1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,040 S1: Hey, it's Diana super Di and so glad you've tuned 2 00:00:03,040 --> 00:00:05,920 S1: in to the Carl and Crew show cast. You know, 3 00:00:05,960 --> 00:00:09,320 S1: we air live weekday mornings, 5 to 9 central. For 4 00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:11,920 S1: all the great ways to listen, just head to Carl 5 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:12,720 S1: and crew for. 6 00:00:14,440 --> 00:00:17,640 S2: Coming to you live from the call of Hope studio. 7 00:00:17,840 --> 00:00:19,720 S2: This is Carl and crew. 8 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:23,280 S3: Carl and crew. And what a joy to be doing 9 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:28,160 S3: this all week long. Ask the experts. I am thrilled 10 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:31,680 S3: with the content that we are getting into the boom 11 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:35,360 S3: crews hand. I mean, Ali, is this tremendous or what? 12 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:38,640 S4: This has been a huge week, and I've had my 13 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:41,239 S4: papers out and I've been taking notes on each of 14 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:45,040 S4: our guests and biggest and biggest takeaways. And I mean, 15 00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:47,000 S4: it's been a phenomenal week. 16 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:49,919 S3: But coming up straight ahead, one of my favorite I've 17 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:53,559 S3: been looking forward to him all week long. Ali I'm 18 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:56,080 S3: take it away I might spontaneously combust. 19 00:00:56,280 --> 00:01:00,250 S4: Well, we are bringing money wise faith and finance to 20 00:01:00,290 --> 00:01:04,010 S4: the morning's Faith and finance Live host Rob West is 21 00:01:04,010 --> 00:01:07,770 S4: going to be with us taking questions on finances. 22 00:01:08,290 --> 00:01:10,970 S2: You can take him out of Alaska, but you can't 23 00:01:11,010 --> 00:01:14,850 S2: take Alaska out of him. Carl is in the crew. 24 00:01:15,090 --> 00:01:18,569 S2: It's Carl and crew on Moody Radio Scotland crew. 25 00:01:18,610 --> 00:01:21,370 S3: It's a whole week of Ask the Experts and we've 26 00:01:21,370 --> 00:01:25,089 S3: got Rob West with us today. Faith and finance. He's 27 00:01:25,090 --> 00:01:27,009 S3: got a brand new book out. We're going to give 28 00:01:27,010 --> 00:01:29,370 S3: you a link. Rob. You ready for this? 29 00:01:29,370 --> 00:01:31,569 S5: Yeah, but I'm an afternoon guy, so, you know, I 30 00:01:31,569 --> 00:01:33,290 S5: guess I'm going to make it work. Carl I mean, 31 00:01:33,330 --> 00:01:34,929 S5: here I am, bright and early, right? 32 00:01:35,450 --> 00:01:38,450 S3: You're gonna kill it, buddy. You're gonna kill it. By 33 00:01:38,450 --> 00:01:40,130 S3: the way, I want to begin with the question of 34 00:01:40,130 --> 00:01:43,890 S3: my own. What's going on with 401, 403 B's as 35 00:01:43,890 --> 00:01:47,250 S3: far as expanding where you can invest your money these days, 36 00:01:47,250 --> 00:01:49,650 S3: what do you say to all these Christ followers listening 37 00:01:49,650 --> 00:01:50,169 S3: right now? 38 00:01:50,450 --> 00:01:53,650 S5: Yeah. What an opportunity, Carl, you're exactly right. I mean, 39 00:01:53,690 --> 00:01:55,850 S5: this is the chance for us to put something away 40 00:01:55,850 --> 00:01:57,770 S5: for the future. You know, we got to live in 41 00:01:57,770 --> 00:02:00,750 S5: this tension between how do I manage what God allows 42 00:02:00,750 --> 00:02:04,070 S5: to pass through my hands? And it's certainly appropriate to 43 00:02:04,110 --> 00:02:06,510 S5: save a portion of it for the future. We want 44 00:02:06,550 --> 00:02:08,669 S5: to balance that with our giving and the here and now. 45 00:02:08,669 --> 00:02:11,110 S5: But you know, with for one, I love the fact 46 00:02:11,110 --> 00:02:15,510 S5: that they're expanding the opportunities to invest. You know, one 47 00:02:15,510 --> 00:02:17,550 S5: of the things that's nice about the 41K is you 48 00:02:17,550 --> 00:02:20,590 S5: have this simple menu of choices. It makes it a 49 00:02:20,590 --> 00:02:23,430 S5: little bit easier to choose what investments are right for you, 50 00:02:23,430 --> 00:02:27,790 S5: especially if you use one of those lifecycle funds or the, uh, 51 00:02:27,910 --> 00:02:30,910 S5: the the date based funds, where you just pick your 52 00:02:30,950 --> 00:02:34,829 S5: retirement date and it automatically adjusts it for the right mix. 53 00:02:34,830 --> 00:02:37,149 S5: But a lot of them are now opening up what's 54 00:02:37,150 --> 00:02:40,750 S5: called a brokerage window, which means you can essentially invest 55 00:02:40,750 --> 00:02:44,550 S5: beyond that menu. And the great opportunity for Christ followers 56 00:02:44,550 --> 00:02:47,910 S5: is one of the new kind of aha's in this 57 00:02:47,910 --> 00:02:51,630 S5: area of finance for Christians is what's called faith based investing, 58 00:02:51,630 --> 00:02:54,150 S5: where you can eliminate those companies that are misaligned with 59 00:02:54,150 --> 00:02:57,720 S5: your values. You can opt in to those companies and 60 00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:01,800 S5: investments that are promoting human flourishing and even a kingdom impact, 61 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:06,560 S5: and those are generally only available beyond the predetermined list. 62 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:09,279 S5: And so now you can go access those in many cases. 63 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:12,799 S3: Love it, love it. We got our first text message 64 00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:16,079 S3: in here. Uh, question for Rob West. What is the 65 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:21,079 S3: best method to pay off significant credit card debt? Rob 66 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:23,360 S3: there's a lot of people listening with this right now. 67 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:24,519 S3: What do you say, my man? 68 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:27,320 S5: Well, it's a big challenge. And so first of all, 69 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:29,520 S5: my heart goes out to you because I know the 70 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:33,080 S5: weight that this credit card debt is in your life 71 00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:35,960 S5: and you're not alone, first of all. So credit card 72 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:40,720 S5: debt just reached an all time high 1.2 trillion Carl 73 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:43,920 S5: and Ali that's owed. The average household holding a credit 74 00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:48,200 S5: card balance of over $10,000 now. So this is real. 75 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:51,800 S5: And this went down during the pandemic because we were home. And, 76 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:54,360 S5: you know, we were paying down those balances and saving more. 77 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:56,770 S5: And now, unfortunately, it's back right up to where it 78 00:03:56,770 --> 00:04:00,370 S5: was pre-pandemic levels. And even beyond that. So where do 79 00:04:00,370 --> 00:04:04,090 S5: you go from here? Well, my number is around $4,000. 80 00:04:04,090 --> 00:04:06,970 S5: If you have less than 4000 in credit card debt, 81 00:04:07,050 --> 00:04:09,930 S5: you can do this yourself. And it's called the snowball method. 82 00:04:09,930 --> 00:04:12,410 S5: And basically what you do is you first have to 83 00:04:12,450 --> 00:04:15,370 S5: start with the budget. Remember living within your means, below 84 00:04:15,370 --> 00:04:18,970 S5: your means. So you have margin is really essential to 85 00:04:19,010 --> 00:04:23,130 S5: accomplishing any of your goals beyond just this month. And 86 00:04:23,130 --> 00:04:25,450 S5: so we need to dial back our spending and free 87 00:04:25,490 --> 00:04:28,370 S5: up margin so we can take 100% of that and 88 00:04:28,370 --> 00:04:31,730 S5: put it toward debt repayment. All right. And you're going 89 00:04:31,770 --> 00:04:35,529 S5: to line up your balances smallest to largest balance not 90 00:04:35,529 --> 00:04:38,890 S5: interest rate but balance. And here's why. Let's say that 91 00:04:38,890 --> 00:04:42,410 S5: first card is $1,000. And you freed up $250 a 92 00:04:42,410 --> 00:04:45,290 S5: month out of your budget. Four months later, it's gone. 93 00:04:45,410 --> 00:04:48,330 S5: That win is going to keep you going. And the 94 00:04:48,330 --> 00:04:51,850 S5: best repayment plan is the one that you'll actually finish. Okay, 95 00:04:51,930 --> 00:04:55,190 S5: so smallest to largest balance. We keep them all current, 96 00:04:55,190 --> 00:04:57,790 S5: but we take that extra money we've freed up by 97 00:04:57,830 --> 00:05:01,470 S5: cutting back in every area possible. We attack the smallest 98 00:05:01,470 --> 00:05:03,909 S5: bounds and move right on from there. If you have 99 00:05:03,910 --> 00:05:06,310 S5: more than 4000 in debt, and I realize that's a 100 00:05:06,350 --> 00:05:09,110 S5: lot of us listening today. Well, that's where I would 101 00:05:09,110 --> 00:05:12,469 S5: use debt management and our friends at Christian Credit Counselors 102 00:05:13,190 --> 00:05:16,790 S5: or Trinity. Either one would be great. Both, uh, you know, 103 00:05:16,830 --> 00:05:19,630 S5: staffed by believers. They're going to keep the debt right 104 00:05:19,630 --> 00:05:22,510 S5: where it is. But get those interest rates down that's 105 00:05:22,510 --> 00:05:24,990 S5: going to allow you to pay it off 80% faster. 106 00:05:24,990 --> 00:05:28,469 S5: So one of those twos situations can work for you. 107 00:05:28,470 --> 00:05:31,110 S5: The key is don't go into debt settlement where they 108 00:05:31,110 --> 00:05:33,870 S5: stop paying them and try to negotiate them. That'll trash 109 00:05:33,870 --> 00:05:36,670 S5: your credit. And no debt consolidation where you take out 110 00:05:36,670 --> 00:05:39,750 S5: a new loan. Because often my experience, Carl, is that 111 00:05:39,750 --> 00:05:42,270 S5: doesn't fix the problem. And then you call me back 112 00:05:42,270 --> 00:05:44,390 S5: six months later and say, guess what, I've got a 113 00:05:44,390 --> 00:05:46,950 S5: consolidation loan and the credit card debt is back. 114 00:05:46,990 --> 00:05:49,710 S3: You know, I've wondered about this, though. Rob, what do 115 00:05:49,710 --> 00:05:53,600 S3: these services set you back? I have never heard the 116 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:56,680 S3: answer to that question. How much do they cost you 117 00:05:56,880 --> 00:05:59,159 S3: to get hooked up with one of these great faith 118 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:02,840 S3: based kind of strategies here for you? How does that work? 119 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:05,279 S5: Yeah, yeah. You know, it's there's a typically just a 120 00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:08,360 S5: small monthly fee. It'd be less than $20 a month 121 00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:11,240 S5: on average. But when you add, you know, you put 122 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:14,599 S5: that alongside the savings. Because remember the average interest rate 123 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:19,200 S5: right now is 22%. And typically on credit counseling or 124 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:22,570 S5: what's called debt management, they're the same thing. It's between 125 00:06:22,570 --> 00:06:26,400 S5: 0 and 12%. So those interest rates drop. And when 126 00:06:26,400 --> 00:06:29,280 S5: you cut that interest rate now a lot more is 127 00:06:29,279 --> 00:06:32,120 S5: going to principal reduction every month. And that's the key. 128 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:33,280 S3: Beautiful. 129 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:35,960 S4: Rob West our guest this morning, host of the nationally 130 00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:39,719 S4: syndicated program Faith and Finance Live. You hear it here 131 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:42,919 S4: on Moody Radio. You can text money if you want 132 00:06:42,920 --> 00:06:45,240 S4: to get to this app. We'll talk about it. But 133 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:48,640 S4: if you want resources from Rob West in connection to 134 00:06:48,680 --> 00:06:53,810 S4: the app, just text money to 800 555 7898. Rob, 135 00:06:53,810 --> 00:06:56,810 S4: what is the best way to put away money for 136 00:06:56,810 --> 00:07:00,529 S4: your future generations, for your children and even your grandchildren? 137 00:07:00,730 --> 00:07:03,210 S4: Obviously you can put it away in a savings account. 138 00:07:03,210 --> 00:07:05,930 S4: You could put it in a college fund kind of thing, 139 00:07:05,930 --> 00:07:08,810 S4: but is there a better way to kind of grow that? 140 00:07:09,410 --> 00:07:12,010 S5: Yeah, it's a great question, Ali. I would say if 141 00:07:12,010 --> 00:07:16,770 S5: it's earmarked specifically for college, then the 529 college savings 142 00:07:16,770 --> 00:07:19,410 S5: is my preferred way to go. It's tax free growth 143 00:07:19,610 --> 00:07:21,610 S5: as long as you've used it for or you will 144 00:07:21,610 --> 00:07:26,770 S5: use it for qualified education expenses. There's high contribution limits 145 00:07:26,770 --> 00:07:31,450 S5: and often a state tax deduction or credit. But again, 146 00:07:31,490 --> 00:07:34,490 S5: you really want to make sure that it's earmarked for college. 147 00:07:34,490 --> 00:07:36,370 S5: Now if you get to that point and they get 148 00:07:36,370 --> 00:07:39,410 S5: scholarships or grants, you can get it back equal to 149 00:07:39,410 --> 00:07:41,930 S5: the amount of the scholarship or grant. I would go 150 00:07:41,930 --> 00:07:45,930 S5: to Savingforcollege.com to find out which states plan is best 151 00:07:45,930 --> 00:07:49,510 S5: for you. It may not be your state because another 152 00:07:49,510 --> 00:07:53,230 S5: state may have better performance or lower fees, or both. Now, 153 00:07:53,310 --> 00:07:55,430 S5: if you want to save for the kids or the 154 00:07:55,430 --> 00:07:59,590 S5: grandkids and it's not for college, you can generally do 155 00:07:59,590 --> 00:08:01,830 S5: that in a Roth IRA. But again, this is long 156 00:08:01,870 --> 00:08:04,950 S5: term money that you're thinking they're not going to touch 157 00:08:04,990 --> 00:08:07,910 S5: until retirement. You're just trying to get them started and 158 00:08:07,910 --> 00:08:10,430 S5: leverage the power of compounding. The only key is they 159 00:08:10,430 --> 00:08:13,270 S5: have to have earned income. So I would say long 160 00:08:13,310 --> 00:08:17,710 S5: term with earned income, not college. That's the Roth IRA 161 00:08:17,750 --> 00:08:20,510 S5: for college. 