-525-7000, you can call right now.

Let's go to Alabama. Hi, Melinda, go ahead. Hi, Mr. Ross.

Thank you for taking my call. Sure. Yes, I have a question.

I was wondering, is this a good season to scale up on my investments or should I pay them off? Right now, I have about, yeah, I have two mortgages on the investment properties that I have. Okay. Yeah.

I mean, I always like you being free and clear, but let's talk about that for a second. So you have two properties, what are the values of them? I have one property, I pay like 20-some thousand and it's valued at like 65, but I have about 45,000 equity in that one. And I have another property, I paid about 32,000 and it's worth 100,000, so I have about 70 in equity.

Okay. All right, so you owe 30 on that one. And where would you, so you owe, it sounds like, you know, if you pay these off, did you say you owe 45 or you have 45 in equity on the first one? On the first one, I paid it off. It was 20,000 and I have like $60,000 in equity in that one. And then the second mortgage, I have like 32,000 and it's valued at like 100,000. Okay. So it's like $70,000 equity in that one.

Okay. So what would it, if you wanted to pay everything off free and clear, how much would be the total that you'd have to pay? If I included, I also have land, so that I have like a mortgage on it as well. It's like 40 acres, I paid like 55, 56,000 for it, and I think it's worth maybe 150,000. So to pay everything off, I would estimate about 80,000.

Okay. And where would that money come from? Where is that money today? To pay it off? Yes.

I would have to sell it. That's what I'm saying. Is this a good thing? Oh, I see. Yeah. Yeah. And so I think that comes down to, well, with respect to the properties, you know, that have dwellings on them, do you want to be a renter or excuse me, a landlord and be in the rental business?

I mean, yeah. I mean, we're in a great market just kind of overall. Now whether that applies, you know, to where you're at specifically in Alabama, you could get with a real estate professional there. But I mean, from what you've just described quickly, sounds like you've had pretty good appreciation of these properties.

So these properties have performed well. You know, I'm not crazy about land unless you think, you know, this has real growth potential, because it's in an area where they're bringing infrastructure in and it, you know, there could be a wave of development, maybe moving into this area. The reason I don't like it as much as there's just, you know, doesn't generate any income typically unless you, you know, it's farmland or something like that. And there's just risks with regard to, you know, infrastructure and whether or not, you know, anybody, it's very desirable. But with the properties that are rental properties, obviously there's a whole other layer of consideration there because you have to decide, do you want to be a landlord? And would you rather take that money that's done well, you described all those increases, and move it over to something that's more passive, like a stock and bond investment portfolio. I could get on board with that and maybe you split the middle, you know, maybe you say, listen, I'm going to keep one, I'm going to keep it free and clear. And you know, I'm going to rent it out, whichever one is more desirable, but I'm going to sell the land and the other one, and I'm going to put that in real estate. That would allow you to get more diversification across asset classes because the way we reduce risk is we don't have all of our eggs in one basket.

So that way you'd have a free and clear rental property and you'd have stocks and bonds and that gives you broader diversification, which is never a bad thing. I hope that helps you. Thanks for your call today.

Well, that's going to do it for us today. I hope you found something helpful and encouraging today, but above all else, I hope you were encouraged to go back to God's word. You know, in our role in managing God's money, we always need to be reminded that God owns it all. We're stewards and money is a tool to accomplish God's purposes. So as stewards, we have to understand the heart of the master. We find that in scripture. A big thanks to my team today, Taylor, Devin, and Pat, and we'll see you next time right here on Faith and Finance. Faith and Finance is provided by Faithfi and listeners like you.