Episodes

Bob and Shawn finish the second half of their series on “What God's Word Says About Money”. They discuss the importance of saving and investing, inheritance, seeking wise counsel, and faithfulness according to Biblical teachings. Listeners are highly encouraged to seek wisdom from trusted advisors and to be faithful stewards of their resources, emphasizing the order and responsibility that comes with building wealth. As always, several scriptures are highlighted that emphasize the significance o...

Bob and Shawn get back to what Christian Financial Perspectives is really about by delving into key scripture on what the Bible says about money, finance, and stewardship. In part 1, they cover four key biblical principles related to finances: honesty, debt, giving, and ownership with scripture references and real-life applications for each principle. The importance of honesty in business dealings and the benefits of living debt-free is emphasized, as well as the joy and significance that comes ...

Avoid these common mistakes when it comes to your investments! Bob and Shawn discuss the 10 ways they often see clients sabotaging their investment portfolios. They emphasize the importance of discipline, wisdom, and seeking counsel in making investment decisions. Whether it is a client making large frequent withdrawals or even treating their investment portfolio like a savings account, there are many ways to sabotage your investment portfolio without knowingly doing so. They stress the long-ter...

“Recession” is a word constantly looming in many Americans' minds, and it is a common topic among news outlets. But, what if you could prepare financially for a recession? Bob and Shawn discuss the ongoing predictions of an economic recession in the financial markets. They emphasize the inevitability of economic cycles with periods of boom and bust. Through insight from various scriptures, they encourage diversifying investments across different sectors of the economy, saving during prosperous t...

Delve deep into the history of Christian financial stewardship and Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI) as Shawn speaks with Timothy Plan team member, Brian Mumbert. Christian Financial Advisors is proud to be a part of this movement since the beginning of Timothy Plan. 30 years ago, Timothy Plan introduced only a few morally responsible investment fund choices, and they now offer several mutual funds and ETFs, along with multiple other firms now offering Biblically Responsible Investment opti...

Join financial advisors, Bob Barber and Shawn Peters, as they discuss the Biblical view on retirement. Drawing from Numbers 8:23-26, the only passage in the Bible explicitly mentioning retirement, they note that the Bible's context of retirement doesn't perfectly align with typical Western ideas. The Bible actually heavily emphasizes the importance of work, viewing it as a blessing, not a curse. Retirement for Christians should not mean disengaging from life to pursue leisure but should instead ...

Join Bob and Shawn as they delve into the topic of Biblically responsible investing, questioning if God really cares where Christians invest their money. Drawing on various scriptures, they argue that Christians should invest in a manner that aligns with their faith and values. There's a difference between merely doing business with companies and actually profiting from them. Thus, ownership implies a greater level of responsibility. They also address a common question about whether one can both...

Professional financial fear mongering is something many have seen or been affected by. Bob and Shawn address the tactics used by individuals and groups to deliberately spread fear or alarm about financial issues. Highlighting examples like claims of the stock market crashing or the need to rely on gold coins for transactions, it is important to question the credibility of such messages. Listeners are warned to be cautious of such fear-inducing narratives, especially on platforms like social medi...

This episode is great for anyone who has or wants to contribute to a work retirement plan, which is most of us! Using the analogy of a dismantled car, Bob and Shawn suggest that many people feel overwhelmed when it comes to deciding how to invest their retirement funds. They highlight common types of retirement plans like 401k, 403b, and SEP, while unpacking the differences (spoiler alert - there's really not that many!). As always, listeners are warned about the risks of making uninformed decis...

Bob and Shawn discuss the often-difficult topic of managing finances after the loss of a spouse, either through death or divorce. With compassion, they explain the necessity of understanding your financial picture, such as incoming and outgoing monthly expenses and overall assets and liabilities. As always, they highlight the importance of working with a fiduciary financial advisor who can provide impartial advice, free from conflicts of interest. The importance of keeping personal finances conf...

Bob and Shawn delve into the complexities of deciding when to take Social Security. They discuss factors to consider when taking Social Security such as your current age, anticipated lifespan based on family history, potential income sources, and whether you're still working. Bob emphasizes the importance of calculating the breakeven point for starting Social Security benefits early versus later, factoring in the time value of money. They also touch on political implications and uncertainties su...

How do you view your finances? Is it through a secular or a Biblical lens? Find out by listening to Bob and Shawn discuss the stark differences between a secular and Christian worldview of finances. They share 14 fundamental contrasts, tackling concepts like ownership, control, contentment, decision-making, needs, generosity, fair wages, honesty, and investment choices. Drawing from Biblical teachings, this episode challenges the self-centeredness of the worldly view, advocating instead for an o...