529 college savings. 162 00:08:21,350 --> 00:08:25,830 S2: Breaking chains and running free. You're listening to Carl and crew. 163 00:08:26,110 --> 00:08:28,630 S3: Yeah, a whole week have asked the experts. We got 164 00:08:28,670 --> 00:08:31,750 S3: Rob West with us right now. Rob, let's let's set 165 00:08:31,750 --> 00:08:35,750 S3: something in place here. As a pastor, I see a 166 00:08:35,750 --> 00:08:41,230 S3: lot of people struggling financially. My hot take on this, Rob, 167 00:08:41,230 --> 00:08:46,189 S3: is that usually there's a spiritual deep component here somewhere. 168 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:49,200 S3: Explain that, would you, my man? 169 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:52,760 S5: Yeah. You know, as we think about money so often, 170 00:08:52,760 --> 00:08:55,840 S5: we think about that iceberg. You know, 10% of the 171 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:59,080 S5: iceberg is above the water line, but the 90%, the 172 00:08:59,080 --> 00:09:03,040 S5: real mass of that iceberg is below. And in our finances, 173 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:05,680 S5: the 10% above the water line that we focus on 174 00:09:05,679 --> 00:09:09,120 S5: is the, you know, this college plan and what investment 175 00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:10,520 S5: and how do I pay down debt and how do 176 00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:13,160 S5: I live within my means. And that's all important. But 177 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:16,520 S5: really it's the 90% below the water line. That's our heart. 178 00:09:16,520 --> 00:09:19,439 S5: It's the why. Remember Jesus said, where your treasure is, 179 00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:22,160 S5: there your heart will be also. So money issues are 180 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:26,240 S5: heart issues and they reveal how we handle money reveals 181 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:29,560 S5: what we value, what our priorities are, and where we've 182 00:09:29,559 --> 00:09:33,079 S5: placed our trust. And, you know, the challenge is, you know, 183 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:36,520 S5: money can compete with God for first position in our lives, 184 00:09:36,520 --> 00:09:39,199 S5: like very few other things. Uh, you know, the late 185 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:42,400 S5: Tim Keller said in his book Counterfeit Gods, the most 186 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:46,170 S5: common counterfeit god is money. If something's going to dethrone 187 00:09:46,170 --> 00:09:49,010 S5: God from first position. It's most often going to be 188 00:09:49,010 --> 00:09:50,650 S5: money and the things that money can buy. You remember 189 00:09:50,650 --> 00:09:53,090 S5: what the parable of the sower, what choked out the 190 00:09:53,090 --> 00:09:55,969 S5: word from bearing 30, 60, 100 fold return was the 191 00:09:55,970 --> 00:10:00,130 S5: deceitfulness of riches, the desires for other things, the cares 192 00:10:00,130 --> 00:10:02,610 S5: of this world. So I think we have to start 193 00:10:02,809 --> 00:10:07,050 S5: and see if we have misplaced trust. Am I trusting 194 00:10:07,050 --> 00:10:09,970 S5: in the things of this world? My bank account, my 195 00:10:10,010 --> 00:10:14,290 S5: 401 K? You know the the status that I have 196 00:10:14,330 --> 00:10:17,370 S5: by the things that I own? Or is God my 197 00:10:17,370 --> 00:10:20,850 S5: ultimate treasure? And when he is, I realize that I 198 00:10:20,850 --> 00:10:23,770 S5: already have enough before the first dollar, and then it 199 00:10:23,770 --> 00:10:26,650 S5: allows me to put money in its proper place. And 200 00:10:26,650 --> 00:10:29,890 S5: that is a tool to accomplish God's purposes. You remember 201 00:10:29,890 --> 00:10:32,490 S5: the God who created money is the God of joy 202 00:10:32,490 --> 00:10:35,850 S5: and delight. He created money for our enjoyment. It says 203 00:10:35,850 --> 00:10:39,050 S5: in First Timothy and where to use it to give 204 00:10:39,090 --> 00:10:41,130 S5: to those in need and love our neighbor. We can 205 00:10:41,130 --> 00:10:44,290 S5: invest in a way that creates human flourishing, but we 206 00:10:44,420 --> 00:10:47,100 S5: have to order it according to the principles we find 207 00:10:47,100 --> 00:10:49,420 S5: in His Word. That means spend less than we earn. 208 00:10:49,460 --> 00:10:53,060 S5: Avoid debt. Set some long term goals. Give generously. Have 209 00:10:53,059 --> 00:10:55,740 S5: some margin. When we do that, it doesn't mean we'll 210 00:10:55,740 --> 00:10:59,099 S5: be free. Carl and Allie, as you well know from difficulty, 211 00:10:59,100 --> 00:11:02,020 S5: we live in a fallen world. But we'll put ourselves 212 00:11:02,020 --> 00:11:05,220 S5: in a position to experience God's best. The key is 213 00:11:05,380 --> 00:11:07,660 S5: we can't make money. The end. It's a means to 214 00:11:07,700 --> 00:11:09,700 S5: an end. And God is our ultimate treasure. 215 00:11:09,940 --> 00:11:13,219 S3: How do we change the affection of our hearts so 216 00:11:13,220 --> 00:11:17,859 S3: that the direction of our money isn't following the wrong stuff? 217 00:11:18,260 --> 00:11:21,940 S5: Yeah, well, here's the key. Uh, giving breaks the power 218 00:11:21,940 --> 00:11:25,260 S5: of money over our lives. You know, when you hold 219 00:11:25,260 --> 00:11:27,860 S5: it loosely and give it away, it's a it's a 220 00:11:27,860 --> 00:11:32,620 S5: tangible demonstration of you saying, God, I trust you. You 221 00:11:32,620 --> 00:11:35,660 S5: are my provider, not my employer, not the US government, 222 00:11:35,660 --> 00:11:38,780 S5: not anything else. You are my provider. I see how 223 00:11:38,780 --> 00:11:41,260 S5: you provide for the birds of the air. I know 224 00:11:41,260 --> 00:11:45,200 S5: you'll provide for me. created in your image, your child. 225 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:48,199 S5: And so I trust you today. And that act of 226 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:53,200 S5: giving is that worship, that demonstration of trust that breaks 227 00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:56,600 S5: the grip or the power of money over our lives, 228 00:11:56,600 --> 00:12:02,120 S5: reorients our hearts to the eternal, not the temporal. And 229 00:12:02,120 --> 00:12:05,520 S5: it frees us from that trap, Carl, that you're describing. 230 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:05,959 S3: Yeah. 231 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:09,680 S4: Let's go to David. First time caller from Summerfield, Florida. David, 232 00:12:09,679 --> 00:12:10,839 S4: go ahead with your question. 233 00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:13,720 S6: Hey, good morning Rob. 234 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:14,840 S5: Good morning. 235 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:19,760 S6: I have, um, I have a, um, a 401 K 236 00:12:19,800 --> 00:12:24,160 S6: that was rolled into an IRA three years ago with, uh, 237 00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:30,120 S6: Edward Jones. And, uh, the advisor's been calling me, um, 238 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:34,960 S6: to want to roll that. It's 117. It was 100 239 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:38,679 S6: when I. When I left that employment, and now it's 240 00:12:38,679 --> 00:12:42,610 S6: at 117. Three years later. and he wants me to 241 00:12:42,650 --> 00:12:48,090 S6: roll that into a Lincoln fund. That's an annuity. And 242 00:12:48,090 --> 00:12:51,210 S6: he says, when I'm 55. Right now, he said, when 243 00:12:51,210 --> 00:12:55,770 S6: I'm 70, what's my retirement date I picked? Uh, said, 244 00:12:55,770 --> 00:12:59,210 S6: that'll pay me 1000 a month. He said that my 245 00:12:59,210 --> 00:13:03,130 S6: portfolio looks real good, but I he wants to have 246 00:13:03,130 --> 00:13:06,170 S6: me a, you know, a pension for me. Um, like 247 00:13:06,170 --> 00:13:10,449 S6: he has from the government and, uh, and everything that 248 00:13:10,450 --> 00:13:13,010 S6: I've been reading, and I've followed you for years, and 249 00:13:13,010 --> 00:13:16,050 S6: you're not a big fan of them, and, uh, and 250 00:13:16,090 --> 00:13:20,290 S6: I don't want to make a wrong decision here and 251 00:13:20,290 --> 00:13:24,410 S6: everything that I've searched and searched about this and asked 252 00:13:24,410 --> 00:13:27,130 S6: God and everything, and it's the only thing I can 253 00:13:27,130 --> 00:13:29,890 S6: come up with is they make a lot of money 254 00:13:29,929 --> 00:13:33,610 S6: off the the front end when you put it in there. Uh, 255 00:13:33,610 --> 00:13:36,570 S6: my advisor would. And then after that, they really don't 256 00:13:36,570 --> 00:13:40,740 S6: make much. So, um, I'm trying to get your, um. 257 00:13:40,780 --> 00:13:43,260 S6: It was so timely when you were on this, on 258 00:13:43,300 --> 00:13:45,780 S6: this program this morning because, uh, I got to go 259 00:13:45,820 --> 00:13:48,580 S6: next week, and he put in a hard sell on me, 260 00:13:48,620 --> 00:13:51,580 S6: and I've never had that, you know these. Yes. 261 00:13:51,900 --> 00:13:54,700 S3: Yeah, we got it, David. I think we got that. 262 00:13:54,700 --> 00:13:56,860 S3: Thank you. Buddy, this is good stuff. What do you 263 00:13:56,860 --> 00:13:57,580 S3: say Rob. 264 00:13:58,179 --> 00:14:01,100 S5: Yeah, it's a great question. And first of all, I 265 00:14:01,100 --> 00:14:04,060 S5: don't want you to be sold anything. And often annuities 266 00:14:04,059 --> 00:14:06,660 S5: are sold rather than bought. So I really want you 267 00:14:06,660 --> 00:14:10,059 S5: to clarify your goal before you do anything and make 268 00:14:10,059 --> 00:14:12,100 S5: sure this is the right fit for you. You know, 269 00:14:12,140 --> 00:14:15,860 S5: here's some questions to ask. Do I want income now 270 00:14:15,900 --> 00:14:19,260 S5: or soon that I can't outlive? How important is that 271 00:14:19,260 --> 00:14:22,140 S5: to me? Or would I rather have the growth and 272 00:14:22,140 --> 00:14:25,780 S5: flexibility for later? Because I think the answer to that 273 00:14:25,780 --> 00:14:28,580 S5: question will steer this decision. And then you have to 274 00:14:28,620 --> 00:14:32,460 S5: compare the math. What is, you know, the guaranteed payout 275 00:14:32,460 --> 00:14:36,340 S5: in today's dollars and compare it to what your IRA 276 00:14:36,380 --> 00:14:40,840 S5: could generate if invested in a way that's appropriate, conservatively, 277 00:14:40,840 --> 00:14:44,480 S5: let's say, you know, for the foreseeable future. And then 278 00:14:44,480 --> 00:14:46,960 S5: I think you need to understand the costs and restrictions. 279 00:14:46,960 --> 00:14:49,760 S5: What's the annual fee and how long is my money 280 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:52,560 S5: locked up and what are the surrender charges. And I 281 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:54,920 S5: think that will drive the decision. You're right. I'm not 282 00:14:54,920 --> 00:14:57,880 S5: a big fan of annuities. I'd rather you keep full 283 00:14:57,880 --> 00:15:00,720 S5: access to your money. Let it grow in a way 284 00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:04,360 S5: that's appropriate. Yes, you're taking some risk on, but you 285 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:08,040 S5: have the ability to capture the full upside of the market. 286 00:15:08,080 --> 00:15:10,400 S5: You know, between now and however long you know, the 287 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:14,120 S5: Lord has you here. Now, if you say above everything else, Rob, 288 00:15:14,120 --> 00:15:17,000 S5: I want to transfer risk to an insurance company. And 289 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:20,320 S5: I want that mailbox money, that income stream for life. Well, 290 00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:23,480 S5: then maybe maybe an annuity is right for you. Apart 291 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:25,880 S5: from that, I'd say keep it right where it is. 292 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:27,880 S5: Keep it invested in a way that fits your goals 293 00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:30,520 S5: and objectives. Let it grow and keep full access to 294 00:15:30,560 --> 00:15:31,080 S5: the money. 295 00:15:31,560 --> 00:15:36,080 S2: A basketball mom who's mastered the dad joke. Ali is 296 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:39,850 S2: in the crew. It's Carl and crew on Moody Radio. 297 00:15:39,890 --> 00:15:41,650 S3: Okay, let's get back to the phones. Ali. Who do 298 00:15:41,650 --> 00:15:41,890 S3: we have? 299 00:15:41,930 --> 00:15:44,410 S4: We've got Lynn. First time caller from Tampa, Florida. Lynn, 300 00:15:44,410 --> 00:15:45,530 S4: go ahead with your question. 301 00:15:46,090 --> 00:15:50,570 S7: Hey, Rob and family out there. Yeah, this is Lynn. Um, 302 00:15:50,730 --> 00:15:53,930 S7: I'm actually a little embarrassed, a little ashamed to call, 303 00:15:53,930 --> 00:15:57,530 S7: but here I am. I've got, uh, I just recently 304 00:15:57,530 --> 00:16:03,050 S7: earned my PhD, and I've got about $200,000 in student 305 00:16:03,050 --> 00:16:07,370 S7: debt on top of all the other life expenses. Uh, 306 00:16:07,450 --> 00:16:11,730 S7: and I am just completely overwhelmed. I'm looking for some 307 00:16:12,090 --> 00:16:14,850 S7: ways of getting this thing paid. I'll just give you 308 00:16:14,890 --> 00:16:19,970 S7: one tiny bit of background. I'm in the, uh, faith program. Uh, 309 00:16:20,010 --> 00:16:23,610 S7: so my student loans are deferred right now, and I 310 00:16:23,650 --> 00:16:26,930 S7: am a public servant, so I've got that going for me. 311 00:16:26,930 --> 00:16:29,930 S7: But because the student loans are deferred right now, I'm 312 00:16:29,930 --> 00:16:32,930 S7: not even paying into it. But I am in the 313 00:16:32,930 --> 00:16:36,900 S7: public service loan forgiveness program. Okay, I've got you. 314 00:16:37,260 --> 00:16:38,260 S5: All right, all right. 315 00:16:38,700 --> 00:16:43,100 S3: He's in pslf. And in. Interest is accruing, though, right, Rob? 316 00:16:43,380 --> 00:16:46,940 S5: Yeah, that's exactly right. Uh, well, first of all, I 317 00:16:46,980 --> 00:16:51,100 S5: realize you know the weight that this is on you, and, uh, 318 00:16:51,100 --> 00:16:53,540 S5: you want to start tackling this as soon as you can. 319 00:16:53,580 --> 00:16:56,420 S5: I mean, I would take full advantage of the PS, 320 00:16:56,980 --> 00:17:00,740 S5: the public service loan forgiveness program. The key is you 321 00:17:00,740 --> 00:17:03,020 S5: want to make sure you get your payments to count. 