Second Half Stewardship

Can your investments do more than simply generate financial returns?

In this episode we welcome Tim Macready of Brightlight to explore how Christians can align their investments with their faith and make a meaningful difference in the world.

Tim shares real-world examples of impact investing, from helping vulnerable families stay together to combating human trafficking, and explains how thoughtful investment decisions can promote human flourishing while pursuing financial returns.

Faith-driven investing isn't just about avoiding harmful industries. It's also about using your investments to support causes that align with your biblical values and God's purposes.

You can find show notes and resources for this episode at: www.secondhalfstewardship.com/episodes/ep-109-tim-macready

Download our free Guide to Biblical Giving at https://secondhalfstewardship.com/subscribe, and we'll unpack what the bible says about tithing, giving to the poor, or giving away everything you own for the sake of the Kingdom.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction to Tim Macready and Faith-Driven Investing 02:56 – How Christian Investing Differs from Traditional Investing 08:44 – Aligning Investment Decisions with Biblical Values 15:38 – Navigating the Gray Areas of Christian Investing 19:42 – How Shareholder Advocacy Can Influence Companies 25:26 – Real-World Examples of Impact Investing 29:21 – Balancing Financial Returns with Meaningful Impact 33:43 – Who Should Consider Faith-Driven Impact Investing? 36:42 – The Growing Opportunities and Challenges of Impact Investing 43:13 – The Future of Faith-Driven Investing and Its Spiritual Impact

Advisory services offered through Retirement Planning Services, LLC. https://seriousretirement.com/ The information in this recording is intended for general educational and informational purposes only, and should not be construed as investment advisory, financial planning, legal, tax, or other professional advice based on your specific situation. Please consult with your professional advisor(s) before taking any action based on its contents.

#ChristianInvesting #FaithBasedInvesting #ImpactInvesting #ChristianFinance #BiblicalStewardship #FinancialPlanning #Investing #RetirementPlanning #WealthManagement #Christianity

What does it look like to use your wealth not simply for growth, but as fuel for God's purposes?

In this conversation, we sit down with financial advisor and author Rachel McDonough to explore biblical stewardship, impact investing, and what it means to align your investments with your faith. Rachel shares how her experiences growing up as a missionary kid in Kenya shaped her view of wealth and investing, why faithfulness may require Christians to rethink traditional ideas about risk and return, and how families can use their resources to create meaningful impact today.

We also discuss Rachel's book, The River and the Garden, the importance of passing values—not just wealth—to the next generation, and practical ways to identify the next faithful step in your stewardship journey.

You can find show notes and resources for this episode at: www.secondhalfstewardship.com/episodes/ep-108-rachel-mcdonough

Download our free Guide to Biblical Giving at https://secondhalfstewardship.com/subscribe, and we'll unpack what the bible says about tithing, giving to the poor, or giving away everything you own for the sake of the Kingdom.

• Rachel's book: https://www.theriverandthegarden.com/
• The Garden Audit: https://www.theriverandthegarden.com/garden-audit

Timestamps

00:00 Meet Rachel McDonough 01:03 How Rachel's Childhood in Kenya Shaped Her Calling 04:02 Rethinking Wealth Through a Biblical Lens 06:28 What Does Financial Risk Look Like for a Christian? 09:41 Aligning Your Investments With God's Purposes 13:37 Using Your Wealth for Impact Today 16:41 The River and the Garden: Rethinking Faithful Stewardship 20:41 Passing Faith and Financial Stewardship to the Next Generation 27:32 The Garden Audit: Finding Your Next Faithful Step

Advisory services offered through Retirement Planning Services, LLC. https://seriousretirement.com/ The information in this recording is intended for general educational and informational purposes only, and should not be construed as investment advisory, financial planning, legal, tax, or other professional advice based on your specific situation. Please consult with your professional advisor(s) before taking any action based on its contents. #BiblicalStewardship

#ChristianInvesting #ImpactInvesting #FaithBasedInvesting #KingdomInvesting #ChristianFinance #FaithAndFinances #Stewardship #KingdomStewardship #BiblicalFinance #PurposeDrivenInvesting #GenerationalStewardship #RachelMcDonough #TheRiverAndTheGarden #SecondHalfStewardship

What happens when you've saved enough for yourself, your future, and your family? In this episode, we explore how Christians can think differently about surplus wealth and the opportunities available through private impact investing.

We'll discuss microfinance, private credit, private equity, and venture capital investments designed to create jobs, address real-world problems, and advance Kingdom-focused work. We also examine the risks, potential returns, investment minimums, and long lockup periods that come with private markets—and why these investments should be considered carefully within a broader financial plan.

