Jim Henry

__Summer is here in full swing and while it’s the traditional season for vacations, this year can continue to present challenges.__ 

Not surprisingly, sales of trampolines, above-ground pools and other home-based escapes have risen, even with price tags ranging from $500 to $2,000.

If you’re desperate for inexpensive ways to occupy a brood of bored children, rest assured that entertainment doesn’t have to be pricey. Here are 10 free summer family fun ideas that won’t break the bank.

1. __Rethink your local library.__ If you haven’t been there in a while, you may have forgotten that it’s a great place to research hundreds of family activities that entertain and educate. Many libraries are reopening with limited hours and new restrictions, so call ahead before venturing out.
2. __While you’re browsing through the library stacks, look for ways to bring the fun outside.__ For example, check out books with pictures of the constellations. That night you can sit in the backyard and search the skies for the Big Dipper and other celestial formations. It’s also a great time to talk about God’s creation.
3. __Visit a county or state park.__ While some remain closed, many are starting to reopen. Call ahead for details. If one is open nearby, take a hike, enjoy some fresh air, and use the opportunity to teach the kids about nature.
4. __On rainy days, look for indoor activities.__ A blanket fort can turn an afternoon into an adventure and if we’re being honest, some adults love them too!
5. __Have a yard sale with your family “wares” spread out on tables or in groupings six feet apart.__ Here’s an activity that can turn closet clutter into extra cash. It’s also a chance to teach kids the value of things.
6. __Encourage them to tithe on their profits.__
7. __You may already be taking family walks around the neighborhood.__ Step it up by researching local places of interest. Start with any historical markers in your town that you’ve probably driven by hundreds of times without stopping. On your walking tour, have the kids read the markers out loud, then discuss what they’ve learned over a picnic lunch.
8. __You’ve probably been hitting the nearby playgrounds.__ For variety, how about a short field trip to a playground in the next town? Bring a ball or a frisbee and play *with* the kids. We can all use a little more fresh air and exercise.
9. __Arrange an “entertainment swap” with friends__—maintaining proper distancing, of course. Exchange movies or video games for the weekend. It will feel like you’ve bought something new without spending any money!
10. __Do some D-I-Y.__ Help the kids build airplanes or kites with scrap paper and have a competition to see which ones fly the farthest or highest. For design ideas, see Item #1, the library.

We’ve saved the best for last. While on one of your family walks, visit an elderly or disabled person in your neighborhood. While you’re chatting, take notice of anything you and your children might do to help them out and then offer to do it. It’s a great way to share the Gospel and the love of Christ. It will also help teach your children respect for others and appreciation for what God has given them. 

__We hope these ideas provide your family with fun and educational activities that bring you closer together without straining your budget!__

Biblical Wisdom For Your Financial Journey

MoneyWise

Articles

Summer is in full swing and while it’s the traditional season for vacations, this year presents added challenges.

10 Free Summer Family Fun Ideas

The biggest reason people continue to fall for pyramid schemes is probably greed, the desire to make a quick buck. Solomon certainly knew this when he wrote Proverbs 21:5, *“Steady plodding brings prosperity; hasty speculation brings poverty.”*


## In case you’re unfamiliar with how pyramid schemes work, they’re sometimes also called “Ponzi schemes,” named after Charles Ponzi who operated in the early 1920s.


He may not have invented the scheme named after him, but he certainly perfected it, at least until he was caught. Posing as an investing expert, Ponzi guaranteed clients a 50% profit within 45 days or 100% profit within 90 days.

The first people to buy in actually received those returns, but Ponzi was just paying those folks with the investments of later investors. As long as greedy people continued to buy in, the scheme went on. 

Still, that meant more and more investors had to be paid and when not enough new people were lured in, the whole thing collapsed, as all pyramid schemes do. By that time, the scam had gone on for over a year and cost investors $20 million. That would be 270 million in today’s dollars. Of course, all of this is highly illegal and Ponzi eventually served many years in prison.


## Investors may be a bit more savvy these days, perhaps not as easily taken in by a blatant pyramid scheme offering 50% profit in 45 days. 


But that doesn’t mean these schemes have gone away or that some people still aren’t taken in by them. The leopard has merely changed its spots.

It’s almost impossible to google “pyramid scheme” without getting numerous hits that also contain the phrase “multi-level marketing.” And for good reason, many so-called “MLMs” are actually pyramid schemes in disguise.

The Federal Trade Commission is charged with protecting the public from such scams. It defines an MLM as a company that sells products or services through person-to-person sales. Some are legitimate, some are not. 

The FTC says a pyramid scheme MLM can look a lot like the legitimate version and may even sell actual products, but warns that it could cost you and the people you’re pressed to recruit a good deal of time and money that you'll never get back.


## Pyramid scheme promoters will lure you with promises of how much you’ll earn. 


They may tell you that you can quit your job and get rich by selling the company’s products, but the FTC says that’s a lie.

They also say that most people who are taken in by a pyramid-style MLM eventually realize they’ll never sell enough product or recruit enough new victims to make any real money. In the end, they lose everything they’ve put into becoming an independent distributor for the pyramid scheme.

__The FTC gives some warning signs for spotting pyramid MLMs:__ 

- Promoters make extravagant promises about your earning potential. Don’t be taken in. Their promises are false.
- Promoters emphasize recruiting new distributors for your sales network as the real way to make money. That’s a dead giveaway. In a legitimate MLM program, your revenue would come from selling the product, not recruiting family and friends. Also, think of the damage to those relationships if loved ones are also defrauded. 
- Promoters play on your emotions and pressure you to “buy in now” or you’ll lose the opportunity of a lifetime. They’ll discourage you from taking time to study the company. The FTC says if that happens, “Leave by the nearest exit.” Any company that tries to pressure you to join is one to avoid.
- Finally, distributors buy more products than they can use or resell, just to stay eligible for potential, emphasis on potential, rewards or bonuses. You can’t make money by selling to yourself.

__So those are the warning signs of a possible pyramid-style multi-level marketing operation. Forewarned is forearmed.__

You can also __[listen](https://www.moneywise.org/search?q=Pyramid%20Schemes%20Still%20Exist&videos=true&articles=true&podcasts=true&posts=true&groups=true&events=true&support=true)__ to the related podcast on this topic.