322 00:17:03,020 --> 00:17:06,820 S5: So once you're in repayment under an income driven plan, 323 00:17:06,820 --> 00:17:10,540 S5: every qualifying payment is going to move you toward that 324 00:17:10,540 --> 00:17:14,540 S5: 120 payment goal that happens over ten years. You want 325 00:17:14,580 --> 00:17:18,820 S5: to keep your documentation clean, certify your employment annually so 326 00:17:18,820 --> 00:17:21,500 S5: there's no surprises at the finish line. And then you 327 00:17:21,500 --> 00:17:25,020 S5: want to focus on your other financial stability. So it's 328 00:17:25,020 --> 00:17:28,220 S5: really important that you build that emergency fund and pay 329 00:17:28,220 --> 00:17:31,980 S5: down higher interest debt. First keep your budget tight so 330 00:17:31,980 --> 00:17:34,960 S5: you're ready when the payments resume. But the bottom line 331 00:17:34,960 --> 00:17:37,720 S5: for you is I would say stick with the pslf. 332 00:17:37,760 --> 00:17:40,399 S5: It's there for you. Take full advantage of it. Make 333 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:44,080 S5: every payment count and then avoid putting extra toward the 334 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:47,320 S5: loans if the forgiveness is on the horizon, because that's 335 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:49,040 S5: going to be available to you once you get to 336 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:50,880 S5: that 120 payment mark. 337 00:17:51,119 --> 00:17:53,800 S4: Rob West, our guest this morning, got a question. Rob, 338 00:17:53,800 --> 00:17:56,360 S4: that came in by text message. That's going to be 339 00:17:56,600 --> 00:18:01,080 S4: like tossing red meat to a lion. Get ready. Rob, 340 00:18:01,080 --> 00:18:05,600 S4: is there a resource you would recommend for budgeting i.e. 341 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:11,200 S4: input income, getting recommendations on percentage for mortgage, food, car, etc.? 342 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:14,240 S4: Do you have anything in mind Rob, that could help us? 343 00:18:14,520 --> 00:18:16,560 S5: Wow, I'm going to have to think hard about that. Oh, 344 00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:19,240 S5: wait a minute. Yeah. So that's why we build the 345 00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:22,800 S5: Faith VI app. I'll tell you, it's amazing. And tens 346 00:18:22,800 --> 00:18:25,400 S5: of thousands of Christians are using it across the country. 347 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:28,280 S5: It's based on Larry Burkett, so you may. That's a 348 00:18:28,280 --> 00:18:31,359 S5: blast from the past. You may remember Larry's name that I. 349 00:18:31,560 --> 00:18:33,570 S5: There's not a week that goes by that somebody doesn't 350 00:18:33,570 --> 00:18:36,490 S5: mention the impact the late Larry Burkett had on their 351 00:18:36,490 --> 00:18:40,970 S5: life still today, which just is incredible. But Larry popularized 352 00:18:40,970 --> 00:18:43,730 S5: something called the envelope system. A lot of people still 353 00:18:43,730 --> 00:18:48,010 S5: use it very effectively. They literally take their paychecks, cash 354 00:18:48,010 --> 00:18:52,649 S5: it in for those discretionary spending items. They fund those envelopes, 355 00:18:52,650 --> 00:18:54,570 S5: and then when they're going out to eat, they grab 356 00:18:54,570 --> 00:18:57,129 S5: the out to eat envelope or the, you know, the 357 00:18:57,130 --> 00:18:59,770 S5: clothing envelope or whatever it is. And when it's gone, 358 00:18:59,770 --> 00:19:02,129 S5: it's gone, which is kind of a foolproof way to 359 00:19:02,170 --> 00:19:05,450 S5: make sure you don't overspend in any budget category. Well, 360 00:19:05,450 --> 00:19:08,450 S5: we took that and put it into a modern, beautiful 361 00:19:08,450 --> 00:19:11,210 S5: interface right there in the palm of your hand. It's 362 00:19:11,210 --> 00:19:13,810 S5: called the Faith fi app. You connect securely to your 363 00:19:13,810 --> 00:19:17,650 S5: credit cards, your bank account, and then digitally you actually 364 00:19:17,690 --> 00:19:20,850 S5: fund these envelopes. It actually does it for you every 365 00:19:20,890 --> 00:19:24,130 S5: time money comes into one of your accounts. Checking or savings. So, 366 00:19:24,130 --> 00:19:26,449 S5: you know, at any moment, Julie and I use it 367 00:19:26,450 --> 00:19:29,250 S5: this way, what's left in every one of my envelopes. 368 00:19:29,250 --> 00:19:30,530 S5: So we don't wait to get to the end of 369 00:19:30,530 --> 00:19:33,220 S5: the month and figure out how did we overspend? We 370 00:19:33,220 --> 00:19:36,460 S5: can actually make course corrections along the way, so check 371 00:19:36,460 --> 00:19:38,419 S5: it out. Just click app. 372 00:19:38,460 --> 00:19:41,100 S4: We've made it even easier for you. Just text money 373 00:19:41,100 --> 00:19:46,460 S4: to 800 555 7898. You will get linked directly to 374 00:19:46,500 --> 00:19:49,139 S4: the page to get that app. Just text money to 375 00:19:49,180 --> 00:19:52,700 S4: 800 555 7898. 376 00:19:53,140 --> 00:19:56,020 S3: Let's go back to the phone lines here. Matt in Chester, Indiana. 377 00:19:56,020 --> 00:19:57,300 S3: What's your question for Rob? 378 00:19:58,540 --> 00:20:01,900 S8: Good morning Carl and Rob. Quick question. If I could 379 00:20:01,940 --> 00:20:05,260 S8: summarize it, uh, my wife and I are blessed enough 380 00:20:05,260 --> 00:20:09,820 S8: to have defined pension and both of our Social Security's, um, 381 00:20:09,820 --> 00:20:13,340 S8: we were both going to apply for Social Security at 63, 382 00:20:13,900 --> 00:20:17,700 S8: but our our 401, we don't need any of it 383 00:20:17,700 --> 00:20:23,379 S8: to financially survive. And it's about 700,000 reading into it. 384 00:20:23,660 --> 00:20:26,380 S8: Are we better. Am I better not to apply for 385 00:20:26,380 --> 00:20:30,119 S8: Social Security at 63 and wait to my full retirement 386 00:20:30,119 --> 00:20:35,480 S8: social security age and withdraw from the 401. Or just 387 00:20:35,480 --> 00:20:39,640 S8: let the 401 continue to grow up. I know I 388 00:20:39,640 --> 00:20:43,560 S8: probably have to sit down with a financial counselor, but 389 00:20:43,560 --> 00:20:47,280 S8: I'm just wondering what is a better approach. 390 00:20:47,600 --> 00:20:48,480 S3: Great question. 391 00:20:48,720 --> 00:20:51,119 S5: It is a great question. A lot of people are 392 00:20:51,160 --> 00:20:53,960 S5: wrestle with this. So, you know, there's a key trade 393 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:58,480 S5: off there. Uh, waiting on Social Security allows your benefits 394 00:20:58,480 --> 00:21:01,800 S5: to grow by 8% a year, uh, up to full 395 00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:07,160 S5: retirement age, which is a guaranteed inflation adjusted return that 396 00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:10,800 S5: is locked in place for the rest of your life. Um, now, 397 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:13,480 S5: withdrawing from Social Security first, as you point out, lets 398 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:18,320 S5: you delay that Social Security and get that higher lifetime benefit. 399 00:21:18,320 --> 00:21:23,119 S5: But it reduces, uh, your investment account earlier. So I 400 00:21:23,119 --> 00:21:26,639 S5: would say the general principle is here, if you don't 401 00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:30,010 S5: need the income now and you're in good health with 402 00:21:30,010 --> 00:21:34,770 S5: a normal life expectancy. Delaying Social Security often gives you 403 00:21:34,770 --> 00:21:41,369 S5: more lifetime inflation, protected income, and better survivor's benefits for 404 00:21:41,369 --> 00:21:44,810 S5: your spouse. So I would think using that 401 K 405 00:21:44,850 --> 00:21:47,650 S5: in the meantime, just based on the limited information I 406 00:21:47,650 --> 00:21:51,090 S5: have here, is really a smart what I call bridge strategy. 407 00:21:51,290 --> 00:21:53,770 S4: Rob West, our guest this morning, this question came in 408 00:21:53,770 --> 00:21:57,850 S4: Rob by text message. How does the IUL work and 409 00:21:57,890 --> 00:22:01,170 S4: is it worth it indexed universal life insurance policy. 410 00:22:01,730 --> 00:22:04,530 S5: Yeah, it's a great question. And you know, with the 411 00:22:04,570 --> 00:22:08,650 S5: IUL it's basically a form of permanent life insurance. Part 412 00:22:08,650 --> 00:22:12,210 S5: of your premium pays for life insurance. The rest goes 413 00:22:12,210 --> 00:22:15,730 S5: to what's called a cash value account that earns interest 414 00:22:15,770 --> 00:22:19,770 S5: tied to a stock market index. So think S&P 500 415 00:22:19,930 --> 00:22:23,770 S5: but with caps on the gains but also a floor 416 00:22:23,770 --> 00:22:26,820 S5: to limit your losses. And then you can borrow or 417 00:22:26,820 --> 00:22:30,940 S5: withdraw from the cash value, often tax advantaged. You know, 418 00:22:30,980 --> 00:22:34,179 S5: the downside in my perspective, is the caps on the 419 00:22:34,180 --> 00:22:37,460 S5: returns so you don't get the full index growth. Here's 420 00:22:37,460 --> 00:22:39,820 S5: what's interesting. You know, when you look at how the 421 00:22:39,820 --> 00:22:42,700 S5: market we say the market, let's say the S&P 500, 422 00:22:42,740 --> 00:22:45,380 S5: 500 biggest companies in the United States, if we look 423 00:22:45,380 --> 00:22:48,860 S5: at the the last 100 years, 75 years, you pick 424 00:22:48,859 --> 00:22:51,460 S5: the time period you're going to see those average annual 425 00:22:51,460 --> 00:22:56,380 S5: returns are north of 8%, often nine or better per year. Now, 426 00:22:56,380 --> 00:23:01,180 S5: how did we get that? Despite 1929 and the.com bust 427 00:23:01,180 --> 00:23:03,660 S5: and the Great Recession in oh eight and oh nine? Well, 428 00:23:03,660 --> 00:23:06,379 S5: the reason is, you know, those years where the market 429 00:23:06,380 --> 00:23:09,979 S5: was up 20 plus percent when you put all those 430 00:23:09,980 --> 00:23:12,899 S5: alongside even the down years, that's how you get these 431 00:23:12,900 --> 00:23:15,780 S5: higher average annual returns. But you need to be able 432 00:23:15,780 --> 00:23:18,420 S5: to have those big up years like we're having this 433 00:23:18,420 --> 00:23:22,540 S5: year along the way. The problem is the IUL takes 434 00:23:22,540 --> 00:23:25,640 S5: those away because once you reach the cap. Let's say 435 00:23:25,640 --> 00:23:29,440 S5: it's 8%. Then the insurance company keeps the rest. And 436 00:23:29,440 --> 00:23:32,879 S5: when you take out those big peaks along those, you know, 437 00:23:32,960 --> 00:23:36,840 S5: multiple years, it just drives that average annual return down. 438 00:23:36,840 --> 00:23:40,200 S5: So I'd rather keep insurance and savings separate, buy term 439 00:23:40,200 --> 00:23:43,240 S5: insurance for your life insurance and save in a tax 440 00:23:43,240 --> 00:23:44,960 S5: deferred investment account. 441 00:23:45,359 --> 00:23:47,600 S3: Coming up Rob. Got a question. Came in via text. 442 00:23:47,600 --> 00:23:49,479 S3: I don't know if I've ever heard this asked of 443 00:23:49,480 --> 00:23:52,080 S3: you before, and I'm fired up and I'm going to 444 00:23:52,080 --> 00:23:54,000 S3: tee it here. Now, you can think about it for 445 00:23:54,000 --> 00:23:56,320 S3: a couple of minutes. Our church gives a lot of 446 00:23:56,320 --> 00:24:01,119 S3: financial support to the local community, to people we struggled 447 00:24:01,119 --> 00:24:04,560 S3: discerning how to handle these funds wisely. What are some 448 00:24:04,560 --> 00:24:08,160 S3: basic questions? What should we be asking people who are 449 00:24:08,160 --> 00:24:13,159 S3: seeking financial assistance before actually handing out money to them? Wow. 450 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:17,240 S3: Amazing question. Great question. That is a great question. And 451 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:19,200 S3: we're going to tackle that straight ahead. 452 00:24:19,840 --> 00:24:22,919 S2: Get your info from a source you can trust. It's 453 00:24:22,960 --> 00:24:25,530 S2: ask the Experts week with Carl and crew. 454 00:24:25,570 --> 00:24:28,410 S3: With us today, Rob West, Faith and finance. We got 455 00:24:28,410 --> 00:24:31,050 S3: a link for you. Text the word money here and 456 00:24:31,050 --> 00:24:32,970 S3: you are going to find all the content you need. 457 00:24:32,970 --> 00:24:36,889 S3: Financial advisors, the app itself that you can begin to 458 00:24:36,930 --> 00:24:43,130 S3: use as an amazing tool. Text money to 855 five 7898. 459 00:24:43,130 --> 00:24:45,970 S3: Almost all your questions that you need answered, you're going 460 00:24:45,970 --> 00:24:51,090 S3: to at least get down different opportunity lanes that will 461 00:24:51,090 --> 00:24:54,290 S3: get those questions answered not only here with Rob, but 462 00:24:54,290 --> 00:25:00,290 S3: on his site as well. Text money to 805, 55, 7898. 463 00:25:00,330 --> 00:25:03,890 S3: And this question that just came in is beautiful. Rob. 464 00:25:03,890 --> 00:25:07,369 S3: Someone is questioning how do we how do we deal 465 00:25:07,369 --> 00:25:10,290 S3: with helping people in need at a local church? They 466 00:25:10,290 --> 00:25:13,970 S3: love to do it, but they're struggling to to discern 467 00:25:13,970 --> 00:25:17,890 S3: how to handle giving funds wisely. And they want to clarify. 468 00:25:17,930 --> 00:25:21,130 S3: They texted back and said, we don't hand out cash, 469 00:25:21,130 --> 00:25:24,260 S3: but we pay a lot of bills. Boy, what a 470 00:25:24,300 --> 00:25:27,740 S3: insightful question here, Rob. And there. As a pastor, a 471 00:25:27,740 --> 00:25:30,700 S3: ton of people are asking this question. What do you say? 472 00:25:31,140 --> 00:25:34,500 S5: Yeah, well, I love that your church is doing this 473 00:25:34,500 --> 00:25:37,780 S5: because this is so needed. Uh, you know, it's it's 474 00:25:37,780 --> 00:25:41,300 S5: helping people in need. And God's word, of course, affirms 475 00:25:41,300 --> 00:25:43,780 S5: this were to be generous. We also want to be 476 00:25:43,780 --> 00:25:46,859 S5: wise stewards. And I certainly understand the heart behind the question. 477 00:25:46,859 --> 00:25:49,420 S5: I think it's it's the right question to ask. So 478 00:25:49,420 --> 00:25:52,500 S5: here's what I would be engaging in. First of all, 479 00:25:52,500 --> 00:25:55,540 S5: what is their story? How did they get here? Is 480 00:25:55,540 --> 00:25:59,219 S5: this a short term crisis or a long term pattern. 481 00:25:59,220 --> 00:26:02,020 S5: So I would be asking questions about that first. The 482 00:26:02,020 --> 00:26:04,740 S5: second is what are their current resources. So what are 483 00:26:04,740 --> 00:26:08,379 S5: their income. What income do they have available? What family help? 484 00:26:08,380 --> 00:26:12,780 S5: What community support is already in place? Uh, then budgeting basics. 485 00:26:12,780 --> 00:26:15,659 S5: So how are they managing what they already have? And 486 00:26:15,660 --> 00:26:18,180 S5: then what is the plan forward? What steps will they 487 00:26:18,180 --> 00:26:22,800 S5: take to move towards stability and then finally as relational support. 