1 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:06,600 S1: Today's Faith and finance live is actually pre-recorded so our 2 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:09,640 S1: phone lines are not open. Trust in God for our 3 00:00:09,640 --> 00:00:13,560 S1: financial needs feels very real when life gets tight. Hi, 4 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:17,600 S1: I'm Rob West, but long before budgets or savings accounts existed, 5 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:20,320 S1: one man stood on a mountain believing that God could 6 00:00:20,320 --> 00:00:24,760 S1: provide even in the most impossible circumstances. Today we'll explore 7 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:27,720 S1: the story that gave God the name the Lord will 8 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:30,440 S1: provide and what it teaches us about faith in his 9 00:00:30,440 --> 00:00:33,959 S1: provision as stewards. Then we have some great calls lined up. 10 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:37,440 S1: But please don't call in today because we're pre-recorded. This 11 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:41,960 S1: is faith and finance. Live biblical wisdom for your financial decisions. 12 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:48,400 S1: Trusting God's provision rarely happens in comfort. It's forged in 13 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:52,240 S1: seasons when resources feel thin and the future looks uncertain. 14 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:56,480 S1: Scripture doesn't hide that reality. God's people learned his faithfulness 15 00:00:56,520 --> 00:01:00,510 S1: not while sitting at feasts, but while wandering through deserts, 16 00:01:00,510 --> 00:01:05,270 S1: facing famine and staring down impossible situations when the pressures 17 00:01:05,270 --> 00:01:09,670 S1: of life rise, whether it's shrinking savings, volatile markets or 18 00:01:09,709 --> 00:01:15,149 S1: rising costs, we discover that provision isn't merely about resources. 19 00:01:15,150 --> 00:01:18,350 S1: It's about a relationship with a God who sees, knows 20 00:01:18,350 --> 00:01:21,670 S1: and cares. And that's the point. God is not simply 21 00:01:21,670 --> 00:01:26,190 S1: someone who provides. He is the provider. But biblical faith 22 00:01:26,190 --> 00:01:30,990 S1: isn't naive optimism, and it isn't passivity. Faith rests in 23 00:01:30,990 --> 00:01:34,790 S1: God's character, moves forward in obedience, and trusts him with 24 00:01:34,790 --> 00:01:38,429 S1: the outcome. One of the clearest pictures of God's provision 25 00:01:38,430 --> 00:01:42,949 S1: is in Genesis 22, when Abraham is asked to offer Isaac. 26 00:01:43,230 --> 00:01:46,190 S1: It's a shocking command, and we're meant to feel the 27 00:01:46,190 --> 00:01:49,270 S1: weight of it. Isaac is the son of promise, the 28 00:01:49,270 --> 00:01:52,190 S1: one through whom God said he would build a nation 29 00:01:52,190 --> 00:01:56,990 S1: as numerous as the stars. Without Isaac, the covenant collapses. 30 00:01:57,150 --> 00:02:00,660 S1: And yet Abraham obeys. Early in the story, we see 31 00:02:00,700 --> 00:02:04,420 S1: Abraham's faith in God's provision. Before climbing the mountain, he 32 00:02:04,420 --> 00:02:07,340 S1: tells the servants, stay here with the donkey. The boy 33 00:02:07,340 --> 00:02:09,860 S1: and I will go over there to worship. Then we'll 34 00:02:09,860 --> 00:02:13,540 S1: come back to you. That's Genesis 22 verse five. Abraham 35 00:02:13,540 --> 00:02:17,740 S1: doesn't say, I will return, but we will return. The 36 00:02:17,740 --> 00:02:22,139 S1: author of Hebrews explains this logic. Abraham reasoned that God 37 00:02:22,139 --> 00:02:24,660 S1: could even raise the dead. And so, in a manner 38 00:02:24,660 --> 00:02:28,620 S1: of speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death. In 39 00:02:28,620 --> 00:02:32,420 S1: other words, Abraham trusted that God's promise was more certain 40 00:02:32,419 --> 00:02:35,940 S1: than the circumstances he could see. And when Abraham raised 41 00:02:35,940 --> 00:02:39,940 S1: the knife, God intervened. Not earlier, not before the climb, 42 00:02:39,940 --> 00:02:41,820 S1: not at the bottom of the mountain, but at the 43 00:02:41,820 --> 00:02:46,900 S1: exact moment obedience and trust intersected. It's there that Abraham 44 00:02:46,900 --> 00:02:51,660 S1: names God. The Lord will provide. To say God provides 45 00:02:51,660 --> 00:02:55,060 S1: isn't to say he always provides in the way we expect. 46 00:02:55,060 --> 00:02:59,220 S1: It's to say his character is generous, attentive, and faithful. 47 00:02:59,260 --> 00:03:02,060 S1: He knows our needs before we ask, and he meets 48 00:03:02,060 --> 00:03:06,380 S1: them according to his wisdom, not our timeline. That shifts 49 00:03:06,380 --> 00:03:09,500 S1: how we think about financial provision. It doesn't mean we 50 00:03:09,540 --> 00:03:14,180 S1: neglect work savings or prudence. Scripture commends working hard. The 51 00:03:14,180 --> 00:03:18,019 S1: hand of the diligent makes rich and warns against laziness. 52 00:03:18,060 --> 00:03:21,740 S1: Poverty will come upon you like a robber, but diligence 53 00:03:21,740 --> 00:03:25,260 S1: and provision are not the same thing. We work, but 54 00:03:25,260 --> 00:03:29,780 S1: God provides the harvest. Modern financial fear often comes from 55 00:03:29,780 --> 00:03:34,180 S1: trying to secure every possible outcome. Faith doesn't ignore risk, 56 00:03:34,180 --> 00:03:37,900 S1: but it refuses to worship security. In fact, the great 57 00:03:37,900 --> 00:03:42,180 S1: enemy of faith isn't need, it's self-reliance. When we believe 58 00:03:42,220 --> 00:03:45,740 S1: we are our own providers, we shoulder a burden we 59 00:03:45,740 --> 00:03:49,420 S1: were never designed to carry. Paul addresses this when he writes, 60 00:03:49,420 --> 00:03:52,380 S1: My God will supply every need of yours according to 61 00:03:52,420 --> 00:03:56,570 S1: his riches and glory in Christ Jesus. Notice both the 62 00:03:56,570 --> 00:04:00,690 S1: scale and the source. According to his riches, not according 63 00:04:00,730 --> 00:04:04,730 S1: to our earnings credentials or planning. Our responsibility is to 64 00:04:04,770 --> 00:04:09,410 S1: be faithful. God's is to provide. When we believe God provides, 65 00:04:09,410 --> 00:04:13,410 S1: when we really believe it, three things begin to change. First, 66 00:04:13,450 --> 00:04:16,770 S1: we can plan without panic. Wisdom plans for the future. 67 00:04:16,770 --> 00:04:22,130 S1: But planning becomes idolatry when it tries to eliminate dependence. Second, 68 00:04:22,170 --> 00:04:26,089 S1: we can give without fear. Generosity flows from security in 69 00:04:26,089 --> 00:04:30,529 S1: God's provision. If we believe God replenishes, we can release. 70 00:04:30,690 --> 00:04:34,650 S1: Like missionary Hudson Taylor famously said, God's work done in 71 00:04:34,650 --> 00:04:38,770 S1: God's way will never lack God's supply. And third, we 72 00:04:38,770 --> 00:04:42,650 S1: can endure seasons of scarcity with hope. Lean seasons can 73 00:04:42,650 --> 00:04:46,130 S1: feel discouraging, but they aren't wasted. God meets us there, 74 00:04:46,130 --> 00:04:50,210 S1: reminding us that our security rests in him. Abraham learned 75 00:04:50,210 --> 00:04:53,650 S1: something on that mountain. Not just that God provides, but 76 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:58,599 S1: who God is. Provision in Scripture is relational. God provides 77 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:01,560 S1: so his people know him, and so the watching world 78 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:05,440 S1: sees his faithfulness. But faith in God's provision doesn't mean 79 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:09,039 S1: we stop budgeting, earning, giving, or stewarding. It means we 80 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:12,880 S1: do those things without fear, controlling the narrative. It means 81 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:18,080 S1: our confidence shifts from financial circumstances to God's character. All right, 82 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:20,560 S1: we're going to head to a break, so don't go anywhere. 83 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:23,200 S1: We have some great questions that you're really going to enjoy. 84 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:26,760 S1: As we continue to apply God's wisdom to your financial decisions. 