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Faith & Finance

Faith & Finance

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Faith & Finance is a daily radio ministry of FaithFi, hosted by Rob West, CEO of Kingdom Advisors. At FaithFi, we help you integrate your faith and financial decisions for the glory of God. Our vision is that every Christian would see God as their ultimate treasure. Join Rob and expert guests as they give biblical wisdom for your financial journey and provide practical answers to your pressing financial questions. From budgeting and debt management to investing and stewardship, Faith & Finance equips listeners with insights to handle money wisely and live generously for God's Kingdom. Listen now or ask your question live by calling 800-525-7000 each weekday from 10-11 a.m. ET on American Family Radio and 4-5 p.m. ET on Moody Radio. You can learn more at FaithFi.com.Copyright 2023-2025 FaithFi: Faith & Finance Cristianismo Economía Espiritualidad Finanzas Personales Ministerio y Evangelismo
Episodios
  • Navigating Finances in Blended Families with Ron Deal and Greg Pettys

    Navigating Finances in Blended Families with Ron Deal and Greg Pettys
    Mar 20 2026
    Martin Luther once said, “There is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage.” Marriage is one of God’s great gifts—but like any meaningful relationship, it requires intentional care and wisdom. That’s especially true in blended families. When two people come together later in life—often bringing children, financial histories, and past experiences of loss—the conversations surrounding money, inheritance, and responsibility can become complex. To explore how couples can navigate these challenges faithfully and wisely, we were joined by Ron Deal and Greg Pettis, co-authors of The Smart Step Family Guide to Financial Planning. Their work offers practical guidance for couples seeking peace, clarity, and unity in second marriages. One of the most helpful tools they recommend is something called a “Togetherness Agreement.” Why Blended Families Face Unique Financial Challenges When couples enter a second marriage, they aren’t simply merging households—they’re merging entire life stories. Often, there are children from previous relationships, existing debts or investments, businesses, aging parents who need care, and deeply personal financial experiences shaped by the past. For many, divorce, death, or financial conflict in a previous marriage has left emotional scars that naturally create caution in the next one. As Ron Deal explains, conversations about bank accounts or investments rarely stay purely financial. They quickly become conversations about trust, security, and provision—especially when children or extended family members are involved. Questions arise, such as: How should accounts be structured?How will assets be divided in the future?How do we care for children from previous marriages?What happens to a business or an inheritance? Without clear communication, assumptions can easily lead to misunderstanding or conflict later on. The “Togetherness Agreement” To help couples navigate these conversations, Deal and Pettis developed the idea of a Togetherness Agreement. This agreement is more than a financial document. It’s a framework for couples to intentionally discuss expectations, values, and responsibilities before problems arise. Greg Pettis describes it this way: couples are essentially “writing the rules for their marriage with love and respect for both parties.” The agreement helps address emotionally charged topics such as: How many financial accounts will a couple maintainWhether finances will be fully combined or partially separateHow assets will be passed to childrenResponsibilities toward aging parentsOwnership of businesses or investmentsThe roles of stepchildren, grandchildren, and extended family By putting these conversations in writing, couples gain clarity and reduce the risk of future confusion. Should It Be a Legal Document? In many cases, Deal and Pettis recommend that couples make their Togetherness Agreement a formal legal document, often with the help of an attorney. While marriage itself is a legal covenant, it doesn’t always address the specific financial realities of blended families. A written agreement can help financial advisors, attorneys, and family members understand the couple’s intentions. It can also prevent what Deal calls “inheritance drift.” Without clear planning, assets can unintentionally pass to people far removed from the original family line. For example, if a spouse dies and the surviving spouse remarries without updating estate plans, assets may eventually pass to the new spouse’s family rather than the original children. Intentional planning ensures that what matters most to a family is preserved. A Real-Life Example Deal and Pettis share the story of a couple, Anthony and Jenny, to illustrate how a Togetherness Agreement can work. Anthony was a successful construction business owner with two sons. Jenny, a CPA, also had children and was caring for her aging mother. During their courtship, neither fully understood the other’s financial situation. Anthony had previously struggled with gambling debt and a low credit score. Jenny had spent significant resources caring for her mother and had promised that her mother could one day live with her. Their Togetherness Agreement created a space for honest disclosure and compassionate conversation. Together, they worked through several important decisions: They established one shared budget account but maintained individual accounts while Anthony addressed his credit and gambling issues.Anthony clarified that his sons would inherit his company, something that had been planned long before the new marriage.To provide for Jenny and her daughter, they created a trust funded by life insurance.They developed long-term care plans for Jenny’s mother. The process didn’t just solve financial questions—it strengthened their relationship by building trust and mutual respect. The Power of Simply Starting the Conversation...
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    25 m
  • Understanding Your IRA Options with Mark Biller

