Financial Advising

God entrusts us with everything we have. This post explores the twin biblical themes of stewardship and generosity and offers practical ways Christian families can apply them — from budgeting and saving to giving and investing — so that money becomes a tool for honoring God, not just accumulating wealth.

The final post in a 10-part series on the Minister's Housing Allowance. A look at recent legislative shifts, Freedom From Religion Foundation challenges, and what ongoing legal scrutiny means for how ministers should plan around this essential clergy tax provision.

How ministers can prepare for IRS audits of their housing allowance — common triggers, documentation must-haves, and pitfalls to avoid.

For most Americans, the advice is "Roth first." For ministers, that standard advice could mean paying more in taxes than necessary. Here's how the housing allowance flips the Roth vs. Traditional playbook — and the order of operations ministers should actually follow.

Part 7 of our Minister's Housing Allowance series: the housing allowance doesn't end at retirement — but claiming it requires planning years in advance. Here's how retired ministers can keep this benefit, the pitfalls that cost clergy the most (including one rollover mistake that eliminates it forever), and why standard retirement advice can backfire for ministers.

The six most common ways ministers lose money or get crosswise with the IRS on the housing allowance — from missed designation deadlines to the Social Security tax surprise most clergy never see coming.

Parsonage or housing allowance? Each comes with different trade-offs in flexibility, equity, and tax treatment. A clear-eyed comparison to help ministers and churches weigh the right fit — and the one tax gotcha that applies to both.

The housing allowance is exempt from federal income tax — but not the other tax that most ministers overlook. A clear breakdown of how to report the allowance, what records to keep, and why the SECA tax surprise costs clergy thousands every year.

Step-by-step guide to properly designating a minister's housing allowance — including a ready-to-use board resolution template your church can copy, paste, and vote on. Because retroactive designations don't count, and a missed step costs real money.

Which of your household expenses actually qualify for the housing allowance? A clear, practical breakdown — from the obvious (mortgage, utilities) to the often-overlooked (lightbulbs, landscaping, pest control) to what's specifically off-limits. Plus how home equity loans factor in.

The minister's housing allowance isn't whatever number the church designates — it's the lowest of three figures: the designation, actual expenses, and fair rental value. Three worked examples show how the math plays out, and why the smallest number always wins.

The Minister's Housing Allowance is one of the most valuable — and most misunderstood — provisions in the U.S. tax code for clergy. Part 1 of a 10-post series: what the allowance is, where it came from, and who actually qualifies.

An inheritance is both a blessing and a weight. This Christian guide walks through the first decisions that matter most — avoiding hasty moves, handling debt and giving, navigating inherited IRAs under the SECURE Act 10-year rule, and building a legacy that honors both your family and your faith.

"Fee-only" and "fee-based" sound similar — but they mean very different things for how your advisor gets paid, and whose interests come first. A short video explaining the difference and why it matters when you're choosing someone to manage your family's money.

Why most attempts to teach kids about money fail — and the small change that connects the work to the reward.fa