Today on MoneyLife with Chuck Bentley

The state of the economy and the stock market has a lot of people worried about retirement. I get a lot of questions from you on this topic.

Many people have lost a lot of their retirement assets that were invested in the stock market.

The bear market has blown up a lot of folks' retirement planning, forcing some to make dramatic changes in their lifestyle.

Today's guest is Ron Blue. Ron does a great job of teaching biblical principles related to retirement. Ron will help guide you through retirement decisions whether you are in it or preparing for it.

Ron Blue is a member of Crown's board of directors and is President of Kingdom Advisors. He's also the author of sixteen books on personal finance from a Biblical perspective.  His latest book is Surviving Financial Meltdown: Confident Decisions in an Uncertain World, published in 2009 and co-authored with Jeremy White.

Ron says how much you will need for retirement is largely determined by your lifestyle and the amount of debt you carry. For many retirees, part-time work will become normal. That's not a bad thing, because working in retirement is good for mental health.

Ron gives a simple explanation of investing: to create wealth, save and invest a little over a long time.

You don’t have to make a lot of money to be able to retire. What’s unique about Kingdom Advisors is that its members give advice according to biblical principles, stressing the importance of generosity and increasing it even when finances are tight. Any financial planner will help you get wealthy, but God wants your heart, not your money.

Takeaways:

• Working after retirement isn’t bad; it promotes mental, physical, and spiritual health
• Start planning/saving for retirement early and be consistent
• Determine God’s purpose for your life in retirement; it's a special time that may offer a special opportunity
  
• Whatever God reveals to you, give yourself fully to it so you don’t have any regrets
• Gallup survey shows growing number of people believe they’ll have a part-time job in retirement

Retirement Planning

Without a doubt, planning for retirement is important; but even more important for Christians is achieving or receiving God’s best in their lives.

• Read More

Retirement: Is it Mandatory?

When planning for retirement, workers should not try to protect against every eventuality. But they should prepare.

• Read More

Being Content

Contentment is knowing God’s plan for your life. Therefore, seek God’s will for your life, then trust God’s promises.

• Read More

Social Security Retirement and Survivor Benefits

Although most American workers have no choice in the matter—paying Social Security tax is not an option; it is mandatory.

• Read More

Other Resources:

• ABCs of Money Package
• Career Direct
• God's Principles for Operating a Business
• Business By the Book
• Crown Mvelopes