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A Home Buyer’s Market? With Dale VermillionNormally, November through February are the slowest months of the year for home sales, and that means buyers have more bargaining power. Will it happen this year? Dale Vermillion gives us his take on the market today.Dale Vermillion with us again today. Dale’s the author of Navigating The Mortgage Maze: The Simple Truth About Financing Your Home.  CURRENT TRENDS IN INTEREST RATES AND MORTGAGES:Dale Vermillion notes that interest rates are continuing to rise, but there's hope for decreases in 2024 as predicted by the Mortgage Bankers Association.Assumable mortgages are becoming somewhat more common due to higher rates. These allow buyers to assume a seller's lower rate, though qualification and legal representation are necessary.HOME VALUES AND MARKET DYNAMICS:Home values are moderating, with some markets experiencing price drops. A 3% increase in property values is expected overall for the year.The current market offers less competition for buyers, more acceptance of

THE WORLD'S MESSAGE VS. JESUS' CALL:The world encourages material accumulation and personal success for happiness, but this stands in contrast with Jesus' call to follow Him for abundant life.Material success is fleeting and ultimately insignificant in the light of eternity, and while happiness is ambiguous, abundance as promised by Jesus is desirable and everlasting. THE CONCEPT OF ABUNDANCE:The Old Testament presents abundance in material terms, as seen in Deuteronomy 28:11 and Psalm 31:19, with the caveat that it required faithfulness to God.Despite this, human nature led to repeated loss of abundance due to disobedience. JESUS' REDEFINITION OF ABUNDANCE:With Jesus, abundance is redefined from material wealth to a focus on a relationship with Him.Matthew 6:33 highlights that by seeking God's kingdom first, material needs are met, allowing a life of true satisfaction in Christ. BARRIERS TO ABUNDANT LIFE:Human self-centeredness can make us lose sight of the fact that life is about Jesus, not ourselves.Lack o

THANKSGIVING'S ORIGINS AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT:The official declaration of Thanksgiving as a national holiday occurred in 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln, amidst the Civil War and the Battle of Gettysburg, to offer thanks to God and pray for national healing.The Puritans' first Thanksgiving in 1621 followed a period of severe hardships, including a delayed voyage on the Mayflower, a tough winter, and a period known as "the starving time," where nearly half of the Puritans perished.PERSEVERANCE AND FAITH OF THE PURITANS:Despite their struggles, the Puritans' Thanksgiving celebrated survival and harvest, with Governor William Bradford using a passage from Hebrews 11 to commemorate their faith and longing for a heavenly country.The Puritans' journey was motivated by a quest for religious freedom, facing persecution in England and even in Holland, leading to their risky expedition to the New World. LESSONS ON GRATITUDE AND GOD'S PROVIDENCE:Be thankful for religious freedom and God's role in providing for us. Deu

ENERGY-SAVING TIPS: 1. Ceiling Fans: Reverse ceiling fan direction clockwise in winter to circulate warm air from the ceiling.2. Conserve Electricity: Unplug electronic devices when not in use. Use power strips to easily cut off power to multiple devices.3. Chargers: Unplug device chargers when not in use to prevent unnecessary energy draw.4. Home Maintenance:Seal drafty doors and windows.Install foam gaskets behind switches and outlets on exterior walls for better insulation.Ensure proper attic insulation.Regularly check heating and air system filters.5. Thermostat Setting: Keep at 68 degrees when the heat is on.6. Utilize Sunlight: Open shades during the day for solar heat; close them at night for insulation.7. Additional Clothing: Add a layer of clothes before adjusting the thermostat8. Avoid Blocking Vents: Ensure no furniture or obstructions are blocking heating vents.9. Consult Power Company: Check for energy-saving suggestions and potential rebates for energy-efficient upgrades.10. Lighting: Upgrade to

AVOIDING RETIREMENT PLANNING MISTAKES:The most significant mistake is not saving enough during working years. A recommended practice is contributing 10-15% of income to a retirement plan like a 401(k), 403(b), or an IRA.The earlier the start in saving for retirement, the better, due to the benefits of compound earnings. Relying solely on Social Security is not advisable. COMMON ROLLOVER MISTAKES TO AVOID:Not adhering to the one-per-year rule for IRA rollovers can result in significant tax implications and a 6% tax for excess contributions.Missing the 60-day deadline for rollovers from an IRA to another plan can result in the distribution being added to adjusted gross income.Losing the ability to take the 10% penalty exception for early withdrawals from qualified plans. Different rules apply for IRAs and 401(k) plans.Performing a rollover from a 401(k) to an IRA with an outstanding loan against the 401(k) can lead to taxable distribution and potential penalties. ADVICE FOR RETIREMENT PLANNING AND ROLLOVERS:Con