488 00:26:22,920 --> 00:26:24,919 S5: Are they willing to meet with somebody from the church 489 00:26:24,920 --> 00:26:27,040 S5: for follow up? And that means that you've got to 490 00:26:27,040 --> 00:26:30,480 S5: have that program in place. There's a great resource that 491 00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:34,600 S5: I would check out. It's called the Chalmers Institute. And 492 00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:37,520 S5: you might know the name Brian Fikkert. He's the author 493 00:26:37,520 --> 00:26:41,160 S5: of the popular book When Helping Hurts. Brian's brilliant in 494 00:26:41,160 --> 00:26:44,840 S5: this area, and they have a resource actually called Faith 495 00:26:44,840 --> 00:26:49,720 S5: and finances, which is amazing. And it's really ideal for 496 00:26:49,840 --> 00:26:53,199 S5: people to help them understand the difference between relief and 497 00:26:53,200 --> 00:26:57,320 S5: then rehabilitation. And then ultimately, uh, you know, their long 498 00:26:57,359 --> 00:27:01,120 S5: term development. And it focuses on, you know, what we 499 00:27:01,119 --> 00:27:05,680 S5: ultimately want, which is holistic, Christ centered, flourishing, not just, 500 00:27:05,720 --> 00:27:08,800 S5: you know, meeting a short term crisis financially. And so 501 00:27:08,800 --> 00:27:11,320 S5: if you put something like that in place, faith and 502 00:27:11,320 --> 00:27:15,960 S5: finances from the Chalmers Institute with a curriculum specifically for 503 00:27:15,960 --> 00:27:19,570 S5: people in this situation. And then you unpack those areas 504 00:27:19,570 --> 00:27:22,490 S5: I just mentioned. I think you can have a phenomenal 505 00:27:22,490 --> 00:27:25,930 S5: ministry to meet some real needs there for people hurting 506 00:27:25,930 --> 00:27:29,290 S5: in your community, which is huge. But also get them 507 00:27:29,290 --> 00:27:32,810 S5: on the road to moving past this and moving toward 508 00:27:32,810 --> 00:27:34,170 S5: all that God has for them. 509 00:27:34,210 --> 00:27:36,610 S4: Great counsel there. I know that's going to help a 510 00:27:36,650 --> 00:27:38,729 S4: lot of pastors, a lot of church leaders. Let's go 511 00:27:38,730 --> 00:27:41,689 S4: back to the phone. Uh, Laura from Naples, Florida. Go 512 00:27:41,730 --> 00:27:43,610 S4: ahead with your question for Rob West. 513 00:27:44,210 --> 00:27:48,530 S9: Yes. Okay, so I have a lady bird deed, and 514 00:27:48,530 --> 00:27:52,170 S9: I just want to make sure that I'm comprehending it. Right. 515 00:27:52,609 --> 00:27:58,129 S9: So that means I bypass probate. That means my kids 516 00:27:58,130 --> 00:28:01,330 S9: are already on the deed. If I wanted to sell 517 00:28:01,369 --> 00:28:06,290 S9: my house or do anything. I have full control. Um. 518 00:28:07,090 --> 00:28:13,050 S9: And when both my husband and I die, then 50% 519 00:28:13,090 --> 00:28:16,649 S9: goes to my son, 50% goes to my daughter. And 520 00:28:16,650 --> 00:28:19,900 S9: that's automatic. Am I understanding that right? 521 00:28:20,220 --> 00:28:22,620 S5: You are. Yeah. So for the benefit of our larger 522 00:28:22,619 --> 00:28:26,220 S5: listening audience, a lady bird deed is also called an 523 00:28:26,220 --> 00:28:30,220 S5: enhanced life estate deed. It's basically a special type of 524 00:28:30,220 --> 00:28:34,140 S5: property deed, but it's only available in certain states. So 525 00:28:34,140 --> 00:28:37,540 S5: if you have it available in your state, you're exactly right. 526 00:28:37,540 --> 00:28:40,500 S5: It allows you to keep full ownership and control of 527 00:28:40,500 --> 00:28:44,220 S5: the property during your lifetime. You can sell it, you 528 00:28:44,220 --> 00:28:47,500 S5: can mortgage it, or you can change the beneficiary at 529 00:28:47,500 --> 00:28:50,820 S5: any time without their consent. But here's the key when 530 00:28:50,820 --> 00:28:56,180 S5: you pass away, the property automatically transfers to the named beneficiary, 531 00:28:56,180 --> 00:28:59,500 S5: bypassing probate, which it sounds like is important to you. 532 00:28:59,500 --> 00:29:02,140 S5: And I can certainly understand why. It takes time and 533 00:29:02,140 --> 00:29:06,180 S5: it's costly. So think about it like a beneficiary designation, 534 00:29:06,220 --> 00:29:08,700 S5: you know, on a 401 K or a a life 535 00:29:08,700 --> 00:29:11,180 S5: insurance policy, it would just be the same thing for 536 00:29:11,180 --> 00:29:14,660 S5: your home. But again, it allows you to retain control. 537 00:29:14,700 --> 00:29:18,750 S5: The other big upside to it is you're not transferring 538 00:29:18,750 --> 00:29:23,790 S5: ownership during your life, which is key, because if you 539 00:29:23,790 --> 00:29:26,950 S5: do that, they keep your cost basis. So when they 540 00:29:26,990 --> 00:29:29,310 S5: sell it, they're going to have to pay capital gains tax. 541 00:29:29,310 --> 00:29:32,430 S5: But with the life estate deed they're going to inherit 542 00:29:32,430 --> 00:29:35,630 S5: it bypassing probate. But they get what's called a stepped 543 00:29:35,630 --> 00:29:38,950 S5: up basis. So now their cost basis to determine if 544 00:29:38,950 --> 00:29:41,950 S5: there's capital gains is stepped up to the market value 545 00:29:41,990 --> 00:29:44,870 S5: as of the date of death, which is really essential. 546 00:29:44,870 --> 00:29:47,470 S5: So yeah, you described it accurately. And I think it's 547 00:29:47,470 --> 00:29:49,990 S5: going to do everything you you hoped it would. 548 00:29:50,510 --> 00:29:54,430 S3: Thank you. Laura from Naples, Florida. Caroline in Myanmar. Florida. 549 00:29:54,430 --> 00:29:56,030 S3: What's your question for Rob West? 550 00:29:57,230 --> 00:30:00,350 S10: Yes. Hi. Good morning. I'm calling because I have a 551 00:30:00,350 --> 00:30:04,190 S10: 401 K that's just sitting somewhere. I'm trying to figure 552 00:30:04,190 --> 00:30:08,190 S10: out what's the best place to put it to secure, 553 00:30:08,230 --> 00:30:11,070 S10: because I want to leave it for my grandchildren. So 554 00:30:11,110 --> 00:30:14,810 S10: I just want to know, what do you suggest? I 555 00:30:14,850 --> 00:30:18,810 S10: like to put in my savings. Or what do you recommend, please? 556 00:30:19,210 --> 00:30:22,410 S5: Yeah, I would leave it in a tax deferred account. 557 00:30:22,410 --> 00:30:25,570 S5: So that means either leaving it where it is rolling 558 00:30:25,570 --> 00:30:29,090 S5: it to a new employer's 401 K. If you've changed 559 00:30:29,090 --> 00:30:32,130 S5: jobs and you have a new 401 K available, or 560 00:30:32,450 --> 00:30:35,490 S5: rolling it to an IRA, an individual retirement account, I 561 00:30:35,490 --> 00:30:37,810 S5: would not pull it out and put it in your savings, 562 00:30:37,810 --> 00:30:39,890 S5: because that means you're going to have to pay tax 563 00:30:39,890 --> 00:30:42,650 S5: on it now. And if it continues to grow, all 564 00:30:42,690 --> 00:30:45,050 S5: of the gains are going to be taxable along the way. 565 00:30:45,050 --> 00:30:48,490 S5: So we want it in the 401 K or in 566 00:30:48,490 --> 00:30:51,010 S5: an IRA. And we want it invested. You don't want 567 00:30:51,010 --> 00:30:53,330 S5: to just leave it in the in the cash account. 568 00:30:53,570 --> 00:30:56,090 S5: Do you have a new 401 K at a new 569 00:30:56,170 --> 00:30:57,050 S5: place of work? 570 00:30:58,410 --> 00:31:03,850 S10: Yes I do, but they don't offer a 401 A41K. 571 00:31:04,450 --> 00:31:06,810 S10: So that was my concern as well. 572 00:31:07,210 --> 00:31:09,850 S5: Yeah. So what I would do is either leave it 573 00:31:09,850 --> 00:31:11,810 S5: where it is and make sure it's invested in a 574 00:31:11,810 --> 00:31:14,739 S5: way that fits your goals and objectives, or roll it 575 00:31:14,740 --> 00:31:17,979 S5: to an IRA, an individual retirement account. I would use 576 00:31:17,980 --> 00:31:21,700 S5: Fidelity or Schwab, one of the big discount providers, and 577 00:31:21,700 --> 00:31:24,180 S5: then just put it in a either an index fund 578 00:31:24,180 --> 00:31:28,500 S5: or a high quality, you know, actively managed mutual fund. 579 00:31:28,500 --> 00:31:30,300 S5: And if you need an advisor to help you, just 580 00:31:30,300 --> 00:31:33,300 S5: go to faith. Com and click Find a Professional and 581 00:31:33,300 --> 00:31:36,620 S5: you can find one of our 1800 certified Kingdom advisors 582 00:31:36,620 --> 00:31:37,620 S5: across the country. 583 00:31:37,660 --> 00:31:40,340 S3: Somebody asked a question and it leads to another one. 584 00:31:40,340 --> 00:31:43,540 S3: Is $1 million enough to retire on? And then the 585 00:31:43,540 --> 00:31:46,740 S3: question I have for you, Rob, is, what should the 586 00:31:47,460 --> 00:31:51,780 S3: Christ follower who sincerely doesn't want to be a wait 587 00:31:51,780 --> 00:31:56,340 S3: on friends, family, or neighbors? What should they target in 588 00:31:56,340 --> 00:31:59,100 S3: this world today? I know North America and beyond is 589 00:31:59,100 --> 00:32:01,500 S3: a big span of earth here, with all kinds of 590 00:32:01,500 --> 00:32:06,820 S3: different costs associated with housing, including taxation and the like. 591 00:32:06,820 --> 00:32:10,340 S3: But what do you say, open site? What's your advice, Rob? 592 00:32:10,660 --> 00:32:14,190 S5: Yeah, well, you know, it all comes down to how 593 00:32:14,190 --> 00:32:16,630 S5: much you want to spend. Uh, so if you have 594 00:32:16,630 --> 00:32:20,510 S5: access to Social Security that was intended to cover maybe 595 00:32:20,510 --> 00:32:24,430 S5: 35 to 40% of your pre-retirement income, and then if 596 00:32:24,430 --> 00:32:27,430 S5: you have $1 million using the 4% rule, which a 597 00:32:27,470 --> 00:32:30,230 S5: lot of planners use, which just simply means you can 598 00:32:30,230 --> 00:32:33,750 S5: pull 4% a year if it's invested conservatively, and that 599 00:32:33,750 --> 00:32:35,990 S5: million dollars should be able to continue for the rest 600 00:32:35,990 --> 00:32:40,470 S5: of your life, that would generate $40,000. So if 40,000 601 00:32:40,510 --> 00:32:43,870 S5: plus Social Security is enough to cover your expenses, and 602 00:32:43,910 --> 00:32:47,390 S5: most people live on about 80% of their pre-retirement income 603 00:32:47,710 --> 00:32:50,310 S5: in retirement because the kids are off the payroll, we're 604 00:32:50,310 --> 00:32:55,430 S5: no longer, you know, saving for retirement payroll, you're no 605 00:32:55,430 --> 00:32:58,150 S5: longer saving for retirement, and hopefully you're out of debt. 606 00:32:58,150 --> 00:33:00,790 S5: So your expenses come down, you know, then it's all 607 00:33:00,790 --> 00:33:03,190 S5: a matter of doing the math. And does the budget 608 00:33:03,190 --> 00:33:06,750 S5: work now to cover those other expenses? Carl. Because you're right, 609 00:33:06,750 --> 00:33:09,750 S5: the biggest potential risk in that fourth quarter of life 610 00:33:10,010 --> 00:33:13,370 S5: is the need for long term care. You know, 70% 611 00:33:13,370 --> 00:33:16,810 S5: of Americans 65 and older will need long term care, 612 00:33:16,850 --> 00:33:20,290 S5: and nursing care can run nine 10,000 a month. And 613 00:33:20,290 --> 00:33:22,250 S5: so that's where I would look into a good long 614 00:33:22,290 --> 00:33:23,530 S5: term care insurance policy. 615 00:33:23,570 --> 00:33:28,010 S3: Excellent. Rob West, our guest, ask the experts all week long. 616 00:33:28,050 --> 00:33:31,330 S3: I want you to get linked up with Rob. His 617 00:33:31,330 --> 00:33:36,650 S3: content is Godward and powerful. This will liberate you. Text 618 00:33:36,690 --> 00:33:41,370 S3: money to 805, 55, 78, 98. 619 00:33:42,530 --> 00:33:45,650 S2: Get to know the team behind the scenes. Follow Carl 620 00:33:45,650 --> 00:33:47,810 S2: and crew on Facebook and Instagram. 621 00:33:47,850 --> 00:33:50,850 S3: That's Micah Tyler I see. Grace and Grace is not 622 00:33:50,850 --> 00:33:53,410 S3: just a word. It's not something you say before you 623 00:33:53,410 --> 00:33:59,930 S3: eat dinner. It is unmerited favor and unparalleled power. And 624 00:33:59,930 --> 00:34:02,010 S3: if there's any area of our life that we need 625 00:34:02,010 --> 00:34:05,250 S3: that in, it's in finance. And so we pray and 626 00:34:05,250 --> 00:34:07,570 S3: posture ourselves before the Lord, and we take the counsel 627 00:34:07,570 --> 00:34:10,060 S3: like we're getting from Rob West today. And we say, Lord, 628 00:34:10,060 --> 00:34:12,660 S3: give me wisdom. Give me your grace to make good 629 00:34:12,660 --> 00:34:17,100 S3: decision making in this area of finance. I love that 630 00:34:17,100 --> 00:34:19,299 S3: it's called faith in finance. And we're going to get 631 00:34:19,300 --> 00:34:22,060 S3: back to Rob West. By the way, any questions you have, 632 00:34:22,100 --> 00:34:24,420 S3: you might just be tuning in. We are in Ask 633 00:34:24,460 --> 00:34:27,780 S3: the Experts week any questions you have for Rob West, 634 00:34:28,180 --> 00:34:31,939 S3: I he's my personal favorite across the landscape of North 635 00:34:31,940 --> 00:34:35,140 S3: America and beyond. He's my favorite. I think he speaks 636 00:34:35,140 --> 00:34:38,380 S3: the truth in such a kind, gentle way. But he's 637 00:34:39,500 --> 00:34:41,900 S3: he's not willing to put the varnish on it as well. 638 00:34:41,940 --> 00:34:45,740 S3: He just unvarnished lays it out. Here's the truth. This 639 00:34:45,739 --> 00:34:48,420 S3: is what you need to know and gives us the 640 00:34:48,420 --> 00:34:51,819 S3: opportunity to make good decisions. There's a lot of questions 641 00:34:51,820 --> 00:34:56,060 S3: when it gets down toward retirement years, that a lot 642 00:34:56,100 --> 00:34:58,899 S3: of people are almost afraid to ask, what are some 643 00:34:58,900 --> 00:35:02,060 S3: of the biggest questions you have that people are afraid 644 00:35:02,060 --> 00:35:02,820 S3: to ask? 645 00:35:03,700 --> 00:35:05,620 S5: Well, I think the biggest one is what will I 646 00:35:05,620 --> 00:35:08,590 S5: do in retirement. You know, we have to back up 647 00:35:08,590 --> 00:35:12,270 S5: and understand that God created us to be workers, right? 648 00:35:12,310 --> 00:35:14,630 S5: God is a worker. We see that on full display 649 00:35:14,630 --> 00:35:18,790 S5: in creation, where he creates with beauty and he orders 650 00:35:18,790 --> 00:35:21,790 S5: and he creates out of nothing, and then he creates us, 651 00:35:21,950 --> 00:35:24,790 S5: and we're created in his image to be workers. And 652 00:35:24,790 --> 00:35:27,589 S5: we take the latent potential of his creation, and we 653 00:35:27,590 --> 00:35:30,669 S5: order it and improve it. And in doing that, it's 654 00:35:30,670 --> 00:35:33,469 S5: an act of worship. And we are a part of 655 00:35:33,469 --> 00:35:37,630 S5: creating human flourishing. And that's just a part of God's design. 