Here are the warning signs of a possible pyramid-style multi-level marketing operation. Forewarned is forearmed.

Pyramid Schemes Still Exist

Robert Netzly

This is one of the first questions that ran through my mind when I was introduced to biblically responsible investing, and I have found I am not alone in that experience. I had to think this through: Is it hypocritical to screen out companies from my portfolio when I am still buying their products or services as a consumer?

On first pass it seems rather disjointed to be listening to music on my iPhone as I write this article using Microsoft Word, encouraging people to adopt an investment approach that would avoid investing in those companies (among others).

Is it hypocrisy to own an iPhone and exclude AAPL from my portfolio? To drink Starbucks coffee, but avoid buying SBUX? To keep TGT out of my portfolio but buy clothes for my five kids at Target stores? I do not want to be a hypocrite, so this is an important question to answer.

## Jesus and Hypocrisy

Interestingly, Jesus was accused precisely of this sin. The religious leaders of Israel derided Jesus as a hypocrite who preached against adultery yet conversed with prostitutes, who preached against theft yet accepted gifts from tax collectors, who advocated sobriety yet socialized with drunkards,

> *“And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”* (Matthew 9:10-11)
> 
> *“For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”* (Matthew 11:18-20)

So, was Jesus a hypocrite? Absolutely not! He understood and taught His disciples by His example that there is a critical difference between *association* with sinful people and *participation* with them in their sin. Biblically responsible investing is rooted in this principle.

## Salty Consumers and Bright Investors

As a consumer, like Jesus, we are certainly associating with businesses which have sinful elements to them. However, also like Jesus, we refuse to participate in the sinful elements of those businesses. As a Netflix subscriber I can choose to only participate in watching wholesome entertainment on their platform with my family without compromising God’s command of holiness. But if I buy shares of NFLX, I am willingly *participating* in the profits of hundreds of pornographic films and other sordid “TV-MA” content that Netflix produces and distributes. I can watch family friendly movies on Netflix to the glory of God, but I cannot watch pornography to the glory of God, nor can I willingly profit from other people watching pornography to the glory of God.

In short, consumers are morally responsible for the products and services they buy. Investors are morally responsible for the profits they are earning, whether from moral or immoral sources. This is the example Jesus left us with His life, to associate with the world but avoid participating with it’s sin. Following this pattern and teaching of Christ in every area of our life enables us as His blood-bought people to be the salt of the earth, the light of the world:

> *“‘You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.*
> 
> *‘You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.*
> 
> *‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.’”* (Matthew 5:13-17)

May every Christian’s portfolio be salty and bright! May every Christian investor keep the darkness out and instead invest in good works that give glory to our Father in heaven! And may you join us, your Christian brothers and sisters around the globe who are shining the light of Christ throughout the investing world to the glory of God.





**Advisory Services are offered through Inspire Investing, LLC, a Registered Investment Adviser with the SEC. All expressions of opinion are subject to change. This article is distributed for educational purposes, and it is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, recommendation, or endorsement of any particular security, products, or services. Investors should talk to their financial advisor prior to making any investment decision.*

Inspiring transformation for God’s glory by empowering Christian investors through  biblically responsible investing excellence and innovation.

Inspire Investing

Investing

Is it hypocrisy to own an iPhone and exclude AAPL from my portfolio? Here's my perspective.

Is Biblically Responsible Investing Hypocritical

College can be a very expensive place to “find yourself.” When young people enter school without clarity about what to study, that can cause them to switch majors, and that can delay their graduation. In fact, fewer than 40% of college students complete a bachelor’s degree within four years. And with today’s sticker prices topping $25,000 per year at a four-year public school (the total for in-state tuition, room & board, and fees before scholarships or grants are subtracted) and nearly $51,000 at a private school, the cost of delay can add up quickly.

It behooves parents to do all they can to help their teens consider what type of career to pursue. Fortunately, there are resources that can help, including CliftonStrengths for Students and Career Direct.

## CliftonStrengths for Students

In the 1950s, psychologist Don Clifton helped pioneer a new approach within his field. Instead of studying the causes of mental illness, he and a handful of others focused on the causes of mental wellness. In particular, Clifton was interested in what made some people more successful than others. After many years spent developing various assessments, and at first applying his learnings toward helping companies recruit high-potential employees, his company merged with Gallup, the famous polling firm. Clifton, who died in 2003, is known as the father of strengths-based psychology.

“The idea of strengths-based development is that there are certain patterns of thought, feeling, and behavior you have that come really, really naturally to you,” according to Maika Leibbrandt, Gallup senior workplace strategist. “So, it’s not just describing your personality, or your likes, or your hobbies, or your skills, but what’s under that…. So, who you are, who you can’t help but be.”

Today, some 27 million people worldwide have completed the CliftonStrengths assessment, including a version designed for young people (ages 16 or older), [CliftonStrengths for Students](https://www.strengthsquest.com/home.aspx).

The assessment contains nearly 200 paired statements (“which one best describes you?”) and can be completed in about 30 minutes. The output identifies a young person’s top 10 out of 34 “themes of talent” — from Activator (an impatience for action) to Focus (you need a clear destination), and from Positivity (you’re generous with praise) to Strategic (you see patterns where others see complexity).

Leibbrandt explained that themes of talent are raw ingredients. When “productively applied,” they become strengths, and the report received after completing the assessment guides them in turning talents into strengths. With the CliftonStrengths for Students version of the assessment, parents receive guidance as well, so they can help their children take those next steps.

For families trying to help point their teen toward career options, and therefore, a course of study in college, the assessment can help. For example, Leibbrandt said hers told her to “consider a career that allows you to stay active, have short deadlines, and be involved with a lot of people like teaching or journalism.” It purposefully doesn’t get overly specific because, Leibbrandt pointed out, “chances are good that the jobs our kids will do one day don’t exist yet.” But understanding what gives a person energy and drive, what makes “you uniquely you,” can help not only suggest good career options but also what sort of college would be a good fit and how to get the most out of college.

