### Focus on what you can control rather than worry about what you can’t. That’s good advice for all aspects of life, including money management.

For investors, it’s a timely reminder as well, given the ever-present uncertainty about the stock market’s future direction. Some market watchers anticipate double-digit returns in 2023. But you don’t have to go far to find many who disagree (see [this month’s cover article](https://soundmindinvesting.com/articles/from-inflation-to-recession-the-outlook-for-a-continuing-bear-market-in-2023), for example!), pointing to an impending recession, which would likely extend and deepen 2022’s bear market.

There are any number of events that may affect the investment returns you can expect from your portfolio over the next few years. The amount of wealth you can accumulate through investing is determined by a great many factors, including the following eight.

1. __The rate of return you earn.__ This is what investors tend to concentrate on. Thus, the time they spend attempting to pick winning stocks, the best funds, or the most astute market forecaster. Unfortunately, unless you’re willing to settle for guaranteed CD-like returns, this is the only factor in the group that’s largely out of your control. No matter how hard you study or how much you know, you can’t predetermine exactly what your rate of return will be. So doesn’t it make sense to turn your attention to the factors where you do have a lot of control? As in:
2. __Whether you’re building on a strong foundation.__ You don’t have as much to fear from economic storms if you’re debt-free, have an emergency reserve, and use a cash flow plan that produces a monthly surplus. Your ability to put such a foundation in place is affected by how big a house you buy, how new a car you drive, how responsibly you handle credit, and a host of other decisions—most under your direct control.
3. __How much you save.__ Invest $200 a month for 20 years at 10.0% and it will grow to $152,000. You could improve that to $198,000 by either (1) increasing your rate of return to 12% annually, or (2) increasing your deposit by $60 per month. Which do you think would be easier?
4. __How much you lose to taxes.__ The above example assumes you’re investing in a tax-deferred retirement account. If you made your $200 monthly investments into a regular *taxable* savings account, you’d need to earn 12.6% per year to reach even the lower $152,000 target (assuming a 29% combined federal/state rate). So be sure to make full use of tax-advantaged accounts like IRAs and 401(k)s.
5. __How long you save.__ Compound growth examples show that amazing things happen when you leave money invested for long periods of time. This means you should start contributing to your investment accounts as early as possible and plan to leave the money working tax-deferred for as long as possible.
6. __Whether you let your emotions get the best of you.__ Fearing the next bear market, the temptation arises to invest very conservatively. By the same token, when it appears as though a new bull market is taking shape, it can be tempting to invest very aggressively. But how will you know when to play it safe and when to take your foot off the brakes? Among the many risks you face as an investor, the risk of getting in your own way by making subjective, emotional trades may be the biggest one. Far better to follow an objective, time-tested, rules-based strategy. Choosing to use a process-driven approach to investing will lead you to better long-term results and a better night’s rest.
7. __Whether you’re playing the short-term trading game or the long-term investing game.__ In the investing game, you win by plotting your strategy very carefully at the outset, and then letting that strategy play out over time. The short-term news, current market fads, and so-called expert opinions are largely irrelevant to long-term investors.
8. __Whose advice you listen to.__ Is your strategy in sync with biblically based financial principles, or more reflective of the conventional thinking offered by the secular investing world? It’s your choice.

The final seven factors are under your control. Focusing your energies on maximizing their effect on portfolio growth will contribute far more to your success than hit-and-miss efforts to raise raw performance results.

*[Image](https://soundmindinvesting.com/img/asset/Y2xvdWQvZWRpdG9yaWFsLWVpZ2h0LWtleS1mYWN0b3JzLmpwZw==?fit=crop&w=1660&h=896&s=be087a98c7d80d81d0764249ec432bff) used with permission. *

Since 1990, do-it-yourself Christian investors have relied on SMI for proven strategies and trustworthy guidance.

Sound Mind Investing

Investing

Focus on what you can control rather than worry about what you can’t. That’s good advice for all aspects of life.

Eight Key Factors That Determine Your Long-Term Investing Results

For the past 15 years, automation has been one of the dominant trends in workplace retirement plans, such as 401(k), 403(b), and 457 plans. Today, at the vast majority of workplaces that offer these plans, new employees are automatically opted in as participants; their contribution rate is set, and oftentimes raised over time, automatically; and, more often than not, their money is automatically invested in a target-date fund. It’s been all about driving simplicity into retirement plans and complexity out.

