Christian Financial Perspectives

In this episode, we continue the Biblical Worldview of Money and Wealth series with a deep dive into Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI)—an approach that aligns your investment decisions with your Christian values. You'll learn how Scripture speaks to ownership, diversification, wisdom, planning, and the dangers of greed, fear, and false hope, reminding us that God owns it all and we are His managers. We explore how believers can honor God through ethical investing, long-term discipline, and thoughtful decision-making that resists cultural pressures and get-rich-quick schemes. This episode challenges Christians to see investing not just as a financial activity, but as a spiritual responsibility—using wealth wisely, avoiding idolatry, and letting your light shine through every financial choice.

In this episode, we explore The Biblical Worldview of Saving, unpacking why Scripture encourages saving, how much is enough, and when saving can cross the line into hoarding. Drawing from Proverbs and other passages, you'll learn how God uses even the example of the ant to teach wisdom, preparation, and diligence during times of abundance. We'll cover the biblical purposes of saving—preparing for emergencies, avoiding debt, providing for family, creating opportunities, and planning for retirement—while also warning against placing trust in wealth instead of God. This episode offers practical starting steps for building the habit of saving and reminds listeners that wise saving is about stewardship, generosity, and faith, not fear or accumulation.

Bob and Shawn examine why generosity is such a central theme in Scripture and why it has quietly faded from many church conversations. Drawing from passages like Malachi 3:10, Proverbs 3:9–10, and Acts 20:35, we explore how tithing is not about obligation, but about trust, worship, and acknowledging God as the true owner of all we have. The discussion also unpacks the deeper purposes of giving—breaking selfishness, meeting real needs, advancing the Gospel, and reflecting the heart of Christ. Listeners are challenged to move beyond a purely cash-based mindset and consider giving through time, talents, assets, and planned generosity, always guided by prayer, Scripture, and godly counsel.

In this episode, we introduce a Biblical worldview of money and wealth, uncovering why Scripture speaks so often about finances and stewardship. With over 2,000 verses addressing money, the Bible provides a complete framework for handling wealth in a way that shapes the heart, mind, and soul—moving us from fear and selfishness toward contentment and freedom. We touch on 12 key biblical principles—including giving, saving, investing, ownership, debt, work, integrity, and retirement—that together form God's design for faithful stewardship. This episode sets the foundation for a 12-part series that will explore each topic in depth, helping believers align their financial lives with God's wisdom and experience the joy and security that come from managing money His way.

In this episode, we break down the basics of Donor Advised Funds (DAFs)—a powerful charitable giving tool that lets you take a tax deduction now while giving to your favorite ministries or charities over time. You'll learn how a DAF works, why it's often more blessed to give than receive (Acts 20:35), and how you can contribute various assets, invest the balance, and recommend grants when you're ready. We'll cover the key advantages, common drawbacks, and the wide range of assets you can contribute—from cash and stocks to real estate and even business interests. If you're looking for a way to streamline your giving, reduce taxes, and create a family legacy of generosity, this episode will show you how a DAF can serve your mission. Tune in to learn the basics and discover whether a Donor Advised Fund is right for you.

In this episode, we walk through seven smart year-end tax strategies for 2025 that could save you thousands if completed before December 31. With major changes from the new “Big Beautiful Bill”—including higher standard deductions, senior bonuses, and tax-free tips and overtime—you'll learn why multi-year tax planning is more important than ever. We also touch on the biblical foundation for wise stewardship from Romans 13:6–7. You'll hear practical tips like maximizing retirement contributions, boosting charitable giving, prepaying property taxes, harvesting losses, making tax-free gifts, delaying income, and purchasing needed business equipment. Each strategy is actionable, time-sensitive, and designed to help you keep more of what you earn. Tune in for a quick, valuable guide to finishing 2025 with meaningful tax savings.

Bob and Shawn break down the Biblical Four Uses of Money—Live, Give, Owe, and Grow—to help believers gain clarity and confidence in how they manage the resources God has entrusted to them. Instead of wondering where your money goes each month, this framework offers a simple, God-honoring way to allocate every dollar with purpose. From covering essential living expenses to practicing cheerful generosity, listeners will discover how Scripture provides both guidance and motivation for faithful stewardship. Whether you're looking to get financially organized or deepen your understanding of stewardship, this practical walkthrough of the Four Uses of Money will give you a fresh and encouraging perspective.