The CliftonStrengths for Students assessment costs [$19.99 to $49.99](https://store.gallup.com/c/en-us/for-education/assessments), depending on the level of detail you want in the report. There’s also a StrengthsExplorer assessment available that’s designed for younger students.

## Career Direct

For many years, Crown Financial Ministries has helped older teens and young adults discover how their unique God-given mix of personality, skills, values, and interests could suggest certain career options. Crown’s [Career Direct ](https://careerdirect.org/)assessment was created 30 years ago because ministry co-founder Larry Burkett had encountered so many people who were unhappy in their jobs. Since then, more than 325,000 students and adults have completed the process.

The online assessment, designed for people as young as 16, contains 550 questions, covering four dimensions of a person’s design: their interests, personality, values, and skills. The section on interests is the largest, with 200 questions helping users gauge their interest in a wide variety of subjects, activities, and occupations. The personality section examines 16 aspects of personality, helping people thoroughly understand how they think, interact, and react to people and situations.

The report generated after completing the assessment helps clarify strengths and weaknesses, skills and abilities, interests and values — all helping to point toward potential areas of study in school and careers to consider.

The Career Direct assessment costs [$25 to $80](https://careerdirect.org/pricing), depending on the level of detail desired. There’s an option to meet with a consultant as well.

## Modern tools for a timeless quest

[Ephesians 2:10](https://biblia.com/bible/niv/Eph%202.10) says *“We are  God’s handiwork created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.”* Each and every person has been uniquely designed by God and has a purpose to pursue through their work.

Some people understand that from a very early age, but most would benefit from some help, and that’s where assessments like CliftonStrengths for Students and Career Direct come in.

Both can give young people much greater self-awareness, helping them find the intersection between their God-given talents and passions and career options where they can put those talents and passions to their most productive, satisfying, God-glorifying use.

Since 1990, do-it-yourself Christian investors have relied on SMI for proven strategies and trustworthy guidance.

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Faith and Finance

College can be a very expensive place to “find yourself.”

Helping Your Kids Find Their Way

While we may not hear as much about pyramid schemes these days, make no mistake, they’re alive and well. Today on MoneyWise, we’ll help you spot the warning signs to avoid being a victim of these schemes. 
<ul><li>The biggest reason folks fall for pyramid schemes is greed. It’s the desire to make a quick buck. Solomon sure knew what he was talking about when he wrote Proverbs 21:5, “Steady plodding brings prosperity; hasty speculation brings poverty.”</li><li>THE PYRAMID SCHEME</li><li>Pyramid schemes are sometimes also called “Ponzi schemes,” named after Charles Ponzi who operated in the early 1920s.</li><li>Posing as an investing expert, Ponzi guaranteed clients a 50% profit within 45 days or 100% profit within 90 days.</li><li>The first people to buy in actually received those returns, but Ponzi was actually paying those folks with the investments of later investors. As long as greedy people continued to invest, the scheme went on. </li><li>But that meant more and more investors had to be paid, and when not enough new people were lured in, the whole thing collapsed, as all pyramid schemes do. By that time, the scheme had gone on for over a year and cost investors $20 million. That would be $270 million in today’s dollars. Of course, all of this is highly illegal and Ponzi eventually served many years in prison.</li><li>Many such schemes aren’t quite as blatant or obvious as they once were, but they definitely still exist. The leopard has merely changed his spots.</li><li>LEGITIMATE MULTI-LEVEL OR PYRAMID SCHEME?</li><li>It’s almost impossible to google “pyramid scheme” without getting hits that also contain the phrase “multi-level marketing.” And that’s for good reason. Many so-called “MLMs” are actually pyramid schemes in disguise.</li><li>The Federal Trade Commission is charged with protecting the public from such scams. It defines an MLM as a company that sells products or services through person-to-person sales. Some are legitimate, but some are not. </li><li>The FTC says a pyramid scheme MLM can look a lot like the legitimate version and may even sell actual products but warns that it could cost you and the people you’re pressed to recruit a good deal of time and money that you'll never get back.</li><li>Pyramid scheme promoters will lure you with promises of how much you’ll earn. They may tell you that you can quit your job and get rich by selling the company’s products, but the FTC says that’s a lie.</li><li>They also say that most people who get taken in by a pyramid-style MLM eventually realize that they’ll never be able to sell enough product or recruit enough new victims to make any real money. In the end, they lose everything they’ve put into becoming an independent distributor for the pyramid scheme.</li><li>THE WARNING SIGNS</li><li>So how do you spot one of these pyramid MLMs? The FTC has some warning signs:</li><li>Promoters make extravagant promises about your earning potential. Don’t be taken in. Those promises are false. </li><li>Promoters emphasize recruiting new distributors for your sales network as the real way to make money. That’s a dead giveaway. In a legitimate MLM program, your revenue would come from selling the product, not from recruiting family and friends. And think of the damage to those relationships if loved ones are also defrauded. </li><li>Promoters play on your emotions and pressure you to “buy-in now” or you’ll lose the opportunity of a lifetime. They’ll discourage you from taking time to study the company. The FTC says if that happens, “Leave by the nearest exit.” Any company that tries to pressure you to join is one to avoid. </li><li>And finally, distributors buy more products than they want to use or can resell, just to stay eligible for potential … emphasis potential … rewards or bonuses. You can’t make money by selling to yourself. </li><li>Those are the warning signs of a possible pyramid-style multi-level marketing operation. Forewarned is forearmed.</li></ul>On this program, Rob also answers listener questions: 
<ul><li>How do you know when you’re on track to have sufficient retirement savings? </li><li>How do you determine when it’s time to retire?</li></ul>Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000 or email them to <a href="mailto:questions@moneywise.org">Questions@MoneyWise.org</a>. Also, visit our website at <a href="http://moneywise.org/">MoneyWise.org</a> where you can connect with a MoneyWise Coach, join the MoneyWise Community, and even download the free MoneyWise app.

MoneyWise is a daily radio ministry of MoneyWise Media. Hosted by Rob West and Steve Moore, the program offers a practical, biblical and good-natured approach to managing your time, talents and resources.