You can find show notes and resources for this episode at: www.secondhalfstewardship.com/episodes/ep-107-kingdom-impact

Download our free Guide to Biblical Giving at https://secondhalfstewardship.com/subscribe, and we'll unpack what the bible says about tithing, giving to the poor, or giving away everything you own for the sake of the Kingdom.

Timestamps

0:00 – When Have You Reached Your Financial Finish Line? 4:48 – What Should You Do With Surplus Wealth? 7:37 – What Is a Private Market Investment? 11:27 – Who Can Invest in Private Markets? 13:16 – Microfinance and Impact Investing 15:26 – Private Credit and Job Creation 17:04 – Private Equity and Faith-Driven Investing 20:36 – What Rates of Return Should You Expect? 23:45 – Balancing Financial Return and Kingdom Impact 27:06 – Investment Minimums, Risks, and Final Considerations

Advisory services offered through Retirement Planning Services, LLC. https://seriousretirement.com/ The information in this recording is intended for general educational and informational purposes only, and should not be construed as investment advisory, financial planning, legal, tax, or other professional advice based on your specific situation. Please consult with your professional advisor(s) before taking any action based on its contents.

#ChristianInvesting #BiblicalStewardship #ImpactInvesting #KingdomInvesting #FaithAndFinance

What does it look like to invest in companies that actively contribute to human flourishing? In this episode, we explore how Christians can move beyond simply avoiding problematic investments and intentionally pursue companies that align more closely with their values.

We'll also discuss the benefits and risks of concentrated portfolios, risk capacity versus risk tolerance, and practical ways investors can pursue biblically responsible investing while remaining thoughtful about diversification, cost, and financial stewardship.

You can find show notes and resources for this episode at: www.secondhalfstewardship.com/episodes/ep-106-christian-approach

Download our free Guide to Biblical Giving at https://secondhalfstewardship.com/subscribe, and we'll unpack what the bible says about tithing, giving to the poor, or giving away everything you own for the sake of the Kingdom.

Timestamps

0:00 – Moving Beyond Defensive Christian Investing 1:56 – Creating a Portfolio That Aligns With Your Values 6:20 – What Does Faithful Investing Look Like? 8:29 – The Benefits and Risks of a Concentrated Portfolio 13:49 – Risk Capacity vs. Risk Tolerance 16:23 – Investing in Companies That Promote Human Flourishing 21:12 – Practical Ways to Build a Values-Aligned Portfolio 23:51 – The Limitations of Investing in Public Companies 25:37 – Final Thoughts on Investing for Human Flourishing

Advisory services offered through Retirement Planning Services, LLC. https://seriousretirement.com/ The information in this recording is intended for general educational and informational purposes only, and should not be construed as investment advisory, financial planning, legal, tax, or other professional advice based on your specific situation. Please consult with your professional advisor(s) before taking any action based on its contents.

#ChristianInvesting #BiblicalStewardship #FaithBasedInvesting #HumanFlourishing #ChristianFinance

Christian investors have more options than simply owning a company or avoiding it altogether. As shareholders, investors have a voice—and an opportunity to influence how companies operate. In this episode, we explore what active ownership looks like from a biblical perspective, including proxy voting, shareholder resolutions, direct engagement, and investing through fund managers who actively advocate for change.

We'll also discuss how Christians can think beyond financial returns and consider the impact their investments can have on businesses, communities, and human flourishing.

You can find show notes and resources for this episode at: www.secondhalfstewardship.com/episodes/ep-105-investment-influence

Download our free Guide to Biblical Giving at https://secondhalfstewardship.com/subscribe, and we'll unpack what the bible says about tithing, giving to the poor, or giving away everything you own for the sake of the Kingdom.

Timestamps

0:00 – How Christian Investors Can Influence Companies 1:11 – A Biblical View of Shareholder Engagement 4:37 – Avoiding Darkness While Still Having Influence 6:41 – How Proxy Voting Works 10:04 – Engaging Companies Through Investment Funds 12:14 – Using Collective Influence to Drive Change 13:59 – What Can an Individual Investor Do? 16:09 – The Tradeoffs of More Active Engagement 18:26 – How Fund Alignment and Unity Can Lead to Change 20:59 – How Individual Action Can Spark a Movement

#ChristianInvesting #BiblicalInvesting #ChristianStewardship #FaithBasedInvesting #BiblicallyResponsibleInvesting

Advisory services offered through Retirement Planning Services, LLC. https://seriousretirement.com/ The information in this recording is intended for general educational and informational purposes only, and should not be construed as investment advisory, financial planning, legal, tax, or other professional advice based on your specific situation. Please consult with your professional advisor(s) before taking any action based on its contents.