Another priority among plan administrators has been conservatism. For example, most plans that offer a brokerage window prevent access to exchange-traded funds, partly out of a concern that such funds might prompt excessive trading by plan participants.

More recently, however, some plan administrators appear to be doing an about-face, adding — or planning to add — a number of more complicated and/or far riskier investment choices.

## Cryptocurrency

Fidelity administers 24,500 workplace retirement plans that contain $3.3 trillion, making it the largest 401(k) plan administrator by assets. Earlier this year, the company began offering a “digital assets account” to its clients. At the employers who choose to make the accounts available, workers can allocate a portion of their retirement savings to Bitcoin. To date, one other plan administrator, ForUsAll, also makes cryptocurrency investments available to its clients. When employers add that option, their workers gain access to six cryptocurrencies.

Both Fidelity and ForUsAll place caps on how much of a participant’s portfolio may be invested in cryptos — 20% at Fidelity and 5% at ForUsAll — and employers have the discretion to lower those caps.

Plan participants choosing to add cryptos to their portfolios pay an annual fee of 0.75% to 1.00% of their allocation. And, of course, they face added risks. The value of one Bitcoin has fallen from a high of $66,000 in November 2021 to $17,000 recently, a one-year decline of –74%.

## Private equity and other “alts”

While workplace retirement plan administrators have long had the freedom to include a variety of “alternative” investment options in their plans, few do, mostly out of litigation concerns. However, a bill now making its way through Congress is aimed at encouraging greater availability of such investments.

Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey, who is part of a bi-partisan congressional group sponsoring the Retirement Savings Modernization Act, believes more widespread use of alternative investments would be beneficial. Alternatives “will open the door to higher returns and a more secure retirement for millions of Americans,” he said.

Those alternatives include investments in commodities, public and private debt, digital assets, hedge funds, infrastructure, insured products and annuities, private equity, real assets, real estate or real-estate-related securities, and venture capital.

The Retirement Savings Modernization Act is aimed at *raising awareness* among retirement plan administrators that alternative investments are allowed but it would not provide any new legal protections for administrators who choose to make them available. Still, at least one plan administrator, ForUsAll, says it will soon offer numerous alternative investments beyond cryptocurrency to its clients.

## Annuities

Most of today’s workplace retirement plans are defined-*contribution* plans, not defined-benefit plans (i.e., pensions). But many savers are not comfortable having so much responsibility for their financial futures resting on their shoulders. According to the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI), about 75% of 401(k) plan participants would like a “guaranteed income” option.

Enter the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement, or “SECURE,” Act of 2019. The legislation provided new legal protections to plan sponsors in the event of an annuity provider failure, removing what has been one of the most formidable roadblocks to greater annuity availability within workplace retirement plans.

Some retirement plan annuities may look different than annuities sold elsewhere. For example, Blackrock’s new LifePath Paycheck, in essence, embeds an annuity within a target-date fund. Participants allocate 10% of their portfolio to a new “lifetime income” asset class beginning at age 55, growing to 30% by age 65. At age 59½, the participant may redeem this money and purchase an annuity.

When considering any type of annuity within your workplace retirement plan, be sure you understand how much income is being guaranteed, whether payouts are fixed or have an inflation provision, any fees involved (including surrender charges), and the financial strength of the issuing company. Also, compare what’s available within your workplace plan with options outside the plan. (For an annuities refresher, see *[Making Sense of the Annuity Puzzle](https://soundmindinvesting.com/articles/view/making-sense-of-the-annuity-puzzle1)*.)

## The permissible/beneficial divide

The apostle Paul once made an important distinction that’s relevant to this discussion: *“‘I have the __right__ to do anything,’ you say — but not everything is __beneficial__”* ([1 Corinthians 6:12](https://biblia.com/bible/niv/1%20Cor%206.12)).

Just because it may become permissible for you to invest in cryptocurrencies, other alternative investments, or an annuity in your workplace retirement plan, does not mean doing so will be beneficial. SMI has written newsletter cover articles about [cryptocurrencies](https://soundmindinvesting.com/articles/view/intro-to-crypto), [alternative investments](https://soundmindinvesting.com/articles/view/thinking-beyond-stocks-and-bonds), and [annuities](https://soundmindinvesting.com/articles/view/making-sense-of-the-annuity-puzzle1) and those articles would be good starting points for anyone considering such investments.