MoneyWise with Rob West

Did you hear about the guy who lost everything investing in ancient archaeology? Turns out it was just a pyramid scheme. Being taken in by a real life pyramid scheme is a lot worse than that joke and there are plenty scheme  out there.

Proverbs 18 says when you find a wife you find a good thing. Rob West expands on that by sharing some stats that point to financial blessings gained through marriage.

The MoneyWise Minute is a great way to be reminded of God's financial principles with actionable items you can easily apply to your daily life.

MoneyWise Minute

Proverbs 18 says when you find a wife you find a good thing. Rob West expands on that by sharing some stats that point to financial blessings gained through marriage.

Financial Blessings of Marriage

The Bible teaches us to live differently.

*“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will”* ([Romans 12:2](https://biblia.com/bible/niv/Rom%2012.2)).

That applies to all aspects of our lives, including how we invest. While Scripture doesn’t weigh in on the differences between Roth IRAs and Traditional IRAs, or offer guidance on choosing between a market order and a limit order, it *does* provide numerous principles that can (and *should*) guide Christians in our investing. Here are nine such principles.

> __1. Know your role.__

> Our culture would have us believe we own our home, our cars, and our investment account. The Bible says otherwise.
> 
> *“The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters”* ([Psalm 24:1-2](https://biblia.com/bible/niv/Ps%2024.1-2)).
> 
> Acknowledging God’s ownership of everything is the essential starting point of biblical money management. Likewise, it is the essential starting point of investing. We are stewards, or managers, of whatever God generously and temporarily entrusts to our care. Investing money in light of this truth means doing so for God’s purposes and according to His principles.
> 
> __2. Pursue multiplication.__

> In the Parable of the Talents ([Matthew 25:14-30](https://biblia.com/bible/niv/Matt%2025.14-30)), Jesus uses the story of a wealthy man entrusting his possessions to three servants to depict God entrusting each of us with some of His resources. Here are three important points gleaned from this parable:
> The amount we’re given to manage is based on our current abilities (v. 15);
> The Lord will one day return and He’ll want to see what we have done with what He entrusted to us (v. 19);
> If we manage His resources well — in other words, if we make something more of what He entrusts to us — He’ll entrust us with more to manage (v. 20-23).

> __3. Motives matter.__

> The Bible doesn’t encourage multiplying money for the sake of multiplying money or so that we can live a life of comfort (see [Luke 12:13-21](https://biblia.com/bible/niv/Luke%2012.13-21)). In God’s economy, multiplication is all about impact.
> 
> Scripture teaches that our lives are to be about loving God ([Matthew 22:36-38](https://biblia.com/bible/niv/Matt%2022.36-38)), loving people ([Matthew 22:39](https://biblia.com/bible/niv/Matt%2022.39)), and making a God-glorifying difference ([Ephesians 2:10](https://biblia.com/bible/niv/Eph%202.10)).
> 
> Financially, some important ways we can fulfill those purposes are by giving generously toward Kingdom-building causes ([Proverbs 3:9](https://biblia.com/bible/niv/Prov%203.9)) and providing for our families ([1 Timothy 5:8](https://biblia.com/bible/niv/1%20Tim%205.8)). While we’re in the paid workforce, our salary enables us to do both. However, one day most of us will retire from full-time paid work. Investing wisely now can give us the means to continue giving even after our salary days are over — whether that means giving appreciated assets or leaving some of our estate to our church or other ministries. Investing also enables us to build a nest egg to help provide for our family in later life.
> 
> __4. Expect difficult times.__

> A verse in the Old Testament book of Job says *“man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward”* ([Job 5:7](https://biblia.com/bible/niv/Job%205.7)). When trouble comes, it shouldn’t surprise us! We’ve been forewarned. Trouble is certainly common in the investing world.
> 
> While the stock market’s long-term trajectory has been upward, it has not moved up on a straight line. According to [investing blogger Ben Carlson](https://awealthofcommonsense.com/2022/01/how-often-should-you-expect-a-stock-market-correction/), on average since 1950, the market has experienced a “correction” (a decline of 10% or more from its most recent high) every two years, a “bear market” (a decline of 20% or more) every seven years, and a “crash” (a decline of 30% or more) every 12 years.
> 
> Knowing some stock market history can help us take the market’s ups and downs in stride.
> 
> __5. Guard your heart.__

> Our God-given emotions enable us to enjoy the richness of life. They can also get us in trouble. That’s why the Bible instructs us to “guard” our heart ([Proverbs 4:23](https://biblia.com/bible/niv/Prov%204.23)).
> 
> Two emotions that can be especially challenging for investors are fear and greed. Of the many risks investors face, perhaps the greatest is the risk of getting in one’s own way by letting such emotions dictate investing decisions. When the market is growing, greed can tempt us to invest more aggressively than we should. When the market is falling, fear can tempt us to run for cover. That’s why, in addition to knowing some market history, the next three principles are so important.
> 
> __6. Think long-term.__

> The Bible teaches us to build wealth slowly.
> 
> *“Steady plodding brings prosperity; hasty speculation brings poverty”* ([Proverbs 21:5](https://biblia.com/bible/niv/Prov%2021.5) TLB).
> 
> A biblical approach to investing takes a long-term view of the stock market. History demonstrates that time favors the patient investor. On any given day, the market has a slightly better than 50% chance of rising. As the time horizon expands, the higher that percentage becomes. For example, there has never been a 20-year period when the market has declined.
> 
> __7. Diversify.__

> Scripture teaches us not to put all of our eggs in one basket.
> 
> *“But divide your investments among many places, for you do not know what risks might lie ahead”* ([Ecclesiastes 11:2](https://biblia.com/bible/niv/Eccles%2011.2)).
> 
> If you invest your entire portfolio in a single stock and that stock has a bad year, that’s a problem. But if you invest in 10 to 20 stocks and one of them has a bad year, the performance of the others may balance that out. That’s the idea behind diversification.
> 
> Investing in mutual funds, as opposed to individual stocks, is a simple way to diversify your investments. A mutual fund is a pool of money from many investors that is invested in many stocks (or other types of investment).
> 
> A crucial next step is deciding *how* to diversify by determining your [optimal asset allocation](https://soundmindinvesting.com/resources/calculators/risk-tolerance-quiz). That will tell you, based on your age and investing temperament, how to best balance the competing goals of growth and safety with an appropriate mix of stock funds and bond funds.
> 
> __8. Use wise counselors.__

