Retire Like Dave: Part Two—Maybe You Can Withdraw Eight Percent

A sustainable withdrawal rate is integral to a wise retiree’s financial stewardship plan. Your withdrawal rate determines how much money you’ll take from your retirement savings to add to other sources of income to meet your spending needs. I became aware of a video of one of Dave’s recent shows in which he discussed retiree … Read more

Figs, Faith, and Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is here, and we’ll soon enter the Advent season leading up to Christmas. I’ve never had it, but I understand a festive dish known as “figgy pudding” originated in medieval times and was especially popular in Victorian England. It’s the dessert that Bob Cratchit and his family enjoy as part of their Christmas celebration, … Read more

Medicare Commercials: The Hilarious But Confusing Comeback Tour You Didn’t Ask For

This article is part of the Biblically-Informed Framework for Retirement Stewardship (BIFRS) series. Originally published on November 15, 2023, and updated April 2026. Martha’s still out there When I wrote this article in 2023, I thought Martha was the peak of Medicare Advantage commercial absurdity. I was wrong. She’s back for 2026, along with Karen … Read more

Avoiding Probate: Issues and Options

My wife and I recently had the privilege of assisting a widow in our church with some legal/financial issues after her husband’s passing. It was my first experience with the “Clerk of the Superior Court” in my county. Fortunately, this woman and her husband had their affairs in order. They had a will and a … Read more

Invest and Retire Like Dave?

This article is part of the Biblically-Informed Framework for Retirement Stewardship (BIFRS). I recently discussed asset allocation and diversification with some friends, a couple in their 50s. In that conversation, they asked me what I thought about Dave Ramsey’s investing recommendations. (They were concerned that they may invest too conservatively for their age and goals.) … Read more

How Interest Rates Are Impacting Retirees

This article is part of the Biblically-Informed Framework for Retirement Stewardship (BIFRS) series. It was originally published on September 20, 2023, and updated in April 2026. When I wrote this article in 2023 and interesting thing was happening: interest rates were rising for the first time since the pandemic. They were already low, and had … Read more

Dealing With Financial Risk in Retirement

In the last article, we looked at what I believe to be the greatest risk in retirement: retiring without a clear sense of calling and purpose. But I also mentioned some other risks—the financial ones. The Bible encourages us to take wise precautions as part of good stewardship to protect ourselves from the adverse effects … Read more

Our Greatest Risk In Retirement

If you’re young, the most critical retirement risk you face right now is that you may be hoping to retire someday, but you haven’t given much thought to retirement planning. Or maybe you’re counting on Social Security and Medicare for your financial security in retirement; after all, you’re paying taxes, right? In fact, not saving … Read more

What Condition is Your (Retirement Financial) Condition In?

This article is part of the Biblically-Informed Framework for Retirement Stewardship (BIFRS). It was initially published in August of 2023 but was updated in 2026. I recently had the opportunity to lead a seminar on a Christian’s retirement at a church in our denomination. It’s a large church with a sizeable number of older folks. … Read more