656 00:35:37,630 --> 00:35:41,190 S5: And so it's not a matter of what I'm retiring from. 657 00:35:41,190 --> 00:35:44,029 S5: It's a matter of what am I retiring to. And 658 00:35:44,030 --> 00:35:45,950 S5: so I think you really need to have an honest 659 00:35:45,950 --> 00:35:49,110 S5: conversation about what is this fourth quarter going to look like, 660 00:35:49,190 --> 00:35:51,630 S5: and where is God leading me? Because what we know 661 00:35:51,630 --> 00:35:54,670 S5: to be true is God's design is not for us 662 00:35:54,670 --> 00:35:56,790 S5: to sit on the front porch or, you know, just 663 00:35:56,790 --> 00:35:59,310 S5: to walk aimlessly along the beach. Now, there's nothing wrong 664 00:35:59,310 --> 00:36:02,390 S5: with rest. And I think a season of sabbatical is 665 00:36:02,390 --> 00:36:06,290 S5: very wise as you enter. But I like the picture 666 00:36:06,290 --> 00:36:10,130 S5: of that elder at the city gate dispensing wisdom far 667 00:36:10,130 --> 00:36:12,330 S5: more than I like the person who's just in the 668 00:36:12,330 --> 00:36:16,370 S5: lounge chair. Right. And so this is that season where 669 00:36:16,370 --> 00:36:18,410 S5: you have the most to give. But do you have 670 00:36:18,410 --> 00:36:21,290 S5: a plan for it to mentor the next generation, to 671 00:36:21,330 --> 00:36:25,130 S5: be actively involved in ministry? Maybe to continue working as 672 00:36:25,130 --> 00:36:27,890 S5: longer than you planned. And what about for if you're married, 673 00:36:27,890 --> 00:36:30,410 S5: you and your wife or your husband, you know. What 674 00:36:30,410 --> 00:36:34,170 S5: is your plan there? Ron Blue, his wife Judy, runs 675 00:36:34,170 --> 00:36:36,890 S5: one of my mentors, a popular author, more than 20 676 00:36:36,930 --> 00:36:39,850 S5: books on biblical finance. She said, you know, when he 677 00:36:39,850 --> 00:36:41,969 S5: told her he was going to retire for the first time, 678 00:36:42,050 --> 00:36:44,170 S5: she said, just remember, Ron, I married you for better 679 00:36:44,170 --> 00:36:47,530 S5: or worse, but not for lunch. And you know, she 680 00:36:47,530 --> 00:36:52,650 S5: was joking. But you gotta you gotta have a plan, right? 681 00:36:52,810 --> 00:36:54,569 S5: And you gotta need to. You need to know where 682 00:36:54,570 --> 00:36:56,810 S5: you're headed. And I think far too many people really 683 00:36:56,810 --> 00:36:58,250 S5: ask those hard questions. 684 00:36:58,250 --> 00:37:02,049 S4: Rob West, so much wisdom this morning. This came in 685 00:37:02,050 --> 00:37:05,580 S4: by text message is Velocity Banking a good idea to 686 00:37:05,620 --> 00:37:08,259 S4: pay off my mortgage? What's the longest time it is 687 00:37:08,260 --> 00:37:09,700 S4: advised to do it for? 688 00:37:10,260 --> 00:37:14,860 S5: Oh, yeah. Uh, I'm not a big fan of Velocity banking, 689 00:37:14,860 --> 00:37:15,460 S5: so a lot of. 690 00:37:15,500 --> 00:37:16,580 S3: I don't even know what that is. 691 00:37:16,620 --> 00:37:18,940 S5: What are you talking about? Yeah. Yeah. So it's a 692 00:37:18,940 --> 00:37:21,419 S5: it's a debt payoff strategy where you use a home 693 00:37:21,420 --> 00:37:25,820 S5: equity line of credit to make large lump sum payments 694 00:37:25,820 --> 00:37:29,060 S5: towards your mortgage, and then you pay down the home 695 00:37:29,060 --> 00:37:31,899 S5: equity line of credit with your income, and then you 696 00:37:31,900 --> 00:37:35,660 S5: repeat that cycle over and over again. And the reason 697 00:37:35,660 --> 00:37:39,940 S5: that it can work is because it's not amortized interest. 698 00:37:39,940 --> 00:37:43,820 S5: It's simple interest. And there's just a variety of strategies, 699 00:37:43,820 --> 00:37:47,500 S5: but it requires a lot of of high recurring income. 700 00:37:47,700 --> 00:37:51,700 S5: It requires that you really discipline. There's often fees and 701 00:37:51,700 --> 00:37:54,379 S5: closing costs because they want you to not only take 702 00:37:54,380 --> 00:37:57,460 S5: out a HELOC, but a lot of times there's a complicated, uh, 703 00:37:57,460 --> 00:38:00,219 S5: you know, software package that you make that they make 704 00:38:00,219 --> 00:38:04,870 S5: you buy. Basically, my opinion is it's it's overhyped and 705 00:38:04,870 --> 00:38:09,990 S5: just a simple extra payment strategy to your mortgage. Going 706 00:38:09,989 --> 00:38:13,030 S5: right to principle, I think, is a far better approach 707 00:38:13,030 --> 00:38:17,469 S5: than this complicated velocity banking strategy that, you know, if 708 00:38:17,469 --> 00:38:19,870 S5: doesn't work, if it doesn't work right or you have 709 00:38:19,870 --> 00:38:22,950 S5: a disruption in your income can be really problematic. 710 00:38:23,230 --> 00:38:25,989 S3: Velocity banking sounds to me like you're headed for a 711 00:38:25,989 --> 00:38:29,270 S3: wall fast. That's just what it sounds like to me. 712 00:38:30,590 --> 00:38:32,750 S3: I don't know about that. Okay. 713 00:38:33,230 --> 00:38:35,030 S5: And mortgages, not always a good thing. 714 00:38:35,070 --> 00:38:39,430 S3: Yeah, yeah. I'm thinking slow down here and I go fast. 715 00:38:39,590 --> 00:38:42,590 S3: Becky from Akron, Ohio. What's your question for Rob? 716 00:38:42,950 --> 00:38:46,550 S11: Morning. Um, yes. We need to do home repairs, um, 717 00:38:46,550 --> 00:38:50,910 S11: on our home. And my husband wants to take out, uh, 718 00:38:50,910 --> 00:38:54,150 S11: I guess it's early withdrawal from his retirement account at 719 00:38:54,150 --> 00:38:58,630 S11: 59.5 here in a couple weeks, versus I'm thinking a 720 00:38:58,630 --> 00:39:02,009 S11: home equity loan or something like that. What? What is 721 00:39:02,010 --> 00:39:07,049 S11: the better choice? What is the penalty or the downfall 722 00:39:08,090 --> 00:39:12,410 S11: of doing the 59.5, taking the money out of the 723 00:39:12,410 --> 00:39:13,330 S11: retirement account? 724 00:39:13,570 --> 00:39:16,370 S5: Yeah, it's a great question. So there is no penalty 725 00:39:16,370 --> 00:39:19,130 S5: once you get to 59.5. So that's probably why he's 726 00:39:19,130 --> 00:39:21,730 S5: keying off of that age. Uh, so the only thing 727 00:39:21,730 --> 00:39:25,290 S5: that would happen is but these aren't insignificant is you 728 00:39:25,290 --> 00:39:27,450 S5: would first of all, everything you take out would be 729 00:39:27,489 --> 00:39:30,130 S5: added to your taxable income for the year. And second, 730 00:39:30,130 --> 00:39:32,930 S5: and I think this is perhaps, perhaps the biggest one 731 00:39:33,130 --> 00:39:36,410 S5: is now it shrinks your retirement savings and the future 732 00:39:36,450 --> 00:39:39,730 S5: growth potential of that money that was in that tax 733 00:39:39,730 --> 00:39:43,090 S5: deferred account. So it's the opportunity cost that you're giving 734 00:39:43,090 --> 00:39:46,890 S5: up in the future. Um, the pro of the HELOC, 735 00:39:46,930 --> 00:39:49,610 S5: the home equity line of credit that you're wanting to do, 736 00:39:49,610 --> 00:39:53,649 S5: is you keep the retirement savings invested and growing. The 737 00:39:53,650 --> 00:39:56,850 S5: interest may be deductible, but it may not be. But 738 00:39:56,850 --> 00:39:59,819 S5: it's flexible. And I think the key is as long 739 00:39:59,820 --> 00:40:02,660 S5: as you have the ability to get that paid back 740 00:40:02,660 --> 00:40:06,140 S5: in a reasonable period of time, I would actually prefer 741 00:40:06,140 --> 00:40:10,220 S5: the HELOC because it preserves that retirement nest egg, allows 742 00:40:10,219 --> 00:40:14,140 S5: it to keep growing in a tax deferred environment, doesn't, uh, 743 00:40:14,140 --> 00:40:16,900 S5: you know, cause your current year tax bill to go up. 744 00:40:17,100 --> 00:40:19,140 S5: And that would be my preferred approach. Now, if you 745 00:40:19,180 --> 00:40:21,380 S5: guys just have a conviction to be, you know, out 746 00:40:21,420 --> 00:40:24,060 S5: of debt as soon as possible or remain debt free, 747 00:40:24,060 --> 00:40:26,939 S5: I could understand why you'd opt for the retirement account. 748 00:40:26,940 --> 00:40:29,540 S5: I'm not saying that's not an option. I would just 749 00:40:29,540 --> 00:40:32,780 S5: prefer the HELOC over pulling from the retirement account. 750 00:40:32,820 --> 00:40:35,700 S4: Great question Becky from Akron, Ohio. Thank you. This one 751 00:40:35,700 --> 00:40:39,020 S4: came in by text message. I have revolving debt and 752 00:40:39,020 --> 00:40:41,700 S4: I don't know how to turn though and get it fixed. 753 00:40:41,700 --> 00:40:43,300 S4: I feel like I'm drowning. 754 00:40:44,460 --> 00:40:48,580 S5: Yeah. Well you know I think the revolving debt basically, 755 00:40:48,620 --> 00:40:51,140 S5: you know, is something that a lot of people experience. 756 00:40:51,180 --> 00:40:53,339 S5: I mean, when she or he says revolving debt, they 757 00:40:53,340 --> 00:40:56,340 S5: mean credit cards. And so where do you go from here? 758 00:40:56,340 --> 00:40:59,670 S5: And I think it does start with breaking the cycle 759 00:40:59,670 --> 00:41:02,989 S5: of borrowing, and that begins with that spending plan. So 760 00:41:02,989 --> 00:41:05,870 S5: we've got to have a hard conversation around what are 761 00:41:05,870 --> 00:41:09,590 S5: we actually spending and are we living beyond our means. 762 00:41:09,630 --> 00:41:12,110 S5: And so here would be my priority order. Number one, 763 00:41:12,110 --> 00:41:14,629 S5: make sure you continue to give. And that may be 764 00:41:14,630 --> 00:41:18,190 S5: surprising in a period where you're asking about credit card debt. 765 00:41:18,190 --> 00:41:20,230 S5: But I would say it doesn't matter the amount, but 766 00:41:20,230 --> 00:41:23,989 S5: let's just keep exercising that giving muscle of any amount 767 00:41:23,989 --> 00:41:26,630 S5: every month. Number two, let's take a hard look at 768 00:41:26,670 --> 00:41:29,430 S5: that budget and let's have an honest conversation about what 769 00:41:29,430 --> 00:41:32,350 S5: needs to go. Maybe we're we stop eating out. I mean, 770 00:41:32,390 --> 00:41:34,989 S5: maybe you just focus on the big four. Let's, you know, 771 00:41:35,030 --> 00:41:37,350 S5: keep the the mortgage or the rent paid. Let's keep 772 00:41:37,350 --> 00:41:39,629 S5: the utilities on gas in the car to get to work, 773 00:41:39,630 --> 00:41:42,430 S5: food on the table and everything else is negotiable at 774 00:41:42,469 --> 00:41:45,670 S5: that point. And we start dialing back. And once we 775 00:41:45,670 --> 00:41:48,469 S5: get that budget right sized and we've got some margin, 776 00:41:48,469 --> 00:41:51,629 S5: I want you to save $1,000, but then stop. And 777 00:41:51,630 --> 00:41:55,150 S5: then every extra dollar goes toward paying down that revolving 778 00:41:55,150 --> 00:41:57,770 S5: debt until it's gone, and let's not ever get back 779 00:41:57,770 --> 00:41:59,170 S5: in that situation again. 780 00:41:59,210 --> 00:42:01,850 S3: Greg from Winter Haven, what's your question for Rob West? 781 00:42:02,090 --> 00:42:05,330 S12: Good morning. I have a 400 1KI left with my 782 00:42:05,330 --> 00:42:09,489 S12: former employer. I'm 67 and I was wondering whether I 783 00:42:09,489 --> 00:42:13,410 S12: should convert that to an IRA. It's mostly in bonds 784 00:42:13,410 --> 00:42:17,089 S12: right now, and I've got a return of 8.5% over 785 00:42:17,090 --> 00:42:18,290 S12: the last two years. 786 00:42:18,890 --> 00:42:22,649 S5: Yeah, yeah. Good question. There's a difference between where this 787 00:42:22,650 --> 00:42:25,609 S5: account lives and what it's invested in. So the first 788 00:42:25,610 --> 00:42:28,290 S5: question is do you leave it in the 401 K 789 00:42:28,290 --> 00:42:30,130 S5: with your former employer. Or do you roll it to 790 00:42:30,170 --> 00:42:33,609 S5: an IRA? I prefer rolling it to the IRA. It 791 00:42:33,610 --> 00:42:38,010 S5: gives you more investment choices, easier account management, more control 792 00:42:38,010 --> 00:42:41,529 S5: over the fees and flexibility for the withdrawals. So I 793 00:42:41,530 --> 00:42:44,290 S5: would move it out. Uh, if there's enough there, if 794 00:42:44,290 --> 00:42:46,770 S5: this is your life savings, I'd hire an advisor. I'd 795 00:42:46,770 --> 00:42:50,370 S5: go find a certified Kingdom advisor at Faith comm. I'd 796 00:42:50,410 --> 00:42:53,010 S5: interview 2 or 3, and then once you pick one, 797 00:42:53,050 --> 00:42:55,219 S5: he or she can tell you, you know, where they 798 00:42:55,260 --> 00:42:57,819 S5: custody the assets of their clients, and then you'd open 799 00:42:57,820 --> 00:43:00,660 S5: an IRA there, or the advisor would roll it out 800 00:43:00,660 --> 00:43:04,180 S5: in terms of the investments. You know, I think at 67, 801 00:43:04,460 --> 00:43:07,900 S5: I mean, the general rule of thumb would be probably 40% 802 00:43:07,900 --> 00:43:12,620 S5: in stocks, 60% in bonds. You might take 5% off 803 00:43:12,620 --> 00:43:15,500 S5: of each and put it into gold. And that would 804 00:43:15,500 --> 00:43:19,180 S5: be a really good conservative diversified portfolio still gives you 805 00:43:19,180 --> 00:43:22,580 S5: some growth components, but also gives you a lot of income. 806 00:43:22,580 --> 00:43:26,219 S5: And remember, even at 70 pushing 70, you know, you 807 00:43:26,219 --> 00:43:28,980 S5: still have a decades long need for this money. I mean, 808 00:43:28,980 --> 00:43:31,060 S5: we need to be planning for this money if the 809 00:43:31,060 --> 00:43:33,860 S5: Lord tarries and you're in good health until you're 90s 810 00:43:33,900 --> 00:43:36,500 S5: or beyond. And so you can still have a long 811 00:43:36,540 --> 00:43:39,620 S5: time horizon even in this season. But I'd get it 812 00:43:39,620 --> 00:43:41,779 S5: into an IRA and find an advisor to help you 813 00:43:41,780 --> 00:43:42,380 S5: manage it. 814 00:43:42,420 --> 00:43:44,540 S4: Coming up, we've got a question coming in from a 815 00:43:44,540 --> 00:43:48,140 S4: 59 year old grandma moved out of her home to 816 00:43:48,180 --> 00:43:52,060 S4: help with the grandbabies. Now everybody's doing better. But should 817 00:43:52,060 --> 00:43:55,670 S4: I purchase or rent now to live on my own. 818 00:43:55,710 --> 00:43:57,150 S4: We'll tackle that one coming up. 819 00:43:57,989 --> 00:44:02,070 S2: Romans eight brought her to Jesus while broadcasting traffic overnight. 820 00:44:02,310 --> 00:44:06,110 S2: Super di is in the crew. It's Carol and crew 821 00:44:06,110 --> 00:44:07,310 S2: on Moody Radio. 822 00:44:07,350 --> 00:44:10,149 S4: Got a text message that says hi, Rob. Two years 823 00:44:10,150 --> 00:44:11,870 S4: ago I moved in with my son to help out 824 00:44:11,870 --> 00:44:14,830 S4: with my grandkids. Since then, my husband has passed away 825 00:44:14,830 --> 00:44:17,629 S4: and my son is doing better job wise. I've thought 826 00:44:17,630 --> 00:44:20,750 S4: about moving out or purchasing a home. I'm 59 with 827 00:44:20,750 --> 00:44:25,629 S4: no debt. My money market has about 42,000. My 403 828 00:44:25,670 --> 00:44:32,189 S4: has 25,401 K, about 30,000 in CD, about 7000. Question is, 829 00:44:32,190 --> 00:44:34,750 S4: should I buy or just rent? 830 00:44:35,710 --> 00:44:39,310 S5: Yeah. Well, first of all, grandparents never underestimate the seeds 831 00:44:39,310 --> 00:44:42,509 S5: you plant, your prayers, your wisdom, your love can shape 832 00:44:42,510 --> 00:44:45,509 S5: your grandkids faith in ways that last for eternity. So 833 00:44:45,510 --> 00:44:48,509 S5: I just love what you've done here. And this is 834 00:44:48,510 --> 00:44:52,010 S5: the right question. You know, buying or renting comes down 835 00:44:52,010 --> 00:44:56,370 S5: to finances, stability and then ultimately goals. So, you know, 836 00:44:56,410 --> 00:44:59,569 S5: I like buying because it builds equity over time. It 837 00:44:59,570 --> 00:45:02,210 S5: gives you stable housing costs if you use a fixed 838 00:45:02,210 --> 00:45:04,969 S5: rate mortgage. Although I realize that's a little more challenging 839 00:45:04,969 --> 00:45:07,609 S5: right now with rates higher, and it can be an 840 00:45:07,610 --> 00:45:10,170 S5: asset that you have for the future. The challenge is 841 00:45:10,330 --> 00:45:12,730 S5: I don't want you to tie up all of your cash. 842 00:45:12,730 --> 00:45:16,450 S5: And so if getting into a place, would, you know, 843 00:45:16,489 --> 00:45:19,410 S5: limit your ability to keep 3 to 6 months in 844 00:45:19,450 --> 00:45:22,930 S5: emergency funds, then I would say, let's just rent at 845 00:45:22,930 --> 00:45:25,930 S5: this point. But if you could buy something, uh, that 846 00:45:25,930 --> 00:45:28,450 S5: allows you to get into it with at least 20% down, 847 00:45:28,450 --> 00:45:32,170 S5: you'd still have 3 to 6 months in liquid assets. 