> The Bible encourages us to seek the input of trusted advisers.
> 
> *“Plans succeed through good counsel”* ([Proverbs 20:18](https://biblia.com/bible/niv/Prov%2020.18)). By the same token, *“Plans fail for lack of counsel” *([Proverbs 15:22](https://biblia.com/bible/niv/Prov%2015.22)).
> 
> Investing can be challenging to do entirely on one’s own. Fortunately, good counsel is readily at hand, whether via an investment newsletter or a financial advisor.
> 
> __9. Trust in God.__

> The Bible says, *“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God”* ([Psalm 20:7](https://biblia.com/bible/niv/Ps%2020.7)). Perhaps nothing sets the Christian investor apart from others more than this: in good times and bad, our trust is in the Lord.
> 
> In the aftermath of the pandemic-fueled market crash of early 2020, it was encouraging to [survey SMI’s members](https://soundmindinvesting.com/articles/view/the-marks-of-a-christian-investor) and see so many crediting their faith, prayer, and meditating on the truth of God’s Word for helping them get through that troubling time. Over 500 members sent us more than 70 verses of Scripture that they turned to for comfort and reassurance.

## Principles into practice

Imagine the good that would come about if all Christ-followers used these nine principles to guide their investing. Imagine how much more portfolios — and more importantly, impact — could be multiplied. Imagine how much more money could flow toward Kingdom purposes and how much better families would be provided for.

Imagine how much more peace of mind would be experienced by Christian investors — so much so that others might notice, ask questions, and be introduced not just to good investment counsel but to the Good News. Imagine how much more God would be glorified.

The Bible teaches us to live differently, and this applies to aspect of our lives.

What Every Christian Needs to Know About Investing

Rob West

Ron Blue

Howard Dayton

Equipping people worldwide to faithfully apply God’s financial principles so they may know Christ more intimately.

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Mark Biller

Where timeless biblical wisdom meets today's financial decisions.

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Financial health is just a means to a greater end. I want to see you in a place where you are living and giving generously, advancing God's Kingdom, without the hindrance of debt or any other financial barrier.

Give generously. Save wisely. Live appropriately.

You were meant for more. Your money was meant for more. You and your money are meant for an exciting, adventurous, and satisfying purpose. You were designed to live and give generously. And deep inside you know this and want this.

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Investing can be more than just returns

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Join a movement of investors, fund managers and leaders who believe that God owns it all and he cares deeply about why and how we steward his investments.

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Behind every great movement of God are generous leaders who partner with those who proclaim the gospel. We call them Gospel Patrons.

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NCF helps people create a giving strategy based on biblical principles, so they can be wise stewards of all they have and experience the joy of greater generosity.

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Jewel Burks

Since I’ve been able to work, I’ve worked multiple jobs. During summers growing up, I worked in the businesses started by my grandparents in Mobile, AL and passed down to my father and his siblings. You could find me doing everything from working the register at their BP gas station to preparing sandwiches in my father’s Subway. When I went to college, despite having a full ride academic scholarship at Howard University, I took full advantage of work study opportunities — working “security” in the evenings at the School of Business and working in the afternoons as a part-time instructor at MS², Howard’s on campus Middle School for Math and Science. Even as I worked my first full time job at Google, I moonlighted as a fashion model, signed to the now defunct, San Francisco based, City Model Management, and doing runway shows and local advertisements on the evenings and weekends to bring in an extra thousand dollars per month. Fear of being stuck in a generational cycle of debt and financial insecurity or not having enough money to pursue my dreams has always been a driving force in my life and decisions.

When I was a little girl, I saw my mother work long hours to start her own business — an insurance agency that she’s now run for nearly 25 years. In the early days of her business, I saw her cry when she didn’t have enough money to pay herself, or when she couldn’t afford to enroll me in dance lessons because money was low. I saw her wrestle with the racism and prejudice she faced from customers and as new books of business were doled out — where she seemingly always got the scraps. In my teenage years, her business became more stable and prosperous as she grew her base of loyal customers and became a leader in the community. However, at that same time I witnessed my father’s family businesses get squeezed out by large oil companies that had instituted discriminatory pricing, which did not leave room for a profit at the handful of gas stations our family owned. I saw the heartbreak my father endured as he lacked the resources he needed to fight to keep them alive.


![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/564f7afce4b04eeb472f4242/1600521854436-CDRB2TMMIKF39D132WJN/Resized_20200903_165716.jpg?format=750w)


My biggest takeaway from watching the entrepreneurial journeys of both my parents was that in order to achieve any level of success I would have to work harder and sacrifice more than most. I learned that there would be many things I cannot control in life and business — but the one thing I can always control is what I put into achieving any goal. I learned that racism would play a role in my journey, but I must never let it knock me off my path. I also realized that because of the turbulence of their entrepreneurial paths, my parents were not in a position to help me financially as I transitioned into adulthood. I decided that I should put myself in a position to help them, my family and community, instead.

When I came up with the idea for my startup Partpic in December 2012, I’d already started saving money to go back to school to get my MBA. I knew I wanted to minimize the amount of debt I needed to take on to do so. I distinctly remember being inspired by Elliott Robinson who spoke to my Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) MBA Prep cohort and described how he worked full time as a VC at Syncom while getting his MBA at Columbia. I spoke with my coach about the feasibility of doing something similar, because I couldn’t fathom going two years without a salary while also taking on debt. As my coaching calls continued, the conversations shifted from planning my responses to essay questions, to me telling my coach the details of Partpic. With her blessing and nudge that I could always pursue business school at a later time if things didn’t work out with my idea, I decided to re-purpose the money I’d saved for business school to launch Partpic.

