Ready to clear up a big misconception in the financial world - are traders and investors the same thing? Spoiler alert, they're not. From Warren Buffett's long-term growth strategies to the quick buck culture of trading, Bob and Shawn demystify these often confused terms.

Traders focus on short-term profits and are often compared to professional gamblers, while investors have a long-term perspective and aim to build wealth over time. The misuse of these terms by financial websites can lead to confusion and misconceptions about investment strategies. The need to differentiate between traders and investors in financial writing is extremely important in order to receive more accurate advice.

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 of these topics and provide real-life applications.

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 from giving and the responsibility of stewarding God's creation. Don't forget to check out part 2 that will be covering saving and investing, inheritance, seeking wise counsel, and faithfulness!

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-term consequences of these behaviors and the need to be good stewards of one's finances.

“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 times, and avoiding excessive debt. Economic cycles are a natural part of life, so preparing for them should be a natural part of financial planning as well.

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 options. They are a leader in the BRI movement and have truly helped pave the way for values based investing when it comes to Christians investing with their Biblical principles in mind.

The history of BRI, its growth, and how far it has come over the years is truly a blessing!

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 be a phase to serve others. It can be a time to focus on 'marketplace ministry,' using your skills and extra time to volunteer. While they're not against leisure activities like golf, they caution that an obsession with such activities in retirement can lead to depression and a lack of fulfillment. Proper planning—both financial and spiritual—is essential for a meaningful, Biblically-aligned retirement.

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 invest responsibly according to Christian values and have a diversified portfolio. The answer is a resounding yes, noting that there are over 2,500 Biblically responsible companies and a variety of corresponding ETFs and mutual funds. Overall, this episode serves as a guide for Christians who seek to align their financial decisions with their faith.

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 media. Instead, Bob and Shawn stress the importance of discernment, considering the motivations behind these messages, and aligning financial decisions with Christian values and wisdom.

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 decisions and emphasize the importance of understanding the associated risks and rewards, which is why it's so important to have a fiduciary based financial advisor. So, listen in and discover more about investing towards your retirement funds!