85 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:27,560 S1: We'll be right back. 86 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:41,400 S2: This is faith and finance. Live with Rob West. Hey, 87 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:44,320 S2: if you hear a phone number mentioned today, please ignore 88 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:47,680 S2: that number and don't call us because today's broadcast was 89 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:51,440 S2: previously recorded. But we think the upcoming information will help 90 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:53,870 S2: you and make you a wise steward of what God's 91 00:05:53,870 --> 00:05:56,430 S2: given you. So please stay tuned. 92 00:05:57,710 --> 00:06:00,870 S1: Why are we so focused on managing money God's way? Well, 93 00:06:00,870 --> 00:06:05,630 S1: I've found that financial management is actually spiritual formation. Here's 94 00:06:05,630 --> 00:06:08,270 S1: what I mean by that. You know, there's nothing that 95 00:06:08,270 --> 00:06:12,830 S1: reveals where we've placed our trust. What we value, where 96 00:06:12,870 --> 00:06:18,270 S1: our priorities are more, uh, obvious, more plain in sight 97 00:06:18,270 --> 00:06:20,950 S1: than our money management. The late Larry Burkett used to say, 98 00:06:20,950 --> 00:06:23,630 S1: the way we manage money is the clearest indicator into 99 00:06:23,670 --> 00:06:27,390 S1: what's happening in our lives spiritually. I believe that to 100 00:06:27,390 --> 00:06:31,190 S1: be true. I've watched that happen over decades and coming 101 00:06:31,230 --> 00:06:34,710 S1: alongside God's people as they manage money. And so when 102 00:06:34,710 --> 00:06:37,830 S1: we put money in its proper place under the Lordship 103 00:06:37,830 --> 00:06:40,830 S1: of Christ and recognize it is a good part of 104 00:06:40,830 --> 00:06:45,549 S1: God's creation entrusted to us for our enjoyment and to provide, 105 00:06:45,550 --> 00:06:48,390 S1: but also to give and to invest strategically, and that 106 00:06:48,390 --> 00:06:54,150 S1: creates a virtuous cycle of productivity and human flourishing and 107 00:06:54,190 --> 00:06:57,790 S1: kingdom advancement. We put all that together. We realize God's 108 00:06:57,790 --> 00:07:01,710 S1: design is beautiful unless we get it out of whack. 109 00:07:01,710 --> 00:07:04,510 S1: And that happens so often when sin enters the world. 110 00:07:04,510 --> 00:07:09,990 S1: God's creation. Sometimes we can worship over the creator. We've 111 00:07:09,990 --> 00:07:12,390 S1: got to be on our guard. Their money has an allure. 112 00:07:12,430 --> 00:07:15,790 S1: It has. It tells us lies about what it can 113 00:07:15,790 --> 00:07:20,150 S1: do in terms of security and fulfillment and control. Those 114 00:07:20,150 --> 00:07:23,590 S1: things are not true. We find our identity solely in 115 00:07:23,590 --> 00:07:27,989 S1: Jesus and who we are in Christ. And then money. 116 00:07:27,990 --> 00:07:30,550 S1: When it's in its proper place, it's powerful, but it 117 00:07:30,550 --> 00:07:32,830 S1: is only a tool. It is a means to an end. 118 00:07:32,830 --> 00:07:34,710 S1: It is not an end. And so we want to 119 00:07:34,710 --> 00:07:36,510 S1: help you do that each day on this program. But 120 00:07:36,510 --> 00:07:40,470 S1: here's the reality. Once we begin to live by these 121 00:07:40,470 --> 00:07:43,710 S1: principles we see in God's Word, it's going to allow 122 00:07:43,710 --> 00:07:46,030 S1: us to begin to give generously. I had to call her. 123 00:07:46,150 --> 00:07:48,270 S1: She was in her 70s. She said, Rob, I discovered 124 00:07:48,270 --> 00:07:52,580 S1: through your program qualified charitable distributions. I'm now giving the 125 00:07:52,580 --> 00:07:55,140 S1: largest gifts I've ever given out of my IRA to 126 00:07:55,180 --> 00:07:58,780 S1: my church, and she was literally laughing as she was 127 00:07:58,780 --> 00:08:01,620 S1: describing it because of the joy it was giving her 128 00:08:01,620 --> 00:08:05,540 S1: in her heart. It's amazing. And that's really the fruit 129 00:08:05,580 --> 00:08:09,860 S1: of living God's way and handling money God's way, because 130 00:08:09,860 --> 00:08:12,700 S1: it all belongs to him anyway. All right, let's head 131 00:08:12,700 --> 00:08:16,020 S1: to the phones. Brenda is in Kansas. Brenda, thanks for 132 00:08:16,020 --> 00:08:17,140 S1: your patience. Go ahead. 133 00:08:17,660 --> 00:08:21,660 S3: I inherited a traditional IRA from my mother when she 134 00:08:21,660 --> 00:08:27,740 S3: passed away in 2017, and we've had conflicting opinions as 135 00:08:27,740 --> 00:08:31,500 S3: to whether this needs to be disbursed in ten years 136 00:08:31,500 --> 00:08:32,140 S3: or not. 137 00:08:32,740 --> 00:08:38,940 S1: Hmm. Yeah. Well, because this was inherited under in 2017, 138 00:08:39,140 --> 00:08:43,660 S1: it falls under the pre secure act rules, which means 139 00:08:43,660 --> 00:08:49,689 S1: that the distribution requirement timeline depends on whether the original owner, 140 00:08:49,730 --> 00:08:55,130 S1: your mom, had already started taking required minimum distributions or not. 141 00:08:55,170 --> 00:08:55,970 S1: Do you know? 142 00:08:56,850 --> 00:08:59,290 S3: No, I'm not sure about that. I think so, because 143 00:08:59,290 --> 00:09:03,090 S3: when we when we inherited, I had to start doing 144 00:09:03,090 --> 00:09:04,370 S3: RMDs then too. 145 00:09:04,410 --> 00:09:06,290 S1: Okay. What was her age at the time? 146 00:09:06,929 --> 00:09:08,209 S3: 83. 147 00:09:08,250 --> 00:09:11,930 S1: Okay. Yeah. So she would have been taking RMDs. So 148 00:09:11,970 --> 00:09:15,130 S1: if so, and that's the case here, then you have 149 00:09:15,130 --> 00:09:19,329 S1: to keep taking those RMDs each year, at least at 150 00:09:19,330 --> 00:09:23,010 S1: the rate the original owner was taking them, using the 151 00:09:23,010 --> 00:09:28,250 S1: longer of either your own life expectancy or the original 152 00:09:28,250 --> 00:09:32,570 S1: owner's remaining life expectancy, if longer, which it wouldn't be 153 00:09:32,770 --> 00:09:36,090 S1: in this particular case. So the ten year rule does 154 00:09:36,090 --> 00:09:39,650 S1: not apply. And so as long as you started taking 155 00:09:39,650 --> 00:09:43,929 S1: RMDs annually, which it sounds like you did since 2017, 156 00:09:44,210 --> 00:09:48,000 S1: then you can continue to do so over your lifetime. 157 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:52,600 S1: And that's called the stretch IRA method. That's no longer available. 158 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:56,600 S1: But because you inherited this in in 2017, as long 159 00:09:56,600 --> 00:09:58,679 S1: as you're taking out at least what she was taking 160 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:00,880 S1: out and and you, you know, then you have the 161 00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:03,000 S1: ability to stretch it out over your lifetime. 162 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:07,280 S3: Oh thank you. Is there any way we can donate this? 163 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:11,400 S3: I know I can't donate the RMD until I'm 70.5 164 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:13,080 S3: and I'm 67. Right. 165 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:18,880 S1: But yeah. So a qualified charitable distribution is possible from 166 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:21,120 S1: an inherited IRA. But you're right. You do have to 167 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:23,600 S1: get to 70.5. It's going to be a wonderful tool 168 00:10:23,600 --> 00:10:26,319 S1: when you get to that point, because you'll be able 169 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:30,439 S1: to get that money out, satisfy the required minimum and 170 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:33,520 S1: not recognize it as as income, which means you can 171 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:36,120 S1: get more into the kingdom through your giving. Uh, there 172 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:38,920 S1: is no other way to do that. Prior to age 70.5, 173 00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:43,439 S1: it requires that you first take the distribution which recognizes 174 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:46,190 S1: it as income, and then when you give it away, 175 00:10:46,190 --> 00:10:49,030 S1: as long as you itemize, you could then count that 176 00:10:49,030 --> 00:10:53,309 S1: as a charitable contribution to offset some taxes. But there's 177 00:10:53,309 --> 00:10:55,709 S1: not any way to do it before it comes out, 178 00:10:55,710 --> 00:10:58,829 S1: which would require that it gets recognized as income prior 179 00:10:58,830 --> 00:11:00,150 S1: to age 70.5. 