Also, take heed of a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) [warning](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ebsa/employers-and-advisers/plan-administration-and-compliance/compliance-assistance-releases/2022-01) that was aimed at retirement plan participants with access to cryptocurrencies but is more broadly applicable. When employers offer crypto in a 401(k), the DOL cautioned, “they effectively tell the plan’s participants that knowledgeable investment experts have approved the cryptocurrency option as a prudent option for plan participants. This can easily lead plan participants astray and cause losses.”


*[Image](https://soundmindinvesting.com/img/asset/Y2xvdWQvNDAxay1yaXNreS1pbnZlc3RtZW50cy5qcGc=?fit=crop-48-71-1&w=1660&h=896&s=ac880ecf3d84dfd36cee9824fd64f380) used with permission. *

Retirement

Some plan administrators appear to be adding a number of more complicated and/or far riskier investment choices.

Coming to a 401(k) Plan Near You: Riskier, More Complex Investments

## At *Sound Mind Investing*, we talk a lot about managing your portfolio. By that, of course, we mean your investment accounts.

But there’s another portfolio that’s important for you to manage as well. In fact, if you don’t manage *this* one well, there’s no point focusing on your finances. What is this portfolio? Let’s call it the “portfolio of you.”

## The assets of life

God created each of us to be multi-dimensional, and three of the most important dimensions — or “personal asset classes,” if you will — are: spiritual, physical, and relational. Unlike an investment portfolio where you may move in and out of an entire *financial* asset class from time to time, depending on market conditions, in the portfolio of you, each *personal* asset class is always in play. And these are not “set-it-and-forget-it” asset classes; they require active management.

As we take a closer look at each asset class in the portfolio of you, take time to assess its current strength, the biggest threat to its continued growth, and at least one action step you could take to further strengthen it in the year ahead.

- __Spiritual Health__

> Of the three, spiritual health is our most important personal asset class. When Jesus was asked what matters most in life, he said, *“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind”* ([Matthew 22:37](https://biblia.com/bible/niv/Matt%2022.37)). Everything flows from our relationship with Christ.
> 
> So how *is* your relationship with Jesus? What’s your first, instinctive answer? Is this relationship thriving and growing? Or is it stagnant, perhaps on autopilot?
> 
> When I thought about this a few months ago, I had to acknowledge that my faith journey seemed to have hit a plateau. I serve actively in our church and am involved in a couple of small groups, but it’s become relatively comfortable. I didn’t feel like I was being stretched or growing as much as I wanted to. So, when I heard about a rigorous new study that was going to be led by a pastor I greatly admire, I signed up. And it’s been everything I hoped it would be. It’s challenging me to go deeper in my understanding of God’s Word and to see new ways of applying that understanding.
> 
> What about you? What’s the biggest threat you sense here? The Bible cautions: *“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour”* ([1 Peter 5:8](https://biblia.com/bible/niv/1%20Pet%205.8)). The evil one can attack us with seeds of doubt, discouragement, and the many distractions of a busy life. Spiritually speaking, where are you weakest, most vulnerable? Is it in your knowledge of the Word, or perhaps a lack of time spent with Jesus in prayer?
> 
> What’s one step you could take to grow in your relationship with Christ this year?

- __Physical Health__

> The second most important personal asset class is our physical health. This has to do with exercise and healthy eating, and also with rest and stress management.
> 
> The Bible says, *“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies“* ([1 Corinthians 6:19-20](https://biblia.com/bible/niv/1%20Cor%206.19-20)).
> 
> How are you doing with this one? Do you even really know? Are you overdue for a physical? What would you say is the biggest threat to your health? Are you consuming too much sugar? Too many highly processed foods? Are you getting too little exercise? Think of daily habits. What do you routinely have for breakfast? What do you do each night after dinner?
> 
> What one step could you take this year to take better care of yourself?

