What is your financial nature? Are you painstakingly careful with your money or are you known to live beyond your means and spend it as soon as you get it? Would they call you a cheapskate or overly generous? Maybe you don’t realize it, but the money you control has the power to affect several generations in a positive or negative way. Where...

Teaching your children and grandchildren how to handle their finances is one of the greatest challenges parents and grandparents face. As Indira Patro, founder of Mustard Seed Ministries says, you can go all the way through school, earn your bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees, and yet nowhere along the way will you be required to learn...

A Christian ministry invited me to present estate planning issues to its constituents at an event. Following the presentation, a businessman and his wife began discussions with me about their estate. In the process I asked them, “Have you thought about contributing part of your estate to the Lord for His work?” They responded by stating...

1. Internet fraud The hottest medium for scams, as it is for conducting legitimate business and consumer purchases.  The public has to be able to spot the difference. Tips: Tell-tale signs of fraud are: High-pressure sales tactics Asking for payment by private courier or regular mail No apparent street address on web sites and stolen...

If you think about it, there are really only five things you can do with money: Earn it Spend it Save it Invest it Give it That may sound simple. But when it comes to actually doing it, all sorts of questions arise, such as: How much money do I need to earn? How much should I save? How much should I spend? Where should I...

During the 20 years ending in 2000 for the stock market, and a similar period in real estate ending in 2004, investing and financial planning have been relatively easy because each of these asset classes was in a rising trend. However, as the stock market showed us subsequent to 2000, trends do not last forever as equity prices entered a bear market. History...

As my family sat down for dinner, I lit the first candle on our advent wreath. My young children, Lauren and Jared, smiled with Christmas anticipation, but I lacked the energy to smile back. Memories of past Christmases haunted me. My six-figure income had purchased material happiness, something I thought we needed and deserved. My wife Tonya...