Financial Coaching for Kingdom Men

Do you feel like you are shackled in the prison of debt and see a debt management plan as an easy break out plan? A "Debt Management Plan (DMP)" usually refers to a formal arrangement through a credit counseling agency.  The benefit of this process is that you sign up, pay a monthly fee, you pay the agency your payments for the debts,  and they make the payments for you to your creditors.  You give them the ability to access your account and make payment arrangements on your behalf.  One payment instead of 3, or 5, or 10 payments, sounds wonderful.  But does it help you to change your habits around money?  Is it faster or less expensive?  Are they really doing what is expected or are they pocketing the money, making interest on the money, not paying the bills until they are delinquent and then the creditors are willing to make a deal?   While the thought of making one payment and someone else will work their magic and the debt will disappear...

Most of us don’t want to talk about what’s going to happen when we are gone. Are we thinking we are going to live forever? Are we leaving our children a legacy of debt and despair or of blessing and hope? Are we communicating with our family about our desires or holding that back until the reading of the will? Do we even have a last will and testament? What documentation do we really need? What could happen if we don’t have estate planning documents? If these are some questions you have, you have come to the right place for some basic information. For more personal and specific information, I would direct you to a qualified estate planning attorney and a financial advisor. Nolo.com offers some great legal information and naepc.org can guide you to an estate planning professional. I was speaking with a friend of mine who recently lost her husband. She thought that once he passed, she didn't have to pay his hospital bills. She had a house that she wanted to keep, and they were bot...

  On a quiet Saturday morning, as I poured my coffee, my gaze fell upon two black vehicles parked outside our house. They looked ordinary enough, but in that moment, I saw more than just cars; I saw stories. Stories of decisions, emotions, and financial journeys that stretch far beyond our curb. These vehicles, in particular, evoke powerful memories and lessons for me and my kids. Vehicle #1: The Unsung Hero Minivan. It’s the quintessential “mom car,” and I’ll admit, driving it probably cost me a few 'man card' points. Yet, its engine purrs reliably, and while the driver’s side window stubbornly stays up (a feature that, incidentally, saves money at the drive-in), this van has been a workhorse. When one of our kids needed a reliable ride, we sold it to him for a mere $1,000 cash. Add in new tires and a few maintenance items, and he's invested about $2,000 for dependable transportation—nothing flashy, just pure joy and independence on four wheels. Vehicle #2: The Sleek, Hig...