- __Relational Health__

> Who’s on the short list of people who matter to you most of all? If you’re married and have kids, the first answers will be obvious. What about other relatives or close friends?
> 
> Jesus said, *“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another”* ([John 13:35](https://biblia.com/bible/niv/John%2013.35)).
> 
> How well are you loving the most important people in your life? What would *they* say? What are the biggest threats to those relationships? What are some concrete steps you could take this year to [make them stronger](https://soundmindinvesting.com/articles/15-more-times)? Are you regularly carving out time for just you and your spouse? When’s the last time you took each of your kids out to breakfast for some one-on-one time?
> 
> While he never held himself out as a role model for anything other than playing exceptional golf, I still remember how shocked I was at Tiger Woods’ fall. As a golf fan, I marveled at his seemingly superhuman abilities on the golf course. How could his personal life be in such disarray? Wasn’t there anyone in his life asking him tough questions and challenging what he was doing with his free time? Do *you* have an accountability partner like that in your life?
> 
> At the risk of getting too personal, there are many men — yes, Christian men — whose relationships with Jesus and their spouse would benefit by subjecting themselves to online accountability via a program such as [Covenant Eyes](https://www.covenanteyes.com/).

## Being and doing

If all of this sounds like a burden, as if you needed one or two more things to add to your lengthy to-do list, let me  encourage you with an idea I remember from a New Year’s message Christian author Lee Strobel gave years ago. He suggested thinking of the year ahead not so much in terms of what we’re going to do, but in terms of who we are.

Similarly, in Chip and Dan Heath’s book *Switch*, the authors talk about the role of identity in guiding behavior, using the example of a chemistry professor:

> *Imagine...you had a lucrative opportunity to consult on the toxicity study of a new drug for a big pharmaceutical company. From a consequences point of view, the decision to accept the job would be a no-brainer — the work might pay far more than your university salary. But from an identity point of view, the decision to accept the job would seem less clear-cut. You’d wonder what strings were attached, what subtle compromises you’d have to make to please the client. You’d wonder, “What would a scientist like me do in this situation?”*

Great question.

When it comes to being and doing, the “doing” side of life tends to get most of our attention. And yet all that doing is easier if we consider who we *are* first and then let what we do flow naturally out of that identity. Before making your to-do list for the new year, perhaps it would be helpful to remember who you are.

Most of all, you’re a child of God ([1 John 3:1](https://biblia.com/bible/niv/1%20John%203.1)). So, a good question to ask yourself at the start of this new year is: What would a child of God like me do this year to nurture my relationship with Christ, take good care of my physical health, and love well the people in my life?

*[Image](https://soundmindinvesting.com/img/asset/Y2xvdWQvbDEtcG9ydGZvbGlvLXlvdS5qcGc=?fit=crop-15-49-1.2&w=1660&h=896&s=64ea174665ecde60fdcb5901407518d3) used with permission. *

Faith and Finance

If you don’t manage the "Portfolio of You", there’s no point focusing on your finances.  Here are the assets of life.

Managing the “Portfolio of You”

## To win at any game, you first have to know the rules. That’s true for everything from *Monopoly* to your 401(k).

Managing your 401(k) is certainly no game. It’s serious business and a little-known rule about your 401(k) could be a real blessing in a financial crisis.

If you have a 401(k) retirement plan, you know it’s filled with unpopular rules, but one is an exception. It’s the so-called “Rule of 55.”

Normally, you’re not allowed to withdraw money from your 401(k) without incurring a 10% penalty until you reach age 59 ½. Under the Rule of 55, that penalty is waived once you reach 55. It also applies to 403(b) retirement accounts, the equivalent plan for non-profit organizations.

Unfortunately, the rule doesn’t apply to individual retirement accounts, either traditional or Roth. For those, you still must be 59 ½ before making penalty-free withdrawals.

Also, the rule applies only in a few specific conditions. For example, if you’re 55 or older and leave your job, you can withdraw funds without the penalty. To be clear, you *can’t* take advantage of the rule if you’re still working at the company where you have the 401(k) or 403(b).

You must also leave that job in the calendar year you turn 55 or later to be eligible for the penalty-free distribution. (The eligibility age is 50 if you’re a public safety worker, such as a police officer, firefighter, or air traffic controller.)

If you leave or lose your job *before* your eligibility, you miss out on the rule entirely. You can’t take a penalty-free withdrawal until you reach the usual age of 59 ½.

