MoneyWalk 435 A Wise Roadmap

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

Be as simple as you can in managing your finances and life, so you are not stressed out. This requires only 3-4 hours per week to manage your finances. When investing, dollar cost average for the long-term for simplicity sake and don’t worry about short-term fluctuations in the investment markets. Only invest in a more-risky manner once you learn overall good stewardship principles, develop expertise in various forms of investing, ensure that your family is well cared for, and understand the risk of loss associated with such investment.

Much of your financial plan, money management, and investing can be self-directed using a simple seven step pattern I discuss in other articles, however if you must hire a financial advisor to help you, pick one that is knowledgeable and trustworthy and that will not charge you sales charges for purchasing investments and will not charge you management fees greater than one-half of one-percent per year. Always understand that you must still research and learn so you maintain authority and direction and guide the financial planner as to where you want the money to be invested after he/she provide recommendations for you. Make no rash, quick decisions knowing that there will always be tomorrow, which allows you to spend a few days verifying the historical pattern / record of the recommended investments and determining if they are risk you are willing to hold for the long-term because you believe they fit your tolerance and will be as profitable as the need to be to help you meet your goals.

Some people think a financial roadmap consisting of an overall vision with short, medium, and long-term goals destroy dreams. In reality, it wisely facilitates the ability of dreams to come to pass and does so in a manner that helps you be a good steward, maintain the dream, and live in financial peace. Your first inclination should be to ask God what He wants from your stewardship of His money and how He wants you to spend it on things beyond needs for yourself, your family, and the Church.

The Lord has rewarded many average wage earners who used the simple, wise approach described above thus enabling them to give much more for service that helps others and spreads the gospel, live totally debt-free by eliminating lots of debt in a few years, build a million-dollar net worth in less than twenty years, and not have to worry about the ups and downs the economy cyclically endures. His wise plan produces a unique prosperous place for each person who consistently uses biblical financial principles.

Be thankful for the current blessings He provides and be forever content at every stage of life while serving His interests, giving abundantly, and doing good works in your community. Ultimately, your obedience to His principles will produce an ability to live at a more expensive level if He so desires. In order to be safely and securely in His blessing, your roadmap should focus on first taking care of that which is necessary, then on reaching for that which is possible yet difficult, and then you will find that He will help you do and live the impossible.

Please pray for this ministry and email me with any questions. May the LORD bless you richly as you follow His plan!

Proverbs 10:22, Luke 14:28, Romans 13:8, Ephesians 5:15-17

Please forward these bondage-breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!

You can find books authored by Randy Parlor and Karen Parlor at www.Amazon.com

You can find many other MoneyWalk articles on Facebook by looking at the NOTES created by Randy Parlor at https://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000444069041&sk=notes.

You can connect with Randy Parlor on Twitter and Linkedin

You can also view and/or listen to MoneyWalk articles at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXnztOIesOKIrSd_H6c-8mQ

MoneyWalk 434 Sensible Holiday & Birthday Spending

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

Many people are suffering financially. Some have been hit with extraordinary catastrophes beyond their control and some simply mismanaged money and failed to believe poor stewardship would negatively affect them. They did not pay attention to their flocks and herds and so they could not produce financial well-being. Their economy went down under and credit markets could not help them. They did not plan and budget to ensure they would not spend more than take home pay.

Some people will say they did plan and budget because the sum of all their monthly payments seemed to fit within take home pay. However, they in fact did not appropriately plan and budget because the total purchase price of the cars, furniture, jewelry, clothing, and other items they bought was greater than their take home pay and available assets. This was ushering them into deep financial trouble just waiting for the problem to get even worse by the loss of their job / business / income and inability to quickly obtain another one with at least the same pay and benefits.

