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Life and Finances in a Pandemic World
Life as we know it has changed dramatically during 2020. As the coronavirus spread across the United States, cities and states issued shelter-in-place orders to slow the spread of the coronavirus and prevent healthcare facilities from being overwhelmed by critically ill patients. In May, when states started to reopen, Americans began to return to work with eagerness and trepidation. Many were happy to leave isolation and reconnect with friends and colleagues at a safe [...]
Holiday Greeting – Showing Gratitude on Memorial Day
At 3:00 p.m. local time on Monday, May 25, 2020, the National Moment of Remembrance takes place by silently thanking the men and women of the United States military who gave their lives for our country.1 Originally, Memorial Day was known as Decoration Day and was held on May 30, 1868. This date was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular battle. On this date, 5,000 people decorated the graves of 20,000 [...]
Debt-Free in 5 months
Congratulations to Nick Ellison and his wife, Audrey, for getting debt-free from college debt in 5 months. Watch as they share their testimony on the Dave Ramsey show and let out their "debt free scream".
Holiday Greeting – Moms are Priceless
Whether they stay at home or work for a company, moms rarely have just one job. They’re event planners, coaches, interior designers, chefs, art directors, judges (and juries), housekeepers, maintenance supervisors, network administrators, academic advisors, and so much more. Moms are hard workers. Every year, Salary.com estimates how much a mother might earn. By their calculations, in 2019, the median annual salary for stay-at-home moms would have been $178,201 – an increase of 9.6% from Salary.com’s 2018 calculation.1 [...]
Finding Peace While We Wait
The tension of waiting to see the outcome after over a month of being quarantined is palpable, but God's people are used to waiting . . . In the Old Testament, God's people waited for the promised Messiah, and now as partakers of the new covenant, we wait for His return. Living in the "already but not yet" tension is hard, but we know God's promises are yes and amen. Living in the uncertain [...]
Resources to Help You Through the Coronavirus Crisis
If you have ever been flattened by a rogue wave while fishing or sunbathing on the shore, you probably recognize the emotional responses that have accompanied the pandemic wave crashing across the United States – shock, anxiety, and concern for ourselves and others. We’ve been knocked flat by the unexpected – COVID-19. In just a few weeks, the virus has changed our world in significant ways. We have become familiar with new terms – [...]
Finding Hope in the Hard Places
Empty shelves and countless faces with masks concealing a worried expression pervade the media. Churches no longer meet in person and students are now educated in their homes. The highest unemployment rate since the early eighties and a volatile stock market add to the feeling of instability, and all of these vast changes happened seemingly overnight. And as we wait each day to hear what is the next change that will be part of [...]
Holiday Greeting – A Celebration of Irish Culture on St. Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick’s Day is a day of unity. In the past, St. Patrick was celebrated by Irish Protestants and Irish Catholics. As it has been said, everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. See what you know about this celebration of Irish culture by taking our brief quiz.1 1. Who was St. Patrick? a. The Irish monk who founded the monastery at Iona b. A British teenager who was kidnapped and enslaved by Irish [...]
The Coronavirus Correction
In late February, concern that efforts to contain Coronavirus Disease 2019 (a.k.a. COVID-19) might result in slower global economic growth disrupted global markets. Share prices fell as economists and financial analysts revised growth expectations, and investors worried about the possibility of recession.1, 2 Efforts to contain the virus have included quarantines, factory and school closings, and trade show cancellations, reported Financial Times. These measures have slowed productivity in nations where they occur and elsewhere. For [...]
LifeStyle Newsletter – Coronavirus 101: The Basics
The coronavirus, which is now officially called Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), has received a lot of attention. Since the outbreak began in China, late in 2019, the disease and efforts to understand and manage it have made headlines around the world. The situation has been changing rapidly, but the body of knowledge about COVID-19 is growing.1 Unfortunately, not all information being distributed is accurate. Axios reported “The spread of the novel coronavirus outbreak is being matched, [...]
Our Identity is Not Our Job
Transitioning from a Work Identity to a Retirement Identity The jobs we do for 40 hours every week – and the life that job provides for our families over decades – has a significant influence on how we view ourselves. That’s why many new retirees struggle with a loss of identity. Without familiar work routines, responsibilities, accomplishments, financial rewards, and social networks, some retirees feel lost. Suddenly, a vigorous professional go-getter is sunk in [...]
The SECURE Act Changed Retirement, Estate, and College Plans
There was a little something for everyone in the ‘Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement’ (SECURE) Act, a piece of bipartisan legislation that was attached to the United States federal spending bill and signed into law toward the end of 2019. Here are some of its provisions:1 • Tax relief for children with unearned income • Authorized federally-penalty-free distributions from retirement plans after the birth or adoption of a child • Opened workplace [...]
