As I broach this emotional topic, I want to begin by being clear. I am neither for nor against debt. Debt is amoral, meaning, it is not in and of itself, categorically, moral. Debt can be a destructive evil. It has torn people down and has caused heartache, divorce, and all sorts of strife. Debt has also built churches, businesses, and hospitals that have been used for incredible good. Debt is neither right nor wrong categorically.  To understand different sorts of debt, we m

We’ve been walking through the eight steps that help you fill up your financial tank and finally move toward the dreams that have been put on the back burner for far too long.  We’ve covered Step 1: Spend less than you make. We’ve hit Step 2: Give 10%.And last week, we talked about Step 3: establishing a “New Zero” in your checking account. And today, it’s time for Step 4: Adequate Insurance —the protection mark on your Fuel Gauge. Up to this point, you have already been maki

Happy Thanksgiving week to you and your family! This is the time of year when we notice how full our homes feel, how full our tables feel… so it’s a great week to take a look at how full our financial tanks feel as well! If your financial fuel tank is a little emptier than you’d like it this time of year, take heart. We have been working on the 8 marks that, when achieved in succession, create a full financial tank. Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve already covered Step 1:

Today, we are going to discuss the second financial health marker on your fuel gauge. If you’re just joining us, here’s a quick recap.  Money is fuel. Fuel to get you where you want, or even feel called to go. Therefore, we need a full tank so we can live confidently toward the life we desire.  The first mark on your fuel gauge is simple. Spend less than you make. This second step is challenging, and for many, counterintuitive.  Give 10% of your income away.  What?! If the ob

Money isn’t the destination—it’s the fuel that powers your journey. We all have places we want to go in life, but getting there requires a full tank. And if you’ve ever looked at your “financial gas gauge” and seen it hovering near empty, you know how stressful that can be. For years, I lived paycheck to paycheck, constantly running on fumes. I was always trying to move forward, but my lack of financial structure kept me stranded. That’s when I decided to follow a simple syst

When it comes to your personal finances, you should never solely rely on so-called “experts.”  In life, we wear a lot of hats, don’t we? Between kids (or grandkids) activities, church obligations, work and taking care of ourselves, there are a lot of things we are responsible for managing!  Often when it comes to our personal finances, we just want a “guy” for that. Whether it is for our retirement accounts, insurance, or savings, people often rely on “experts” to manage and

When I was a young teen, I went to Disney World for the first time with my entire extended family! My older cousin and I were just at the age where we could run off on our own and choose which rides we wanted to ride.  We had a little card that we could swipe at certain rides that allowed us to get one fast pass. This pass allowed us to jump to the front of the line and practically walk right on the rollercoaster. We only had so many fast passes we could get for the entire da

Do you want to be financially successful? Then you need to understand one word above all else: COMMITMENT .  We live in a day and age where commitment means very little. Last week, we discussed the importance of living in agreements verses expectations. However, an agreement is only as good as the level of commitment behind it.  I can agree to showing up for my daughter’s ballet recital, but if I’m not committed to being there, an issue at the office could cause me to miss he

At my insurance agency, we have a policy we adhere to strictly. We refuse for our clients to have EXPECTATIONS of the level of service...