If they had planned and budgeted to live only on take home pay and not purchase any item on credit that was not a historically verified appreciating asset (houses, commercial property, land, etc.), then they would not be in the position of suffering they are in today. Yet, many people continue to believe that our economy cannot thrive if people aren’t spending all they make and they further believe they cannot have comforts in life without obtaining car loans, furniture loans, jewelry loans, revolving credit from retailers, and other types of loans. This same attitude flows over into how they treat special holidays & birthdays. They’ve bought into the lie that celebrating these days requires expensive gifts and traditions. This takes a big bite out of their finances especially when they are not in a position to handle it. This mindset also causes them to use credit cards to get spouses, kids, families, and close friends the best gifts and to use credit cards to get what they cannot afford.

Some surveys purport that an average person spends only in the high hundreds of dollars on each holiday or birthday gift and has only about $9,000 in total outstanding revolving loan amounts. However, I’ve long known that people on average spend way more than these amounts because those amounts would not be causing the financial hardship that many are suffering through today. Put together these amounts represent only $400 in monthly payments. This is a miniscule portion of the average annual take home pay of a U.S. citizen. If the average earner spent only that much he would not have revolving loan amounts lingering for months or years with an inability to pay them off.

First, Christmas and other special days are about one thing and that is recognizing and honoring our Lord Jesus Christ for the sacrifice He made to allow us to choose to be set free from sin and have an eternal heavenly home in the presence of Almighty God. This is not done through gift giving or family traditions. Rather, it is best done through devotion to Almighty God through a born-again relationship with Christ in which you regularly fellowship with Him in praise, worship, and prayer. Everything else is secondary and should not be engaged in when you do not have the resources to engage them. God does not want you to put yourself in financial trouble by failing to see the forest for the trees.

Good biblically based stewardship requires planning and budgeting income. A good steward uses this principle to help control the cultural, familial, and emotional motivations he feels that would have him spend beyond his means. Believe me we all feel this pull. However, it can and should be avoided. Set your budget for special days early in the year based on your expected disposable income that can be forecast via budgeting. List all the people and activities you’ll spend money on and the specific amount for each. Be willing to eliminate or cut gift and holiday spending when you are faced with a financial situation (job loss, reduction in take home pay, expected layoff, etc.) where such spending would put you and/or your family in harm’s way.

Let your spouse and children know the reasons why you cannot purchase gifts or pay for particular activities. They may be disappointed, but they love you and together you all can find other low or no cost ways to make your time together very special when holidays & birthdays come. If you’re truly able to follow your plan because your written budget shows you can, then spend only the planned amounts based on what you have available in cash above your six-month emergency reserve.

Again, before anything else make your priority to spend time in fellowship with Christ and do only those things during any season that help you obey His commands and thus bring joy to His heart and peace to your life.

Please pray for this ministry and email me with any questions. May the LORD bless you richly as you follow His plan!

Proverbs 16:3, 20-22, 22:6-7, 27:23-27, 31:26-28, Luke 12:42, Romans 13:8

Please forward these bondage-breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!

You can find books authored by Randy Parlor and Karen Parlor at www.Amazon.com

You can find many other MoneyWalk articles on Facebook by looking at the NOTES created by Randy Parlor at https://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000444069041&sk=notes.

You can connect with Randy Parlor on Twitter and Linkedin

You can also view and/or listen to MoneyWalk articles at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXnztOIesOKIrSd_H6c-8mQ

MoneyWalk 433 Blessings Reside Within Principles' Boundaries

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

Principles have boundaries within which you should operate in order to maintain safety and security in your life and finances. The LORD Provides this protection to us through the knowledge, understanding, and wisdom we get from our intimate relationship with Him through the Holy Spirit, which is always in concert with biblical instruction.

For example, the parable of the talents and minas share a few lessons with us. First, the LORD expects us to invest a portion of the money He provides us throughout our lives. Second, He expects that we will put a reasonable portion in investment with high-growth potential that would increase them 30, 60, 100, or 1,000-fold. Third, even if we do not put money in investment with high-growth possibilities, He expects we would at least put a reasonable portion of the money in financial institutions to create compound interest growth on top of the original principle. Fourth, He will during The Final Judgment call people to account of their stewardship of money He provided. We will also feel the results of poor stewardship while on earth.