If God owns everything and we are simply stewards of the resources He has entrusted to us, should we care what our investments are supporting? In this episode, we continue our discussion on biblically responsible investing by exploring what it means to avoid profiting from ill-gotten gain.

We'll examine the biblical principles behind faithful stewardship and discuss practical ways Christians can thoughtfully evaluate the companies and industries they own through their investment portfolios.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What the Bible teaches about ill-gotten gain.

• Why Christians should care about what they support.

• Common categories many faith-driven investors choose to screen out.

• How investment screening works.

• Why biblically responsible investing is about pursuing faithfulness.

No portfolio will ever be perfect. But every Christian can seek to be intentional about stewarding God's resources in a way that aligns with biblical convictions. This conversation offers practical guidance to help you think through those decisions with wisdom and discernment.

You can find show notes and resources for this episode at: www.secondhalfstewardship.com/episodes/ep-104-corrupted-profits

Download our free Guide to Biblical Giving at https://secondhalfstewardship.com/subscribe, and we'll unpack what the bible says about tithing, giving to the poor, or giving away everything you own for the sake of the Kingdom.

Timestamps

00:00 – Could Your Investments Be Funding Sin?

00:30 – Why Christians Should Care What They Own

02:20 – What Is Ill-Gotten Gain?

03:49 – What Should Christians Screen Out?

04:33 – Addiction Industries: Tobacco, Gambling & Alcohol

07:38 – Exploitation, Injustice & Human Dignity

10:23 – Life, Family & Other Difficult Screening Decisions

12:19 – How Investment Screening Actually Works

17:02 – The Benefits of Direct Indexing & SMAs

19:07 – Faithfulness Over Perfection

Advisory services offered through Retirement Planning Services, LLC. https://seriousretirement.com/ The information in this recording is intended for general educational and informational purposes only, and should not be construed as investment advisory, financial planning, legal, tax, or other professional advice based on your specific situation. Please consult with your professional advisor(s) before taking any action based on its contents.

Every investment is more than a financial decision—it's a stewardship decision. When Christians invest in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or ETFs, we're doing more than seeking financial returns. We're providing capital that helps businesses, governments, and organizations accomplish their goals. That raises an important question: Should our investments reflect our biblical convictions?

In this episode, we explore what Scripture teaches about stewardship, ill-gotten gain, and the responsibility that comes with investing. We'll discuss the difference between stocks and bonds, and what it means to own or lend to a company, and offer a biblical framework for thinking through today's investment opportunities.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What the Bible teaches about ill-gotten gain

• Why investing is never morally neutral

• The difference between stocks and bonds

• What it means to own a company versus lend to one

• Value-creating vs. value-extracting businesses

• How Christians can think biblically about investing

While there are rarely easy answers, Scripture gives us principles that help us faithfully steward the resources God has entrusted to us.

You can find show notes and resources for this episode at: www.secondhalfstewardship.com/episodes/ep-103-never-neutral

Download our free Guide to Biblical Giving at https://secondhalfstewardship.com/subscribe, and we'll unpack what the bible says about tithing, giving to the poor, or giving away everything you own for the sake of the Kingdom.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction: What Are You Really Funding?

00:58 What Does the Bible Mean by "Ill-Gotten Gain"?

02:50 Identifying Businesses That Harm Human Flourishing

06:43 What Is a Stock? Understanding Public Equities

09:45 What It Means to Own Part of a Company

13:40 What Is a Bond? Lending vs. Owning

19:26 Is Your Bank Using Your Money Wisely?

21:07 Stewardship: What Are You Enabling with Your Investments?

24:51 Hebrews 13:5 and the Christian Investor's Perspective

Advisory services offered through Retirement Planning Services, LLC. https://seriousretirement.com/ The information in this recording is intended for general educational and informational purposes only, and should not be construed as investment advisory, financial planning, legal, tax, or other professional advice based on your specific situation. Please consult with your professional advisor(s) before taking any action based on its contents.

The world says the goal of investing is simple: maximize risk-adjusted returns. But Scripture calls Christians to something greater—faithful stewardship. As followers of Christ, we aren't just asking how much our investments earn. We should also ask what they are funding.

In this episode, we explore the tension between the world's investment philosophy and a biblical approach to investing. We discuss what it means to avoid ill-gotten gain, whether Christians should be concerned about the companies they own, and why faithfulness—not simply financial performance—should shape the way we deploy the resources God has entrusted to us.

Whether you're just beginning to think about faith-based investing or you're looking to align your portfolio more closely with your convictions, this conversation will challenge you to view investing through the lens of Scripture.