As I started Partpic and began to use the money I’d saved to cover my bills and to pay early contractors who I’d brought on to build the first prototypes of Partpic, I quickly realized that the distance between where I was with the technology and where I’d need to be in order to begin generating enough revenue to sustain was more than I’d saved up. So I reverted back to what I’ve always known I can do — work more. I collaborated with my mentor, Chris Genteel, on a plan for me to return to Google in the capacity of Entrepreneur in Residence. Chris led Google’s business inclusion efforts and saw an opportunity for me to rejoin with the specific goal of teaching other underrepresented small business owners how to use Google products in their businesses by hosting workshops and speaking at various conferences around the country. This role gave me the ability to earn a paycheck and continue working on Partpic. The money I earned went to pay contractors for early development work. It also allowed me to buy my first home, which I later used as collateral when I took out a loan to float Partpic when the negotiations with Amazon took longer than expected and as we were boxed out of raising additional financing. Lastly, my stock units that had vested over the nearly 3 years I worked at Google while building Partpic, gave me a last resort option when I needed one more month of runway to pay my team of 14 people. I was able to cash in my stock and pay my team to ensure we never missed a payday. The money I raised for Partpic ($2.1M) was not enough to get the business to the finish line and most investors did not have enough conviction in me/the business to reinvest when they had the opportunity. I had enough conviction to cover that gap, and had faith that my hard work would pay off. It did, and we signed the deal to sell Partpic to Amazon on October 31, 2016. Betting on myself has yielded me an incredible return on my investment in the business. We will never know how much more some investors could have yielded had their decisions not been clouded by bias.

Although I was able to make a life-changing amount of money through the sale of Partpic, I’ve always viewed this as a foundation of generational wealth for my family — not as a personal victory. Where my parents were not able to assist me financially, I have positioned myself so that my younger siblings and future children will not have to struggle financially. While at Amazon, I began to think deeply about what I wanted to do next. I had a persistent desire to right a wrong I saw in my own journey. I knew that many investors had not given me a fair shot because of my identity as a Black woman building in the south and I wanted to ensure that other Black entrepreneurs didn’t experience the same obstacles. I began angel investing in 2017 in companies with checks ranging from $10–60K and I realized that given the high risk nature of startups and the long return cycles, I’d run out of personal capital to invest and would need to find ways to scale my approach. As I was approaching three years at Amazon (the required number of years for me to vest the deal stock from the sale of Partpic), though incredibly tempted to take a break and reflect on what had happened in the 7 years prior, I decided that I would need to continue to work to fulfill the purpose that had been nagging at me. I joined forces with my friends and fellow entrepreneurs Justin Dawkins and Barry Givens, and threw my attention to the establishment of our fund, Collab Capital — to invest in more Black entrepreneurs and do it in a way that better aligns the interests of those entrepreneurs to us as investors.

As I learned more about the development of a fund, I realized it would require a substantial financial investment (in the neighborhood of $1.5M from the GP) to establish it. For one, most institutional investors require a track record of investments. I’d invested about $300,000 of personal capital into startups to support founders I believed in and to learn more about investing. However, in early Limited Partner (LP) discussions, I realized that for some this did not meet their threshold for track record given the dollar amounts invested and relative newness of the companies. Given Collab Capital’s unique profit-share model, legal costs for new documents meant substantial upfront investment. Additionally, the traditional fund structure of a 2 and 20 model means that as fund managers we can draw 2% management fees when the fund is raised to run the fund and bank on receiving the majority of our compensation as carry in the fund after we’ve returned initial investments to our LPs. However, in order to establish and raise the fund — which can take up to two years on average — we’d have to self fund the operation.

As I was thinking through these realities, I learned of a new role at Google to lead Google for Startups in the US. I decided to interview for the role because I knew that in every way possible my 30s would be dedicated to righting the wrongs I experienced as a startup founder in my 20s. I saw the opportunity to lead at Google as a chance to increase my capacity to level the playing field for underrepresented startup founders and help steer Google’s work in this area. Because I’d done it before while building Partpic, I knew that I could take on the responsibility of a role at Google while also leading the establishment of and fundraising at Collab Capital. I also knew that taking on the job would help alleviate some of the financial burden of establishing Collab Capital completely out of the nest egg I established via Partpic. Lastly, I knew that in the same ways people doubted my ability to lead Partpic and work at Google, that they would also question my decision to lead Collab Capital and work as Head of Google for Startups, US.

As our country faces the most captivating racial reckoning of our lifetime, I am challenging everyone to think differently about the rules and systems they covet and who those rules and systems are keeping from opportunity. I offer the following questions for consideration to LPs who have disqualified Collab Capital because I hold multiple positions as we establish the fund and anyone else who looks down on emerging fund managers who find creative ways to break into the industry:

Without family support and/or generational wealth, how would one be able to bear the costs of establishing a new fund?

Is holding multiple positions only acceptable for rich, powerful white men like Jack Dorsey, Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos, each of whom own/run multiple large corporations simultaneously?

What does meritocracy mean to you? Can its promise be achieved if only wealthy people have an opportunity to succeed?

Thank you for considering these thoughts and questions. I welcome dialogue about what we can do as a collective to ensure future generations of Black people and people from other historically disadvantaged groups do not have to work twice as hard to simply have a chance at building generational wealth and participating fully in the innovation economy.
__*[Click here to read the full article](http://www.jewelburks.com/blog/2020/9/19/why-i-always-have-two-jobs-1), originally by [Jewel Burks](http://www.jewelburks.com/)*__

Since I’ve been able to work, I’ve worked multiple jobs.

Why I Always Have 2 Jobs

In your 30s and 40s, preparing financially for retirement is a remote concern. Financial concerns and obligations of a more pressing nature take precedence over a nebulous need that remains decades away.

However, when you reach your 50s, retirement preparedness takes on a sense of urgency. The years are now zooming by. Will you be ready when your earning days are over?

## Heed the voices of experience

When researchers asked current retirees to reflect on their retirement preparations, common regrets include borrowing too much during their working years, retiring too early, and not saving enough money. A [2018 report](https://www.transamericacenter.org/docs/default-source/retirees-survey/tcrs2018_sr_retirees_survey_financially_faring.pdf) (PDF) from the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies emphasized that last one, noting fewer than half of today’s retirees are confident that they built a large enough nest egg.

As for current workers, those saving little or nothing for their retirement years often say they can’t — they don’t make enough money to cover their bills and save. For some, that’s undoubtedly true. But many others could save more if they adopted specific behavioral and lifestyle changes.