Some people wonder if they have to invest in stocks at all or any other specific type of investment (bonds, real estate, etc.). The reality is that the bible does not mention present-day stock or bond or other investments people may try to sell you, but it does tell you that blessings and rewards (such as future enormous growth) accompany consistent trading, which equates to investing in such equity-based products.

Over long periods of time (5-10 years +) the broad stock, bond, and real estate markets have historically experienced enormous growth (higher stock prices, higher real estate values, etc.), even though there is no guarantee that this will always happen every day, month or year in the future. People who have greater risk tolerance may be willing to take the increased risk of investing in these vehicles because of they believe history has shown them to be far better long-term growth products than putting money in low interest savings accounts and the like. Usually they will not panic and sell the investments they previously purchased when the market periodically goes south. Thus, they will likely increase their investment over the long run because 5, 10, or 20 years ago they bought the investments at prices much lower than the stock prices will be when they decide to sell.

People who don't have the risk tolerance to sit still through up and down swings generally do the opposite and thus lose money. They buy stocks, bonds, and real estate, etc. at high prices (due to euphoria when the market seems to always be going up) and sell at lower prices (due to fear when the market seems to be heading down). If one truly has greater risk tolerance he would probably always be invested in some level of these investments and continue to invest in these sectors on a dollar cost averaging basis over the long-term (equal periodic investments). He would likely only reduce these portions of his portfolio to appropriate levels given his rising age.

Nobody knows when a down market will rebound, not even market-timers and day-traders. That’s why a very high percentage of them usually lose more money than they make trying to time stock and bond trades. Thus, looking to invest over a short-term only when we think the market will go up creates a situation where you will usually experience substantial losses that will never be recovered because you will buy at high prices and sell at lower prices. If at the current time you simply do not have the risk tolerance to withstand the ups and downs for the long haul then there is nothing wrong with continuing to invest in the low risk guaranteed return, fixed income, low cost annuity, stable value, certificate of deposit like investments in your retirement plans and brokerage accounts. Just remember that your gains may not beat inflation over the long haul. However, you will still far outdo the vast majority of your peers who save and invest virtually nothing.

While our example of becoming millionaires over the past 25 years by putting approximately 75% of our investment money into no-load low-expense stock index mutual funds and the remaining 25% into bonds and fixed income investments give insight into the power of employing a simple long term investing pattern, you should speak with an advisor or use sound tools to determine your risk tolerance to decide how much stock (equity) investment you are comfortable with. At older ages, some people want a lower percentage of investment money affected by day-to-day swings in the stock market.

I know average wage earners who amassed hundreds of thousands of dollars by investing in certificates of deposits and fixed income investments over their 30-35 year working lives and who continue to invest that way in retirement and they're doing well. If there not living like kings in their senior years (when they need comfort the most), they're certainly living like princes (smile). The most important biblical money management principles you can follow are living beneath your take home pay, tithing, eliminating debt to live debt-free as soon as possible, not co-signing, and regularly saving 10% and increasingly greater amounts over the course of your working life so that you can receive the exponential benefit of compounding interest.

While we believe investing in stocks over the long haul will provide greater asset accumulation and greater opportunities for giving and comfort in your senior years, before you do so you should educate yourself about such investments and make sure that you feel comfortable investing in such vehicles regardless of what we or anyone else might advise. Until you are educated and comfortable with the risk you would be taking, let your savings in guaranteed and fixed income vehicles be your investments. Saving and investing is an example of a principle having reasonable parameters within which you should operate in order to be blessed and rewarded.

Please pray for this ministry and email me with any questions. May the LORD bless you richly as you follow His plan!

Proverbs 13:23, Proverbs 21:20, Proverbs 22:7, 1Timothy 6:17-19

Please forward these bondage-breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!