848 00:45:32,330 --> 00:45:35,170 S5: And the cost of that mortgage that you're taking on 849 00:45:35,210 --> 00:45:37,530 S5: fits well within your budget. And I would say that's 850 00:45:37,530 --> 00:45:41,410 S5: no more than 25% of your income. Uh, and you 851 00:45:41,410 --> 00:45:43,650 S5: plan to stay for at least 5 to 7 years 852 00:45:43,650 --> 00:45:45,690 S5: just based on everything you know, today, it could be 853 00:45:45,690 --> 00:45:48,250 S5: an option, just. But just based on what I'm hearing, 854 00:45:48,250 --> 00:45:50,500 S5: I think renting might be the better approach. 855 00:45:50,780 --> 00:45:54,780 S3: Great. Great word. Okay. Quick text message that came in here. 856 00:45:54,780 --> 00:45:59,060 S3: Very interesting. Uh, they work for several companies, including a 857 00:45:59,060 --> 00:46:02,660 S3: defense company. I'm now in my late 70s not knowing 858 00:46:02,700 --> 00:46:08,260 S3: where my 401 K is. This is not rare, is it, Rob? 859 00:46:08,260 --> 00:46:11,339 S3: How do people track down where their retirement funds are 860 00:46:11,380 --> 00:46:13,460 S3: if they've worked for a few different companies? 861 00:46:13,780 --> 00:46:16,259 S5: Yeah, it's a great question. And you're right, a lot 862 00:46:16,300 --> 00:46:19,620 S5: of people find themselves in this position. Um, if you've 863 00:46:19,620 --> 00:46:22,700 S5: worked for several companies, I think the key starting place 864 00:46:22,700 --> 00:46:27,299 S5: is to contact past employers, HR or benefits department. So 865 00:46:27,300 --> 00:46:29,900 S5: you're going to want to ask who administers the plan 866 00:46:29,900 --> 00:46:33,379 S5: because it likely has changed since you were there. And 867 00:46:33,380 --> 00:46:36,820 S5: then if you can dig up old statements or emails, 868 00:46:36,820 --> 00:46:40,420 S5: you'd look for the plan. Administrator names like Fidelity or 869 00:46:40,420 --> 00:46:42,859 S5: Vanguard would be, you know, two of the biggest. But 870 00:46:42,860 --> 00:46:46,300 S5: you may remember the names from the past that you could, 871 00:46:46,340 --> 00:46:48,660 S5: you know, put your hands on a statement of some kind. Now, 872 00:46:49,030 --> 00:46:52,670 S5: if all else fails, there are some registries out there. 873 00:46:52,830 --> 00:46:55,590 S5: So the one that's the most popular is the National 874 00:46:55,590 --> 00:47:00,470 S5: Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits. Here's the URL. It's unclaimed 875 00:47:00,469 --> 00:47:05,190 S5: retirement benefits. Com. You can also check, uh, you know 876 00:47:05,230 --> 00:47:09,710 S5: the Department of Labor's database, um, where they list all 877 00:47:09,710 --> 00:47:14,030 S5: the planned administrators for old employer plans. So I think 878 00:47:14,030 --> 00:47:19,710 S5: with those approaches, contacting past benefits departments, old statements and emails, 879 00:47:19,710 --> 00:47:23,350 S5: the national registry and the Dol, you're bound to find 880 00:47:23,350 --> 00:47:23,990 S5: what you need. 881 00:47:24,270 --> 00:47:26,350 S3: Okay, Rob, I'm going to go lightning round on a 882 00:47:26,350 --> 00:47:27,950 S3: couple of these here with you that have come in 883 00:47:27,950 --> 00:47:32,750 S3: via text. Uh, with regard to, um, we've we had 884 00:47:32,750 --> 00:47:34,830 S3: somebody call in and said, can I live on a million? 885 00:47:34,830 --> 00:47:39,390 S3: Somebody said, okay, I've done some research. Only about 3.2% 886 00:47:39,390 --> 00:47:42,310 S3: of folks listening here today have $1 million. I'm one 887 00:47:42,310 --> 00:47:46,190 S3: of them. Who doesn't? This can be unnerving. People are 888 00:47:46,190 --> 00:47:51,040 S3: getting older. Maybe opportunities for employment is thin. What do 889 00:47:51,040 --> 00:47:54,040 S3: you do? For the vast majority of people listening right 890 00:47:54,040 --> 00:47:57,960 S3: now who feel like I do not have that cushion 891 00:47:57,960 --> 00:48:00,360 S3: when I retire? What do you say, Rob? 892 00:48:00,600 --> 00:48:03,600 S5: Yeah. That's real. I mean, I talk to them every 893 00:48:03,640 --> 00:48:07,400 S5: day on the radio show. And, you know, I think 894 00:48:07,440 --> 00:48:10,439 S5: the what you can do is, first of all, lower 895 00:48:10,440 --> 00:48:15,040 S5: your expenses so you can downsize housing, you can reduce debt, 896 00:48:15,080 --> 00:48:17,200 S5: you know, if you are still working, let's try to 897 00:48:17,239 --> 00:48:20,160 S5: sync up the payoff of the debt by the time 898 00:48:20,160 --> 00:48:23,360 S5: you enter retirement. Now, that may require that you continue 899 00:48:23,360 --> 00:48:25,719 S5: to work longer than you planned. But the good news 900 00:48:25,719 --> 00:48:28,839 S5: about that is, if you do work longer and you 901 00:48:28,840 --> 00:48:33,040 S5: delay Social Security, perhaps to as late as 70, you 902 00:48:33,040 --> 00:48:37,880 S5: could get 25% more on your Social Security check for 903 00:48:37,880 --> 00:48:41,560 S5: life than what you're supposed to get at full retirement age, 904 00:48:41,560 --> 00:48:44,920 S5: which is a game changer because that's, you know, a 905 00:48:44,920 --> 00:48:49,180 S5: monthly income stream 25% higher. That's going to grow with 906 00:48:49,180 --> 00:48:52,339 S5: inflation adjustments for the rest of your life. And that 907 00:48:52,340 --> 00:48:55,580 S5: could be the key to you balancing the budget so 908 00:48:55,580 --> 00:48:59,660 S5: you lower your expenses, you work longer, you delay Social Security, 909 00:48:59,980 --> 00:49:03,140 S5: you stay out of new debt, and then perhaps you 910 00:49:03,140 --> 00:49:05,660 S5: take on some part time work. In that season of life, 911 00:49:05,660 --> 00:49:09,620 S5: it's not uncommon for you to add some income sources 912 00:49:09,620 --> 00:49:11,779 S5: along the way. But the key is if you can 913 00:49:11,780 --> 00:49:15,299 S5: live modestly, you can make it work and you don't 914 00:49:15,300 --> 00:49:17,300 S5: need to have that million dollars, I agree. 915 00:49:17,780 --> 00:49:21,940 S3: Isn't retirement overbilled? I mean, from a standpoint of a 916 00:49:21,980 --> 00:49:24,419 S3: lot of people feel pressured. It's like, oh, my friends 917 00:49:24,420 --> 00:49:27,259 S3: are retiring at 65. I don't have the bandwidth, but 918 00:49:27,260 --> 00:49:30,140 S3: I'm almost too embarrassed. We got to get over that, 919 00:49:30,140 --> 00:49:35,020 S3: don't we, Rob? Plus retirement, is it? The stats say 920 00:49:35,020 --> 00:49:36,780 S3: it can kill you if you don't have the bigger 921 00:49:36,780 --> 00:49:37,620 S3: yes out there. 922 00:49:38,020 --> 00:49:41,060 S5: Yeah, that's exactly right. I mean, retirement is often sold 923 00:49:41,060 --> 00:49:45,630 S5: as a decades long vacation, but that's not the biblical worldview, 924 00:49:45,630 --> 00:49:49,870 S5: and real life and health doesn't always match the brochure. Carl. So, 925 00:49:50,070 --> 00:49:53,029 S5: you know, I think the bigger question is, what is 926 00:49:53,030 --> 00:49:56,390 S5: God calling you to in this season of life? And remember, 927 00:49:56,390 --> 00:50:00,469 S5: productivity is good for the soul. It's good for your health. 928 00:50:00,870 --> 00:50:04,390 S5: It's God's plan. And it's allowing you to take all 929 00:50:04,390 --> 00:50:06,830 S5: that God has given you and entrusted you, your skills 930 00:50:06,830 --> 00:50:10,910 S5: and your abilities and your wisdom and your experience, and 931 00:50:10,910 --> 00:50:14,870 S5: invest it in a coming generation that leads to human flourishing. 932 00:50:14,870 --> 00:50:18,270 S5: It's a virtuous cycle. The way God designed it. He 933 00:50:18,270 --> 00:50:22,390 S5: created us to be workers, to create out of his creation. 934 00:50:22,630 --> 00:50:26,549 S5: As we work, that creates economic expansion. It allows us 935 00:50:26,550 --> 00:50:28,709 S5: then to give back to the God who made us, 936 00:50:28,710 --> 00:50:32,629 S5: which calibrates our hearts to his. And it's a virtuous 937 00:50:32,630 --> 00:50:36,029 S5: cycle that God designed. You know, he did not intend 938 00:50:36,030 --> 00:50:38,509 S5: for us to be stagnant. We know what happens to 939 00:50:38,550 --> 00:50:43,239 S5: water that becomes stagnant. Nothing good, but it doesn't mean 940 00:50:43,400 --> 00:50:46,280 S5: your rhythms don't change. It doesn't mean it looks different. 941 00:50:46,280 --> 00:50:49,240 S5: All those things can be true. But I think this 942 00:50:49,239 --> 00:50:53,080 S5: idea of the decades long vacation that has been promoted 943 00:50:53,080 --> 00:50:56,239 S5: to us is not something that we see in Scripture. 944 00:50:56,800 --> 00:50:58,920 S4: Let's go back to the phones. Kim, thank you for 945 00:50:58,920 --> 00:51:01,520 S4: holding on from Portage, Indiana. Go ahead with your question 946 00:51:01,520 --> 00:51:02,520 S4: for Rob West. 947 00:51:03,719 --> 00:51:03,959 S11: Hey. 948 00:51:03,960 --> 00:51:07,960 S13: Good morning. I wanted to know what he thinks of 949 00:51:08,520 --> 00:51:11,839 S13: real estate investment trust for passive income. 950 00:51:12,640 --> 00:51:15,640 S5: Yeah. So real estate investment trusts are a way to 951 00:51:15,680 --> 00:51:19,960 S5: invest in real estate without owning property yourself. Um, what 952 00:51:19,960 --> 00:51:23,680 S5: are the pros? It diversifies your portfolio, so it adds 953 00:51:23,680 --> 00:51:27,560 S5: another asset class. So one asset class is stocks. Another 954 00:51:27,560 --> 00:51:31,480 S5: asset class is bonds. A third asset class is real estate. 955 00:51:31,520 --> 00:51:34,360 S5: A fourth would be precious metals. So remember the wisdom 956 00:51:34,400 --> 00:51:37,719 S5: of King Solomon. He said you know, basically don't put 957 00:51:37,719 --> 00:51:41,500 S5: all your eggs in one basket and having real estate 958 00:51:41,500 --> 00:51:45,060 S5: in your portfolio without owning it directly, which requires you 959 00:51:45,060 --> 00:51:46,980 S5: to have a lot more in the way of assets, 960 00:51:47,180 --> 00:51:51,460 S5: is a great way to diversify. REITs pay dividends, often 961 00:51:51,460 --> 00:51:55,580 S5: higher than stocks, so they generate income. They're also easy 962 00:51:55,580 --> 00:51:58,860 S5: to buy and sell like a stock. The downside is 963 00:51:58,860 --> 00:52:02,900 S5: the taxation. They're taxed as ordinary income. They do move 964 00:52:02,900 --> 00:52:04,859 S5: with interest rates. And so we've been in a high 965 00:52:04,860 --> 00:52:07,580 S5: interest rate environment which has not been great for rates. 966 00:52:07,780 --> 00:52:10,140 S5: And then some are illiquid and have high fees. So 967 00:52:10,140 --> 00:52:12,660 S5: you need to understand what you're buying. But at face 968 00:52:12,660 --> 00:52:16,020 S5: value I like REITs real estate investment trusts a lot 969 00:52:16,020 --> 00:52:17,140 S5: for the reasons I mentioned. 970 00:52:17,180 --> 00:52:20,339 S4: Sherry, thanks for holding on from Brooksville, Florida. Go ahead 971 00:52:20,340 --> 00:52:21,299 S4: with your question. 972 00:52:21,660 --> 00:52:27,020 S14: Yes, I have about $50,000 in credit card debt. And 973 00:52:27,380 --> 00:52:30,500 S14: I wasn't being irresponsible. I was fighting breast cancer for 974 00:52:30,500 --> 00:52:32,500 S14: the last two years, so I was out of work. 975 00:52:33,180 --> 00:52:40,709 S14: And now thank you, but thank God I'm cancer free and, um. Yes. 976 00:52:41,350 --> 00:52:44,590 S14: And now you know I'm left with this. I just 977 00:52:44,590 --> 00:52:49,550 S14: started back to work, thank God. And, um, I inherited 978 00:52:49,550 --> 00:52:53,790 S14: my parents house, which is very, very old. And, um, 979 00:52:53,950 --> 00:52:56,510 S14: my daughter lives there, but the house is in my name. 980 00:52:57,030 --> 00:52:59,990 S14: I'm wondering if I should take out a home equity 981 00:52:59,989 --> 00:53:02,350 S14: loan on the house to pay off the debt, because 982 00:53:02,350 --> 00:53:06,629 S14: the interest rate on credit cards is crazy. It's like 26%. 983 00:53:07,230 --> 00:53:11,270 S5: Yeah, yeah. Well, first of all, uh, praise the Lord that, uh, 984 00:53:11,270 --> 00:53:14,670 S5: you are cancer free. I'm so delighted to hear that. 985 00:53:14,670 --> 00:53:18,549 S5: And listen, I can understand, uh, the difficulty of of 986 00:53:18,590 --> 00:53:21,710 S5: medical debt, uh, and now the burden and the weight 987 00:53:21,710 --> 00:53:23,989 S5: that that presents on you. You know, I would love 988 00:53:23,989 --> 00:53:27,109 S5: for you to avoid taking that unsecured debt. And that's 989 00:53:27,110 --> 00:53:29,549 S5: what credit card debt is. And now securing it to 990 00:53:29,590 --> 00:53:33,029 S5: a piece of property. Because if something doesn't go the 991 00:53:33,030 --> 00:53:36,350 S5: way we plan, and by God's grace he's providing. I'm 992 00:53:36,350 --> 00:53:39,200 S5: delighted to hear you're back to work. but I would 993 00:53:39,200 --> 00:53:41,439 S5: hate for you to lose that house over this. So 994 00:53:41,440 --> 00:53:44,359 S5: if you do have some good recurring income, I would 995 00:53:44,400 --> 00:53:49,799 S5: far prefer you to slide this into a debt management program. Uh, 996 00:53:49,800 --> 00:53:52,440 S5: as long as you have enough income to cover those payments. 997 00:53:52,440 --> 00:53:55,160 S5: Because that's going to help get those interest rates down 998 00:53:55,480 --> 00:53:58,560 S5: and help you pay that off 80% faster. The key 999 00:53:58,560 --> 00:54:01,920 S5: will be, you know, whether you can absorb that monthly payment. 1000 00:54:01,920 --> 00:54:04,360 S5: So the first step I would do is to reach 1001 00:54:04,360 --> 00:54:09,480 S5: out to our friends at Christian Credit counselors. Christian credit counselors. Um, 1002 00:54:09,520 --> 00:54:12,080 S5: they will evaluate the debt, tell you what they can 1003 00:54:12,080 --> 00:54:14,480 S5: drop the interest rates to. They'll go over what the 1004 00:54:14,480 --> 00:54:16,719 S5: monthly payment will be. If you can fit that into 1005 00:54:16,719 --> 00:54:20,160 S5: your budget. I would far prefer that than the cost 1006 00:54:20,160 --> 00:54:23,680 S5: and the expense and the reality of securing this debt 1007 00:54:23,680 --> 00:54:26,320 S5: to a home or even an inherited home. 1008 00:54:27,080 --> 00:54:30,080 S2: This is curl and crew on Moody Radio. 1009 00:54:31,280 --> 00:54:33,040 S3: All right. We're going to get back to the phone lines. 1010 00:54:33,040 --> 00:54:33,960 S3: Who do we have here, Ali? 1011 00:54:34,000 --> 00:54:37,060 S4: We have Joe. Any first time caller from plantation, Florida. 1012 00:54:37,060 --> 00:54:38,219 S4: Go ahead with your question. 1013 00:54:38,940 --> 00:54:45,020 S15: Hi. Good morning Rob. I have a 41 or $46,000. 1014 00:54:45,340 --> 00:54:53,100 S15: I have my pension plan of $85,000. My mortgage is $46,000. 1015 00:54:53,620 --> 00:54:56,819 S15: I don't want to have a mortgage payment. When I retire, 1016 00:54:56,860 --> 00:55:01,620 S15: I'll be 66 years. Should I take part of my payment, 1017 00:55:01,660 --> 00:55:04,620 S15: my pension plan, and pay off my mortgage? 