Brian Holtz is the Chief Operating Officer at Compass—Finances God’s Way. He’s also the author of a brand new book, Financial Discipleship for Families: Intentionally Raising Faithful Children. WHY A BOOK ABOUT MONEY FOR PARENTING?Jesus used money in parables to teach spiritual lessons, making it relatable and insightful for teaching children.Managing money according to God's principles impacts our relationship with Him. ACTIVE VS. REACTIVE PARENTINGActive parenting involves setting goals and preparing children for future financial decisions.Reactive parenting addresses issues only as they arise, often in a negative context. WHY A BOOK ABOUT MONEY FOR PARENTING?Jesus used money in parables to teach spiritual lessons, making it relatable and insightful for teaching children.Managing money according to God's principles impacts our relationship with Him.ACTIVE VS. REACTIVE PARENTINGActive parenting involves setting goals and preparing children for future financial decisions.Reactive parenting addresses issues on

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17Ken Boa is a pastor and founder of Reflections Ministries. Russ Crosson is executive vice president and chief mission officer of Ronald Blue Trust. This is the second of our interviews about a book they co-authored, titled Leverage: Using Temporal Wealth for Eternal Gain. [1:35]WHAT IS BIBLICAL LEVERAGE AND IS GIVING TO CHURCH AND MINISTRIES CONSIDERED BIBLICAL LEVERAGE?(Biblical leverage is the concept of using one's financial resources in ways that align with God's will, rather than accumulating wealth for its own sake.)It's about seeking guidance from the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit to determine how much to give and where to give.The act of giving is a way to counteract the idolatry of money and wealth, avoiding the search for security and significance in financial accumulation.Biblical leverage involves sacrificial giving that transcends mere

Faith Full GivingAccording to Hebrews 11:1, faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Faith is the heartbeat of our walk with God. Today we’ll find out what the story of Cain and Abel has to tell us about faith as it relates to giving.Our confidence, or faith, that God is who he says he is, and that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life…are rooted in God’s word.  We have purpose and hope because of our faith, which touches every area of life, including our finances.  Today, we’re going to take a trip way back into Genesis to find out how faith in the area of giving played a part in the story of brothers Cain and Abel.You may remember that Cain and Abel were sons of Adam and Eve, born after the couple sinned and were driven from the Garden of Eden.  Their story is found in Genesis 4. It’s a tragic tale of resentment and murder. Cain killed his younger brother Abel because of an offering.  Here’s what it says in Genesis 4:2-5:Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the so

Making Money an Asset to Marriage With Gary ChapmanMoney is usually cited as one of the top reasons for divorce. It’s almost never seen as a way to actually strengthen a marriage. Gary Chapman joins us today to talk about how you can make that happen.Gary Chapman is a pastor, speaker, counselor, and author of several books on Christian relationships.1:38 - DEBUNKING THE MYTH: MORE MONEY, BETTER MARRIAGE:Dr. Chapman clarifies that having more money does not necessarily improve a marital relationship. He emphasizes that some of the happiest and strongest marriages involve couples who are just making ends meet. 2:08 - IMPACT OF DIFFERENT MONEY BACKGROUNDS AND PERSONALITIES:Exploring how family upbringing affects attitudes towards money, Dr. Chapman shares personal stories and emphasizes the need for understanding and respect for these inherent differences in marriage.They also address the common spender-saver dynamic in marriages, highlighting the importance of empathy and respect in navigating these differences

A Home Buyer’s Market? With Dale VermillionNormally, November through February are the slowest months of the year for home sales, and that means buyers have more bargaining power. Will it happen this year? Dale Vermillion gives us his take on the market today.Dale Vermillion with us again today. Dale’s the author of Navigating The Mortgage Maze: The Simple Truth About Financing Your Home.  CURRENT TRENDS IN INTEREST RATES AND MORTGAGES:Dale Vermillion notes that interest rates are continuing to rise, but there's hope for decreases in 2024 as predicted by the Mortgage Bankers Association.Assumable mortgages are becoming somewhat more common due to higher rates. These allow buyers to assume a seller's lower rate, though qualification and legal representation are necessary.HOME VALUES AND MARKET DYNAMICS:Home values are moderating, with some markets experiencing price drops. A 3% increase in property values is expected overall for the year.The current market offers less competition for buyers, more acceptance of