You can find books authored by Randy Parlor and Karen Parlor at www.Amazon.com

You can find many other MoneyWalk articles on Facebook by looking at the NOTES created by Randy Parlor at https://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000444069041&sk=notes.

You can connect with Randy Parlor on Twitter and Linkedin

You can also view and/or listen to MoneyWalk articles at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXnztOIesOKIrSd_H6c-8mQ

MoneyWalk 432 Trust Totally In The LORD, But Verify Man’s Motives

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

It is possible that a politician, business, or other person may do more to advance the causes of Jesus Christ while some of their counterparts fail to do so, however we unfortunately don’t know all they might do if elected or put upon a platform. We can only try to measure their campaign or values rhetoric and their track records to see if they more closely align with what we believe will best serve God’s will for our country. Then, we can vote for and/or honor and vouch for who we think will best represent His will.

There are instances where past history clearly displays that one person aligns more closely with the LORD’s will than another, but even in such instances we should be clear in our minds that we cannot put our trust in any person as though he/she can change negative situations we and our nation face. Man alone does not have power to overcome the great obstacles we face.

They will have to deal with a large group of other influential people who individually or collectively have influence and decision-making ability. They will have to deal with a large percentage of citizens who may not like their agendas or the overall direction they are taking. They will be told they will have to compromise in order to get some good things initiated and be re-elect or liked. They will have to deal with lobbyists from businesses, industries, legal advocacies, and consumer organizations that could potentially affect the outcome of the next election or how their proposals are received by citizens. They will have to deal with lawsuits and judges who will render decisions that negatively affect their agendas.

All of these pressures are designed by the enemy to make even the godliest person feel as if he/she must bow to the feeding trough of worldliness at one time or another. Therefore, never put your trust in man (presidents, congress, governors, legislatures, judges, juries, business people, loved ones, etc.) as though they will work all the wrinkles out for you and our nation. Rather, put your complete trust in God almighty. Despite everything that’s going on around you, His word is true and will play out as detailed in the bible. All things work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Those who love Him are those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior & Lord of their lives.

You will experience job loss, death of a loved one, illness, loss of close relationships, stress, or some other negative situation at some point. But you must make that situation captive to the will of God knowing that His Word is forever true. Speak the word of God to the situation (I am filled, I am healed, I am free) and allow the Holy Spirit to help you live from now on according to biblical lifestyle and financial principles.

Bad economic times will not be resolved by the president, congress, nor any person. If they are listening to the Holy Spirit and using their influence to communicate and do what He directs, then they can have a profound influence on reviving an economy and making your world a better place. However, it is not really the individual or institution who bring this to pass. It is the supernatural power of God blessing us via the cyclical nature of our economy and life or by miraculous intervention. This is God’s organization of creation playing itself out in our lives.

Rather than trusting in a person’s policies, products, services, programs, and initiatives to set you free or prosper you and your country, you must live out the principles of daily reading and studying scripture for education and growth, praying daily, tithing and giving abundantly, eliminating debt, budgeting income/expenses, eliminating co-signing, saving, investing, diversifying, assets, and surrounding yourself with godly counselors who dish out sound advice on a regular basis.

No man can save you from every hard time you will experience. In fact, some men will forsake you and fail to act when you need them most. But putting your trust completely in God and adhering to biblical principles will always yield rich, marvelous results that bless you throughout your generations on earth and in eternity.

Please pray for this ministry and email me with any questions. May the LORD bless you richly as you follow His plan!

Psalms 10:15, Psalms 20:6-9, Proverbs 2:1-5, Romans 3:4

Please forward these bondage-breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!

You can find books authored by Randy Parlor and Karen Parlor at www.Amazon.com

You can find many other MoneyWalk articles on Facebook by looking at the NOTES created by Randy Parlor at https://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000444069041&sk=notes.

You can connect with Randy Parlor on Twitter and LinkedIn

You can also view and/or listen to MoneyWalk articles at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXnztOIesOKIrSd_H6c-8mQ