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Stewardship Lessons Learned in the School of Life
The earth and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants, belong to the Lord. – Psalm 24:1 School is in full swing again and our schedules are once again defined by the "machine" that the fall brings our way. Those with young children try to balance the demands of getting children to their appropriate places for education, including preparation of food, clothing and expected assignments. In the flurry of it all, we wonder what the [...]
Finding Purpose in Our Work When the Fruit of Our Labor Lasts Forever
"He who loves his work never labors." ~ Jim Stovall, The Ultimate Gift The weekend is here and we look forward to a long weekend where we get to celebrate Labor Day. For some, it is simple gratitude for a reprieve from our labor underneath the sun. For others, it is an excuse for barbecue and frolicking. While still others have to work on Labor Day. But I wonder if we really ever take the [...]
Holiday Greeting – Labor Day and Labor Unions
Labor Day is set aside to celebrate the social and economic achievements of American workers. It was proposed as a holiday by Matthew Maguire in 1882 while he served as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York, NY. The labor movement grew out of the need to protect the common interest of workers in the areas of better wages, reasonable hours, and safer working conditions. It also led efforts to stop child [...]
Can Social Security Benefits Help with Longevity Risk?
How long will you live? How long will you live? It’s not a question anyone can answer with any certainty, and that creates a significant risk when planning for retirement. Your retirement may last for a long time, and you will need to have enough income to live comfortably without running out of money. In 2018, Gallup surveyed retirees about their retirement income. The top income sources for Americans were:1 57 percent - Social Security benefits 37 [...]
Ready, Set, Trade War?
In recent years, investors have largely ignored geopolitical risks. Russia’s invasion of the Crimean Peninsula, the Brits’ vote to leave the European Union (EU), unrest in the Middle East, and other global events have not affected financial markets’ upward progress. When tariffs came between the United States and its allies, financial markets blithely breached new highs. However, the possibility of a trade war between the United States and China took the spring out of [...]
Finding Purpose in Our Finances
Living month-to-month financially can become a tedious task. It would seem there is a higher purpose than just trying to provide, but still we can strive to make ends meet and miss out on a key understanding behind all we own. Discovering the purpose behind our finances can help us to rise above a mentality of merely surviving financially. Finances play a key role in our provision, mission, and vision. Provision It goes without saying (though [...]
LifeStyle Newsletter – Are You a Subscriber?
In the olden days, the word ‘subscription’ typically was applied to just magazines and newspapers. Today, that’s not the case. Americans are buying everything from meal kits to baby products to vitamins by subscription. A McKinsey & Company survey found:1 “Although streaming-media subscriptions have been popular for some time – 46 percent of consumers in our survey subscribed to an online streaming-media service…shoppers are now also turning to subscriptions for consumer goods…Male shoppers are more likely [...]
Holiday Greeting – Out of Revolution a New Nation was Born
On July 4, 1776, the American colonies banded together and declared independence from Great Britain. The countries had been at war for more than a year due to a number of issues, particularly in regards to harsh taxation and a lack of representation which violated the rights of the colonists. The conflict continued for five more years.1 Here are a few other facts to share as you celebrate America’s independence this year: • The United [...]
What Happens When the Well Runs Dry?
To the relief of many South Africans, Day Zero has been pushed back to 2019. Day Zero is the date on which Cape Town will run out of water, and its four million residents will begin to collect daily water rations of about seven gallons per person per day from specific collection points. Day Zero will make complying with current water restrictions, which limit use to 13 gallons per person per day, seem positively [...]
Is Preparing Our Heirs About Control or Empowerment?
I see it frequently in my office. Parents who have worked their entire life to ensure their children are well taken care of are now realizing the success of wealth transfer is not merely dependent on the allocation of funds. Desperate to ensure the success of their children in all respects - financially, spiritually and emotionally, these parents are wise to understand the toll that wealth can take if it is not allocated and stewarded [...]
Holiday Greeting – Make It All About Dad
There are many perceived requirements of being a dad. “One of the jobs of a good dad is to help kids become a little tougher, a little more resilient, a little more separate…dads push kids to leave the nest; they brush off the dirt from their knees when they fall; and they encourage their kids to get back in the game when they want to quit…And just like kids need moms to help them [...]
How to Prepare for a Changing Bond Market
The words ‘bear market’ have been bandied about a lot lately. When you read or hear them, remember to respond the same way you would if you saw an actual bear in the woods – by staying calm and keeping your wits about you. A changing bond market environment creates challenges for investors and financial advisors, but it also creates opportunities. Bonds and a bear market Many people believe bonds are risk free. That’s [...]