CHM: A Health Insurance Alternative For Open Enrollment With Lauren GajdekChoosing a health insurance plan is probably right up there with paying taxes as an unwelcome annual task. Wouldn’t it be great if you never had to do it again? Lauren Gajdek is with us to tell you how today.Lauren Gajdek, Vice President of Communications and Media at Christian Healthcare Ministries, an underwriter of this program.Discussion on Health Cost Sharing:Lauren Gajdek explains that Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM) is an option that allows enrollment anytime during the year, offering a biblical approach to health care with financial support from Christians nationwide.CHM provides a no-waiting-period membership with no need for pre-authorization from healthcare providers, though some limitations exist for pre-existing conditions.How Health Cost Sharing Works:Gajdek clarifies that CHM is not an insurance company but an alternative. Members control their medical bills, receive discounts, and CHM issues checks to members for p

Perfect Storm for Debt With Neile SimonA perfect storm may be coming that could make this Christmas shopping season difficult for folks with student loan debt. Neile Simon joins us today with the details today on Faith and Finance.Neile Simon is a Certified Credit Counselor with Christian Credit Counselors, an underwriter of this program. Neile has been following events that affect consumer debt and she’s here today with another report.CONSUMER DEBT AND ITS IMPACTS:Neile explains the resumption of student loan payments in October after a three-year forbearance, highlighting the collective federal student loan debt at 1.7 trillion affecting 14 million Americans.Monthly payments averaging $503 are expected due to inflation, contributing to a monthly outflow of seven to eight billion dollars towards student loan debt.INFLATION AND CONSUMER SPENDING:Despite a high annual inflation rate of 8.5%, consumer spending has increased by 4.9% compared to last year.Neile emphasizes the trend of people living beyond their m

According to the car shopping site iSeeCars.com, used car prices have jumped 41% over the past several years! Here are some tips to take the edge off of that sticker shock.  OUR 7 TIPS FOR BUYING A USED CAR: 1. Establish Your Budget: Determine how much you can afford, whether paying in cash or financing, ensuring the payments fit within your budget. Aim for a down payment of 10-20% and keep the loan term as short as possible, ideally three years.2. Choose the Right Make and Model: Consider your family size, cargo space needs, safety, and vehicle reliability, and be open to having two or three options.3. Research Vehicle Value: Use Kelley Blue Book or Edmunds to estimate the value of your chosen vehicles.4. Search Online Listings: Look for fairly priced vehicles on Auto Trader, Craigslist, AutoList, and Carmax, creating a list of potential options.5. Obtain Vehicle History: Contact the seller for the VIN to check the vehicle's history on CarFax or AutoCheck, ensuring a clean title, no serious accidents, and ve

Harlan Accola is National Reverse Mortgage Director at Movement Mortgage, which is an underwriter of this program. He is also author of the book, Home Equity and Reverse Mortgages: The Cinderella of the Baby Boomer Retirement.  WHAT IS THE BIGGER PICTURE AROUND REVERSE MORTGAGES BEYOND THE COMMON PERCEPTION?A reverse mortgage is like a savings account or retirement fund but for your home equity, allowing you to unlock and use the money invested in your home.It is government-guaranteed for safety, ensuring you can use your home's value without the risk of owing more than the home's worth.It transforms a typically illiquid asset into a liquid one, providing financial flexibility in retirement. WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF REVERSE MORTGAGES?It's crucial to differentiate between old 'Shared Equity' loans, which could be risky and lead to loss of ownership, and modern, safer FHA Home Equity Conversion Mortgages.These contemporary reverse mortgages allow you to use a significant portion of your home's value whil

Do you like helping people get their finances in order? Maybe you have a gift for numbers? A while back we broke the news about a whole new career field that’s opening up— the Christian Financial Planner. Kurt Cornfield is here today to give us an update. Kurt Cornfield is Associate Professor of Financial Planning at Liberty University. He’s also a Certified Financial Planner and a Certified Kingdom Advisor. WHAT IS THE CHRISTIAN FINANCIAL PLANNER PROGRAM? Seven Christian universities that have offered certified financial planner (CFP) programs are adding certified kingdom adviser content. So students are learning what the Bible says about money and finances.Prior to the last 13 years, there were zero universities offering this kind of education. It’s exciting to see students learn that they can take their faith with them into the financial planning field.Since 2015, 100% of Liberty’s Christian CFP planners found jobs out of school.Cornfield says students are also moving into financial coaching and counseling

