Ask Chuck: Not Falling for Affinity Fraud
Dear Chuck, My best friend’s mother was a victim of financial fraud. She lost most of her retirement savings. I’ve read about Bernie Madoff and his Ponzi scheme but I’m concerned for the vulnerable people I know. What can I do to protect my family and those I love? Afraid of Fraud Dear Afraid of […]
Ask Chuck: The Secret to a Secure Future
Dear Chuck, I am burdened with the terrible things I hear in the news. I’ve become anxious and wake up worried in the middle of the night. I’m especially struggling with the fear of not having enough money in the future. I grew up in poverty and have worked hard to avoid that for my […]
Ask Chuck: Reshaping the American Dream
Dear Chuck, Watching the news lately makes me question the American Dream. In a disaster, things suddenly lose their meaning. It’s relationships that count. How can I pass this on to my loved ones? Life is a Vapor Dear Life is a Vapor, I am with you on this one! Life is but a […]
Ask Chuck: Stewardship Through The Generations
Dear Chuck, I’m concerned about young couples I know who rely heavily upon credit cards. They appear to have no concern for the future. I don’t sense a desire to be good stewards in their approach to finances. Concerned Boomer Dear Concerned Boomer, It is not only a perceived concern but a real one […]
Ask Chuck: Joyful Giving
Dear Chuck, My wife and I have decided to give regularly. She’s thrilled, I’m not. If God loves a cheerful giver, I dread knowing what He thinks of me. Modern Scrooge Dear Scrooge, While I don’t like addressing you as Scrooge, Charles Dickens’ classic book Christmas Carol about a greedy, stingy, selfish man by […]
Ask Chuck: Should I Use My Retirement Funds to Bail Out My Adult Children?
Dear Chuck, My parents, in their late 60s, are both still working full-time. I blame it in part on a sibling who failed in business. Rather than allowing him to learn from his mistakes and even though they did not have much themselves, they rescued him and drained their retirement accounts to pay his debts. […]
Ask Chuck: Is Early Retirement Biblical?
Dear Chuck, We just spent the weekend with college friends who revealed they are part of the FIRE Movement and plan to retire in 12 years. My husband and I were shocked – we’re still paying off college loans from med school. There are days retirement sounds wonderful but how realistic, and more importantly, how […]
Ask Chuck: Improving your Finances When You’re Sleepless, Stressed, and Broke
Dear Chuck, My husband and I have made a mess of our finances. We’re young, so I think we have time to recover. But, I’m concerned about my husband. He is having trouble sleeping (so am I for that matter), is emotional, and I fear he may lose valuable business accounts if he doesn’t learn […]
Ask Chuck: 9 Steps to Transform Your Finances
Dear Chuck, When I listen to stories my grandparents tell of the hardships they endured and the sacrifices they and their parents made to provide and get ahead, I wonder if we have handicapped ourselves in our reliance on debt, the government, church benevolence, etc. I understand the need in emergency situations, but I’m concerned […]
Ask Chuck: A Priceless Education
Dear Chuck, The recent story of celebrities, business leaders, and wealthy parents bribing their children’s way to college has really bothered me. I feel bad for their kids. But it’s also called to light how much emphasis we put on attending college. Most people can’t bribe their way in, or even pay for college without […]