Below, we list five common obstacles that hamper financial preparation for retirement — and we provide specific suggestions for moving past them.

__1. No Roadmap__

According to a [2021 survey](https://www.ebri.org/docs/default-source/rcs/2021-rcs/rcs_21-fs-3_prep.pdf) (PDF) by the Employee Benefits Research Institute, only half of current workers “have ever tried to calculate how much money they will need to have saved so that they can live comfortably in retirement.” Even workers with an employer-sponsored retirement plan (or an IRA) were only slightly more likely (57%) to have made such calculations.

*__What to do?__*
SMI members should get acquainted with MoneyGuide, the award-winning financial planning software that can assess your current financial condition and plot a path toward a secure retirement. MoneyGuide, available to [Premium-level members](https://soundmindinvesting.com/MoneyGuidePro) for a one-time $50 fee, provides a clear picture of how much to save/invest each month to reach your retirement goals. (For “ballpark” calculations, try Vanguard’s free [online retirement calculator](https://retirementplans.vanguard.com/VGApp/pe/pubeducation/calculators/RetirementNestEggCalc.jsf).) 
  
__2. Insufficient Management__

Many people believe tracking and managing their spending is too restrictive — and too much work. On the contrary, [good money management](https://soundmindinvesting.com/articles/view/if-you-hate-to-budget-youre-not-doing-it-right) is freeing, and [apps/software](https://soundmindinvesting.com/articles/view/a-new-money-management-app-that-emphasizes-christian-stewardship) have made it less time-consuming. Knowing how much you can spend on this or that, all the while knowing your plan enables you to live generously and save and invest adequately, is empowering.

__*What to do?*__
Of the various budgeting tools available — from apps to spreadsheets to paper-and-pencil — the best one for you is the one you’ll actually use. You’ll discover that better management of your day-to-day finances is remarkably effective in freeing up funds to put toward retirement savings.
 
__3. Undermined by Overhead__

Housing is probably your largest expense, so it’s crucial to keep your spending in this category [within certain boundaries](https://soundmindinvesting.com/articles/view/making-sure-your-house-doesnt-own-you1). Generally speaking, it’s best to keep the combination of your mortgage, property taxes, and homeowners insurance to no more than 25% of your monthly gross income — even better if you can keep it to no more than 20%.

__*What to do?*__
If you’re spending above those targets, pray about doing something radical: selling your home and buying a more affordable one. Given the recent run-up in housing prices, finding a more affordable place may not be easy. But don’t reject the idea without looking into it. Who knows what you might discover?
 
__4. Squeezed by Car Payments__

Carrying car-related debt is a big reason many people have no financial cushion. Auto payments, which often stretch out for six or seven years, make it difficult to save for retirement.

__*What to do?*__
If you have a financed vehicle, commit to paying it off. Then, continue to drive that car for as many years as possible. Redirect the amount you had been paying on the auto loan toward savings — some for your next vehicle, some for retirement.
 
__5. Not Facing up to Reality__

Optimism is a good thing, but being overly optimistic can keep us from a sober assessment of probabilities. According to a [2021 Transamerica survey](https://transamericainstitute.org/docs/default-source/research/2021-retirement-outlook-compendium-report.pdf) (PDF), nearly 60% of workers plan to keep working at least part-time in retirement — primarily to continue earning income. It is unlikely that most of them will be able to do so, at least based on the work status of people currently in the 65-74 age range. Only [about 25% of such people](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/civilian-labor-force-participation-rate.htm) are still working for pay. The percentage drops to less than 10% for those over age 75.

Although it’s fine to plan to work in your later years, don’t presume that you’ll be able to continue to earn income. Maybe you will, but most likely, you won’t. A [2018 study](https://www.transamericacenter.org/docs/default-source/retirees-survey/tcrs2018_sr_retirees_survey_financially_faring.pdf) (PDF) found that more than half of retirees had to leave the workforce sooner than they had planned, often because of job losses or health concerns.

__*What to do?*__
Plan vocationally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually to work as long as possible! But, when it comes to your finances, assume that you will retire somewhere between the ages of 65 and 70 and plan accordingly.

## Take action

How confident are you that you’re saving enough for retirement? If you’re falling short, identify the things that are holding you back from saving more and do something about them. The time to start is today.

Retirement

The years continue to zoom  by. Will you be ready when your earning days are over?

Overcoming 5 Obstacles to Saving for Retirement

*“Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.” -* 1 Chronicles 29:11

All things.

It’s hard to grasp the extent of God’s ownership at times. We work for the things we get. The house, the car, the clothes, the money. It’s easier to see that a home or car may not be truly ours, because many of us take out a loan to buy them. But how about the things we bought with cash? Those are ours… right?

__It’s always the better decision to buy with cash than to borrow. God wants us free to serve Him, and He does not wish for any of His children to be lorded by anyone or anything (Proverbs 22:7). But He controls it all (1 Chronicles 29:11-12).__

Not only did our Father create the heavens and the earth­­­—and everything in the earth—but He also created us and the animals, too (Psalm 24:1).  If we think about a child two parents had, that’s still considered their child, no matter how old their son or daughter gets. Think about an invention. Thomas Edison patented the light bulb and called the invention his. No matter what happens afterward, it’s still his. That’s how it works with God. He gets the credit for everything. He was the Maker and forever will be the Owner. That goes for our children and our inventions, too. He created us. So, whatever we create is His.

“You are the Author, I am the clay. Mold me and make me.” It’s from an old hymn, and it shares how big a role God plays in our lives: the ultimate role. Our gifts, our talents, our achievements, our money all comes from the Lord. And it’s not by accident. What we receive from God and what we do with it all comes from Him by design. He gives and He takes away (Job 1:21).

__The house, the car, the clothes, the food. The Lord provides. Even the job. He is our Promoter. He can also demote us, if and when He pleases (Psalm 75:7).__ Think back to the kings in the Bible who so easily lost their kingdom and were replaced with another (1 Samuel 15). And think about how many battles were won by people who, logically speaking, should have so easily been overtaken. David versus Goliath. God gave David the ability to defeat the decorated warrior (1 Samuel 17). Solomon was born, having no direct way to the throne. But the Lord gave him the City of David and its people (1 Kings 1:15-30). And He gave Solomon the wisdom to know right from wrong (1 Kings 3:5-14).