In this episode, Three Money Questions Every Christian Needs to Answer (But Most Never Do), we explore what Scripture teaches about stewardship through three vital questions: Who owns it all? How much is enough? And how much can I give away? Drawing from passages like Psalm 24:1, Philippians 4:11-13, and Luke 12:16-21, listeners are challenged to see money and possessions as tools for God's purposes rather than personal gain, finding true contentment in trusting Him as the ultimate owner. This episode blends Biblical wisdom with practical financial insight to help believers align their money with their mission. Learn how to create a plan rooted in faith, generosity, and eternal impact—so your finances can become a powerful tool for Kingdom building!

How can Christian parents wisely navigate the rising costs of education while honoring their child's unique, God-given design? In this episode of Christian Financial Perspectives, Shawn and Matthew share six Biblical principles for stewarding your children's education—from discovering their strengths to choosing the right savings strategies. You'll learn about state-funded programs, alternatives to traditional college paths, and smart financial tools like 529 plans. Whether you're just starting to plan or already feeling the pressure, this episode offers practical guidance and encouragement to steward both your finances and your children's futures with faith and wisdom.

If you are trying to figure out how to distribute your inheritance after your passing, then this is the episode for you! Bob and Shawn touch on key points on how a large inheritance can lead to a spending frenzy, a lack of understanding of how long it takes to build wealth, and more dangers when it is not distributed properly. Instead, a large inheritance has various steps and safeguards that can be put in place in order to have a better success rate so that it might last for several generations. The goal should be to pass on not just the wealth, but the wisdom and good money management habits that allowed the wealth to be built in the first place.

Have you ever been approached by someone offering financial returns so great that it must be too good to be true? Bob and Shawn discuss the patterns and tactics that these financial wolves may use to lure you and your finances into unwanted territory. Some of these tactics include the ever famous “free, luxury steak dinner” to entice you and peak your interest. However, these financial advisors can be just like “wolves in sheep's clothing” when it comes to their manipulative tactics that they use. Many of the products they promote are rarely benefiting the consumer, and they actually benefit the advisor more than the client. When you begin to look through the minefield of promises that really sound too good to be true (because they usually are), you begin to see a pattern.

Many have succumbed to the common pitfalls of emotional investing. In this episode, Shawn and Matthew provide some quick, Biblical guidance for avoiding making emotional decisions when it comes to your finances. Unfortunately, emotional investing can lead to poor financial decisions, which in turn can lead to trouble sleeping and being OCD about constantly checking market values. Instead of letting emotions guide our decision making, especially when it comes to the ups and downs of the market, it can be important to take a step back and take a long-term, disciplined approach to investing.

“The grass is always greener on the other side” is a famous phrase that far too many people succumb to, especially when it comes to comparing their financial situations and investment returns to others. Shawn and Matthew highlight the importance of not comparing your investment returns to others since every financial situation is unique based on household, expenditures, goals, and more! They cover why each investment portfolio is unique, and why investors should focus on the importance of understanding one's financial goals and meeting those. Some key questions to consider after listening are: “Who owns it?”, “How much is enough?”, and “Are your next stewards chosen and prepared?”

One quote you may have heard before is that, “History is doomed to repeat itself.” Bob and Shawn take this quote to heart as they discuss the various times in history that the stock market has plummeted and then come back, thus repeating itself over and over again. They look at some of the most famous “crashes” of the last 50 years, break down their causes, and then discuss the after effects of the market. Some of these famous events include: 1973-1974 oil embargo, Black Monday in 1987, And the market volatility during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite significant market drops during these events, the past markets have consistently recovered and gone on to reach new highs in the following years or months. Bob and Shawn caution against panicking during market downturns and highlight the importance of staying invested through market cycles.

