On this blog, I often delve into specific practical areas of retirement stewardship. My goal is to simplify seemingly complex financial topics so that you can make sense of them in your own life. This topic is one of them. Not long ago, a friend whose family income is somewhat seasonal asked about paying off … Read more
This article is part of the Biblically-Informed Framework for Retirement Stewardship. It was initially published in December 2016 but was updated in January 2026. I recently read a very enlightening article titled, “Study: Money Secrets and Sluggish Savings Put Couples’ Retirement Dreams at Risk.” The study, which was conducted by nerdwallet.com and Harris Poll, showed … Read more
As I discussed in my last article, there are two major areas of concern when it comes to protecting your identity and preventing theft and fraud. The first is your paper assets such as financial statements and the digital assets that you manage and control on your personal devices (computers, tablets, smartphones, etc.). The second … Read more
I often write about using various online and computer-based tools and services to help simplify and manage your personal and financial life. These can very helpful and convenient, but they also carry the risk of being compromised in some way. Even mishandling physical documents, such as account statements you receive in the mail, can lead … Read more
I was inspired to write this article by something that a young man shared with me in a men’s books study meeting early this morning. He reminded me that I had been one of his teachers in children’s ministry in our church many years ago. He admitted that he wasn’t a model student, but now … Read more
This article is part of the Biblically-Informed Framework for Retirement Stewardship (BIFRS) series. It was originally published on September 5, 2016, and updated in April 2026. When I first wrote this article in 2016, my wife and I were closing in on Medicare eligibility at age 65. We were trying to navigate the complexity from … Read more
This article is part of the Biblically-Informed Framework for Retirement Stewardship. It was originally published on September 3, 2016, and substantially updated in April 2026. Your medical insurance choices will depend greatly on whether you are young and far from retirement, an “early” retiree with a few years until Medicare eligibility, or 65 or older … Read more
In this second of three articles about the most important financial decisions that affect retirement stewardship, I discuss the car purchase decision and also some general lifestyle areas. The first article in the series dealt with the all-important house purchase decision. As with housing, when you spend more than you can afford for major items, … Read more
I think it was Ben Stein who, when asked about the key to financial success in life, replied, “one dog, one house, one wife.” You may see the wisdom (and wit) in that, but it may not be quite that simple. We make financial decisions almost every day – most are minor, and some are … Read more
