Only about 1/3 of Americans say they either are or will be adequately prepared for retirement. And no wonder! It's a complicated business. So how do your retirement savings stack up to the average American your age?

In this episode, we'll share the research on how much the average American has saved and how much the experts recommend you have saved based on your age. 

Remember, that there is no magic number needed to retire successfully. How much you need depends on many factors. Start saving as early as possible, use tax advantaged accounts whenever possible, and build multiple streams of income for retirement. 

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Website: https://www.nateskelly.com

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Consumer debt in America is closing in on $15 TRILLION dollars (personal mortgages, car loans, student loans, credit cards etc. combined).

Everywhere you turn, you're bombarded with advertisements and offers to borrow more money. So how is a Christian supposed to approach this question of debt? Is it ever ok to borrow money or should Christians avoid debt entirely?

In this episode, we'll take a closer look at what the Bible has to say on this important issue and offer some helpful guidelines when making  borrowing decisions. 

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Website: nateskelly.com

Facebook: facebook.com/financialpathwayllc

You've probably heard of the "Debt Snowball" but have you heard of the "Debt Avalanche"? Find out how to rapidly pay down debt and create margin in your financial life using this simple technique. 

In this episode, we'll explain how the Debt Avalanche works and how it can help you pay your debt faster and pay even less in interest than using the Debt Snowball method. 

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Website: https://www.nateskelly.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/financialpathwayllc

Myth: Trusts are only for the super wealthy

Truth: Trusts are helpful estate planning tools that benefit millions of Americans and can serve a wide number of purposes.

In this episode we'll explain the basics of trusts including...

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Website: https://www.nateskelly.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/financialpathwayllc

According to a recent poll by Ladder, consumers spend an average of $1497/month on non-essential items. A big reason many people aren't able to make progress on their savings goals is because their monthly spending is crowded with non-essential purchases.

In this episode, we'll discuss how you can save money in six different areas of your budget. Some may only save $20-30/mo while others could mean savings of $500+/mo!

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Website: https://www.nateskelly.com

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Lifestyle creep: the tendency to continue increasing your spending as your income grows. 

A higher income is often accompanied by more spending. Typically, the majority of the increased spending is on non-essential items (eating out, entertainment, activities, shopping, travel, household amenities, etc.). Over time, these luxuries come to be seen as essential to your way of life. If/when income decreases (such as in retirement) it can be very difficult to adjust. 

In this episode, we'll talk about how to recognize lifestyle creep, and we'll offer 5 tools to fight the pull of lifestyle creep in your own finances. 

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Website: https://www.nateskelly.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/financialpathwayllc

Cary Schmidt is the Lead Pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Newington, Connecticut. He hosts the "Leading in the Gospel" Podcast and recently published his newest book "Stop Trying: How to Receive Not Achieve Your Identity". 

In this episode, we talk about how your identity can shape your view of finances for good or for bad. Cary explains how he as a pastor approaches teaching and preaching on the sensitive topic of money. 

Cary also takes some to share his advice for younger pastors on how they should approach their compensation, retirement, and handling their personal finances. 

Leading in the Gospel Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leading-in-the-gospel/id1411948813

Stop Trying: https://www.moodypublishers.com/stop-trying/

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Website: https://www.nateskelly.com

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It's the question of the hour: are we headed for a big jump in inflation? 

Price increases in housing, gas, lumber, and more, have many Americans worried about how inflation may lead to an economic recession. 

In today's episode, we'll explain some of the factors contributing to recent price increases and add some context to the inflation discussion. We'll also offer three important tips for how you can combat the effects of inflation in your personal finances. 

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Website: https://www.nateskelly.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/financialpathwayllc

Whether you have a lump sum of money or you have extra monthly cash flow, is it smarter to invest that money in the market or pay off your mortgage as soon as you can?

We talk through some important questions to ask yourself as well as some common pitfalls to avoid. We also offer some hypothetical situations to help compare and contrast the benefits and drawbacks of each option. 

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Website: http://nateskelly.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/financialpathwayllc