The Generosity NOW Podcast

On this weeks episode, Eric and Laurie are joined by international business leadership, and investment expert, Jon Halverson for a look into the world of impact investing and the transformational impact that occurs when businesses thrive in challenging contexts. 

About Jon

Jon has 25 years of experience in international business leadership, investment, development and strategy consulting with two of world’s leading food and agriculture multinationals, Cargill and Land O’Lakes, where he served as a Vice President. He has lived and worked on three continents, most notably in Tanzania where he led a talented team in executing over 50 loans to SMEs across East and West Africa. Jon witnessed firsthand the transformational impact of a thriving business achieving scale in challenging contexts.

His areas of passionate interest outside of impact investing are mountain climbing, canoeing and skiing, both alpine and skinny skis! Jon has a BA from Wheaton College and an MBA – International Business from Regis University.

Connect with Jon

Talanton: https://talantonllc.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-halverson-5b0ba518/

On this weeks episode, Eric and Laurie are joined by Tim Macready for a conversation about faith-aligned investing. Tim shares his journey from managing a billion-dollar pension fund in Australia to establishing Brightlight in the US, aiming to bridge the gap between investors' values and their portfolios. We explore the challenges and rewards of integrating faith with financial strategy, and how Tim's work is paving the way for a new era of impact investing. Join us to discover how values-driven investment can make a global impact.

About Tim

 As Head of Global Multi-Asset Investing, Tim works with faith-based and values-driven investors to help them explore and implement practical steps. Tim's career has been focused on applying faith to investment portfolios. He graduated from Macquarie University (Sydney, Australia) with a Bachelor of Commerce in Actuarial Studies, and then completed his Master of Divinity through the Australian College of Theology. He is a Certified Investment Management Analyst® and has passed advice examinations in both Australia and the United States.

Tim was previously Chief Investment Officer for a $1bn+ pension fund in Australia, before working with others to launch a values-driven investment advice and management firm in Australia. In 2022, Tim relocated to the United States and formed Brightlight, an EverSource Wealth Advisors Team, to support the growing movement of investors seeking to align their faith and portffolio. Tim's work in faith-driven and impact investing has gained global recognition, with his portfolios and research receiving awards both in Australia and globally.

On the weekend, he can often be found in the mountains - hiking, snowboarding, or cycling. Until leaving Australia, he was a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church of Australia and served on several denominational governing bodies and other faith-based ministries. Tim and his family are looking forward to finding a church community in their new home.

Resources Mentioned

Website: www.brightlightimpact.us

Email: [email protected]

Faith Driven Investor: https://www.faithdriveninvestor.org/

Faith Driven Investor Marketplace: https://www.faithdriveninvestor.org/marketplace

Master Your Money: https://www.amazon.com/Master-Your-Money-Step-Step/dp/0802481612

Purposeful living; Financial Wisdom For All of Life https://www.gtp.org/resources/ebooks/purposeful-living/

Global Impact Investing Network: https://thegiin.org/

On this weeks Episode, Eric and Laurie are joined by Deana Berg and Whitney Sewell from Life Bridge Capital for a great conversation about investing capital with a greater purpose and becoming part movement that changes lives—one investor, one family, and one child at a time.

About Deana

At Life Bridge, Deana’s focus is on creating and growing investor relationships. She strives to answer questions, provide helpful resources, and make sure our investors feel both valued and confident in their partnership with us. Deana grew up working in the family commercial real estate business from a young age. She then dedicated the first part of her career to the non-profit sector and worked to enable rural farmers in Central America to own their own land by working with and nurturing local donors and investors committed to this vision. Deana then went on to co-found a legislative and grassroots organization in Washington State and worked closely with key influencers. 

After a dedicated season of raising her family, Deana has returned to her real estate roots. She has both Limited Partner and General Partner experience in multifamily and self-storage as well as her Colorado State Brokerage license.  Deana is passionate about nurturing investor relationships and helping others create passive income—especially when it enables their greater purpose in life. Deana resides in Colorado with her husband and children. On weekends she can be found mountain or road biking and exploring the outdoors with her family.

About Whitney

Whitney Sewell is your trusted guide to prosperity and purpose. A Kentucky native and Army National Guard veteran, his journey is marked by resilience and a commitment to making a difference. In 2009, realizing that law enforcement wouldn’t provide the financial freedom he desired, Whitney and his wife, Chelsea, turned to real estate investment. He founded Life Bridge Capital LLC in 2017, a venture that not only offers investors exceptional returns but also contributes 50% of Whitney’s personal profits to support adoption.

