5 Financial Lessons Learned From A Tram Ride with Sharon Epps

Financial Takeaway: Life doesn’t come with a step-by-step manual for every situation. However, God’s Word is full of enduring principles. Base your financial decisions on these, rather than rigid rules, to stay aligned with His will.

3. Avoid Decision-Making Traps

Sharon missed her tram stop because she was looking in the wrong direction. She realized too late that the doors she needed were behind her.

Financial Takeaway: Evaluate multiple alternatives before making decisions. Avoid getting stuck with the first option that comes to mind, as it might not be the best one. Broaden your perspective to avoid costly mistakes.

4. Seek Godly Counsel

After missing her stop, Sharon was unsure what to do next. A kind pair of Dutch women guided her to the next stop and helped her find her way back.

5. Know What You Have

After several rides, Sharon realized she needed to check the balance on her tram card and top it up.

Life Moves Fast—Stay Prepared

Riding a tram requires quick decision-making—boarding, exiting, and navigating—all while staying prepared for the next leg of the journey. Financial decisions can feel the same way. By applying these five lessons—planning ahead, basing decisions on principles, avoiding traps, seeking counsel, and staying informed—you’ll be better equipped to navigate life’s financial challenges.

If we adopt these principles in our financial decision-making, we won’t find ourselves getting off at the wrong stop and scrambling to figure out our way back.

On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:

• I have a seven-and-a-half-year-old granddaughter, and I'd like to know how to begin investing in her college education.
• Can I roll my TSP over to an IRA? I'm getting ready to retire within the next five years, and I was told that if I did, the amount would be fixed and could only go up. However, I could still keep my TSP open and contribute to it. Would that be a wise move?
• I had a CD for $10,000 that matured, and I told the bank to reinvest it. It ended up being $10,210. Do I have to pay taxes on the $210 profit when I file my income taxes?
• I have been steadily losing money in the TCW MetWest Total Return Fund, and I would like to switch to a Timothy Fund. I'm 80 years old, so I want to change it to something that would make me a little money and keep the fees low. Who would I talk to if I wanted advice about which Timothy Plan fund to use?

Resources Mentioned:

• Faithful Steward: FaithFi’s New Quarterly Publication
• SavingForCollege.com
• Timothy Plan
• Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and Anxiety
• Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich Fool
• Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) or Certified Christian Financial Counselor (CertCFC)
• FaithFi App