1018 00:55:06,020 --> 00:55:08,100 S5: I love the idea that you want to be debt 1019 00:55:08,100 --> 00:55:12,299 S5: free when you get into retirement. That's great because that's 1020 00:55:12,300 --> 00:55:15,540 S5: going to take your largest expense off the table. It 1021 00:55:15,540 --> 00:55:19,420 S5: gives you some peace of mind. The challenge is withdrawals 1022 00:55:19,420 --> 00:55:24,020 S5: from those retirement plans are going to be taxable. And so, 1023 00:55:24,140 --> 00:55:27,180 S5: you know, in order to take enough out to pay 1024 00:55:27,180 --> 00:55:29,700 S5: off that mortgage in full, you're going to have to 1025 00:55:29,739 --> 00:55:33,540 S5: take enough to cover that plus the taxes. And then 1026 00:55:33,540 --> 00:55:38,350 S5: that reduces your retirement savings and future growth? Um, so 1027 00:55:38,390 --> 00:55:41,190 S5: I think, you know, you've got two options here. One 1028 00:55:41,190 --> 00:55:43,430 S5: is you just go ahead and do that. But I 1029 00:55:43,430 --> 00:55:46,670 S5: would be really careful to say, okay, if that mortgage 1030 00:55:46,670 --> 00:55:50,629 S5: is gone with my retirement and what's, what's what's left 1031 00:55:50,630 --> 00:55:53,469 S5: of my retirement and my Social Security, can I make 1032 00:55:53,469 --> 00:55:58,390 S5: the budget balance? If not, you may want to consider, uh, 1033 00:55:58,390 --> 00:56:00,870 S5: you know, just keeping the mortgage and, you know, you've 1034 00:56:00,870 --> 00:56:04,430 S5: got that balance pretty low. Perhaps you take on a 1035 00:56:04,430 --> 00:56:08,390 S5: part time job and continue to work for a season, uh, 1036 00:56:08,390 --> 00:56:11,750 S5: as you work toward paying that off, preserving your retirement 1037 00:56:11,750 --> 00:56:14,350 S5: account so that you now have that to convert to 1038 00:56:14,350 --> 00:56:17,270 S5: an income stream down the road. Um, or if you 1039 00:56:17,270 --> 00:56:19,110 S5: can build it into the budget and just kind of 1040 00:56:19,150 --> 00:56:22,030 S5: tighten that belt for a few years until you knock 1041 00:56:22,030 --> 00:56:24,790 S5: it out, I might go that direction. I think the 1042 00:56:24,790 --> 00:56:26,910 S5: key is I want to hang on to as much 1043 00:56:26,950 --> 00:56:29,790 S5: in the way of retirement assets as possible, and not 1044 00:56:29,790 --> 00:56:33,350 S5: cause you in your final working year to have a 1045 00:56:33,480 --> 00:56:35,280 S5: big tax bill at the same time. 1046 00:56:35,640 --> 00:56:38,359 S3: Good word. Excellent. Going back to the phone lines, Steve. 1047 00:56:38,400 --> 00:56:42,920 S3: First time caller Martinsburg, West Virginia. What's your question for Rob? 1048 00:56:43,880 --> 00:56:45,480 S12: Rob my question. 1049 00:56:45,480 --> 00:56:48,640 S16: Would be I, I lost my job. I'm 64 due 1050 00:56:48,640 --> 00:56:52,320 S16: to the federal budget cuts. And I know the conventional 1051 00:56:52,320 --> 00:56:59,080 S16: wisdom is to postpone filing for Social Security. My my 1052 00:56:59,800 --> 00:57:07,799 S16: my savings are roughly 30% qualified, tax deferred, 40% qualified, 1053 00:57:07,840 --> 00:57:12,600 S16: tax free Roth and then 30% brokerage. But knowing now 1054 00:57:12,600 --> 00:57:16,520 S16: that if Social Security isn't fixed by 2033, it's going 1055 00:57:16,520 --> 00:57:20,160 S16: to take a 23.5% cut. I was thinking of maybe 1056 00:57:20,200 --> 00:57:21,480 S16: I should file earlier. 1057 00:57:22,320 --> 00:57:22,760 S2: Yeah. 1058 00:57:23,400 --> 00:57:26,040 S5: Well, you know, here's the reality. I mean, you're exactly right. 1059 00:57:26,080 --> 00:57:29,160 S5: The if we go on this current trajectory, 2034 is 1060 00:57:29,160 --> 00:57:31,720 S5: when the trust fund runs out and the current estimates 1061 00:57:31,720 --> 00:57:34,260 S5: are you know, somewhere around, uh, they'll be able to 1062 00:57:34,300 --> 00:57:38,100 S5: pay somewhere around 80% of benefits with the trust fund 1063 00:57:38,100 --> 00:57:41,620 S5: at zero, just based on the the current tax revenues. 1064 00:57:41,620 --> 00:57:45,940 S5: But here's the reality. I just can't imagine that, uh, 1065 00:57:45,980 --> 00:57:49,780 S5: we're going to, you know, see Congress not address this. 1066 00:57:49,820 --> 00:57:52,900 S5: It's just too much of a political issue for them 1067 00:57:52,900 --> 00:57:56,580 S5: to ignore it. There's too many voters counting on retirement 1068 00:57:56,580 --> 00:57:58,940 S5: for Congress not to take it up. And so what 1069 00:57:58,940 --> 00:58:00,420 S5: are they going to do to solve it? Well, they're 1070 00:58:00,420 --> 00:58:03,100 S5: going to either push out the full retirement age or 1071 00:58:03,100 --> 00:58:06,180 S5: they're going to hike FICA taxes or both. But I 1072 00:58:06,180 --> 00:58:08,380 S5: just can't imagine that they're not going to do one 1073 00:58:08,380 --> 00:58:10,980 S5: or both of those to at least kick the can 1074 00:58:11,020 --> 00:58:13,580 S5: down the road. So I would say, you know, in 1075 00:58:13,580 --> 00:58:16,660 S5: your situation, I would much prefer you locking in that 1076 00:58:16,660 --> 00:58:20,820 S5: higher check for life and going ahead and delaying despite 1077 00:58:20,820 --> 00:58:23,540 S5: the realities of what you just described, so that you've 1078 00:58:23,540 --> 00:58:26,380 S5: got that for the rest of your life, alongside these 1079 00:58:26,380 --> 00:58:27,660 S5: other retirement assets. 1080 00:58:27,740 --> 00:58:31,190 S4: And a heartfelt text from someone who says, Rob? I 1081 00:58:31,230 --> 00:58:32,990 S4: bit off more than I can chew. I bought a 1082 00:58:32,990 --> 00:58:36,750 S4: house I can't afford. I'm one year in. What should 1083 00:58:36,750 --> 00:58:37,230 S4: I do? 1084 00:58:37,790 --> 00:58:41,870 S5: Um, yeah. So the big three, uh, budget busters, uh, 1085 00:58:41,870 --> 00:58:47,030 S5: are housing, transportation and food. Um, and, you know, we 1086 00:58:47,030 --> 00:58:50,590 S5: can adjust food, uh, much easier than we can a 1087 00:58:50,590 --> 00:58:54,070 S5: car and certainly much easier than a house. And so 1088 00:58:54,110 --> 00:58:56,190 S5: I think you need to get real about the numbers. 1089 00:58:56,190 --> 00:58:58,430 S5: You've got to list all of your income and expenses 1090 00:58:58,430 --> 00:59:01,630 S5: and see how far short you are each month. Uh, 1091 00:59:01,630 --> 00:59:04,830 S5: and then I would say cut costs fast. Let's trim 1092 00:59:04,830 --> 00:59:08,630 S5: every other expense to free up money for the mortgage. 1093 00:59:08,630 --> 00:59:12,350 S5: You can explore income income options. So you could, you know, 1094 00:59:12,390 --> 00:59:14,870 S5: pick up some extra work, see if you can find, 1095 00:59:14,910 --> 00:59:17,990 S5: you know, some short term income streams. You could, uh, 1096 00:59:17,990 --> 00:59:20,990 S5: talk to your lender. You know, once interest rates come down, 1097 00:59:20,990 --> 00:59:24,669 S5: you could look at refinancing. But if it's not sustainable, 1098 00:59:24,710 --> 00:59:27,950 S5: you certainly want to look at selling the house and downsizing, 1099 00:59:27,950 --> 00:59:30,640 S5: even though I would try to avoid that if you can, 1100 00:59:30,640 --> 00:59:34,080 S5: because it's expensive, especially now you know when you can't 1101 00:59:34,080 --> 00:59:37,400 S5: drop down to a lower interest rate on the next home. Um, 1102 00:59:37,400 --> 00:59:39,040 S5: but the last thing I'd want is for you to 1103 00:59:39,080 --> 00:59:41,960 S5: lose the house and or damage your credit. So I 1104 00:59:41,960 --> 00:59:45,040 S5: would just say start with that budget, explore income options, 1105 00:59:45,040 --> 00:59:47,560 S5: and let's try to wait out the interest rates and 1106 00:59:47,560 --> 00:59:49,480 S5: then perhaps downsize. At that point. 1107 00:59:49,520 --> 00:59:53,200 S3: We are getting crushed with calls and text messages. Right now, 1108 00:59:53,200 --> 00:59:56,840 S3: if you really want to get to a site that 1109 00:59:56,840 --> 01:00:01,760 S3: is going to, I would say with 90% certainty, answer 1110 01:00:01,760 --> 01:00:05,240 S3: the questions that you have. Even when we're done with 1111 01:00:05,240 --> 01:00:09,400 S3: our time with Rob, please text the word money. This 1112 01:00:09,400 --> 01:00:12,919 S3: is a one stop shop. You are going to find advice, 1113 01:00:12,920 --> 01:00:17,440 S3: counselors and app. You name it. Budgeting advice. What do 1114 01:00:17,440 --> 01:00:19,920 S3: we do if we got our turkey in a squisher 1115 01:00:19,920 --> 01:00:23,200 S3: with debt? It doesn't say those words there, but it 1116 01:00:23,200 --> 01:00:26,040 S3: helps you get out of it for sure. Make sure 1117 01:00:26,040 --> 01:00:32,380 S3: you text the word money to 800 555 7898. Money 1118 01:00:32,380 --> 01:00:35,740 S3: to 800 555 7898. 1119 01:00:35,780 --> 01:00:38,300 S4: We got a question that's come in by text message. 1120 01:00:38,700 --> 01:00:42,060 S4: It comes from someone who says, oh, just lost it. 1121 01:00:42,100 --> 01:00:44,780 S4: Give me a second, Carl. Grab it, I lost it. 1122 01:00:44,820 --> 01:00:47,820 S3: Uh, we're going to go to Jonathan in Davie, Florida. Jonathan, 1123 01:00:47,820 --> 01:00:49,140 S3: what's your question for Rob? 1124 01:00:50,420 --> 01:00:51,980 S17: Hey, what's going on? Rob? 1125 01:00:52,620 --> 01:00:53,140 S5: Hey, there. 1126 01:00:53,780 --> 01:00:58,260 S17: Uh, my question really is, um, so I have, uh, 1127 01:00:58,900 --> 01:01:01,300 S17: me and my wife have, like, um, like, over, like, 1128 01:01:01,340 --> 01:01:07,100 S17: $150,000 in debt. Um, just recently married. Um, I'm basically 1129 01:01:07,100 --> 01:01:10,300 S17: just asking because we're looking for a house as of 1130 01:01:10,300 --> 01:01:15,180 S17: right now. Um, any advice or, you know, just help 1131 01:01:15,220 --> 01:01:18,700 S17: on whether I, we should do it right now or 1132 01:01:20,420 --> 01:01:21,940 S17: whether we should wait. 1133 01:01:22,580 --> 01:01:26,270 S5: Yeah. It's a great question, Jonathan. Uh, what? Describe the 1134 01:01:26,270 --> 01:01:28,189 S5: debt for me. How does that break down? What type 1135 01:01:28,190 --> 01:01:28,670 S5: of debt? 1136 01:01:29,190 --> 01:01:33,590 S17: Okay, so the debt is mostly in student loans. She 1137 01:01:33,630 --> 01:01:39,030 S17: went to school for like pharmacy or whatever. And you know, 1138 01:01:39,070 --> 01:01:43,350 S17: she's in quite a bit of debt when it comes 1139 01:01:43,350 --> 01:01:46,630 S17: to that. But me on the other on the other hand, 1140 01:01:46,670 --> 01:01:51,590 S17: I have, uh, about $30,000 in debt or $25,000 in 1141 01:01:51,630 --> 01:01:57,430 S17: my car and about 5 to $6000 in debt with 1142 01:01:57,790 --> 01:02:00,230 S17: student loans. I didn't go to college. 1143 01:02:00,710 --> 01:02:03,550 S5: Yeah. And what do you have in the way of 1144 01:02:03,550 --> 01:02:06,110 S5: a down payment that you could put toward this home purchase? 1145 01:02:06,990 --> 01:02:10,590 S17: As of right now, we don't even have a down 1146 01:02:10,670 --> 01:02:13,070 S17: payment for it. We just got a pre-approval. 1147 01:02:14,230 --> 01:02:16,590 S5: Okay. Did you say you do not have a down payment. 1148 01:02:17,710 --> 01:02:21,590 S17: As of right now? Um, I don't have we don't 1149 01:02:21,590 --> 01:02:26,240 S17: have 3.5% of the down payment that we're supposed to. 1150 01:02:26,840 --> 01:02:30,000 S5: Yeah. Well, here, here's the reality. I'm going to encourage 1151 01:02:30,000 --> 01:02:32,240 S5: you to wait on this. Uh, first of all, you're 1152 01:02:32,240 --> 01:02:36,160 S5: just married. That's amazing. Congratulations. I love that, but the 1153 01:02:36,160 --> 01:02:38,080 S5: last thing I would want would be for you to 1154 01:02:38,120 --> 01:02:41,360 S5: start out this marriage with strain on your budget and 1155 01:02:41,360 --> 01:02:46,160 S5: your marriage because you get financially overextended. Um, and just 1156 01:02:46,160 --> 01:02:49,560 S5: because the mortgage company says they will do something, you know, 1157 01:02:49,600 --> 01:02:53,880 S5: a 96.5% loan, it doesn't mean you should. Um, so 1158 01:02:53,920 --> 01:02:56,640 S5: here's the reality. I would focus on paying down the 1159 01:02:56,640 --> 01:02:59,160 S5: debt and building an emergency fund of 3 to 6 1160 01:02:59,160 --> 01:03:02,880 S5: months expenses. Once you get to three months expenses and 1161 01:03:02,880 --> 01:03:04,800 S5: you know you're on track to be able to pay 1162 01:03:04,800 --> 01:03:09,040 S5: off that student loan within ten years, um, then we 1163 01:03:09,040 --> 01:03:12,120 S5: start looking toward the home purchase. But I want you 1164 01:03:12,120 --> 01:03:15,040 S5: to have at least 20% down. And so that means 1165 01:03:15,040 --> 01:03:18,760 S5: if you're buying a $200,000 home, you need 40 grand. 1166 01:03:18,760 --> 01:03:21,080 S5: And you might say, Rob, I just don't see that 1167 01:03:21,080 --> 01:03:24,220 S5: happening anytime soon. And I'd say, then let's wait it out. 1168 01:03:24,420 --> 01:03:26,740 S5: The other thing is, I want to make sure that 1169 01:03:26,740 --> 01:03:29,380 S5: your mortgage payment is no more than 25% of your 1170 01:03:29,380 --> 01:03:32,620 S5: take home pay. So here's the priority order. Number one, 1171 01:03:32,620 --> 01:03:35,220 S5: focus on getting that budget dialed in so you guys 1172 01:03:35,220 --> 01:03:37,580 S5: live within your means. Don't take on any more debt. 1173 01:03:37,620 --> 01:03:41,460 S5: Number two, build that emergency fund as your first priority goal. 1174 01:03:41,500 --> 01:03:45,620 S5: 3 to 6 months expenses three make sure you're on 1175 01:03:45,620 --> 01:03:48,060 S5: a plan to pay off that debt the student loans 1176 01:03:48,060 --> 01:03:51,180 S5: in ten years or less, and then start saving for 1177 01:03:51,220 --> 01:03:55,420 S5: that down payment of 20%. And until you get to 1178 01:03:55,460 --> 01:03:58,340 S5: that point where renting and you will thank me for 1179 01:03:58,340 --> 01:03:58,860 S5: it later. 1180 01:03:59,260 --> 01:04:02,340 S2: He's a sports fanatic with a stat for anything you 1181 01:04:02,340 --> 01:04:06,540 S2: can think of. Young Thunder is in the groove. It's 1182 01:04:06,540 --> 01:04:08,780 S2: curling crew on Moody Radio. 1183 01:04:09,140 --> 01:04:12,500 S4: Our expert today, Rob West, host of Faith and finance, 1184 01:04:12,540 --> 01:04:14,860 S4: live with you here in the afternoons right here on 1185 01:04:14,900 --> 01:04:18,820 S4: Moody Radio. Question in from Don from Chattanooga, Tennessee. Rob, 1186 01:04:18,860 --> 01:04:22,670 S4: do you recommend a trust over a will to avoid probate. 1187 01:04:23,590 --> 01:04:25,910 S5: Yeah, that's a great question. You know, the the challenge 1188 01:04:25,950 --> 01:04:28,950 S5: is the cost and the complexity. So a will is 1189 01:04:28,950 --> 01:04:31,830 S5: going to run you 3 to $500. A trust can 1190 01:04:31,830 --> 01:04:35,590 S5: be anywhere from, you know, 2 to 4000. Typically, uh, 1191 01:04:35,630 --> 01:04:38,590 S5: you know, the bottom line is you have to answer, 1192 01:04:38,630 --> 01:04:41,870 S5: you know, what are my goals? Uh, so a will 1193 01:04:42,030 --> 01:04:45,630 S5: says who gets what you have when you die? It 1194 01:04:45,630 --> 01:04:48,990 S5: goes through probate, which can take months and is public. 