180 00:11:00,830 --> 00:11:04,590 S3: Okay, great. That's all the answer we wanted to hear. 181 00:11:04,630 --> 00:11:06,709 S1: Well, great. Brenda, thank you for calling today. May God 182 00:11:06,710 --> 00:11:09,750 S1: bless you. We appreciate you being on the program. Alabama. Gordon. 183 00:11:09,750 --> 00:11:10,230 S1: Go ahead. 184 00:11:10,950 --> 00:11:13,310 S4: Hey, Rob, thanks for taking my call. Love your show. 185 00:11:13,350 --> 00:11:15,990 S4: Listen to it all the time. Appreciate that. Um, I'm 186 00:11:15,990 --> 00:11:18,230 S4: going to throw some stuff at you real quick. So 187 00:11:19,070 --> 00:11:22,630 S4: my wife and I, we're both 59, be 60 this year, and, um, 188 00:11:22,790 --> 00:11:25,790 S4: she's retired, and, um, she has been for a few 189 00:11:25,790 --> 00:11:31,069 S4: years now. Um, I've retired also about six years ago. Well, 190 00:11:31,110 --> 00:11:34,390 S4: more than that about seven years ago from the state and, uh, 191 00:11:34,390 --> 00:11:37,110 S4: and then went back to work, uh, with a federal 192 00:11:37,110 --> 00:11:39,630 S4: job so that I could continue to draw my, you know, 193 00:11:39,670 --> 00:11:43,109 S4: my state retirement check. So, um, I have an income 194 00:11:43,150 --> 00:11:45,870 S4: of about 75 in the job I'm in now, and 195 00:11:45,870 --> 00:11:49,470 S4: then I get just an average state retirement and her 196 00:11:49,510 --> 00:11:53,110 S4: one less than mine. So while she was working, she 197 00:11:53,150 --> 00:11:57,150 S4: put into a TSP. She, um, her amounts around 450 198 00:11:57,190 --> 00:12:00,590 S4: K in her TSP, and we haven't touched it. We're 199 00:12:00,630 --> 00:12:04,270 S4: she's at age, uh, to draw it all out. And 200 00:12:04,270 --> 00:12:07,670 S4: really the question is obviously she's not contributing to it anymore, 201 00:12:07,710 --> 00:12:10,870 S4: but it has been gaining interest, you know, and we've 202 00:12:10,910 --> 00:12:14,310 S4: seen some great, um, increases in it over the last year. 203 00:12:14,670 --> 00:12:19,709 S4: So our question is, should we I know we have 204 00:12:19,710 --> 00:12:21,510 S4: the option of taking it out as a lump sum, 205 00:12:21,550 --> 00:12:23,910 S4: paying taxes on it. We could let it ride and 206 00:12:23,910 --> 00:12:27,310 S4: continue to try to draw interest. Or we could also 207 00:12:27,309 --> 00:12:32,510 S4: draw like a recurring monthly payment to supplement our income. 208 00:12:32,910 --> 00:12:35,030 S4: And we're just wondering, you know, should we let it 209 00:12:35,070 --> 00:12:38,150 S4: ride because it has made some gains. But here, as 210 00:12:38,150 --> 00:12:40,790 S4: in the last month, we've seen it drop a few 211 00:12:40,790 --> 00:12:43,380 S4: times and come back up. Yeah, Just makes it a 212 00:12:43,380 --> 00:12:44,380 S4: little at risk. 213 00:12:45,100 --> 00:12:48,260 S1: Sure. No, I totally get that. So what's the value 214 00:12:48,260 --> 00:12:49,179 S1: of this account? 215 00:12:50,420 --> 00:12:51,980 S4: Her TSB is 450. 216 00:12:52,179 --> 00:12:55,859 S1: Okay. And what is the total of your other retirement assets? 217 00:12:57,140 --> 00:13:00,420 S4: Total of other. You mean like our monthly income to combine? 218 00:13:00,460 --> 00:13:03,340 S1: Uh, no. Do you have other retirement accounts that you're 219 00:13:03,340 --> 00:13:04,660 S1: saving in investment accounts? 220 00:13:04,700 --> 00:13:05,860 S4: No. No. Okay. 221 00:13:06,300 --> 00:13:06,740 S1: This is it. 222 00:13:06,780 --> 00:13:08,900 S4: I have a TSB with my federal job that I've 223 00:13:08,900 --> 00:13:12,179 S4: been putting in for about five years. That's at 50,000. 224 00:13:12,220 --> 00:13:16,660 S1: Got it. Okay. And you're continuing to work, and you 225 00:13:16,660 --> 00:13:19,260 S1: plan to for the foreseeable future, correct? 226 00:13:20,700 --> 00:13:23,939 S4: Well, I was hoping to stop at 62, which would be, 227 00:13:23,980 --> 00:13:26,579 S4: you know, in a little over two and a half years. 228 00:13:26,900 --> 00:13:30,100 S1: Got it. All right. And, uh, in terms of the 229 00:13:30,140 --> 00:13:32,780 S1: income sources, you'll have just kind of run through those 230 00:13:32,780 --> 00:13:34,420 S1: for me. When you retire. 231 00:13:34,460 --> 00:13:37,900 S4: Okay. Uh, well, when I retire, I'll, um. Because I've 232 00:13:37,900 --> 00:13:39,780 S4: only I will have only worked seven years with the 233 00:13:39,780 --> 00:13:44,530 S4: federal government. It'll just be a, you know, minimum amount. Um, also, 234 00:13:44,570 --> 00:13:48,729 S4: I'll have, um, my state retirement, which I'm already drawing 235 00:13:48,730 --> 00:13:52,410 S4: and continue to draw. And then she has her retirement 236 00:13:52,410 --> 00:13:54,569 S4: and then whatever we get off the TSP. 237 00:13:55,010 --> 00:13:58,329 S1: Okay. So she has a retirement that she'll get as 238 00:13:58,330 --> 00:14:01,290 S1: a monthly check in addition to the 450,000. 239 00:14:01,530 --> 00:14:03,490 S4: She does now. Yeah. As we speak. 240 00:14:03,770 --> 00:14:09,010 S1: Okay. And the combination of those retirement incomes separate from 241 00:14:09,010 --> 00:14:12,490 S1: the 450 is enough, you believe, to cover your retirement budget? 242 00:14:12,650 --> 00:14:14,809 S4: Yes. We don't. We don't owe anything. 243 00:14:15,170 --> 00:14:17,370 S1: Yeah. Awesome. All right, let's do this. I've got to 244 00:14:17,370 --> 00:14:19,890 S1: take a break. That was really helpful. Background information. I'll 245 00:14:19,890 --> 00:14:22,370 S1: give you my thoughts on the other side. Stay right there. 246 00:14:38,410 --> 00:14:41,120 S2: We're faith and finance live. And we talk about our 247 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:45,000 S2: telephone number often because we usually are live. But today 248 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:47,880 S2: the program is prerecorded. So if you hear a mention 249 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:50,440 S2: of the phone number, please don't call us. But you 250 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:52,120 S2: can find us online at. 251 00:14:56,800 --> 00:14:59,480 S1: Before the break we were talking to Gordon in Alabama. 252 00:14:59,480 --> 00:15:02,320 S1: He's 59, working full time, planning to do so for 253 00:15:02,320 --> 00:15:05,200 S1: another 2 to 3 years, drawing a pension from his 254 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:10,160 S1: former employer. His wife is 59. Also, she's fully retired 255 00:15:10,160 --> 00:15:14,920 S1: between their retirement incomes that are already coming in. Um, 256 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:18,720 S1: you know, they have enough to cover their lifestyle spending, uh, 257 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:21,360 S1: because they're out of debt, living modestly. But then on 258 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:25,760 S1: top of that, uh, they would have, uh, about 500,000, 259 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:30,080 S1: most of which 450,000 of that's in her TSP. He's 260 00:15:30,080 --> 00:15:32,640 S1: got a smaller tsp, so about a half $1 million. 261 00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:34,760 S1: But again, they wouldn't need to touch that. And he's 262 00:15:34,760 --> 00:15:37,120 S1: wondering what to do with it. Uh, you know, Gordon, 263 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:38,640 S1: I would say I mean, you know, a a lot 264 00:15:38,640 --> 00:15:43,680 S1: of people don't realize just how attractive that TSP is. Uh, 265 00:15:43,680 --> 00:15:48,880 S1: just because there's a very low expense ratio inside that plant. 