One of the biggest stressors as humans probably has to do with our finances. Almost everything requires a payment, and treating finances in a way that glorifies God is just another add-on that Christians may have, something Christian Financial Advisors calls “Christian Stewardship”. Bob and Shawn discuss Christian stewardship and its relevance in today's society. Christian stewardship is the belief that everything we have, including our time, talents, and resources, is a gift from God to be used responsibly and for His glory rather than only for personal gain. We are his managers of the money, gifts, and blessings that have been bestowed upon us. So how exactly does a Christian honor God with their finances? Biblically responsible investing is one way of showing Christian stewardship. Christians can invest in companies that demonstrate Christian values and avoid companies that violate those values, regardless of investment returns.

Have you ever considered rental house income as an extra source to add to your finances? Things may not be as easy as they seem, as rental homes are often not delivering the expected returns for investors, especially in high property tax areas like Texas. Bob and Matthew cover the estimated yield income from a rental home property in comparison to other investment choices. If rental income is something you’re interested in delving into a little more, a better alternative to rental homes may be to invest in a diversified portfolio of publicly traded real estate investment trusts (REITs). Not only can they provide higher yields of over 5% with more liquidity, they are also much less time and hassle than owning individual rental properties.

Do you ever feel like your household isn't in order, especially when it comes to your finances? This is something many people struggle with, and why it's important to have a trusted financial advisor by your side to walk you through the steps of getting your finances in proper order. Bob and Matthew discuss 10 of the areas that they see people struggling with the most when it comes to organizing finances. From choosing the proper insurance for your house and health to having an up-to-date estate plan, there are several important areas of discussion in today's episode. If you are looking for help with putting your financial household in order, our fee-based, fiduciary-driven financial advisors and planners are here to help.

Investment risk vs reward vs time is a great topic that allows us to better understand how the market works when it comes to timing and longevity. Bob and Matthew divide various investment styles up into 5-6 portfolios, with comparisons between investment portfolios and driving speeds. These include: Cash and cash equivalents, Ultra-conservative, Conservative, Moderate or balanced, Growth, Aggressive Growth. The higher the risk, the higher the possible reward, but it's also extremely important to keep in mind your time horizon when it comes to choosing an investment portfolio. Emotions can lead investors to make poor decisions, so professional guidance from fee based advisors, like Christian Financial Advisors, is valuable to help maintain a long-term perspective and disciplined approach.

Free money? Sounds too good to be true! However, Bob and Matthew discuss several ways that you can earn free money without compromising your values. This isn't a “get rich quick” scheme, but rather using your investments in wise ways in order to build wealth over time while remaining content and glorifying God. Some of these strategies are best for retirees, while others are better suited for younger investors. Sit back and listen as we discuss 3 ways to uncover “free” money.

This episode covers the in depth topic of tax-efficient asset location, which involves strategically placing different types of assets (such as stocks and bonds) in various account types (such as taxable accounts, Roth IRAs, and traditional IRAs) to minimize the overall tax burden on investment returns over time. Bob and Matthew break this down into various key points of asset allocation, asset location, how exactly it works, is asset allocation for everyone, and what is the advantage? Asset allocation is not a “one size fits all” strategy, and it can require analysis and understanding from a certified financial advisor.

Learn about one of the most powerful mathematical formulas that has been around for hundreds of years when it comes to investing – The Rule of 72. Bob and Matthew break down compounding interest and how it works through the unique mathematical formula of the Rule of 72. The Rule of 72 truly shows the power of compound interest and how it can dramatically impact long-term wealth building. Investing must have a long-term perspective by avoiding distractions. By just being patient and not removing money periodically from your investments, the Rule of 72 demonstrates how money can double in value over time at a given rate of return. How else can you enhance your investment portfolio? By starting young and investing early, as discipline is crucial.

The parable of the talents in Matthew 25 teaches powerful lessons about stewardship, trust, and making the most of what we’ve been given. This week, Bob and Matthew break down the parable of the talents, including ways that the servants may have invested, how long they invested, and what principles they might have used when choosing how to invest their talents (like how Christian Financial Advisors uses Biblically responsible investing). Key lessons from this parable and our podcast episode include: - Stewardship: We are accountable to God for how we use the resources and gifts He has entrusted to us. - Faith vs. Fear: The parable contrasts the servants who acted in faith versus the one who was paralyzed by fear, highlighting the importance of trusting God rather than succumbing to anxiety. - Growth and Accountability: The master rewards the servants who grew their talents, emphasizing the need to be productive and make the most of what we’ve been given.