Does Your Approach To Money Honor Your Faith?

Have you ever noticed that on the US currency, on the front of coins and the back of bills, there is the statement “In God We Trust?”

Our currency is a reminder of how we, as Christians, should approach our finances.  “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10.

As Christians, we hope and strive to align our finances with God’s Word. But, unfortunately, we can fall short of meeting His will if we are not intentional with our money.  

How we spend our money is an indicator of where our heart is. And too often, we choose to serve ourselves first. We are not honoring God and we feel ashamed when our church asks for an offering, and we have nothing to give. 

But the truth is that we choose our actions, and we can direct our spending in the right direction with just a little bit of...

So, you're getting hitched! You're making what you hope will be a lifelong commitment to the one you love through sickness and health, for richer or poorer, now and until death do you part. Sounds heavy? Well, it is! And the best way to make it less heavy is by getting the leading cause for marital splits out of the picture: money fights. 

Financial disagreements are among the top 3 causes for divorce, along with infidelity and basic incompatibility. That's why it's crucial to get started on the right foot by addressing any potential money issues upfront, discussing short and long-term goals as a couple, and having open and intentional conversations about money. By doing so, you can avoid unnecessary stress and focus on building a strong and lasting partnership.

Before we go further, bear in mind that money is a very sensitive topic for some people. Why? Because it's personal, and it's based on what you've been taught by people you respect and trust, like your parents....

Children are a blessing, but they can be expensive to raise, especially if you need to put them in daycare.

Daycare is an investment in your child’s life. Finding a childcare provider you know, like, and trust can be a challenging process. Tack on the high expense of childcare, and it is no wonder you feel nervous and exhausted before you even begin. 

But the good news? With some intentional planning, you can prepare yourself financially for daycare expenses.

What To Consider When Searching For The Right Daycare

I remember the million questions and what-ifs that circled my mind during our daycare search for our first child. Naturally, you want someone who will provide consistency for your child when they are not with you. But at the same time, you also want to pay a rate for their services that is realistic for your wallet. 

As you prepare for daycare expenses, here are some things to consider: 

• Home or Center Care – Both care options have their...

The long-term success of a business is dependent on several variables. As a business owner, you need employees you can put your faith in and lean on 100%. You need efficient processes and systems that help you save time and money. And you need a solid marketing strategy, so you can get the word out there and attract more clients.

But what truly keeps your business going at the end of the day is its ability to make and manage money. And even though it can sound intimidating (especially if you don’t have all the details figured out), the truth is that there are some simple, tried and true tools that you can employ to get ahead of the game and improve your probability of success!

Today, we’re going to discuss five of them!

Tip 1: Identify Your Key Business Goals 

If you find yourself actively worrying about cash flow management, it might be a sign that you need to sit down and review your business goals. Why, you ask? because you’re...

A holistic financial wellness program can help your congregation in more ways than one. It can help church members heal their relationship with their finances, align their money habits with their spiritual values, and become generous givers and grateful stewards of God's Kingdom. 

Further, financial wellness programs can also be beneficial for church leaders. They can help church leaders save time and energy they would've otherwise spent solving their congregation's financial problems, leaving them free to focus on other important church matters. 

Here are 3 key reasons why a financial wellness program can make a world of difference to your church and congregation.

1) Reduce Church Members’ Financial Stress 

One of the biggest benefits of hosting a holistic financial wellness program in the church is having less stressed church members. 

Growing up, most of us weren’t even taught basic financial...

So, you’re nearing retirement and want to make an impact before leaving. 

It’s almost like when music artists are asked to come back on stage after an electric performance for one last hurrah. Sounds like you’re gearing up for an “encore” career!  

Maybe you’ve been looking forward to retirement and hoping that you’ll finally be able to relax and do whatever you want. But many people retire only to discover boredom that is unbearable and unfulfilling. 

The good news is that you can do things differently! You can make an impact! You can enjoy an encore career where you love what you do, make a difference, and achieve financial freedom. All you need is some focus and a solid savings plan. And these tips will give you a plan that will work! 

You may wonder if you’ll ever be able to stop working so much and still be secure about your finances. You may not be sure about changing your career while you still...

Is There Really a Need?

The importance of creating an inclusive culture is vital to designing a workplace where all employees can flourish and do their best work - resulting in ideal business outcomes. Companies that care about employee comprehensive wellness and support them in multiple areas of their lives, are places which draw and retain the best people.

What is a Holistic Financial Wellness Program?

Financial wellness is the ability of a person to precisely check their present financial position, identify personal goals, and be motivated to achieve the knowledge, support and resources to create behavioral change.

Money impacts all areas of our lives: health, faith, relationships, career, etc.  Make sure your wellness program does more than financial investments.  Going deeper impacts the root cause of issues and the driving force for transformation... the habits, behaviors and mindsets... not the symptoms like a budgeting form or meeting with an adviser...

Bad Things Happen in Life

Picture these scenarios 

• Your car gets a flat as you drive to your cousin's wedding in the middle of nowhere
• Your dentist lets you know you need a root canal and a crown in January
• The old refrigerator feels like Miami inside as you go to pull out a cold drink
• Your boss says, “Thank you for your time here. I’ll write a reference if you need one.” on November 15th, just in time for the holidays

Here’s the bad news: These types of emergencies happen to people everyday and we all know (even if we would like to deny it) that eventually, some unexpected expense will inflict itself on us. Often these events throw us into intense, heart pounding panic and stress. 

But here’s the good news: You can downgrade the emergencies to inconveniences by planning ahead and having an emergency fund in place. You will be able to sleep soundly at night knowing you are prepared to handle whatever life throws at you.

What is an Emergency...

Most people believe that to win with money, you need to be naturally good at numbers, investing wisely and slapping your wrist when you want to eat out for the 5th time in a week. 

But wealth-building and financial fulfillment involve a lot more than just numbers and sacrifice. 

Your attitudes and behaviors around money are shaped by your life experiences, your relationship with scarcity and abundance, the conversations around money that took place around you as a child, and many, many other subtle and invisible factors.

These internalized money mindsets can, in turn, impact your approach to money and impair your peace, happiness and well-being in ways you may not even recognize.

For instance, if you and your partner frequently argue about your financial future, if you feel sweaty and on edge every time you have to make a big purchase, or if you lie awake at night wondering if you’ll have enough to send your kid to college, it’s likely because your money habits...