266 00:15:48,920 --> 00:15:52,360 S1: I mean, they're they are, you know, it's built really well, 267 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:56,320 S1: and the performance has been stellar. So, you know, leaving 268 00:15:56,320 --> 00:15:58,960 S1: it there is often a good choice just because of 269 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:02,240 S1: the simplicity and the low costs. The only decision you 270 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:05,880 S1: would have to make is kind of what allocation to 271 00:16:05,920 --> 00:16:07,520 S1: go for. And I think, you know, a lot of 272 00:16:07,560 --> 00:16:09,960 S1: that would have to do with how conservative you want 273 00:16:09,960 --> 00:16:12,200 S1: to be. You know, if you were to put it in, 274 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:15,960 S1: let's say the L fund, the 2030 L fund, which 275 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:19,280 S1: is for somebody who's retiring in 2030. So, you know, 276 00:16:19,320 --> 00:16:21,200 S1: four years from now, which is a little further out 277 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:24,240 S1: than your time horizon, it would be about a, you know, 278 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:29,480 S1: a 6040 portfolio, 60 stocks, 40 bonds. And so you could, 279 00:16:29,520 --> 00:16:34,440 S1: you know, take that allocation. And, you know, I'd probably put, uh, 280 00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:37,350 S1: you know, the maybe two thirds of that allocation in 281 00:16:37,350 --> 00:16:40,950 S1: the Sea Fund, and then split the balance of that 60% 282 00:16:40,950 --> 00:16:44,630 S1: between the, you know, the small cap, the S and 283 00:16:44,630 --> 00:16:47,150 S1: the I, the international. And then you could put the 284 00:16:47,150 --> 00:16:50,830 S1: balance in the fixed income, the F fund, if you 285 00:16:50,830 --> 00:16:53,270 S1: want to be more conservative, maybe you go something like 286 00:16:53,270 --> 00:16:57,110 S1: 50 over 50 with the same, you know, mix, but 287 00:16:57,110 --> 00:17:00,990 S1: with more toward fixed income. Uh, you know, that would be, 288 00:17:00,990 --> 00:17:03,510 S1: I think, a great way to go. And it would 289 00:17:03,510 --> 00:17:06,310 S1: give you, again, a low cost solution with, with what 290 00:17:06,310 --> 00:17:09,670 S1: has been stellar performance and just let that thing continue 291 00:17:09,670 --> 00:17:12,550 S1: to ride here because, you know, your biggest risk at 292 00:17:12,550 --> 00:17:15,950 S1: this point is just the effects of inflation over time, 293 00:17:16,109 --> 00:17:19,150 S1: kind of eroding your purchasing power. And so that would 294 00:17:19,150 --> 00:17:21,990 S1: give you the ability, you know, to not be as 295 00:17:21,990 --> 00:17:25,670 S1: volatile as the market. But, you know, you'd have that 296 00:17:25,670 --> 00:17:28,990 S1: inflation protection and the ability to get some growth so 297 00:17:28,990 --> 00:17:31,230 S1: that if you all needed this down the road for 298 00:17:31,230 --> 00:17:33,750 S1: long term care expenses, you know, or at the very 299 00:17:33,750 --> 00:17:37,540 S1: least just, you know, to give later or leave it 300 00:17:37,540 --> 00:17:40,740 S1: as an inheritance, you'd have it there to fall back on. 301 00:17:40,780 --> 00:17:43,220 S1: It'd be very liquid, you know. But you could get 302 00:17:43,220 --> 00:17:45,140 S1: some growth in the meantime. But what are your thoughts 303 00:17:45,140 --> 00:17:45,740 S1: on that? 304 00:17:46,859 --> 00:17:49,060 S4: Uh, I like that. And that's kind of what we 305 00:17:49,100 --> 00:17:52,860 S4: had been leaning towards doing. Um, may sound a little 306 00:17:53,180 --> 00:17:56,820 S4: selfish for me, but I was thinking maybe in the next, um, 307 00:17:57,300 --> 00:18:01,540 S4: you know, six months or so, maybe, um, quitting this job. 308 00:18:01,540 --> 00:18:03,580 S4: Resigning from this job because I won't draw much of 309 00:18:03,580 --> 00:18:05,940 S4: a retirement from it anyway. You know, I will only 310 00:18:05,940 --> 00:18:09,300 S4: have effectively 6 or 7 years or 7 or 8 311 00:18:09,300 --> 00:18:12,340 S4: years when I, when I stop at 62. So it 312 00:18:12,340 --> 00:18:15,859 S4: would be a minimal retirement from it. But, um, I 313 00:18:15,940 --> 00:18:19,020 S4: had kind of thought about, um, if I was to 314 00:18:19,060 --> 00:18:22,379 S4: resign from this job to, to take a recurring payment 315 00:18:22,420 --> 00:18:25,220 S4: off that for 50 to supplement my income. And then 316 00:18:25,220 --> 00:18:27,700 S4: I've been pretty good at supplementing it in other ways. 317 00:18:27,740 --> 00:18:30,180 S4: You know, once I was home. So that was kind 318 00:18:30,180 --> 00:18:32,139 S4: of a thought that may not be the best idea. 319 00:18:32,180 --> 00:18:34,060 S4: I don't know, we were just kind of weighing that out. 320 00:18:34,060 --> 00:18:35,890 S4: What do you think about recurring and how much do 321 00:18:35,890 --> 00:18:36,649 S4: they tax them? 322 00:18:37,210 --> 00:18:39,369 S1: Well, yeah. Everything you take out would be added to 323 00:18:39,369 --> 00:18:42,850 S1: your taxable income for the year. Um, so I was thinking, 324 00:18:42,890 --> 00:18:45,730 S1: apart from the 450, even once you retired, you all 325 00:18:45,730 --> 00:18:49,170 S1: could balance the budget with your retirement income streams, but 326 00:18:49,170 --> 00:18:51,450 S1: you're still going to need a little bit more to supplement. 327 00:18:52,890 --> 00:18:54,649 S4: Yes, a little bit more. Yes. 328 00:18:54,690 --> 00:18:57,250 S1: Okay. What do you think? How much per month would 329 00:18:57,250 --> 00:18:58,810 S1: you need to balance the budget? 330 00:18:59,369 --> 00:19:02,570 S4: I would say 2500. 331 00:19:02,609 --> 00:19:05,610 S1: Okay. Yeah. Which, you know, is a little more than 332 00:19:05,609 --> 00:19:07,610 S1: I would. Would love for you to take. I mean, 333 00:19:07,650 --> 00:19:09,330 S1: even at a half million, if we kind of look 334 00:19:09,369 --> 00:19:12,250 S1: at both of these accounts together, you know, we would 335 00:19:12,250 --> 00:19:15,010 S1: generally say, let's try to take no more than a 4% 336 00:19:15,010 --> 00:19:19,770 S1: withdrawal rate, which is 20,000, you know, basically 1600 a month. Uh, 337 00:19:19,770 --> 00:19:21,969 S1: so you're talking about taking an extra thousand. So I 338 00:19:21,970 --> 00:19:24,370 S1: would say that really just kind of underscores the need 339 00:19:24,369 --> 00:19:29,090 S1: to keep this invested. You know, if not, uh, you know, 340 00:19:29,130 --> 00:19:32,290 S1: I'd probably go more with the 60, 40, 60 stocks, 341 00:19:32,410 --> 00:19:35,770 S1: 40 bonds and let this thing continue to grow and 342 00:19:35,770 --> 00:19:39,370 S1: hopefully offset that as much as you can. You know, 343 00:19:39,410 --> 00:19:41,810 S1: the key would be if, you know, the longer you 344 00:19:41,810 --> 00:19:44,370 S1: can wait and let this continue to grow and not 345 00:19:44,369 --> 00:19:47,250 S1: start drawing from it, you know, would be the best 346 00:19:47,250 --> 00:19:49,690 S1: case scenario because we'd want to try to preserve this. 347 00:19:49,690 --> 00:19:51,810 S1: So you can, you know, this can last as long 348 00:19:51,810 --> 00:19:54,690 S1: as possible. And, you know, the goal would be if 349 00:19:54,730 --> 00:19:58,130 S1: you could limit it to 4% a year, you know, 350 00:19:58,170 --> 00:20:00,250 S1: you should be able to, you know, let this account 351 00:20:00,250 --> 00:20:04,410 S1: just continue to maintain its principal balance indefinitely. If you 352 00:20:04,410 --> 00:20:08,250 S1: get up into five, six, 7% withdrawal rates, then you 353 00:20:08,250 --> 00:20:10,410 S1: know you're probably going to just see a slow erosion 354 00:20:10,410 --> 00:20:11,130 S1: over time. 355 00:20:11,890 --> 00:20:13,649 S4: Okay. Very good. All right. 356 00:20:13,690 --> 00:20:16,250 S1: Excellent. But I do like the TSP a lot. So 357 00:20:16,290 --> 00:20:17,969 S1: I think that's a great option to leave it there. 358 00:20:17,970 --> 00:20:19,929 S1: And then the only question is just you know what 359 00:20:19,930 --> 00:20:22,890 S1: is that investment mix. So Gordon I appreciate your call 360 00:20:22,890 --> 00:20:25,090 S1: today my friend. Thanks for being on the program. Uh, 361 00:20:25,090 --> 00:20:27,370 S1: let's head to Arkansas. Hey, Ann. Go ahead. 