As with all exceptions to the 10% penalty, the rule of 55 still has tax implications. It doesn’t get you out of paying taxes on your withdrawals, which are considered income on your federal return and probably your state return if your state has an income tax.

## The Rule of 55 doesn’t apply to retirement plans from previous employers. It can only be used with a 401(k) plan at your latest job to be eligible.

However, there’s a way around the provision that excludes previous 401(k) or 403(b) accounts. You can roll those funds over from a previous account to your current one, if your employer accepts rollovers. Not all do, so check with your HR department to find out.

Then, once you’ve completed the rollover, all of the money in your current account, including the *transferred* amount, will be available if you make an early withdrawal under the rule of 55.

Of course, just because you *can* do something, doesn’t mean you *should.* In almost all cases, tapping into a retirement plan of any type is not advisable because you’re essentially robbing your future and giving up not just the money, but also the *time* you’ve invested in building up those assets.

You may be able to replace the funds eventually, but you can *never* get back the time, which is critical for long term, compounding gains in your portfolio. You’re essentially starting over, but with less time before retirement. You want to avoid early withdrawals if at all possible, even if you can do it without the 10% penalty under the rule of 55.

> Proverbs 13:11 teaches, *“Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.”*

When *would* it be okay to take an early withdrawal from a 401(k)? Only when you have no other choice. You can only use the rule of 55 if you’re no longer with the employer holding the account, which probably means you’ve lost your job.

Even then, however, you should delay as long as possible before making an early withdrawal from your 401(k) or 403(b). You can use the [Mayday Budget](https://www.moneywise.org/moneywise/the-mayday-budget-1923) to help prioritize your spending.

This is all a good reminder that you should have an adequate emergency fund of 3 to 6 months’ living expenses saved up *before* financial calamity strikes. You would exhaust *that* before making a withdrawal from your 401(k) or 403(b). The Mayday Budget will help you make those emergency dollars go further.

__The Rule of 55 could be a lifesaver in stormy financial seas, but it’s one you should hope never to need.__

You can also __[listen](https://www.moneywise.org/search?q=Unknown%20401(k)%20Rule?&videos=true&articles=true&podcasts=true&posts=true&groups=true&events=true&support=true)__ to the related podcast on this topic.

FaithFi

Articles

The Rule of 55 could be a lifesaver in stormy financial seas, but it’s one you should hope never to need.

Unknown 401(k) Rule?