Whitney’s influence extends beyond business. As the host of “The Real Estate Syndication Show,” he shares wisdom from industry experts, empowering passive investors. He and his wife are the founders of the Omnah Foundation, dedicated to helping orphans and their adoptive families. With a portfolio of 1500 units valued at approximately $450 million, Whitney and his business partner Sam Rust have led Life Bridge Capital’s remarkable growth. When you invest with Whitney, you’re not only growing your wealth; you’re becoming part of a movement that changes lives—one investor, one family, and one child at a time.

More of Whitney's story

https://youtu.be/sx87JvkNNns?si=x8mQJgL0nM1NWuaz

Website: https://lifebridgecapital.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitney-sewell/

On this weeks episode, Laure and Eric sit down with two-time guest, author, speaker, and wealth advisor, Rachel McDonough for another discussion on the topic of wealth management, specifically the transfer of wealth. Rachel was previously featured on episode 8 and we want to encourage you to go back and give that episode a listen especially if you're a new listener. 

About Rachel

Rachel McDonough, CFP®, CKA®, RICP® is a Wealth Advisor with Wealth Squared, a team of EverSource Wealth Advisors, and the Founder of Wealthfluence, a consulting firm focused on Faith-Driven Investing. Motivated to help Christian investors see the relational nature of investing and its redemptive potential, Rachel is a frequent speaker and a published author on the topic. 

In 2022, Rachel received the Larry Burkett Award, presented through Kingdom Advisors, for exhibiting Christian character in its most complete sense, unparalleled professional competency, and integration of biblical wisdom into all advice and counsel.

Outside of work, she is a worship leader, and (part-time) homeschooling mama. If you’re wondering how she does it all, she’ll tell you, “Imperfectly…and with a lot of help.”

Resources 

Wealth Management website – www.wealthsq.com

True Treasure – Giving, Saving & Spending According to Your Calling 

Investing & Faith – The Impact of Faith-Based Investing

Connect with Rachel

Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-mcdonough

[email protected]

www.Wealthsq.com

Book: True Treasure by Rachel McDonough

Investing and Faith by Steve French with contributions by Rachel McDonough 

https://makeyourmoneycount.com/true-treasure/

Book: Splitting Heirs: Giving Your Money and Things to Your Children

Without Ruining Their Lives

Book: Living with wealth without losing your soul:

Website: www.kingdomadvisors.com

Mentioned resource: https://inspireinsight.com/

On this weeks episode, Eric and Laurie give an overview of the impact that NCF had in 2023 and give insights into how generosity and faithfulness go hand in hand when we seek to have a positive impact on God's Kingdom. 

It’s been another year of big giving at NCF, and it couldn’t have happened without you, the faithful stewards of God’s resources. In 2023, NCF saw more asset giving, more strategy, more people giving, not just financially, but of themselves. And we’ve heard so many inspiring stories!

For a look at all the encouraging stats, stories, and solutions, be sure to download our latest Impact Report. Through these highlights, we hope you’ll catch a glimpse of how God has used your grantmaking to impact lives worldwide with faith, help, healing, and hope.

Resources mentioned. 

Check out the full 2023 NCF Impact report

https://www.ncfgiving.com/stories/2023-impact-report-a-celebration-of-faithfulness/

1. Favorite Episode: Joel Malick

On this episode, Eric and Laurie sit down with organizational leadership expert, and real estate expert, Tony Julianelle for a great conversation about his work with Atlas and how they aim to uplift humanity through their work. 

About Tony

Tony has more than 24 years of executive leadership experience in the real estate industry. Before joining Atlas, he was responsible for seven states in the Mountain West for the largest mortgage company in the U.S. Throughout his career, Tony has held a variety of professional board positions and has served as faculty for the Denver Institute of Faith and Work. He leads the overall strategy and direction of Atlas while maintaining a relentless commitment to the firm’s values and culture.  

On this episode, Eric and Laurie are joined by financial expert and author, Joel Malick for a rich discussion about how to live a future worthy of God's plan for you.

About Joel

Joel Malick, a Partner with EverOak Wealth Co. in Colorado Springs, CO, joined the financial services industry in 2001. The most enjoyable part of his role is leading his clients well so they can spend their time pursuing their purpose. Joel graduated with a degree in Finance from Seattle Pacific University, during which time he was able to achieve his longtime dream of playing collegiate soccer.