362 00:20:27,890 --> 00:20:29,889 S5: Thank you for your ministry, Rob. 363 00:20:30,090 --> 00:20:30,689 S1: Yes, ma'am. 364 00:20:30,730 --> 00:20:34,440 S5: In a in a previous program, mention was made of 365 00:20:34,440 --> 00:20:40,240 S5: some new limitations for the 2026 tax year. I think 366 00:20:40,240 --> 00:20:48,480 S5: it was either on charitable contributions or overall deductions. Could 367 00:20:48,480 --> 00:20:50,200 S5: you clarify that for me? 368 00:20:50,359 --> 00:20:53,040 S1: I'd be happy to. It's actually both, but the rules 369 00:20:53,040 --> 00:20:57,080 S1: apply differently. So the limitation you likely heard about regarding 370 00:20:57,240 --> 00:21:04,040 S1: charitable donations is this new 0.5% floor. So starting in 2026, 371 00:21:04,040 --> 00:21:07,280 S1: if you itemize, meaning you don't take the standard deduction, 372 00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:11,240 S1: you can deduct charitable contributions only to the extent they 373 00:21:11,240 --> 00:21:17,880 S1: exceed 0.5% of your adjusted gross income. So, you know, if, uh, 374 00:21:18,320 --> 00:21:21,479 S1: if your adjusted gross income is 300,000, that's a lot 375 00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:24,480 S1: of money. The first 1500, you know, won't count only 376 00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:27,879 S1: the amount over that. Um, and, you know, we can 377 00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:30,230 S1: we can do the the math there depending on what 378 00:21:30,230 --> 00:21:33,590 S1: that is. So that just means that small donations in 379 00:21:33,590 --> 00:21:38,310 S1: relation to income may not be deductible for itemizers, whereas 380 00:21:38,310 --> 00:21:43,830 S1: under prior rules all qualified contributions were deductible subject to 381 00:21:43,869 --> 00:21:46,909 S1: percentage limits. But this now kind of puts that floor 382 00:21:47,310 --> 00:21:51,149 S1: of 0.5% in place now. Um, let me get to 383 00:21:51,150 --> 00:21:53,230 S1: the second part of that question. I've got to take 384 00:21:53,230 --> 00:21:55,429 S1: a quick break. So and we'll come right back to 385 00:21:55,430 --> 00:21:57,590 S1: you after this break. Leo coming your way as well. 386 00:22:04,910 --> 00:22:08,670 S2: You're listening to Faith and finance live. This program is prerecorded, 387 00:22:08,670 --> 00:22:11,470 S2: so we're not available to answer your calls, but you 388 00:22:11,470 --> 00:22:14,750 S2: can email us your questions at at. 389 00:22:17,230 --> 00:22:19,710 S1: Before the break, we were talking to an in Arkansas. 390 00:22:19,869 --> 00:22:24,510 S1: She's wondering about the new limitations on deductions, charitable contribution 391 00:22:24,510 --> 00:22:29,140 S1: deductions for 2026. And she's wondering if that was only 392 00:22:29,140 --> 00:22:33,860 S1: on charitable deductions or all deductions, and specifically the change 393 00:22:33,859 --> 00:22:36,980 S1: that you're probably referring to that's got the most attention 394 00:22:36,980 --> 00:22:41,140 S1: is this new floor where if you itemize, you can 395 00:22:41,140 --> 00:22:46,660 S1: only deduct charitable contributions that exceed 0.5% of your adjusted 396 00:22:46,660 --> 00:22:51,540 S1: gross income. The other change is something that was there temporarily. 397 00:22:51,540 --> 00:22:55,980 S1: It's now permanent, and it's the charitable write off for non-itemizers. 398 00:22:55,980 --> 00:22:59,300 S1: So if you take the standard deduction you don't itemize. 399 00:22:59,500 --> 00:23:03,540 S1: There's a new deduction that allows up to $1,000 of 400 00:23:03,540 --> 00:23:08,580 S1: cash donations for single filers, or up to 2000 for 401 00:23:08,619 --> 00:23:13,220 S1: married filing jointly. Um, you know, in terms of the 402 00:23:13,220 --> 00:23:20,380 S1: other deductions, um, you know, the 2026 tax law changes affect, uh, 403 00:23:20,460 --> 00:23:24,619 S1: state and local tax. So the Salt deduction so that, uh, 404 00:23:24,619 --> 00:23:29,250 S1: cap was temporarily increased to 40,000. And then there's a 405 00:23:29,250 --> 00:23:34,169 S1: standard deduction increase as well for 2026. So for single 406 00:23:34,170 --> 00:23:38,050 S1: person that's 16,100. Married filing jointly. That's now all the 407 00:23:38,050 --> 00:23:42,330 S1: way up at 32,200. Which is why now 90% of 408 00:23:42,330 --> 00:23:46,250 S1: tax filers take that standard deduction. But does that cover 409 00:23:46,250 --> 00:23:46,730 S1: it Ann. 410 00:23:48,010 --> 00:23:49,770 S5: Oh boy. That's a lot. 411 00:23:49,850 --> 00:23:50,250 S1: Yeah. 412 00:23:50,290 --> 00:23:54,530 S5: There is. Um, could you clarify on the the ones 413 00:23:54,530 --> 00:24:00,090 S5: over 0.5% of the adjusted gross income, is that each 414 00:24:00,090 --> 00:24:05,050 S5: deduction or the total of all the charitable deductions. 415 00:24:05,050 --> 00:24:08,210 S1: Total of all charitable deductions. Yeah. You just don't get 416 00:24:08,210 --> 00:24:13,770 S1: credit until you get above 0.05% okay. 417 00:24:13,810 --> 00:24:16,490 S5: So if you have a lot of smaller ones you 418 00:24:16,530 --> 00:24:18,250 S5: can still add them up. 419 00:24:18,410 --> 00:24:22,010 S1: That's right. Yeah. When you total them together. Um, and 420 00:24:22,010 --> 00:24:25,970 S1: I said zero five it's 0.5%. So one half of 421 00:24:25,970 --> 00:24:27,370 S1: of 1%. 422 00:24:28,290 --> 00:24:28,930 S5: Okay. 423 00:24:29,650 --> 00:24:30,090 S1: Yeah. 424 00:24:30,410 --> 00:24:34,090 S5: All right. Oh, things are getting more complicated every day. 425 00:24:34,330 --> 00:24:39,810 S1: It seems like they are. I totally agree with you, Ann, but, uh, hopefully, uh, 426 00:24:39,810 --> 00:24:42,369 S1: we'll settle into a new normal now that, uh, the 427 00:24:42,570 --> 00:24:45,250 S1: the one big, beautiful bill is is law the law 428 00:24:45,250 --> 00:24:47,609 S1: of the land. But if we can help further along 429 00:24:47,609 --> 00:24:49,450 S1: the way, don't hesitate to reach out. Thanks for being 430 00:24:49,450 --> 00:24:51,970 S1: on the program today. Let's head up to Texas. Leo. 431 00:24:51,970 --> 00:24:52,490 S1: Go ahead. 432 00:24:53,650 --> 00:24:55,650 S6: Okay. Thank you for taking my call. 433 00:24:55,770 --> 00:24:56,210 S1: Sure. 434 00:24:56,450 --> 00:24:59,409 S6: My question is along. What are the factors that determine 435 00:24:59,410 --> 00:25:02,010 S6: when to start taking Social Security payments? 436 00:25:02,810 --> 00:25:07,330 S1: Yeah, I mean, at its most simple kind of, uh, 437 00:25:07,369 --> 00:25:12,050 S1: decision making. I would say if you need income and 438 00:25:12,050 --> 00:25:16,090 S1: you have health concerns, I would consider taking it earlier. 439 00:25:16,650 --> 00:25:20,970 S1: If you're working, your income is covered. And especially if 440 00:25:21,130 --> 00:25:23,690 S1: you know, one of of you if you're married is 441 00:25:23,690 --> 00:25:28,440 S1: a high earner, I would consider waiting. And if you're unsure, 442 00:25:28,960 --> 00:25:32,800 S1: then I would say full retirement age, which is usually 443 00:25:32,800 --> 00:25:36,920 S1: around 67, is often a solid middle ground, meaning don't 444 00:25:36,960 --> 00:25:40,360 S1: take it early, but don't wait until age 70. But 445 00:25:40,359 --> 00:25:43,000 S1: if you're clearly in one of those two camps where 446 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:46,119 S1: either you're saying, listen, I just need the income or 447 00:25:46,119 --> 00:25:48,479 S1: you have health concerns, then it's probably better to go 448 00:25:48,480 --> 00:25:51,440 S1: ahead and take it early. But if you've got longevity, 449 00:25:51,480 --> 00:25:55,560 S1: especially if you're working, your income's covered. That guaranteed 8% 450 00:25:55,560 --> 00:25:59,160 S1: increase is not something you're going to find in the market. 451 00:25:59,480 --> 00:26:01,199 S1: And you know, even if you wait all the way 452 00:26:01,240 --> 00:26:03,959 S1: till age 70, um, you know, as long as you 453 00:26:03,960 --> 00:26:08,119 S1: live past 82, you know, typically you're going to be 454 00:26:08,119 --> 00:26:12,040 S1: paid back for everything you didn't get, uh, between full 455 00:26:12,040 --> 00:26:14,320 S1: retirement age and age 70. And then you're going to 456 00:26:14,320 --> 00:26:17,200 S1: have a check that's about 25% higher for the rest 457 00:26:17,200 --> 00:26:19,200 S1: of your life, which for a lot of people could 458 00:26:19,200 --> 00:26:23,109 S1: be a game changer, especially because your your future cost 459 00:26:23,109 --> 00:26:26,429 S1: of living adjustments are based on that higher benefit amount. 460 00:26:26,590 --> 00:26:28,469 S1: So if you know, if they give you a 3% 461 00:26:28,470 --> 00:26:31,429 S1: cost of living adjustment, now it's based on a a 462 00:26:31,630 --> 00:26:34,830 S1: base benefit that's 25% higher than what you would have 463 00:26:34,830 --> 00:26:38,030 S1: gotten if you took it at full retirement age, for example. 464 00:26:38,030 --> 00:26:40,190 S1: So let me stop there. Is that helpful? 