Financial Pathway

Are you facing a big financial decision right now? When do I retire, when do I take Social Security, whether I need to make investment changes, or should I move? Here are 5 of my favorite questions to ask when facing a tough money choice. I use them often, and I hope they will be helpful to you too.

The sports betting era is officially a disaster. The floodgates have opened and now we're not just betting on sports - we're betting on everything. So today we talk about how these gambling sites actually work and how they make their money, what the 24/7 gambling craze is doing to sports and to our country (particularly young men), and what the future holds for gambling in the US .

Overall, the economy looks stable on the surface - stock market humming, inflation back to normal, interest rates have softened - but several massive questions still need answered. What will 2026 bring for AI, interest rates, housing affordability, government debt, and jobs? And what does all this mean for your financial planning?

How does your salary compare? And which industries tend to have the highest pay? https://flowingdata.com/2025/12/02/who-makes-a-higher-salary-and-the-jobs-they-work/ Trump says the US should be taking a page from Australia's retirement playbook. What might a retirement system overhaul look like? https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/03/economy/superannuation-australia-retirement-trump A New York high sc...

Did you know that just 3% of companies account for all the wealth ever created in the U.S. stock market? Or that Costco sells enough toilet paper to reach the moon and back… 200 times? Or that a tiny island with 15,000 people now funds half its government thanks to “.ai” domain names? Here are 25 surprising facts from 2025. Full list is here from Idea Farm: https://news.theideafarm.com/p/50-facts-...

Career and financial choices top the list of the most anxiety-inducing decisions - far above health or relationships. It’s a reminder that money stress is both universal and deeply emotional. https://www.popsci.com/health/100-most-dreaded-decisions/ Gold’s big run is grabbing headlines, but should it replace stocks? Why recent gains shouldn’t derail a long-term investment strategy. https://ofdolla...

President Trump says 50-year mortgages could make homes more affordable for struggling buyers. Is he right? Or would this fix just make the housing problem worse? Let’s unpack what a 50-year mortgage could mean for buyers and the broader market.

Author Morgan Housel’s new book, The Art of Spending Money, argues that the way we spend money matters just as much as how we earn or invest it. And for many of us, the biggest culprit that's killing our budget doesn't even show up in a spreadsheet. Book link: https://www.amazon.com/Art-Spending-Money-Simple-Choices/dp/0593716620

1️⃣ Giving People Money Helped Less Than I Thought It WouldA fascinating look at why direct cash transfers haven’t delivered the long-term results many expected. It’s a reminder that money alone doesn’t fix poverty without education, opportunity, and strong community institutions.https://www.theargumentmag.com/p/giving-people-money-helped-less-than2️⃣ This Social Security "Bridge" Claimi...

Adoption is one of the most life-changing decisions a family can make, and it comes with both financial and spiritual challenges. Bryan Samms shares his family’s adoption story, how they balanced financial planning with faith, and what it means for all of us to align our money with a higher purpose. You can get Bryan's book "Rescued" and/or the group course here: https://bryansamms.c...

Here's why I believe the greatest value of financial planning isn’t just in numbers. A real financial planner is someone who understands your values can help you avoid costly mistakes, navigate life’s changes, and find confidence in your financial decisions.

I was recently invited to be part of a conversation with Luke Clayton, Bryan Samms, and Mike Lester to discuss discipleship within the church. How do you structure a group study in a way that engages each person, fosters conversation, and effectively accomplishes the goal of growing people to be more like Jesus? We shared our experience and insights on how we are all trying to equip churches with...

Taxes don’t have to be overwhelming. Planning ahead with powerful tax-saving strategies can help you keep more of what you’ve earned. Here's how we work with clients to proactively save instead of just looking back to at last year to see how much we owe!

What does smart investing really look like? Nate shares how we take the guesswork out of managing your money with a clear, disciplined process so you can stay calm in the markets and feel confident your retirement income will last.

Retirement Reality Check: Americans believe they need $1.1M to retire but expect to save only 25% of that number, signaling a big savings shortfall. https://www.visualcapitalist.com/sp/emp01-retirement-savings-reaching-the-magic-number/ Freedom ≠ Fulfillment: Rick Foerster notes that the idea of freedom being the highest form of wealth is incorrect. As someone who has attained both money and freed...

If you’ve followed me for a while, you might know me as a "finance guy” but it may not be clear just from my videos/podcasts what I actually do? So I’m hitting the reset button to clear up the confusion. I’ll explain what my real job is (spoiler: it’s not just making podcasts) and how I help Christians prepare for a confident, purposeful retirement.

Young Americans are facing a housing crisis - understanding the 3-fold tragedy that brought us to this point.https://www.derekthompson.org/p/how-the-housing-market-for-youngGen Z trades stocks like they gamble. And it's not going to end well. https://sherwood.news/markets/gen-z-trades-stocks-the-same-way-it-gambles/The largest ever study of 4-day workweeks just concluded and 90% of companies a...

One wrong turn can cost a marathon runner the race. And one wrong financial decision can cost you years of hard work. I've learned the sometimes the most valuable thing a financial planner can do is help you avoid the BIG mistake at a crucial decision point.

Congress just passed a massive 870-page bill with sweeping changes to taxes, healthcare, and more. But what does it mean for your wallet? In this episode, I break down the key takeaways on how this new bill may affect YOU.

- Common Myth-Conceptions: things you grew up believing that aren't so- Millions of Millionaires: the US added more than a thousand new millionaires every day in 2024- Retirement Savings (Good News/Bad News) - Vanguard reports shows that retirement savings AND 401k hardship withdrawals at all time highs- Pentagon Pizza Orders Theory: increased pizza orders near the Pentagon can predict interna...

Are you making smart money moves? In this episode, we’re busting 17 of the most common money myths that could be holding you back.

"It's all about the Benjamins!" Cash gives you something that investments can't: immediate freedom. But how much is too much - or too little?

Here's an "ask me anything" episode I did last year at this time. How often should I reevaluate my investment strategy? (1:30) How much can I safely withdraw from my retirement account? (6:48) Can churches give a tax-free gift to their pastor at retirement? (15:50) Law of diminishing returns in your personal finances (21:56) When is it ok to withdraw from my IRA? (32:34) Thoughts on...

When do you know that you have "enough" money? Our culture equates success with accumulation, but what if real peace comes not from having it all but from knowing when you have enough?

- How spending time with the people you love is one of the wisest ways to invest your money- Sports betting is significantly affecting Americans' ability to save- Who is really footing the tax bill in America? Time to separate rhetoric from reality.- Slate Auto hopes to capture EV market share by taking the anti-Tesla approach- Americans believe real estate and gold are the best long-term inve...