    Understanding Your IRA Options with Mark Biller
    Mar 19 2026
    For decades, retirement income in America has often been described as a three-legged stool. The first leg is Social Security, which historically provides roughly 35–45% of a retiree’s monthly income. The second leg used to be company pensions, but those have largely been replaced by employer-sponsored plans such as 401(k)s and 403(b)s, which now provide roughly 15–20% of retirement income on average. The third leg—and the one individuals have the most control over—is personal savings. One of the most important tools for building those savings is the Individual Retirement Account, or IRA. This is especially important for people who don’t have a strong employer retirement plan. In those cases, personal savings often need to carry even more of the load in retirement. What an IRA Actually Is Before diving into the different types of IRAs, it helps to understand one key point: an IRA itself isn’t an investment. An IRA is simply a tax-advantaged account that holds investments. Inside an IRA, you can own many of the same assets you might hold elsewhere—stocks, bonds, mutual funds, CDs, and more. The main benefit of an IRA is the tax treatment. Depending on the type you choose, your contributions or withdrawals may receive special tax advantages that can significantly affect your long-term financial plan. Traditional vs. Roth: The Key Difference When people talk about IRAs, they are usually referring to two primary types: the traditional IRA and the Roth IRA. Traditional IRAs Traditional IRAs have been around since 1974. Their main advantage is the immediate tax deduction many contributors receive. When you contribute to a traditional IRA, you may be able to deduct that contribution from your taxable income. Your investments then grow tax-deferred, meaning you don’t pay taxes on the gains each year. However, when you begin withdrawing money in retirement, those withdrawals are taxed as income. In simple terms: Traditional IRA = tax break now, taxes later. Roth IRAs Roth IRAs were introduced in 1997, and they reverse the traditional model. With a Roth IRA, contributions are not tax-deductible today. However, the major benefit comes later: qualified withdrawals in retirement—including investment gains—are completely tax-free. In other words: Roth IRA = no tax break now, but no taxes later. Which One Is Better? The decision between traditional and Roth IRAs largely depends on your expected tax situation. If you believe your tax rate will be higher in retirement, a Roth IRA can be very attractive because you pay taxes today at a lower rate and enjoy tax-free income later. This is why Roth accounts are often recommended for younger workers who are early in their careers and likely in a lower tax bracket. However, the decision can become more complicated for people who are within 10–15 years of retirement. At that stage, many people are in their peak earning years and higher tax brackets, which may make a traditional IRA more appealing. Taxes aren’t the only factor, but they are often the most important one. Contribution Limits You Should Know Contribution limits for IRAs change periodically, and it’s important to stay current. For 2026, the limits are: $7,500 per person under age 50$8,600 per person for those age 50 or older (thanks to catch-up contributions) If you’re married filing jointly, each spouse can contribute to their own IRA, even if one spouse doesn’t have earned income—as long as the household’s earned income covers the total contributions. One important note: there is no such thing as a joint IRA. Each account must belong to an individual. IRA vs. 401(k): Which Should Come First? Employer-sponsored retirement plans, such as 401(k)s, have significantly higher contribution limits. In 2026, employees can contribute: $24,500 annually$32,500 if age 50 or older But the biggest advantage of workplace plans is often employer matching. If your employer matches contributions, the general rule is simple: Always contribute enough to receive the full match first. That match is essentially free money and should be viewed as part of your compensation. After reaching the match threshold, you can evaluate whether to continue contributing to your 401(k) or begin funding an IRA—especially if the IRA offers better investment choices. Income Limits and Eligibility IRA eligibility can become more complicated depending on income levels and workplace plans. For traditional IRAs, whether you can deduct your contribution depends on: Whether you’re covered by a workplace retirement planYour modified adjusted gross income For married couples with workplace coverage, deductibility typically phases out between $129,000 and $149,000 of income. For Roth IRAs, workplace plans don’t matter, but income limits still apply. Married couples generally lose eligibility to contribute directly to a Roth once their income exceeds $252,000. Because these rules can be complex, reviewing them ...
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    25 m
  • Our Ultimate Treasure: Work as Worship