465 00:26:41,230 --> 00:26:44,750 S6: Uh, yes. Let me ask some conditions. What if both 466 00:26:44,750 --> 00:26:49,670 S6: of you retired? Uh, one is 65. One is 64. Um, 467 00:26:49,710 --> 00:26:55,270 S6: you're living off of pension of about 7000 after tax 468 00:26:55,270 --> 00:26:58,590 S6: a month. No liabilities. So you don't feel like you 469 00:26:58,630 --> 00:27:02,830 S6: necessarily have to have it now. You could maybe wait 470 00:27:02,830 --> 00:27:06,270 S6: until you reach the retirement age of 67. 471 00:27:06,910 --> 00:27:07,390 S1: Yeah. 472 00:27:07,550 --> 00:27:09,270 S6: Does that change the analysis? 473 00:27:09,310 --> 00:27:10,750 S1: Yeah. I mean, I would say in that as long 474 00:27:10,750 --> 00:27:13,430 S1: as you're in good health, um, I would say in 475 00:27:13,470 --> 00:27:15,830 S1: that case, I'd probably wait as long as you can 476 00:27:15,830 --> 00:27:19,710 S1: because you've got your income in place. You don't need 477 00:27:19,710 --> 00:27:22,020 S1: this money. So what would you do with it? Well, 478 00:27:22,020 --> 00:27:24,540 S1: you could give it away, and that's great. I would 479 00:27:24,540 --> 00:27:26,340 S1: never stand in the way of that. But if all 480 00:27:26,340 --> 00:27:28,379 S1: you're going to do is drop it into a high 481 00:27:28,420 --> 00:27:31,340 S1: yield savings or even invest it, you're not going to 482 00:27:31,340 --> 00:27:34,340 S1: get a guaranteed 8% return on the money. So the 483 00:27:34,340 --> 00:27:37,179 S1: idea that you could let that check continue to grow 484 00:27:37,820 --> 00:27:40,980 S1: and take it later, all the way up until age 70, 485 00:27:41,420 --> 00:27:44,060 S1: you know, because your bills are covered. I kind of 486 00:27:44,100 --> 00:27:46,060 S1: like that. Now, some people will say, well, there's no 487 00:27:46,060 --> 00:27:49,179 S1: guarantee you're going to live to 82. And that's true. So, 488 00:27:49,220 --> 00:27:52,899 S1: you know, there is always that risk. Um, but if 489 00:27:52,940 --> 00:27:56,500 S1: you're fairly healthy, especially if you have longevity in your family, 490 00:27:56,500 --> 00:27:59,620 S1: I would say in somebody like your situation where your 491 00:27:59,619 --> 00:28:02,620 S1: bills are covered, I kind of like that letting that 492 00:28:02,619 --> 00:28:05,220 S1: check continue to grow, because if you need it down 493 00:28:05,220 --> 00:28:07,460 S1: the road, you're probably going to need it for major 494 00:28:07,460 --> 00:28:11,940 S1: expenses you didn't expect, namely long term care. And so 495 00:28:11,940 --> 00:28:14,659 S1: getting that check up as high as possible is something 496 00:28:14,660 --> 00:28:16,939 S1: you may appreciate, you know, a few years from now. 497 00:28:18,060 --> 00:28:22,540 S6: Okay. Last question. The guaranteed 8%. They're saying that the value, 498 00:28:22,740 --> 00:28:24,420 S6: the amount of payment is going to go up by 8% 499 00:28:24,420 --> 00:28:24,859 S6: each year. 500 00:28:25,500 --> 00:28:29,379 S1: That's exactly right. Yeah. Actually, 1/12 of 8% every month 501 00:28:29,380 --> 00:28:33,260 S1: you wait is the check is going to increase. Now 502 00:28:33,700 --> 00:28:36,940 S1: you're also not collecting while you're waiting. And so what 503 00:28:36,940 --> 00:28:40,460 S1: that means is, you know, it takes time for you 504 00:28:40,460 --> 00:28:43,740 S1: to be paid back for what you didn't receive by 505 00:28:43,740 --> 00:28:46,980 S1: waiting in the form of a higher check. And that's 506 00:28:46,980 --> 00:28:49,940 S1: why I was saying 82. It typically, you know, if 507 00:28:49,940 --> 00:28:52,780 S1: you look at what you would have received between ages 508 00:28:52,780 --> 00:28:57,900 S1: 67 and 70 based on your normal benefit, you didn't 509 00:28:57,900 --> 00:29:01,140 S1: get that. So in order for you to make that up, 510 00:29:01,380 --> 00:29:04,060 S1: it's going to take about 12 years of that check. 511 00:29:04,060 --> 00:29:07,180 S1: That's 25% higher for you to not only collect what 512 00:29:07,180 --> 00:29:09,540 S1: you would have gotten, but be paid back for the 513 00:29:09,540 --> 00:29:13,020 S1: three years you waited. And from that point, you've now 514 00:29:13,300 --> 00:29:17,140 S1: been fully repaid and you know, now you've got a 515 00:29:17,140 --> 00:29:19,729 S1: check that's 25% higher for the rest of your life. 516 00:29:20,850 --> 00:29:21,610 S6: Okay. Thank you. 517 00:29:21,890 --> 00:29:25,130 S1: Okay. Thanks, Leo. Appreciate your call today. Uh, let's head 518 00:29:25,130 --> 00:29:26,610 S1: to Michigan. Dennis. Go ahead. 519 00:29:27,450 --> 00:29:29,170 S7: Hi, Rob. Thanks for taking my call. 520 00:29:29,210 --> 00:29:29,730 S1: Of course. 521 00:29:30,690 --> 00:29:36,130 S7: Um, a question on life insurance. I just turned 70. Um, 522 00:29:36,170 --> 00:29:39,490 S7: and I misspoke when I told your screener that, uh, uh, 523 00:29:39,490 --> 00:29:42,730 S7: I didn't have insurance. I've actually got life insurance. Uh, 524 00:29:42,730 --> 00:29:45,610 S7: we've had a 25, about 25 year policy for a 525 00:29:45,610 --> 00:29:49,410 S7: quarter of a million on me for the last 25 years, 526 00:29:49,410 --> 00:29:53,130 S7: and it ends May 27th, which is my birthday of 527 00:29:53,130 --> 00:29:58,370 S7: this year. And we're questioning on, uh, we could get 528 00:29:58,370 --> 00:30:02,290 S7: a ten year, uh, you know, level term for, you know, 529 00:30:02,450 --> 00:30:05,530 S7: about just under $70. Or we could get some whole 530 00:30:05,530 --> 00:30:10,770 S7: life for not as much, you know, um, 15,000 or 531 00:30:11,130 --> 00:30:16,290 S7: or 20,000, you know, for a bit more, um, and 532 00:30:16,290 --> 00:30:19,680 S7: we're on fixed income. We both draw social. She's got 533 00:30:19,680 --> 00:30:22,000 S7: a small pension. I got a small pension. We're at 534 00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:27,920 S7: about 42 to 45,000 a year between both of us. Um, 535 00:30:28,640 --> 00:30:33,000 S7: of course, my concern is the the ten year. Of course, 536 00:30:33,040 --> 00:30:35,840 S7: I'm 80 years old. You know, we're we're banking that 537 00:30:36,080 --> 00:30:39,520 S7: I could I could live, you know, past that. Yeah. 538 00:30:39,560 --> 00:30:43,000 S7: Maybe not, but, uh, wondering if you had any suggestions. 539 00:30:43,000 --> 00:30:45,760 S1: And I do have some thoughts on this. Let's do this. 540 00:30:45,760 --> 00:30:47,840 S1: I've got to take a break, but I'll give you 541 00:30:47,880 --> 00:30:49,920 S1: my answer on the other side. Stay right there, Dennis. 542 00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:06,840 S1: So glad to have you with us today on Faith 543 00:31:06,840 --> 00:31:10,200 S1: and Finance Live. Our team is away today, so don't 544 00:31:10,200 --> 00:31:13,040 S1: call in. But we lined up some great questions in 545 00:31:13,040 --> 00:31:15,120 S1: advance and we'll be going to those here in just 546 00:31:15,120 --> 00:31:17,830 S1: a moment. Let me also remind you that the advice 547 00:31:17,830 --> 00:31:21,070 S1: that I give each day on this program is general 548 00:31:21,070 --> 00:31:25,390 S1: in nature. We offer principles and ideas that apply at 549 00:31:25,390 --> 00:31:28,710 S1: a high level. They are not personalized. So that's why 550 00:31:28,710 --> 00:31:32,470 S1: you should always seek professional financial advice. And if you'd 551 00:31:32,470 --> 00:31:35,390 S1: like to find a professional who shares your values, we 552 00:31:35,390 --> 00:31:38,150 S1: of course, here at Faith and Finance Live recommend the 553 00:31:38,150 --> 00:31:41,750 S1: Certified Kingdom Advisor designation. These are men and women who've 554 00:31:41,750 --> 00:31:44,830 S1: met high standards, and they've been trained to bring a 555 00:31:44,830 --> 00:31:47,670 S1: biblical worldview of financial decision making. You can find one 556 00:31:47,670 --> 00:31:50,350 S1: at Faith comm. Before the break, we were talking to 557 00:31:50,390 --> 00:31:53,790 S1: Dennis in Michigan. He's 70. They have no life insurance. 