Welcome to part 2 of our series on Sudden Wealth, where Bob and Shawn continue their discussion on "Navigating the Minefields of Sudden Wealth". They dive into the dangers associated with sudden wealth, and how to manage it wisely with topics like entitlement, arrogance, and becoming a target for manipulation due to newfound wealth. While sudden wealth is a blessing, there are also many pitfalls that may surround it. Therefore, Bob and Shawn emphasize the importance of Biblical teachings in hand...

In part 1 of our 2 part series on Sudden Wealth, Bob and Shawn discuss the complex issues around sudden wealth, common sources, and frequent pitfalls. Exploring this from a Biblical perspective, they emphasize stewardship and wise decision-making. Some common sudden wealth sources, including inheritances, property value increase, oil and gas discovery, and divorce settlements are discussed. They outline common mistakes such as failure to pre-plan for taxes, misunderstanding how quickly money can...

In this episode of Christian Financial Perspectives, hosts Bob Barber and Shawn Peters discuss the integration of Christian values into financial strategies by exploring ten Bible verses that have to do with finances and stewardship. They highlight the importance of Biblically responsible investing and avoiding companies involved in unethical practices. The episode emphasizes slow and methodical wealth-building, the significance of diversification, and the perils of borrowing to invest. It also ...

On July 4, 1776, our American forefathers signed the Declaration of Independence to officially declare the United States' intentions of being independent from Great Britain. In this episode, hosts Bob Barber and Shawn Peters discuss the concept of 'Financial Independence' and explore this theme in light of Independence Day, drawing a connection between the holiday's historical roots and one's financial liberation. The conversation is framed within the context of biblical teachings, particularly ...

When we hear descriptions from news outlets about the stock market, newscasters love using big words that play on our emotions. Words such as skyrocketing and plummeting are often in their vocabulary. However, instead of playing on the emotions that words like this evoke, what if we used that information to help understand the stock market better? Bob and Shawn discuss our much talked about “Cycle Of Market Emotions” chart. By understanding the rollercoaster cycle of emotions when it comes to th...

What type of financial personality are you? You can find out in this episode where Bob and Shawn cover the different types of financial personalities out there. They have divided them into four financial categories that seem to cover most types of people. You might be a… 1. Saver 2. Spender 3. Giver 4. Investor For most people, one category is usually more dominant. Once you figure out which category you dominate, then you can better understand how to spread your finances out a little more over ...

Buckle up for this great episode on avoiding some of the top financial mistakes that are commonly seen by Bob and Shawn. They have pulled from their past experiences and from the experiences of clients to create a list that can help you avoid these costly financial mistakes in the future. These financial mistakes include the error of taking financial and investment advice from anyone other than a financially successful individual or a financial advisor (which both Bob and Shawn have friends and ...

Teaching kids good money habits doesn't have to begin when they are teenagers, it can start as young as 4 or 5! It all begins with educating your children on 3 simple areas when it comes to finances: 1) Give 2) Save 3) Spend By breaking down finances into these 3 areas, it allows even the youngest of children to have a better idea of how to manage their money properly at a young age. Throughout this podcast episode, Bob and Shawn delve into the ways of incorporating good money habits into your k...

Just in the past 5 years, technology has changed immensely to allow Christian Financial Advisors to better serve clients all over the United States, not just locally. The Covid-19 pandemic really pushed the ability to serve individuals without having to meet face to face. Through Zoom and other video chatting platforms, Docusign and online document signing programs, and sharing important information all online through secure vaults, Christian Financial Advisors can serve clients no matter where ...

Bob and Shawn break out some of their favorite financial advice when it comes to traveling. Summer is right around the corner, which means a vacation is in the works for most of us. Vacations can end up stressful and take a huge toll on a wallet. However, if you plan ahead correctly, then it doesn't have to be as heavy on your finances as you might have expected. From booking a place with a kitchen to staying local, Christian Financial Advisors provides some great and easy ways to help you save ...

In part two of two, Bob and Shawn discuss the last 3 of 6 financial life stages based on finances, lifestyle, and age. We have advice and recommendations for each stage of life, especially when it comes to financial planning during this time. Not everyone will fit exactly into these 6 financial life stages, but you will find common factors in most of them! From starting a new family to coming into retirement, there are key takeaways here for everyone. All of our advice comes from decades of expe...

In part one of two, Bob and Shawn discuss the first 3 of 6 financial life stages based on age, finances, and lifestyle. Even though not everyone will fit into these 6 financial life stages, most of us will! Whether you are in the beginning stages of just graduating college or towards the middle with kids that are graduating college themselves, there is definitely something for everyone in this episode. Within every life stage are key financial takeaways and recommendations that Christian Financi...