Let’s make 2025 the year where we get in the best financial shape possible! As physical fitness begins with an assessment of our health, our financial health needs to begin with such an assessment. How financially fit are you?
Examination
Like any good fitness plan, it starts off with a look at where you stand today and then setting a resolve to make improvements. How financially fit are you? Is your financial plan holistic? To get started, here is a Financial Fitness Checkup Checklist. It will identify some areas of your financial life that might need to be “shaped up.” It’s a very simple worksheet that should take about 5-10 minutes to complete. Once you’re done, I strongly recommend we schedule some time to resolve any fitness “challenges” you might have. I hope you will find the checklist enlightening and motivational. Taking steps now to improve your financial fitness could last you throughout the year and beyond.
You are probably fit in some areas while others might need some work. This checkup covers all the important aspects of your life: family, goals, business or work, health, money, estate, retirement, and your future. You complete the checkup by answering each statement with a simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’ There’s also a space for you to write any notes that affect the issue described. Once you have done this assessment, here are some tips to help you get your finances organized in 2025.
Organization
Financial organization is foundational to a healthy financial life. Financial paperwork generally falls into the following categories: investments, taxes, credit cards and loans, college savings, retirement savings, insurance, and estate planning. Separating documents into categories helps you to better manage each facet of your financial life more readily. Financial organization saves time and money by avoiding possible late fees and having necessary documents readily available for tax season, let alone the avoidance of the stress that comes from piles of disorganized bills and paperwork. Financial organization also facilitates better decisions on investments, budgeting, debt, and investment planning. Having a system in place for organizing your financial records is necessary, but the method you use is not as important as having a system. Being consistent is the key to any system.
Consolidation
Consolidate all your bills, statements, policies, and other documents that are delivered online with documents that are printed. Saving folders on your computer and tracking bills each month from online banking websites, third-party bill pay, and website document storage platforms helps to simplify your financial organization. Combining all your different financial documents into one space enables you to be more aware of your financial situation in real-time. Consolidating responsibilities also helps to establish a rhythm for your financial fitness. For couples, clearly establishing responsibilities for financial matters is an important priority. If one spouse manages the finances, the other spouse should be informed about what is going on financially, where important documents are stored, and the passwords for all online accounts.
Elimination
Getting rid of bills that are from prior years helps to tame the financial organization. But which documents should you keep, and which ones should you toss? The IRS recommends retaining tax returns and financial data that supports your tax returns for seven years. Paper bank statements, investment account statements, and credit card statements can be shredded after a year, especially if they can be accessed online in the future if necessary.
Having sound financial systems and practices in place helps you to better maintain your financial fitness so your finances do not get out of shape. Let’s make this a financially fit year! As always, let us know how we can serve you by being a better steward of what God has given!
Yours for Faithful Stewardship,
Jeff Rogers, CEP®, CKA®
Founder & Chairman
Are you financially literate? April marks Financial Literacy Month, a timely opportunity to reflect on our financial goals and how we steward the resources God has entrusted to us. As a Christian financial advisor, I see financial literacy as more than a call to learn about budgets, credit scores, or retirement planning—it’s a chance to align our financial habits with biblical principles and deepen our understanding of God-honoring stewardship.
Why Financial Literacy Matters
Proverbs 21:5 reminds us, “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.” Financial literacy is about being diligent—learning how to plan, save, invest, and give in ways that lead to long-term stability and generosity. Without this knowledge, many fall into debt, experience stress, and miss opportunities to bless others.
Financial literacy empowers individuals and families to:
- Live within their means
- Avoid the traps of consumer debt
- Build a foundation for future generations
- Give freely and generously to those in need
It’s not about chasing wealth, but about managing money wisely so it serves God’s purposes in our lives.
What Financial Literature is
Financial literacy is ultimately stewardship, which is the Heart of Christian Finance.
Everything we own belongs to God (Psalm 24:1). Financial literacy is not just a practical skill but a spiritual discipline. Learning how to manage money well is part of honoring God with all aspects of our lives. This means:
- Creating budgets that reflect our values
- Setting aside resources for the future (Proverbs 13:11)
- Living debt-free or reducing debt responsibly (Romans 13:8)
- Giving cheerfully and consistently (2 Corinthians 9:7)
When we manage finances with wisdom and discipline, we position ourselves to be more available for the work God has called us to do—whether that’s supporting our families, giving to ministry, or serving our communities.
How to Be Financially Literate
Here are a few steps to help you or those you serve grow in financial literacy in both knowledge and faith:
- Review your financial plan – Is it helping you honor God, provide for your family, and prepare for the future?
- Educate yourself and others – Read a Christian finance book, attend a seminar, or start a financial literacy study group at your church.
- Teach your children – Proverbs 22:6 encourages us to train up a child in the way they should go. Financial wisdom is part of that training.
- Seek wise counsel – Work with a trusted advisor who shares your values and can guide you through complex decisions.
- Pray over your finances – Invite God into your financial journey. Ask Him to give you wisdom, discipline, and a generous heart.
When to Be Financially Literate
Financial Literacy Month is a reminder that financial literacy needs to be lived out consistently every month of the year, year in and year out. It’s a reminder that managing money wisely is part of our calling as disciples of Christ. May we all continually grow in both financial knowledge and spiritual maturity, becoming faithful stewards who reflect God’s wisdom in every area of life.
Yours for Faithful Stewardship,
Jeff Rogers, CEP®, CKA®
Founder & Chairman