558 00:31:53,790 --> 00:31:57,510 S1: His wife is 69. They both draw Social Security and 559 00:31:57,510 --> 00:32:00,989 S1: both draw a pension. They have income, fixed income of 560 00:32:00,990 --> 00:32:03,870 S1: about 45,000 a year. The home is paid off. No 561 00:32:03,870 --> 00:32:06,990 S1: other debt. And just wondering whether they should consider life 562 00:32:06,990 --> 00:32:12,110 S1: insurance either term or whole life or nothing at all. Dennis, 563 00:32:12,150 --> 00:32:14,310 S1: were you going to add something else to the scenario 564 00:32:14,350 --> 00:32:15,310 S1: there right at the end. 565 00:32:17,190 --> 00:32:20,390 S7: Um, uh, we're we're both in good health. I'm in 566 00:32:20,390 --> 00:32:24,590 S7: good health. Um, and, uh, basically just wondering, you know, 567 00:32:24,630 --> 00:32:26,989 S7: I mean, who knows? The good Lord could take me 568 00:32:26,990 --> 00:32:29,950 S7: home this afternoon. Um, or we could, you know, put 569 00:32:29,950 --> 00:32:32,310 S7: it in some kind of a fund, but, uh, I'm, 570 00:32:32,310 --> 00:32:34,550 S7: you know, just. I just want to take care of 571 00:32:34,550 --> 00:32:38,510 S7: my wife. We could probably gather up if we gathered 572 00:32:38,510 --> 00:32:40,750 S7: up all of our cash and our investments, we could 573 00:32:40,750 --> 00:32:45,550 S7: probably grab $100,000. So that's about what we have, uh, 574 00:32:45,550 --> 00:32:47,950 S7: with with our finances right now. 575 00:32:47,990 --> 00:32:50,470 S1: Got it. Yeah. So this is a great question and 576 00:32:50,470 --> 00:32:53,350 S1: one that comes up often in this season of life. 577 00:32:53,350 --> 00:32:58,470 S1: And it really begs the, the primary question, which is, 578 00:32:58,630 --> 00:33:01,510 S1: you know, just do I need life insurance and what 579 00:33:01,510 --> 00:33:04,270 S1: is the purpose of it? So life insurance is meant 580 00:33:04,270 --> 00:33:09,150 S1: to replace lost income or pay off debt or protect dependents. 581 00:33:09,470 --> 00:33:13,820 S1: And so what financial risk or problem would exist if 582 00:33:13,860 --> 00:33:16,620 S1: you died tomorrow. And so we've got to test that 583 00:33:16,620 --> 00:33:19,900 S1: in your situation. We'd start with income. You're both already 584 00:33:19,900 --> 00:33:24,020 S1: drawing Social Security. You've got household income of 45,000 a year. 585 00:33:24,180 --> 00:33:28,580 S1: Your death, let's say, would reduce that income, but your 586 00:33:29,220 --> 00:33:32,260 S1: wife would likely, you know, keep the higher of the 587 00:33:32,260 --> 00:33:36,220 S1: two as a survivor benefit. Um, and her expenses would 588 00:33:36,220 --> 00:33:39,580 S1: go down. Um, debt would be the second issue while 589 00:33:39,580 --> 00:33:41,300 S1: the home's paid off and you have no other debt, 590 00:33:41,300 --> 00:33:43,980 S1: so that's not an issue. Dependence. It sounds I don't 591 00:33:43,980 --> 00:33:47,020 S1: hear you saying you have any dependent children relying on 592 00:33:47,020 --> 00:33:49,860 S1: the income. So I think there's really a question as 593 00:33:49,860 --> 00:33:52,459 S1: to is there even a need for life insurance at 594 00:33:52,460 --> 00:33:55,740 S1: this point? Uh, term insurance at 70 is going to 595 00:33:55,740 --> 00:33:58,700 S1: be very expensive. It's going to be temporary coverage. To 596 00:33:58,740 --> 00:34:01,220 S1: your point, if you outlive, you know, if you live 597 00:34:01,260 --> 00:34:03,540 S1: beyond 80 on a ten year policy, at this point, 598 00:34:03,540 --> 00:34:06,780 S1: you've just kind of thrown that money away. And, you know, 599 00:34:06,820 --> 00:34:09,980 S1: therefore it'll never pay out. Um, so term is usually 600 00:34:09,980 --> 00:34:12,770 S1: when you're younger, when you're working, you have income to 601 00:34:12,810 --> 00:34:15,410 S1: replace and you have a clear end date for the risk. 602 00:34:15,850 --> 00:34:18,609 S1: A whole life, you know. The challenge is premiums are 603 00:34:18,610 --> 00:34:21,009 S1: very high at 70. It's going to take years to 604 00:34:21,050 --> 00:34:24,170 S1: break even. The money's locked up and the returns are 605 00:34:24,170 --> 00:34:27,450 S1: typically pretty modest. So I would say kind of at 606 00:34:27,450 --> 00:34:30,530 S1: the end of the day, I would rather you just 607 00:34:30,530 --> 00:34:33,890 S1: focus on understanding what income your wife would have if 608 00:34:33,890 --> 00:34:37,050 S1: you were to predecease her, which most of us guys will, 609 00:34:37,370 --> 00:34:40,250 S1: and then, you know, confirm that her expenses are going 610 00:34:40,290 --> 00:34:43,730 S1: to be manageable with that one higher Social Security check. 611 00:34:43,770 --> 00:34:47,370 S1: The higher of the two. And then build a cash buffer, 612 00:34:47,410 --> 00:34:50,930 S1: perhaps in part using what you would be sending to 613 00:34:50,969 --> 00:34:53,770 S1: that life insurance premium. And then as a part of that, 614 00:34:53,770 --> 00:34:57,210 S1: you could think about final expense planning just to make 615 00:34:57,250 --> 00:35:01,170 S1: sure she knows there's a dedicated savings and there's pre-planning 616 00:35:01,210 --> 00:35:04,089 S1: arrangements and that kind of thing. But, uh, if you 617 00:35:04,090 --> 00:35:06,489 S1: don't need life insurance and I'm not hearing a clear 618 00:35:06,489 --> 00:35:09,489 S1: reason for it, I would encourage you not to buy 619 00:35:09,489 --> 00:35:10,640 S1: it just to have it. 620 00:35:11,440 --> 00:35:15,719 S7: Okay. Um, so a good growth fund or something. If 621 00:35:15,719 --> 00:35:18,080 S7: we were to take the money that we would put in, 622 00:35:18,080 --> 00:35:23,240 S7: let's say $75 a month, um, put it into we 623 00:35:23,280 --> 00:35:26,440 S7: do have some investments. Just, um, maybe go to our 624 00:35:26,440 --> 00:35:29,400 S7: financial advisor and maybe just sock that away every month 625 00:35:29,400 --> 00:35:30,920 S7: and just go that route? 626 00:35:31,200 --> 00:35:33,600 S1: I think so, you know, unless you don't have an 627 00:35:33,600 --> 00:35:37,600 S1: emergency fund or a specific fund for, you know, final 628 00:35:37,600 --> 00:35:39,600 S1: expenses and you want to just put that in money 629 00:35:39,600 --> 00:35:41,640 S1: market to build that up. But if you've got plenty 630 00:35:41,640 --> 00:35:44,719 S1: of liquid cash reserves, then, yeah, just putting that money 631 00:35:44,719 --> 00:35:46,520 S1: to work would be a great use for it. 632 00:35:46,560 --> 00:35:49,839 S7: All right. Well, I think that's it. Rob. We're you know, 633 00:35:49,880 --> 00:35:53,239 S7: let's you've answered a lot of questions for us. And, uh, yeah, 634 00:35:53,280 --> 00:35:55,200 S7: life insurance is not cheap when you hit when you 635 00:35:55,239 --> 00:35:59,560 S7: hit our age. So, but, um, we're we're looking at, uh, 636 00:35:59,600 --> 00:36:02,479 S7: you know, just making sure that we're covered. And, uh, 637 00:36:02,560 --> 00:36:04,719 S7: we will go over the numbers again and make sure 638 00:36:04,719 --> 00:36:07,680 S7: that everything's good, and then maybe we'll just, like you say, 639 00:36:07,719 --> 00:36:09,469 S7: sock this money away that we were going to put 640 00:36:09,469 --> 00:36:12,670 S7: into a life insurance policy and go that route and 641 00:36:12,670 --> 00:36:13,310 S7: invest it. 642 00:36:13,510 --> 00:36:15,710 S1: Yeah. Very good. I think that's the right move here. 643 00:36:15,710 --> 00:36:18,190 S1: But I appreciate your call. Thanks for being on the program. 644 00:36:18,190 --> 00:36:21,030 S1: Call anytime. Let's head up to New York. Maria. Go ahead. 645 00:36:21,910 --> 00:36:25,870 S8: I just wanted you to address the issue of if 646 00:36:25,870 --> 00:36:30,069 S8: the dollar reserve was taken away from the United States, 647 00:36:30,110 --> 00:36:35,510 S8: as most people are fear mongering about or whatever with 648 00:36:35,510 --> 00:36:39,710 S8: all of this turbulent economic stuff. And I would like 649 00:36:39,710 --> 00:36:42,590 S8: you to address that too, and how it will affect 650 00:36:42,590 --> 00:36:47,149 S8: people with a modest retirement portfolio who are in their 651 00:36:47,150 --> 00:36:49,469 S8: 70s already, like myself. 652 00:36:50,350 --> 00:36:52,790 S1: Yeah, it's a great question. You know, there has been 653 00:36:52,790 --> 00:36:56,350 S1: a lot of talk about the reserve status, and especially 654 00:36:56,350 --> 00:37:00,310 S1: as of late, the dollar's been on the decline recently. 655 00:37:00,310 --> 00:37:03,830 S1: And then we've got all these geopolitical tensions. Um, and 656 00:37:03,830 --> 00:37:06,830 S1: we are seeing some trade, you know, moves being made 657 00:37:06,830 --> 00:37:08,870 S1: that have been a long time in the making that 658 00:37:08,870 --> 00:37:12,430 S1: seem like they've materialized as of late, just because of 659 00:37:12,430 --> 00:37:15,430 S1: some of the uncertainty related to the US and tariffs. 