    Our Ultimate Treasure: Work as Worship
    Mar 18 2026
    Theologian Dorothy Sayers once wrote, “Work is not primarily a thing one does to live, but the thing one lives to do.” That statement may feel surprising in a culture where work is often viewed as a burden to escape rather than a calling to embrace. Yet Scripture offers a very different vision. From the beginning of the Bible to the end, work is not treated as a necessary evil but as a sacred calling woven into what it means to bear God’s image. When we understand this truth, it transforms how we see our daily responsibilities—whether they happen in an office, a home, a classroom, or a retirement community. Work Was God’s Design From the Beginning Many people assume work began as part of the curse after sin entered the world. But Scripture tells a different story. In Genesis 2:15, before the fall, God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden “to work it and keep it.” Work was not punishment—it was purpose. God commissioned humanity to cultivate creation, steward its resources, and reflect His creativity and order. Work was a gift before it became difficult. And according to Scripture, it will be a gift again in the new creation. Revelation 22:5 describes God’s people reigning with Christ—not in idleness, but in joyful responsibility and stewardship. Work Reflects the Image of God Our faith is not limited to explicitly spiritual activities. It also includes the everyday tasks we carry out with excellence, integrity, and love. A remarkable example appears in Exodus 31. When God instructed Israel to build the tabernacle, He filled a man named Bezalel with the Spirit of God—granting him skill, intelligence, knowledge, and craftsmanship to design and construct the dwelling place of God’s presence. Think about that. The first person in Scripture explicitly described as being filled with the Spirit was not a prophet or a king. It was a craftsman. Bezalel’s calling reminds us that work done for God’s glory—whether building, designing, teaching, or managing—is an act of worship. There Are No Ordinary Jobs in God’s Kingdom This truth reshapes how we think about our own work. Whether you’re grading papers late into the night, running spreadsheets in an office, raising young children at home, or serving at a food pantry during retirement, your work reflects God’s character and care for the world. The apostle Paul writes in Colossians 3:23–24: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men… You are serving the Lord Christ.” In God’s Kingdom, there are no ordinary jobs—only ordinary moments given extraordinary meaning when offered to Christ. Why Work Often Feels Frustrating Of course, work doesn’t always feel joyful. After sin entered the world, work itself was not removed; it simply became more difficult. In Genesis 3, God describes how thorns and thistles would frustrate human labor, symbolizing inefficiency, fatigue, and resistance. We still work, but now we work with friction. Yet the gospel does not erase work. It redeems it. Through Christ, our labor becomes part of God’s restoration project—blessing others, advancing good, and bringing glory to Him. Work Shapes Who We Become One of the most countercultural truths in Scripture is that work is not primarily about income. It’s about formation. Work shapes us into people who reflect Christ. It teaches diligence, humility, perseverance, love for our neighbor, and dependence on the Spirit. That’s why work matters before retirement—and after it. While the nature of our work may change over time, the calling to steward our lives for God’s purposes never disappears. The Kingdom of God has no unemployment line. It has stewards, servants, and image-bearers. Your Everyday Work Is Kingdom Work Here’s the encouraging truth: when we offer our work to God, He delights in it. The spreadsheets. The dishes. The carpentry. The caregiving. The counseling. The volunteering. None of it is wasted when it is done unto the Lord. Your everyday work is Kingdom work. So perhaps the invitation today is simple: don’t just go to work—worship at work. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you serve not for applause or promotion, but for the pleasure of the King. Because ultimately, what matters most is not the job you have, but the God you serve through it. Go Deeper: Our Ultimate Treasure This vision of work as worship is something we explore more deeply in my devotional, Our Ultimate Treasure: A 21-Day Journey to Faithful Stewardship. The devotional helps readers see every part of life—including work, money, and daily responsibilities—through the lens of Scripture and God’s greater purposes. You can order an individual copy or place a bulk order for your church or small group at FaithFi.com/Shop. On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions: I’ve been struggling with credit card payments for a couple of years. After hearing you mention Christian Credit Counselors, I called them, and they reduced my ...
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    25 m
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