Jerry Bowyer is the president of Bowyer Research and our resident economist. You can read his insightful columns for World News Group at WNG.org.  [1:03]WHAT WERE THE SELF-INFLICTED HARDSHIPS THE PURITANS FACED DUE TO THEIR ECONOMIC POLICIES?The Puritans at Plymouth Plantation implemented a communal property system as dictated by their charter.This economic policy was essentially a form of communism where no one owned their land, men worked the land collectively, and women cooked for everyone.The system led to a lack of motivation as people didn't want to work for others, causing excuses and a decrease in productivity, which resulted in starvation and hardship.[2:36]HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THE PURITANS’ ECONOMIC FAILURES WERE NOT JUST "REVISIONIST HISTORY"?The reality of the Puritans’ struggles was documented by primary sources, including writings from William Bradford, who acknowledged the mistake.The communal economic policy was influenced by the prevailing intellectual ideas from England, derived from Plato's

THE WORLD'S MESSAGE VS. JESUS' CALL:The world encourages material accumulation and personal success for happiness, but this stands in contrast with Jesus' call to follow Him for abundant life.Material success is fleeting and ultimately insignificant in the light of eternity, and while happiness is ambiguous, abundance as promised by Jesus is desirable and everlasting. THE CONCEPT OF ABUNDANCE:The Old Testament presents abundance in material terms, as seen in Deuteronomy 28:11 and Psalm 31:19, with the caveat that it required faithfulness to God.Despite this, human nature led to repeated loss of abundance due to disobedience. JESUS' REDEFINITION OF ABUNDANCE:With Jesus, abundance is redefined from material wealth to a focus on a relationship with Him.Matthew 6:33 highlights that by seeking God's kingdom first, material needs are met, allowing a life of true satisfaction in Christ. BARRIERS TO ABUNDANT LIFE:Human self-centeredness can make us lose sight of the fact that life is about Jesus, not ourselves.Lack o

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17Ken Boa is a pastor and founder of Reflections Ministries. Russ Crosson is executive vice president and chief mission officer of Ronald Blue Trust. This is the second of our interviews about a book they co-authored, titled Leverage: Using Temporal Wealth for Eternal Gain. [1:35]WHAT IS BIBLICAL LEVERAGE AND IS GIVING TO CHURCH AND MINISTRIES CONSIDERED BIBLICAL LEVERAGE?(Biblical leverage is the concept of using one's financial resources in ways that align with God's will, rather than accumulating wealth for its own sake.)It's about seeking guidance from the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit to determine how much to give and where to give.The act of giving is a way to counteract the idolatry of money and wealth, avoiding the search for security and significance in financial accumulation.Biblical leverage involves sacrificial giving that transcends mere

Jesus entrusted us with the Gospel and gave us His immeasurable love by dying on the Cross. As stewards of those priceless gifts, we’re to share them with the world. So keep in mind that stewardship isn’t just about money.So what are the marks or characteristics of good stewards?  1. Acknowledgment of God's Ownership: Good stewards understand that everything is God's (Deuteronomy 8:18, "You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth"). They hold resources temporarily and avoid hoarding or coveting.2. Recognition of God's Gifts: They see their skills and abilities as gifts from God. This understanding is rooted in verses like 1 Peter 4:10, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.”3. Understanding and Commitment: They have clarity about the divine mission given to them and remain committed to it. This is reflected in Proverbs 16:3, “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” They're also devot

CAN YOU OUTGIVE GOD?God gave His only Son for our salvation, demonstrating the ultimate generosity (John 3:16).Our generosity will always fall short in comparison, but this shouldn’t discourage us from giving. HOW DOES GOD'S GENEROSITY AFFECT US?The Bible does tell us of the transformative power of acknowledging God’s generosity.God’s generosity is evident in His sacrificial love, even when we were sinners (Romans 5:8).Embracing a generous spirit is part of our faith journey and a way to trust and participate in God's kingdom. SHOULD FEAR OF LACK STOP US FROM GIVING?What about financial security when giving? Trusting in God’s provision is crucial when fear of not having enough arises.Generosity is a tangible way to show trust in God and engage in His work. IS OUR GIVING A COMPETITION WITH GOD?Giving is not a competition or a means to earn God's favor.We already have God’s favor through grace; our call is to extend grace to others (Ephesians 4:32).Generosity should stem from a desire for heavenly reward, not m