Joel and his wife Holly spend most of their time trying to raise up their six children well. As a family they enjoy eating, camping, playing games, and traveling to Florida to get in a little beach time! Joel also enjoys serving as the president of the board for Crossfire Ministries, a non-profit that offers to share the love of Jesus through no cost grocery shopping. You will find Joel doing what he can to encourage others to step more fully into their calling!

Connect with Joel

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Afterwork-Honest-Discussion-Retirement-Future/dp/1496478118

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelmalick

In this enlightening episode of the Generosity Now podcast, hosts Eric and Laurie are joined by the insightful Don Simmons, a seasoned investment expert and author. With a rich background in building a successful boutique investment firm and a unique blend of financial expertise and Christian values, Don provides a thought-provoking perspective on steward-investing.

About Don

Don has over thirty years of experience building and managing a boutique investment firm in upstate New York that he founded in 1988. A CFP® Professional with a degree in counseling and post graduate training as a portfolio asset allocation specialist, Don fuses professional portfolio strategy with investor psychology and behavior to provide  a well-informed perspective on our role as Christian steward-investors.  With nearly a quarter billion dollars of assets under management, his firm consistently ranks among the top 1% of financial  advisor practices in the United States. 

Being a fiduciary of his clients’ assets has enlightened Don’s understanding of our role as God’s “oikonomos”—His designated asset managers.  Additionally, Don believes that business itself is an incarnational witness, much like the ministry of Young Life through which Don began his own personal relationship with Christ and with which Don has been involved as staff, volunteer, and committee chair for over four decades.  

While serving as chief operations officer for a London-based Christian economic development fund,  Don observed first hand the great chasm between societies where capital is hoarded in abundance compared to locations where it is in short supply and desperately needed to fulfill God’s redemptive plan. Don was responsible for coordinating a global management team that deployed dozens of mentors and coaches and financial capital to transformational businesses across more than twenty  countries and among the most impoverished communities in the world. Furthermore, as he has traveled extensively both personally and professionally to dozens of frontier market  countries since 2003, he’s gained an awareness of the physical and spiritual poverty that are too often met with ignorance and apathy of American Christians regarding their plight. 

Don’s passion for meeting these needs through the expansion of business as mission, as well as being a long-time steward of his clients’ assets, has led him to not only help his clients prepare for retirement, manage their wealth, and consider charitable giving, but also to help investors match their investment decisions to God’s purposes.  

Don has been married to Amy since 1989. Their home is a hub of activity for their four children and a steady stream of guests. In addition to family, Don’s passions include flying an antique (1948) seaplane, cooking pizza in his wood-fired pizza oven, and serving as a board member for numerous charities.

Connect with Don:

Website: https://thestewardinvestor.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Steward-Investor/100083214676167/

Twitter: @DonaldESimmons

Instagram: @DonaldESimmons

https://www.linkedin.com/in/donald-simmons-51616623/

More from the Generosity Now Podcast

www.generositynow.org

On this episode, hosts Eric and Laurie sit down with Entrepreneur, Speaker, and author Pete Ochs for a transformative conversation about what it takes to live a high impact life.

About Pete

Pete Ochs is founder and chairman of Capital III, an impact investment company with investments in the US and Central America.  Enterprise Stewardship is an initiative of Capital III that equips marketplace leaders with resources to transform their personal LIFE and business enterprises. During his four decades in business he has invested and operated companies in the energy, manufacturing, banking, and education sectors, often times focusing on places devoid of human flourishing such as prisons and poverty-stricken countries. Pete’s passion in life is to educate, equip, and empower business leaders around the world to live for something greater than themselves by using their business platform to impact the world for Christ.  

​

Pete lives by four simple principles: Honor God; Serve People; Pursue Excellence; and Steward Capital.   These four simple but powerful principles when brought to bear on creating Economic, Social and Spiritual Capital result in a High Impact LIFE.   

​

Before launching his impact investment company Capital III, Pete spent 8 years in the commercial banking industry. Pete and his wife Debbie have been instrumental in founding and growing several nonprofit enterprises. They live in Valley Center, Kansas.  They have 2 children and 8 grandchildren.

Pete’s first book, “A High Impact LIFE,” and other leadership resources are available at www.EnterpriseStewardship.com.

Connect with Pete

https://www.peteochs.com/;

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-ochs/