There are also no secrets to successful investing. In the long run, several key factors will determine your results. Mark Biller lays those out for us today on Faith and Finance.
Mark Biller is the executive editor at <a href="https://soundmindinvesting.com/">Sound Mind Investing</a>.
<ul><li>Today we want to look at <a href="https://soundmindinvesting.com/articles">an article</a> you have up at SoundMindInvesting.org titled, “Eight Key Factors That Determine Your Long-Term Investing Results.” We’ll dive into those in a moment. But first, let’s talk about the big-picture message we hope you’ll take away today.</li><li>In a nutshell, it’s to focus on what you can control rather than worry about what you can’t. That’s good advice for all aspects of life, including money management. </li><li>For investors, it’s a timely reminder as well, given the ever-present uncertainty about the stock market’s future direction. But regardless of which way the market moves this year, there are still several factors you have direct control over. So those are the things to focus our attention on.</li><li>KEY FACTORS</li><li>1. The rate of return you earn: This is what investors focus most of their attention on, which causes them to spend their time trying to pick winning stocks, the best funds, or the most astute market guru to follow. </li><li>And it’s not that your rate of return doesn’t matter. It obviously does. It’s just that, unfortunately, this is the one factor we’ll discuss today that’s largely out of your control, unless you’re willing to settle for guaranteed CD-like returns. No matter how hard you study or how much you know, you can’t predetermine exactly what your rate of return will be. So instead, it makes sense to turn your attention to the factors where you do have a lot of control.</li><li>2. Building on a strong foundation: This is the first factor that you DO have control over. You don’t have as much to fear from economic storms and bear markets if you’re debt-free, have an emergency reserve, and use a cash flow plan that produces a monthly surplus. </li><li>Your ability to put such a foundation in place is affected by how big a house you buy, how new a car you drive, how responsibly you handle credit, and a host of other decisions—most of which are under your direct control.</li><li>3. How much you save and invest: Invest $200 a month for 20 years at 10.0% and it will grow to $152,000. You could improve that to $198,000 by either (1) increasing your annual rate of return from 10% to 12%, or (2) by increasing your deposit by $60 per month. </li><li>A lot of investors will try to move heaven and earth to boost that return, while boosting the monthly deposit is much more certain and under their direct control.</li><li>3. How much you lose to taxes: The example I just gave assumes you’re investing in a tax-deferred retirement account. If you made your $200 monthly investments into a regular taxable account, you’d need to earn 12.6% per year rather than 10%, just to reach even the lower $152,000 target. (That’s assuming a 29% combined federal/state rate.) </li><li>So you want to make full use of tax-advantaged accounts like IRAs and 401(k)s.</li><li>4. How long you save: Examples of compound interest and investment growth show us that amazing things happen when you leave money invested for long periods of time. That means you should start contributing to your investment accounts as early as possible and plan to leave the money working tax-deferred for as long as possible.</li><li>5. Whether you’re playing the short game or the long game: With the long-term investing game, you win by plotting your strategy very carefully at the outset, and then letting that strategy play out over time. Short-term news, current market fads, and so-called expert opinions are largely irrelevant to long-term investors.</li><li>So turn off the financial shows on TV and stop looking at your daily returns.</li><li>6. Whose advice you listen to: Is your strategy in sync with biblically based financial principles, or more reflective of the conventional thinking offered by the secular investing world? It’s your choice.</li><li>And there we can recommend two sources for biblical financial advice: Obviously at Sound Mind Investing. Also, you can connect with a Certified Kingdom Advisor. You can do that at <a href="https://www.faithfi.com/">FaithFi.com</a>.</li></ul>On this program, Rob also answers listener questions: 
<ul><li>What is the best approach to saving for and purchasing a car? </li><li>How can you get the best possible return on your money with minimal risk? </li></ul>Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Also, visit our website at <a href="https://www.faithfi.com/">FaithFi.com</a> where you can connect with a FaithFi Coach, join the FaithFi Community, and even download the free FaithFi app.

Faith & Finance is a daily radio ministry hosted by Rob West. The program offers a practical, biblical and good-natured approach to managing your time, talents and resources.

Faith & Finance with Rob West

The late Colin Powell said, “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.”  ﻿There are also no secrets to successful investing. In the long run, several key factors will determine your results.

Factors for Successful Investing With Mark Biller

The late Colin Powell once said, “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.” There are also no secrets to successful investing. In the long run, several key factors will determine your results. Mark Biller lays those out for us.
Then it’s your calls at 800-525-7000.

Listen to MoneyWise Live each weekday at 4pm EST on Moody Radio.

MoneyWise Live

When it comes to investing, it helps to think inside-out. Rob West encourages us not to get distracted by “Five Hot Investments You Should Be Looking at Right Now!” Instead focus on what God has called you to and invest accordingly.

The Faith & Finance Minute is a great way to be reminded of God's financial principles with actionable items you can easily apply to your daily life.

Faith & Finance Minute

When it comes to investing, it helps to think inside-out. Rob West encourages us not to get distracted by “Five Hot Investments You Should Be Looking at Right Now!” Instead focus on what God has called you to and invest accordingly.