660 00:37:16,150 --> 00:37:18,469 S1: And all of that is kind of restocking some of 661 00:37:18,469 --> 00:37:22,830 S1: these conversations about the reserve status. It really isn't something 662 00:37:23,190 --> 00:37:26,830 S1: I'm concerned about, um, in the sense that, you know, 663 00:37:26,870 --> 00:37:30,310 S1: it's extremely unlikely that the US would have some sort 664 00:37:30,310 --> 00:37:33,989 S1: of sudden loss of of US dollar reserve status, even 665 00:37:33,989 --> 00:37:37,150 S1: though it's more of a de facto status than, um, 666 00:37:37,190 --> 00:37:41,390 S1: you know, a real status. Um, you know, countries talk 667 00:37:41,430 --> 00:37:44,190 S1: about alternatives, but talk is not the same as a 668 00:37:44,190 --> 00:37:48,750 S1: legitimate replacement. And even if the dollar's dominance gradually declines, 669 00:37:48,750 --> 00:37:51,790 S1: it would be slow. It would be, you know, uneven. 670 00:37:51,790 --> 00:37:56,469 S1: It wouldn't be a collapse, uh, in portfolios could adapt. Basically, 671 00:37:56,469 --> 00:37:59,709 S1: what it actually means when we talk about reserve currency 672 00:37:59,710 --> 00:38:04,950 S1: is that the US dollar is the reserve currency because 673 00:38:04,950 --> 00:38:08,340 S1: of the practices around the US dollar. So global trade 674 00:38:08,340 --> 00:38:11,939 S1: is priced in US dollars. Commodities are priced in dollars. 675 00:38:11,980 --> 00:38:15,620 S1: Global debt rely on dollars. US, you know, has deep 676 00:38:15,620 --> 00:38:19,420 S1: liquid capital markets and a strong rule of law and 677 00:38:19,420 --> 00:38:24,820 S1: no other currency. You know currently checks all of those boxes. So, 678 00:38:24,860 --> 00:38:27,180 S1: you know, we're kind of the reserve currency in part 679 00:38:27,180 --> 00:38:31,180 S1: because of who we are, but also in part because 680 00:38:31,219 --> 00:38:35,740 S1: there's no other alternative that's viable at this point. Um, 681 00:38:35,780 --> 00:38:39,580 S1: you know, maybe the closest would be the euro, but 682 00:38:39,580 --> 00:38:42,900 S1: that's really still an experiment. I mean, that's a large economy, 683 00:38:42,900 --> 00:38:46,740 S1: and it's widely used in trade with a stable institution, 684 00:38:46,739 --> 00:38:50,259 S1: but there's no single fiscal authority. I mean, there's 27 685 00:38:50,260 --> 00:38:54,180 S1: countries with different budgets. They have a fragmented bond market, 686 00:38:54,500 --> 00:38:58,260 S1: and there's a lot of political strains between the member nations. 687 00:38:58,260 --> 00:39:01,300 S1: So I don't think it's a viable replacement. I think 688 00:39:01,340 --> 00:39:05,610 S1: the Japanese yen is is not a viable replacement. Very 689 00:39:05,610 --> 00:39:11,090 S1: low interest rates, massive government debt, a long term demographic decline. 690 00:39:11,489 --> 00:39:15,210 S1: And and then, you know, British pound would be too 691 00:39:15,210 --> 00:39:19,690 S1: small of an economy. Um, so, you know, there's just 692 00:39:19,730 --> 00:39:23,170 S1: really not I mean, China is not, I think, viable 693 00:39:23,210 --> 00:39:28,009 S1: because of the government intervention and the lack of transparency. Um, 694 00:39:28,170 --> 00:39:31,290 S1: you know, investors can't freely exit it. So there just 695 00:39:31,290 --> 00:39:34,529 S1: really isn't a viable alternative there. Maria. So I think 696 00:39:34,530 --> 00:39:38,330 S1: from that standpoint, the US, despite, uh, the rest of 697 00:39:38,330 --> 00:39:42,649 S1: the world's, you know, desire to see a more diversified approach. 698 00:39:43,010 --> 00:39:46,410 S1: I just don't think there's anything that's, uh, that's viable there. 699 00:39:47,530 --> 00:39:51,210 S8: Okay. Thank you so very much. But is there because 700 00:39:51,210 --> 00:39:54,890 S8: of that? You are optimistic about it. So there's no 701 00:39:54,890 --> 00:39:59,569 S8: need to really like, uh, panic. Right? I mean, to 702 00:39:59,570 --> 00:40:03,009 S8: be affected by the fear mongering stuff. 703 00:40:03,200 --> 00:40:05,879 S1: I think that's right. You know, ultimately God is on 704 00:40:05,880 --> 00:40:08,800 S1: the throne and our trust needs to be in him. Um, 705 00:40:08,800 --> 00:40:11,840 S1: you know, if if the messages of this world, including 706 00:40:11,840 --> 00:40:14,560 S1: the fear mongering, are getting you down, I'd. I'd shut 707 00:40:14,560 --> 00:40:18,560 S1: those down and turn up God's voice and spend more 708 00:40:18,560 --> 00:40:21,000 S1: time in God's word. You know, we know the end 709 00:40:21,000 --> 00:40:23,600 S1: of the story. And, uh, and he wins and will 710 00:40:23,600 --> 00:40:28,280 S1: be victorious over Satan and, uh, and and this world, 711 00:40:28,280 --> 00:40:32,160 S1: he has conquered death, and, uh, he is in control. 712 00:40:32,440 --> 00:40:36,120 S1: And that doesn't mean we'll be, you know, without challenges 713 00:40:36,120 --> 00:40:38,960 S1: and and pain and, you know, the, the effects of 714 00:40:38,960 --> 00:40:44,600 S1: sin are real. Um, but our hope is in Christ. And, uh, ultimately, 715 00:40:44,600 --> 00:40:46,960 S1: we need to be faithful stewards of what God has 716 00:40:46,960 --> 00:40:49,799 S1: entrusted to us, which means looking to his word. We 717 00:40:49,800 --> 00:40:53,040 S1: don't bury the talents we've been given. We can put 718 00:40:53,040 --> 00:40:56,320 S1: them to work because we have trust in the master, 719 00:40:56,320 --> 00:40:58,239 S1: which is really the parable of the talents. You know, 720 00:40:58,280 --> 00:41:03,800 S1: the one, uh, servant that was, uh, Scolded. Um, you know, 721 00:41:03,840 --> 00:41:06,200 S1: didn't put it to work. And I think it was 722 00:41:06,239 --> 00:41:10,879 S1: a fear. And his view of God ultimately and and 723 00:41:10,920 --> 00:41:14,120 S1: a lack of trust, um, you know, that caused him 724 00:41:14,120 --> 00:41:17,200 S1: to shrink back. And I think because we know that 725 00:41:17,200 --> 00:41:20,359 S1: we can trust God that he is our provider and 726 00:41:20,360 --> 00:41:22,960 S1: no one else. It allows us to take what he's 727 00:41:22,960 --> 00:41:26,160 S1: given and move forward in faith and put it to 728 00:41:26,200 --> 00:41:30,400 S1: work in ways that's wise and shrewd and God honoring, 729 00:41:30,719 --> 00:41:33,600 S1: even investing in the, you know, in the midst of 730 00:41:33,600 --> 00:41:37,240 S1: all these geopolitical tensions and everything going on around us, 731 00:41:37,480 --> 00:41:40,319 S1: we can step forward in faith because ultimately we know 732 00:41:40,320 --> 00:41:43,719 S1: who it belongs to and who's in control. Does that 733 00:41:43,719 --> 00:41:44,360 S1: make sense? 734 00:41:44,760 --> 00:41:47,319 S8: Yes, it makes sense the entire thing. And thank you 735 00:41:47,320 --> 00:41:52,319 S8: for explaining the elements that will, um, still make the 736 00:41:52,320 --> 00:41:57,960 S8: United States the stronger dollar, the stronger reserve for the world. 737 00:41:57,960 --> 00:42:01,470 S8: Thank you so much. And I like the biblical peace 738 00:42:01,469 --> 00:42:03,670 S8: as well. Thank you. Thank you so very much. 739 00:42:03,870 --> 00:42:07,950 S1: Absolutely, Maria, thank you for calling today. Be encouraged. And, uh, 740 00:42:07,950 --> 00:42:10,870 S1: and thanks for tuning in. You know, together we, uh, 741 00:42:10,870 --> 00:42:14,430 S1: we recognize money as a tool to accomplish God's purposes. 742 00:42:14,430 --> 00:42:17,270 S1: It's a test because it can rival our hearts. So 743 00:42:17,270 --> 00:42:19,390 S1: we need to make sure that, uh, we have it 744 00:42:19,430 --> 00:42:22,150 S1: squarely under the lordship of Christ. But it's also a 745 00:42:22,150 --> 00:42:25,150 S1: testimony to the world, you know, the way we hold 746 00:42:25,150 --> 00:42:27,509 S1: it loosely and give it generously, even in the midst 747 00:42:27,510 --> 00:42:31,830 S1: of the uncertainty, is a testimony to a watching world 748 00:42:32,030 --> 00:42:34,430 S1: that wants to know whether or not, uh, our faith 749 00:42:34,430 --> 00:42:38,390 S1: is real. And may we live boldly today in that 750 00:42:38,390 --> 00:42:41,670 S1: regard and put that on full display for the watching world. 751 00:42:41,670 --> 00:42:43,790 S1: Thanks for being on the program today, Maria. Well, that's 752 00:42:43,790 --> 00:42:46,110 S1: going to do it for us today. Faith and finance 753 00:42:46,150 --> 00:42:48,989 S1: live as a partnership between Moody Radio and Faith VI. 754 00:42:49,030 --> 00:42:52,469 S1: Thank you to my amazing broadcast team. I couldn't do 755 00:42:52,469 --> 00:42:54,310 S1: this without them. I hope you have a great rest 756 00:42:54,310 --> 00:42:56,510 S1: of your day and we'll see you next time on 757 00:42:56,510 --> 00:42:57,950 S1: Faith and Finance live.