1195 01:04:49,350 --> 01:04:52,910 S5: It also does not manage the assets. If you're incapacitated, 1196 01:04:52,910 --> 01:04:56,630 S5: it only takes effect, uh, at death. The revocable living 1197 01:04:56,670 --> 01:05:01,189 S5: trust lets assets pass outside of probate, so that's usually faster. 1198 01:05:01,350 --> 01:05:04,150 S5: It can be anonymous or private. And then you can 1199 01:05:04,150 --> 01:05:07,910 S5: manage the assets if you become incapacitated your trustee would. 1200 01:05:08,150 --> 01:05:11,390 S5: But it costs more and it has to be maintained. 1201 01:05:11,390 --> 01:05:15,150 S5: So I would just say how important is it that you, uh, 1202 01:05:15,150 --> 01:05:18,590 S5: are able to get outside of probate and, uh, you know, 1203 01:05:18,670 --> 01:05:20,720 S5: are you willing and do you have the ability to 1204 01:05:20,760 --> 01:05:22,760 S5: to spend the money to put the trust in place? 1205 01:05:22,760 --> 01:05:24,760 S5: If not, I think the will is your approach. 1206 01:05:24,920 --> 01:05:28,800 S3: To pay in Oswego, Illinois? What's your question for Rob? 1207 01:05:30,440 --> 01:05:31,400 S10: Hi. Good morning. 1208 01:05:31,600 --> 01:05:35,600 S18: Rob. I would like some advice for my daughter. Um, 1209 01:05:36,000 --> 01:05:40,440 S18: how to build credit. Um, she just became an adult. 1210 01:05:41,200 --> 01:05:44,120 S18: And just like some advice on that, if she doesn't 1211 01:05:44,120 --> 01:05:47,960 S18: have any credit, how is she able to start? Any 1212 01:05:47,960 --> 01:05:49,560 S18: guidance or advice on that, please? 1213 01:05:50,040 --> 01:05:53,480 S5: Yeah, I would say first of all, open a starter 1214 01:05:53,480 --> 01:05:56,640 S5: account so this can be a secured credit card or 1215 01:05:56,680 --> 01:06:00,480 S5: a student credit card unsecured. Uh, but the key is 1216 01:06:00,480 --> 01:06:03,720 S5: to get her started in a way where she's learning 1217 01:06:03,720 --> 01:06:08,600 S5: how to be responsible in managing money wisely. Uh, that means, 1218 01:06:08,640 --> 01:06:12,080 S5: you know, a budgeted item hitting that account, whether it's 1219 01:06:12,080 --> 01:06:15,680 S5: secured or unsecured every month. So something she was planning 1220 01:06:15,680 --> 01:06:18,440 S5: on spending that she can then allow it to hit 1221 01:06:18,610 --> 01:06:20,650 S5: the account, she pays it in full, and that's going 1222 01:06:20,690 --> 01:06:24,090 S5: to start building that positive credit history. Another approach a 1223 01:06:24,130 --> 01:06:26,930 S5: lot of people use is making her an authorized user 1224 01:06:26,930 --> 01:06:29,570 S5: on your card, even if she doesn't have access to it. 1225 01:06:29,570 --> 01:06:31,970 S5: But keep in mind she's going to inherit all of 1226 01:06:31,970 --> 01:06:35,130 S5: your credit, good or bad. So if you miss a payment, 1227 01:06:35,130 --> 01:06:37,970 S5: that's going to her account. But if you're a steady 1228 01:06:37,970 --> 01:06:41,250 S5: on time payer, her being an authorized user on your 1229 01:06:41,250 --> 01:06:45,850 S5: account gets all of your information for that particular account 1230 01:06:45,850 --> 01:06:49,130 S5: onto her credit file, which can build it quickly. So 1231 01:06:49,130 --> 01:06:51,450 S5: I think those are probably the two biggest things that 1232 01:06:51,450 --> 01:06:54,250 S5: you can do to get her started in the right direction. 1233 01:06:54,370 --> 01:06:57,410 S4: Great advice. Let's keep it rolling. Robin, first time caller 1234 01:06:57,410 --> 01:06:59,730 S4: from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Go ahead with your question. 1235 01:07:01,170 --> 01:07:04,290 S19: Hi, I was wondering, my father passed away and had 1236 01:07:04,290 --> 01:07:08,850 S19: a trust and he left about 200,000 to my sister, 1237 01:07:09,050 --> 01:07:12,850 S19: but he wanted her to only have $2,000 a month. Um, 1238 01:07:12,850 --> 01:07:15,850 S19: what would be the best, um, way to give her 1239 01:07:15,890 --> 01:07:17,790 S19: that money? So that I don't have to write a 1240 01:07:17,790 --> 01:07:21,230 S19: check every month. Would it be like a money market? Um. 1241 01:07:21,470 --> 01:07:22,310 S19: An annuity? 1242 01:07:23,510 --> 01:07:26,390 S5: Yeah. Yeah. So are you the trustee? 1243 01:07:27,550 --> 01:07:28,150 S19: Yes. 1244 01:07:28,710 --> 01:07:32,190 S5: Okay. Yeah. And so how is that money invested today? 1245 01:07:33,550 --> 01:07:37,390 S19: Um, right now we have an account, an Ein that 1246 01:07:37,390 --> 01:07:41,310 S19: we have set up. I haven't distributed the money yet. Um, 1247 01:07:41,310 --> 01:07:46,390 S19: because we're still in the four month holding period. Gotcha. 1248 01:07:46,790 --> 01:07:50,870 S5: Okay. Yeah. Yeah. And so I think, you know, the 1249 01:07:50,910 --> 01:07:53,270 S5: key is to decide how you want it invested and 1250 01:07:53,270 --> 01:07:55,070 S5: then go ahead and get it invested. But then you're 1251 01:07:55,070 --> 01:07:57,350 S5: going to want to make sure you have enough liquidity 1252 01:07:57,670 --> 01:08:00,430 S5: on an annual basis to cover that 2000 a month. 1253 01:08:00,430 --> 01:08:03,030 S5: And for that, a portion that you're going to be 1254 01:08:03,030 --> 01:08:05,910 S5: paying out of, you know, money market is a great 1255 01:08:05,910 --> 01:08:07,990 S5: place for that to be. So I'd make sure you 1256 01:08:07,990 --> 01:08:11,510 S5: always have at least one year in that money market 1257 01:08:11,510 --> 01:08:14,390 S5: so you can keep those consistent payments going. But with 1258 01:08:14,390 --> 01:08:16,920 S5: the balance of it, I would keep it invested in 1259 01:08:16,920 --> 01:08:19,760 S5: a way that makes sense given the time horizon, so 1260 01:08:19,760 --> 01:08:21,839 S5: that you can keep it growing over the long haul. 1261 01:08:22,960 --> 01:08:27,120 S3: Good question. Okay, Rob. Um, we've got Sherry. First time 1262 01:08:27,120 --> 01:08:29,280 S3: caller Miami, Florida. What do you say? Sherry? 1263 01:08:29,960 --> 01:08:30,360 S11: Hi. 1264 01:08:30,800 --> 01:08:33,719 S14: Good morning. I'm just calling. I just would like some 1265 01:08:33,760 --> 01:08:38,200 S14: advice on. I'm 70 years old, I still work. I 1266 01:08:38,200 --> 01:08:42,679 S14: do have a mortgage, but I'm overwhelmed. And credit card debt. Um, 1267 01:08:42,680 --> 01:08:47,000 S14: I do have a very small, um, savings account. A 1268 01:08:47,000 --> 01:08:52,200 S14: very small 401 K, um, collecting Social Security. I would 1269 01:08:52,200 --> 01:08:56,400 S14: like to retire. Unfortunately, I'm just overwhelmed in credit card debt. 1270 01:08:56,439 --> 01:08:57,920 S14: I just wanted some advice. 1271 01:08:58,880 --> 01:09:01,639 S5: Yeah, well, I know that can weigh on you. And 1272 01:09:01,640 --> 01:09:04,880 S5: I think, first of all, just recognize God is your provider. 1273 01:09:05,120 --> 01:09:07,599 S5: And the key is to just do the best you can, 1274 01:09:07,600 --> 01:09:10,080 S5: managing what passes through your hands. And it sounds like 1275 01:09:10,120 --> 01:09:13,639 S5: you're you're already thinking that way. Um, you know, number 1276 01:09:13,640 --> 01:09:16,210 S5: one is let's try to just really get on a 1277 01:09:16,210 --> 01:09:19,050 S5: bare bones budget and look for areas that you can 1278 01:09:19,050 --> 01:09:22,769 S5: cut back. I would say let's target those highest credit 1279 01:09:22,770 --> 01:09:26,610 S5: card interest rates first. Um, and perhaps a debt management 1280 01:09:26,610 --> 01:09:30,729 S5: program with Christian credit counselors. They'd be delighted to help 1281 01:09:30,729 --> 01:09:34,370 S5: you get those interest rates down, hopefully with one level 1282 01:09:34,370 --> 01:09:37,729 S5: monthly payment that fits your budget. So that would be key. 1283 01:09:37,770 --> 01:09:41,290 S5: Let's try to avoid tapping the retirement savings, if at 1284 01:09:41,290 --> 01:09:45,330 S5: all possible. And I appreciate your willingness to continue to work, 1285 01:09:45,330 --> 01:09:48,290 S5: because I think that's the key to having you, you know, 1286 01:09:48,330 --> 01:09:49,970 S5: be able to get past all of this and get 1287 01:09:49,970 --> 01:09:52,729 S5: to a place where once that debt is gone, hopefully 1288 01:09:52,729 --> 01:09:55,650 S5: now that allows you to rightsize that budget and even 1289 01:09:55,650 --> 01:09:57,970 S5: slow down in your work. The other thing I'd be 1290 01:09:57,970 --> 01:10:00,650 S5: willing to offer Carl and Ellie is one of our 1291 01:10:00,650 --> 01:10:04,050 S5: Christian financial counselors, will cover the cost of that to 1292 01:10:04,090 --> 01:10:06,330 S5: meet with her several times just to go over her 1293 01:10:06,330 --> 01:10:09,370 S5: budget and her spending plan, and give her some ideas 1294 01:10:09,370 --> 01:10:11,010 S5: on how she can navigate this. 1295 01:10:11,050 --> 01:10:14,710 S3: Okay. The way. I'm sorry. Yeah, I'm jumping on this 1296 01:10:14,710 --> 01:10:17,030 S3: with you. Ali. How how does she get Ahold of that? Ali? 1297 01:10:17,070 --> 01:10:19,469 S4: Yeah. Sherry. First time caller. Just hold on the line. 1298 01:10:19,470 --> 01:10:22,510 S4: We'll we'll talk to you offline and get your information. 1299 01:10:22,550 --> 01:10:26,790 S4: We've got an anonymous caller from Indiana. Go ahead. Anonymous. 1300 01:10:27,390 --> 01:10:31,389 S20: Hey, Rob, how are you doing today? I was calling in. Good, good. 1301 01:10:31,390 --> 01:10:34,110 S20: I listen to your show a lot, and I appreciate you, um, 1302 01:10:34,270 --> 01:10:37,830 S20: calling in because I've got about maybe six years, six 1303 01:10:37,830 --> 01:10:39,470 S20: and a half years before I can start going to 1304 01:10:39,510 --> 01:10:43,790 S20: my 401 K at age 55, and I want to 1305 01:10:43,790 --> 01:10:46,509 S20: leave the job so that I can start doing other things, 1306 01:10:46,510 --> 01:10:51,269 S20: family and ministry related. I have about 300 300 something 1307 01:10:51,550 --> 01:10:54,790 S20: and investment accounts plus extra in the savings account. So 1308 01:10:54,790 --> 01:10:57,870 S20: I just wanted your advice on if leaving now would 1309 01:10:57,870 --> 01:10:59,229 S20: be a good thing or a bad thing. 1310 01:11:00,550 --> 01:11:03,189 S5: Yeah, you know, it all just comes down to, first 1311 01:11:03,189 --> 01:11:06,309 S5: of all, what are your goals? Uh, and then second 1312 01:11:06,310 --> 01:11:08,550 S5: of all, what does it look like for you to 1313 01:11:08,590 --> 01:11:11,400 S5: fund your expenses in this next season of life. I 1314 01:11:11,400 --> 01:11:14,680 S5: love that you have some ministry endeavors on your mind, 1315 01:11:14,680 --> 01:11:16,760 S5: but I think as the Lord leads, we need to 1316 01:11:16,760 --> 01:11:20,400 S5: make sure that the finances match that. And so as 1317 01:11:20,400 --> 01:11:22,519 S5: you walk away from this, you're right. With the rule 1318 01:11:22,520 --> 01:11:26,520 S5: of 55, you can tap into those funds without the penalty, 1319 01:11:26,520 --> 01:11:29,120 S5: but it is all going to be taxable. And you 1320 01:11:29,120 --> 01:11:31,439 S5: just need to make sure that you're not pulling so 1321 01:11:31,439 --> 01:11:34,520 S5: much out that you know you're going to deplete that 1322 01:11:34,560 --> 01:11:38,640 S5: really much needed retirement asset that can be converted to 1323 01:11:38,680 --> 01:11:41,599 S5: an income stream, you know, throughout the balance of your life. 1324 01:11:41,600 --> 01:11:44,440 S5: So I think you just need to match your ministry 1325 01:11:44,439 --> 01:11:47,760 S5: endeavors and your goals with the financial resources that you've 1326 01:11:47,800 --> 01:11:50,960 S5: accumulated and perhaps getting with an advisor to kind of 1327 01:11:51,000 --> 01:11:54,120 S5: run some of those projections might be your best next step, 1328 01:11:54,120 --> 01:11:56,000 S5: because I wouldn't want you to kind of go into 1329 01:11:56,000 --> 01:11:58,800 S5: this without all the information. If you don't have one, 1330 01:11:58,800 --> 01:12:00,920 S5: just find a certified Kingdom advisor at Faith. 1331 01:12:01,160 --> 01:12:04,960 S3: Com Rob, I want us to wrap where we began 1332 01:12:04,960 --> 01:12:09,400 S3: as a pastor. My heart is heart posture. Always and forever. 1333 01:12:09,490 --> 01:12:13,610 S3: I find that people that cling to God make good choices. 1334 01:12:13,610 --> 01:12:16,090 S3: Pour out your heart on this for 30s here, my man. 1335 01:12:16,130 --> 01:12:19,410 S5: Well, well. Jesus cuts through the noise in Luke 1215, 1336 01:12:19,410 --> 01:12:22,129 S5: and he warns us that a person's life doesn't consist 1337 01:12:22,130 --> 01:12:24,969 S5: in the abundance of their possessions. And that's a hard truth. 1338 01:12:25,010 --> 01:12:27,969 S5: Carl and Allie, in a world that equates more with 1339 01:12:27,970 --> 01:12:32,730 S5: better gain, with greatness and success, with visibility. So from, 1340 01:12:32,850 --> 01:12:36,290 S5: you know, social media influence to income levels, you know, 1341 01:12:36,330 --> 01:12:40,129 S5: we've been trained to chase a version of success that's loud, 1342 01:12:40,130 --> 01:12:43,889 S5: that's public, that's easily measurable. But Paul offers a radically 1343 01:12:43,890 --> 01:12:48,129 S5: different version. He says, I count everything as loss because 1344 01:12:48,130 --> 01:12:52,130 S5: of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord. 1345 01:12:52,410 --> 01:12:55,490 S5: And in a culture that where worth is, is determined 1346 01:12:55,490 --> 01:12:58,969 S5: by our net worth. Paul flips the script and he says, 1347 01:12:58,970 --> 01:13:02,330 S5: success isn't about climbing higher, it's about bowing lower. It's 1348 01:13:02,330 --> 01:13:06,130 S5: about gaining Christ, even if that means losing status and 1349 01:13:06,130 --> 01:13:09,510 S5: comfort or recognition. And so we need to make God 1350 01:13:09,510 --> 01:13:12,229 S5: our ultimate treasure. We need to see money as a tool. 1351 01:13:12,229 --> 01:13:15,189 S5: We need to live in alignment with God's Word and 1352 01:13:15,189 --> 01:13:18,310 S5: the principles we find in Scripture. And when we do, 1353 01:13:18,750 --> 01:13:21,990 S5: we will experience God's best, the abundant life that he 1354 01:13:21,990 --> 01:13:24,189 S5: designed us for. And it's not found in the things 1355 01:13:24,189 --> 01:13:25,070 S5: of this world. 1356 01:13:25,189 --> 01:13:28,150 S3: Love it. Rob West I love you, my man. I 1357 01:13:28,150 --> 01:13:30,469 S3: wish you lived closer. We'd go to lunch at least 1358 01:13:30,470 --> 01:13:33,150 S3: once a week or more. I mean that from the. 1359 01:13:33,189 --> 01:13:35,309 S5: That would be the highlight of my week, Karl, you 1360 01:13:35,310 --> 01:13:35,910 S5: know that. 1361 01:13:35,950 --> 01:13:39,229 S3: I love you, man. Listen, boom, crew, I need you 1362 01:13:39,229 --> 01:13:43,349 S3: to hear me right now. Get this link. Get this link. 1363 01:13:43,390 --> 01:13:48,790 S3: This is a very christocentric abundance in the spiritual realm. 1364 01:13:48,790 --> 01:13:54,830 S3: Mindset link text money to 800 555 7898. You're going 1365 01:13:54,870 --> 01:13:58,710 S3: to find a clearinghouse of great content here, from budgeting 1366 01:13:58,750 --> 01:14:01,830 S3: to advisors to an app that will help you along 1367 01:14:01,830 --> 01:14:07,390 S3: this way. Text money to 805 55 7898.