Investing From the Inside-Out

<ul><li>If Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, you could call these few weeks after Christmas the most introspective time of the year. This is a time when we can resolve to live with greater faith and purpose. And this should include our investing. Rob talks about that with Jason Myhre. This is Faith and Finance Live - biblical wisdom for your financial journey.</li><li>Jason Myhre is the executive director of the Eventide Center for Faith &amp; Investing an educational initiative of Eventide Asset Management and an underwriter of this program.</li><li>In the spirit of the New Year, I understand that you have a personal reflection and goal-setting exercise for us; is that right?</li><li>So, faith should really be the lens through which we consider all areas of our lives, would you agree?</li><li>The good news these days is that are there more opportunities to align our investments with our faith, right?</li><li>What else can we glean from evaluating our investing with regard to our reasons and how can listeners use this assessment as they step into a new year?</li><li>In the past, it’s seemed like this area of our financial lives was off limits. There was nothing we could do to align it with our faith but that has changed. How can people get more information on faith-guided investing? Visit <a href="http://faithandinvesting-20846838.hs-sites.com/en/faithfi">faithandinvesting.com/faithfi</a></li></ul>On-Air Mention:<ul><li>It’s a biblical mandate to seek out Godly counselors that can help you in their specific areas of expertise, and we believe that it’s important to get professional help on investing decisions with someone who can provide counsel that aligns with your Christian values, too. Consider finding a local Certified Kingdom Advisor. These financial, insurance, and legal professionals have completed a certification program to give biblically wise financial advice as part of their practice. They’re located across the country, and you can find a local CKA professional by going to faithfi.com and clicking "<a href="https://www.faithfi.com/find">Find a CKA</a>." </li></ul>Next, Rob answers these questions at <a href="tel:8005257000">800-525-7000</a>
or via email at <a href="mailto:askrob@faithfi.com?subject=Faith%20and%20Finance%20Listener%20Question&amp;%20Finance%20Listener%20Question">askrob@FaithFi.com</a>:<ul><li>If you’re 71 years old and looking to buy a house outside of New York, you’re still working, don’t have a lot of savings but you’ve been pre-approved for $250,000, how can you determine if this is really a feasible thing to consider?</li><li>If you don’t want to risk things that could happen in the stock market, are annuities a better option or is there a catch?</li><li>If you’re 41 and employed but your employer doesn’t offer a 401(k) plan but you want to start your retirement savings now, what the best option for someone in your situation?</li><li>If you’re retired from the VA and you have a TSP from them with about $20,000 and you live conformably on the income you presently receive, can you roll that out to a Roth or move it to an I Bond?</li><li>If your 401(k) is managed by Fidelity, are there faith-based options?</li><li>How does faith-based investing compare to secular investing regarding returns?</li><li>If your 98 year old father, who’s presently in a nursing home, has about $600,000 in stocks, bonds and mutual funds and you’re spending approximately $6,000 a month from it for his expenses, should you keep it where it is or move the money to something more liquid?</li></ul>Be sure to check out the rest of <a href="https://www.faithfi.com/">FaithFi.com</a> to access our books and our many free helpful resources. You can also find us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/faithfiofficial">Facebook Faith and Finance (Live)</a> and join the conversation. Thanks for your prayerful and financial support that helps keep Faith and Finance (Live) on the air. And if you'd like to help, just click the <a href="https://moneywise.netviewshop.com/nov22web">Give</a> button.

If Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, you could call the weeks after Christmas the most introspective time of the year. It's a time when we can resolve to live with greater faith and purpose including our investing.

A New Year’s Resolution for Our Investing with Jason Myhre

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Inspiring an authentically Christian practice of modern investing.

Eventide Center for Faith & Investing

Videos

Many businesses believe that their primary responsibility is to create a return for their shareholders. Jeff Van Duzer f

Flipping the Script for Business

Dr. Finny Kuruvilla shares why Christians should look beyond profits when evaluating businesses in which to invest.

Finny Kuruvilla, MD, PhD, serves as a Co-Chief Investment Officer, Senior Portfolio Manager for Eventide Asset Management’s mid-cap growth and healthcare & life sciences strategies, including the Eventide Gilead Fund and the Eventide Healthcare and Life Sciences Fund, a Managing Director for Eventide’s private fund, as well as Founding Member of Eventide.

Dr. Kuruvilla has a background in healthcare, statistics, and investing. Concurrent with his early years at Eventide, he was a Principal at Clarus Ventures, a healthcare and life sciences venture capital firm subsequently acquired by Blackstone. Earlier in his career, Dr. Kuruvilla was a postdoctoral research fellow at the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, where he led the development of a new microarray between the Broad Institute and a publicly-traded company Affymetrix. Prior to his investing career, Dr. Kuruvilla was resident, chief resident, and fellow at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Boston Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Kuruvilla holds an MD from Harvard Medical School, a PhD in Chemistry and Chemical Biology from Harvard University, an SM in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT, and a BS in Chemistry from Caltech.

Dr. Finny Kuruvilla shares why Christians should look beyond profits when evaluating businesses in which to invest.

The Purpose of Business

__[Download](http://compass1.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Finishing-Well-Devotional-fillable.pdf)__ Finishing Well Devotional courtesy of Compass Finances God's Way. 

Visit us online at [compass1.org](http://compass1.org/)

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Compass Financial

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