I don’t often write about these kinds of topics. But if you are near or in retirement, as I am, you know you are in the final third or quarter of your life. If you trust Jesus’ atoning death and resurrection for your salvation, you already have a ticket to heaven; it just hasn’t been … Read more
When most people think about retirement planning, they picture calculators, spreadsheets, and savings goals. But for Christians, retirement is more than a financial target—it’s a new and hopeful life season calling for wisdom, faith, humility, and intentional stewardship. So, what if we asked, “Do I have enough saved?”(This is a legitimate question, by the way.) … Read more
I had a little fun with the title because this is a “heavy” subject, and I wanted to lighten things up a little. And while we’re at it, what in the world is Moses wearing; it looks like a costume. (At least there’s not a big “M” on his chest.) Okay, back to our serious … Read more
If you spend much time listening to their political ads, you’ll hear the two presidential candidates saying basically the same thing: “Your financial well-being will be hurt by (insert candidate name here ) if you vote for them because they will (insert campaign promise allegedly pledged by said candidate).” The implication is that presidents have … Read more
My wife and I just went through a major transition. More specifically, we “rightsized” our living arrangement—we went from an older, moderately sized house to a newer “courtyard” (patio) home that is slightly smaller (smaller rooms and closets). We’ve actually been considering this for a while. As I wrote about a possible move a while … Read more
If you read much about stewardship and retirement planning, you’ll hear many thoughts expressed in the context of ”life stages” and our lifestyle choices in each of them. Here’s a graphic I used recently in a stewardship seminar for the young single adults in my church: This is a logical way to think about financial … Read more
We’re now in Holy Week. It’s the season on the church calendar when the profound significance of Easter and what it means to us as Christians are at the forefront of our thinking and are in our hearts: the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus—the forgiveness of sin and triumph of life over death, light … Read more
There are many good things about retirement. Some examples are more free time and greater flexibility in how we spend our time, less stress from work pressures, and more opportunities to give of our time, talents, and treasure, to name a few. These are all “good” in that they add fun, fulfillment, and joy to … Read more
In some previous articles, I’ve discussed longevity risk, withdrawal rates, and Dave Ramsey’s 8% withdrawal rate recommendation. These topics can quickly get mind-numbingly complex. The financial side of retirement has a lot to do with the math; it’s a big math problem we need to solve as best we can. We do this thoughtfully, humbly, … Read more