Nothing we do or say is above the Lord’s control (Proverbs 16:33). If He so pleases, He can harden our hearts or choose to soften them (Exodus 14:4; Deuteronomy 2:30). What a Master… That He would take the time to fearfully and wonderfully make each one of us. Yet, at the same time, He took the time to carefully place the gold and silver in the earth (Haggai 2:8). It’s only right that we give Him the thanks and praise for how He provides for us in our lives.

__Because He took the time, let us take the time, as well. To give Him the glory for the things He has done. To give Him credit for the gifts He has given us. To give Him praise for the strength He has instilled in us. To give Him the first fruits of what He has put in our possession. For He is worthy to be praised.__

The Bible on Money

What does the Bible say about God's role with money & possessions?

God's Role With Money & Possessions

Parenting is one of the most demanding and most rewarding endeavors a person can engage in. Trying to influence, shape, and mold another human being to grow up and be a good, productive, and responsible person is difficult. One day you’re the hero, and the next, you’re the villain because kids want to do their own thing, just like the rest of us. __When it comes to teaching kids about money, it’s essential to know when, what, and how to do it because so many major life decisions hinge on it.__

# When do you start teaching kids about money?

Much of the way we think, feel, and believe is shaped in the early years of our childhood. It is the time when our brains form neuro pathways and fully develop. During the first seven years, children are very impressionable as they try to learn and make sense of the world. __An excellent time to begin teaching kids about money is as soon as they become aware of money, which will most like occur between the ages of three and five.__

When your kids begin to ask for things they want, like a toy, a dress, or a coloring book, it’s time to teach them the value of money. I remember talking with our two daughters when they were 5 and 7 years old. My wife, Natalie, and I decided to begin giving them an allowance to teach them about money and encourage completing basic chores to keep our home more organized and clean.

We told them that daddy worked, and he earned a certain amount of money by working. Mommy’s work consisted of taking care of our home and providing for the daily needs of our family, which also included taking care of them. When daddy got paid, the money belonged to the whole family, and since it took everyone’s efforts to keep things running well in our home, we thought it fitting to pay them for doing their part. This system taught them the reward of work as well as the consequence of failing to do their work.

Although every child is different, and some may be more or less curious about money, you must begin asking them questions and answering their questions about money. __Children love to learn at this age, and if you make it fun and easy to grasp the concepts of money, they will show interest and begin learning about it.__

If your child is already past this age group, don’t worry. It’s never too late to begin teaching your kids about money. Depending on their age, you may have to offer more teaching and instruction that provides both the __philosophy of money__ (values and beliefs) and the __practical ways of managing it__ (planning and budgeting).

*For help on finding the best way to educate your child on money, make sure to check out the resources linked at the bottom of the page to assist you, no matter the age of your child.*

# What to Teach Your Kids About Money

The most important part we should teach our kids about money is what it is and what it means. Like so many other topics we teach our children, money is extensively portrayed and taught worldwide. __The world’s perspective on money is often tainted depending on who is teaching it.__ Much, if not most, of the education on finances comes from financial institutions and media outlets that have a financial motivation to cover this topic.

__The best source for financial education is the Bible. God’s word is full of wisdom and instructions about wealth, riches, and money.__ Financial principles like earning, saving, debt, investing, borrowing, co-signing, and many others are clearly defined in the word of God. Teaching our children what God has to say about one of the most important resources they will manage in life is essential because money will impact many of the choices they will make. __Having a proper perspective on it will help them avoid the trappings of money and wealth.__

Equally important is teaching kids how to practically manage money because they will make many mistakes and bad decisions without it. For younger kids, the 3-jar system of money management works great. This is made up of 3 jars labeled, Give, Save, and Spend. The first 10% goes into the Give jar, the next 10% to the Save jar, and the rest 80% goes toward Spending. We used this system until our daughters were 16 years old, and it worked.

Every payday after receiving their allowance, they split the money between these three jars. As they entered their teen years, we encouraged them to save for their first car by putting a bigger percentage of their allowance and any extra money they earned, in the Save jar, while cutting back on Spending. Then, when they started their first job, and the allowance stopped, we helped them create a basic written budget to plan their expenses and learn to keep up with their financial obligations.

Managing money isn’t the tricky part. After all, it’s just basic math; anyone can do it. __The more complicated part of managing money is establishing the correct beliefs and having the right convictions about money.__

# How to Teach Your Kids About Money

__The most effective way to teach your kids about money is to be a good role model yourself.__ “More is caught than taught,” which means that whatever you teach your kids to do will not be as powerful or as convincing as to how you manage money yourself. Being a good role model doesn’t mean you won’t make any financial mistakes. It means that when you do, you’ll be honest about it with your kids and help them see the consequences of bad financial decisions so they’ll avoid them.

![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b28b3e945776e86f5212567/bdafb7d0-0550-4cf2-a25f-92f1d3b0ca7f/deut6.6.png?format=1500w)

Teaching your kids about money is no different than teaching them about any other important topic. The Bible tells us how to teach God’s commandments, principles, and statutes. *“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”* (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)

__Teaching kids about money is something we must do intentionally and consistently.__ It’s not an occasional lesson but rather something we teach and instill in them while we talk, listen, share our ambitions for their future, and do all kinds of things together. Teaching them about money should be done in the context of everyday life and every season of life because money, its value, and meaning in life, when properly understood, will equip them for a meaningful and fruitful life.

# Resources

[Raising Financially Freed-Up Kids](https://goodsensemovement.org/product/raising-financially-freed-up-kids-workbook-videos/) - Good Sense Movement
[Give, Save & Spend Teen Video Series](https://compass1.org/product/give-save-and-spend-teen-video-series-student-ebook/) - Compass
[Foundations in Personal Finance](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/store/digital-products?snid=courses.see-all-courses) - Ramsey
[High School & College Courses](https://ronblueinstitute.com/) - Ron Blue Institute

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