You can find show notes and resources for this episode at: www.secondhalfstewardship.com/episodes/ep-102-christian-dilemma

Download our free Guide to Biblical Giving at https://secondhalfstewardship.com/subscribe, and we'll unpack what the bible says about tithing, giving to the poor, or giving away everything you own for the sake of the Kingdom.

Timestamps

00:00 - Every Investor Is Living Inside a Story 00:34 - The World's Investment Narrative vs. God's Story 04:21 - You Cannot Serve God and Money 05:27 - The Goal of Modern Investing: Risk, Return & Time 08:53 - Are You Profiting Alongside Human Harm? 12:23 - Faithfulness vs. Maximum Returns 18:08 - Rethinking Risk, Return & Time Through Scripture 21:24 - Avoiding Ill-Gotten Gain as a Christian Investor 23:05 - How Christians Can Invest Differently 24:15 - The Foundation of Faithful Investing

Advisory services offered through Retirement Planning Services, LLC. https://seriousretirement.com/ The information in this recording is intended for general educational and informational purposes only, and should not be construed as investment advisory, financial planning, legal, tax, or other professional advice based on your specific situation. Please consult with your professional advisor(s) before taking any action based on its contents.

How Should Christians Help Other Christians in Financial Need? In this episode we discuss how Christians can wisely and compassionately respond to financial hardship within the body of Christ. From debt and poverty to medical bills and unexpected crises, we explore the difference between short-term relief and long-term transformation.

You'll learn why financial struggles are often about more than money, how discipleship plays a critical role in lasting change, when lending or giving may be appropriate, and how the church can come alongside those in need with both grace and discernment. Helping others isn't just about solving a financial problem—it's about encouraging stewardship, spiritual growth, and lasting freedom in Christ.

You can find show notes and resources for this episode at: www.secondhalfstewardship.com/episodes/ep-101-helping-christians

Download our free Guide to Biblical Giving at https://secondhalfstewardship.com/subscribe, and we'll unpack what the bible says about tithing, giving to the poor, or giving away everything you own for the sake of the Kingdom.

Timestamps 00:00 Introduction: Helping Christians in Financial Need 01:36 Understanding the Different Types of Poverty 03:25 Identifying the Root Cause of Financial Struggles 06:24 Crisis Poverty vs. Lifestyle Choices 10:16 The Church's Role in Financial Support 13:30 Short-Term, Medium-Term, and Long-Term Help 18:10 Moving from Relief to Lasting Transformation 18:52 The Importance of Submission and Change 20:36 Why You Are Not the Savior 23:24 Documenting Financial Assistance and Loans

Advisory services offered through Retirement Planning Services, LLC. https://seriousretirement.com/ The information in this recording is intended for general educational and informational purposes only, and should not be construed as investment advisory, financial planning, legal, tax, or other professional advice based on your specific situation. Please consult with your professional advisor(s) before taking any action based on its contents.

When a friend, family member, or fellow believer needs financial help, should you give, lend, or do something else entirely?

In this episode we explore what Scripture teaches about lending, debt, stewardship, generosity, and accountability. We'll discuss key biblical principles from Proverbs and Nehemiah, the dangers of predatory lending, common mistakes to avoid, and how Christians can help others in ways that promote dignity, restoration, and healthy relationships.

Whether you're considering helping someone financially or wondering how the Bible views lending, this conversation offers practical wisdom for navigating these difficult decisions with grace and faithfulness.

You can find show notes and resources for this episode at: www.secondhalfstewardship.com/episodes/ep-100-christian-lending

Download our free Guide to Biblical Giving at https://secondhalfstewardship.com/subscribe, and we'll unpack what the bible says about tithing, giving to the poor, or giving away everything you own for the sake of the Kingdom.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction: Should Christians Give or Lend?

02:30 Why Relationships Matter in Financial Help

04:20 Is the Bible Actually Against Lending?

05:27 The Borrower Is Slave to the Lender

07:00 Nehemiah 5 and the Dangers of Predatory Lending

10:27 How Relationships Change Lending Decisions

14:15 When a Loan May Be More Loving Than a Gift

18:10 Mistakes to Avoid When Lending to Others

21:43 Guarding Your Heart as a Lender

23:47 Lending with Joy and Reflecting God's Generosity

Advisory services offered through Retirement Planning Services, LLC. https://seriousretirement.com/ The information in this recording is intended for general educational and informational purposes only, and should not be construed as investment advisory, financial planning, legal, tax, or other professional advice based on your specific situation. Please consult with your professional advisor(s) before taking any action based on its contents.