Browsing Category Investing

If you’ve been paying any attention to the news (and I don’t blame you if you haven’t), you’re probably aware that the stock market has been very active lately. Active like a volcano. You see headlines like “Stocks Lose 34% in One Month” and “Stocks Jump 2%.” What does it all mean, though? Do you really understand what they’re talking about? What Do We Mean By The Stock Market? First of all, what is the stock market? Stocks are portions of ownership ...

With businesses shutting down and church services closed, you may find yourself reassessing your financial situation. Which expenses are mandatory and which can you do without? What resources do you have available to you that you don’t usually access? As you’re taking stock of your situation, I’d like to let you know about a few changes that the CARES Act stimulus bill makes to the rules about your retirement savings. 2020 Required Minimum Distributions Waived This is one that really only helps ...

When you think of investing, you probably think of trying to grow your money as much as possible without doing anything too risky. That is what investing has traditionally focused on; growing money. However, things are changing. Our culture has evolved to a point where people want their investments to do more than just make them money, they want them to reflect their values. Because of this, there has been a recent surge of values-based investing.  Types Of Values-Based Investing Have you heard ...

Sometimes in life, your greatest strength can also be your greatest weakness and your biggest disadvantage can also be your biggest advantage. Take Peter, for example. The same boldness and tendency to speak before thinking that caused Jesus to rebuke him and call him Satan is what prompted him to speak out and start the church on the day of Pentecost.  Some of the most powerful things in our lives can be used equally for good or evil. One of those ...

Today and tomorrow people all around the world are celebrating the fact that the creator of the universe found it worthwhile to come to Earth in human form to give us a chance at a relationship with him.   In light of this mind-blowing truth, you really have no reason to worry about anything that I am going to write about in this article. None of it really matters in light of eternity. However, with all of the media headlines these ...

As volatility picks up and the stock market nears a downturn, it’s important to keep a proper perspective, just like you did to survive the difficult parenting years. View post

Are you saving up to buy a home? To go on the mission field? To buy into a business? There are a lot of different reasons behind mid-term savings goals, those goals that take 3-5 years to achieve. No matter the reason you’re saving, everyone always ends up asking: what do I do with the money in the meantime? View post

Interest rates are going up right now, and that will affect anyone who owns bonds or shares in bond mutual funds. Why is that, and what should you do about it? View post

Dear Pastor’s Wallet,   My only debt is my mortgage, a 30/5 ARM with 23 years remaining. I am saving 15% of my pre-tax income toward retirement, have an emergency fund and am saving towards large expenses like my kids’ college, a new car, etc. However, I still have some extra money at the end of the month. Should I pay down my mortgage or invest it in a brokerage account? I have been at my current post for several years and ...

Several weeks ago we discussed the characteristics common to those who are able to build wealth over time. Today, I’m going to introduce you to a real live example of a pastor who has done it. View post