'Where Your Treasure Is...': The Podcast where Faith and Finance Meet

In the final episode of this ‘Good with Money’ season, Simon and Bex discuss how we can ‘be good with money’ and ‘do good with money’ when dealing with various family-related financial topics.

Some key points of interest covered in this episode include the following:

• Bex and Simon explain that their aim in this episode is to provide an overview of family-related matters which can pose challenges for us as we endeavour to use our money wisely and responsibly in such contexts. Because so many such situations of this nature have been identified, this theme will form the basis of the next season (Season 12) of the podcast. [00:33]
• The first topic to be mentioned is the challenge for single people of working out individually how to develop relevant and appropriate money management habits. [01:52]
• Those who are on the point of getting married / committing themselves to a future with another person have particular points to consider, including how best to share and combine finances. [02:58]
• The importance of money for those who do get married is highlighted by the fact that statistics suggest that finances are a major factor in most marriages that break down. [03:58]
• Having children inevitably has many money-related consequences which, ideally, would be discussed in advance. [05:01]
• Being a positive role model for our children in the way that we view money and use it is another important challenge to take on. [05:53]
• Another major area of focus is likely to be the relationship that we have with our parents and how finances feature within that, not least because levels of dependency can change so significantly over time. [06:49]
• Caring for others within a family context can often have significant implications on the resources that we have, including our time and money. [09:26]
• In some contexts, intergenerational family planning can be very worthwhile but it needs to be handled carefully and appropriately. [12:56]
• While acknowledging that it can be a difficult topic to address, Simon highlights the benefits of making appropriate and detailed end of life arrangements to cover personal, practical and financial matters. [15:31]
• In response to a question from Bex, Simon talks about the financial elements that can arise in connection with divorce or separation. One option that aims to create a constructive environment for decision-making in such circumstances is the possibility of involving collaborative lawyers, who will endeavour to find outcomes that are acceptable to both parties. There are also collaborative financial planners who can support that type of process as well. [18:00]
• Simon and Bex warmly invite listeners to send in comments, thoughts and questions that will help to frame our next season, during which the topics touched upon in this episode will be discussed further. [22:05]
• A couple of bonus episodes will be published over the next few weeks, and then Season 12 will launch at the end of January. [22:41]

Suggestions or feedback arising from this episode can be sent via email to [email protected] while messages via Instagram should be directed to @whereyourtreasureispodcast.

Our Instagram page will also provide you with additional content and features.

This show has been brought to you by Free Range Podcasting.

You can sign up to receive news and updates about this podcast by filling out the brief form to which you will be taken when clicking here: https://where-your-treasure-is.kit.com/13c7b5fec6

In Episode 7 of this ‘Good with Money’ season, Simon and Bex discuss the different kinds of ‘Insurance’ that are available and what our attitude to them should be.

Some key points of interest covered in this episode include the following:

• When providing an overview of types of insurance [01:14], Simon begins with car insurance because it is widely familiar to people as a result of it being a legal requirement for driving in the UK. [01:44]
• Home insurance is also very common and offers a range of options, depending on an individual’s circumstances. [03:39]
• The extent to which someone requires life insurance is also determined by circumstances, including whether or not anyone else is financially dependent on that person. [05:10]
• When it comes to health insurance, there are four main types: critical illness insurance [08:13]; income protection [09:20]; accident, sickness and unemployment insurance [10:41]; and private medical insurance [11:23].
• In response to a question from Bex, Simon talks about the contexts in which pet insurance might be considered. [12:11]
• The final main type of insurance is holiday insurance. [13:46]
• Bex explains how ’excess’ payments work and how they can reduce the premium paid when buying insurance. [15:10]
• Simon explains the concept of ‘group risk’, which underpins the insurance system. [17:07]
• Simon shares some thoughts on how we might decide whether or not we need insurance in particular instances. On some occasions, for example, it may be more cost effective for us to ‘self-insure’. [19:12]
• When asked what the ‘Christian’ response to this topic should be, Simon suggests that, if we can afford it, insurance can be an effective way of helping us to avoid unmanageable crises and to steward our resources well. [21:54]
• In the final episode of this season, the focus will be on financial issues around ‘family matters’, which will lead on to further coverage of that theme in Season 12. [25:17]

Suggestions or feedback arising from this episode can be sent via email to [email protected] while messages via Instagram should be directed to @whereyourtreasureispodcast.

Our Instagram page will also provide you with additional content and features.

This show has been brought to you by Free Range Podcasting.

You can sign up to receive news and updates about this podcast by filling out the brief form to which you will be taken when clicking here: https://where-your-treasure-is.kit.com/13c7b5fec6

In Episode 6 of this ‘Good with Money’ season, Simon and Bex discuss how we should navigate the issue of debt on our money journey.

Some key points of interest covered in this episode include the following:

• Simon starts off by explaining why debt is a relevant and important topic for all of us. [00:33]
• Simon talks about ‘good debt’ and ‘bad debt’, highlighting the importance of being able to distinguish between our ‘needs’ and our ‘wants’. [03:29]
• Another important skill is to be able to discern between ‘manageable debt’ and ‘unmanageable debt’, and to organise our financial affairs accordingly. [05:43]
• When reviewing what the Bible says about debt, Bex and Simon comment on the following verses: Romans 13.7-8, ‘Give to everyone what you owe them: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honour, then honour. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another.’; Matthew 5.42, ‘Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.’; Matthew 6.12, ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.’; Proverbs 22.7, ‘The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.’ [08:16]
• Simon explores the various ways that we can get into debt and highlights behaviours (including distinguishing between ‘needs’ and ‘wants’ and talking to others about our spending habits) that can help us to steer away from unmanageable debt. [11:30]
• Setting our own expectations for expenditure or articulating our budgetary boundaries to others (eg through ‘loud budgeting’) can also be helpful ways of putting sensible limits on what we spend. [16:59] Bex draws attention to previous podcast topics dealing with this area: Season 8 Ep9: Top 10 Money Tips for Teenagers with Dave Hall, Youth Pastor (‘loud budgeting’ at 25 mins 26 secs); Season 4: Talking About Money; and Season 2 Bonus Episode 2: Press 'Reset' on Some of our Major Expenses. [18:05]
• In response to a question from Bex, Simon explains how the concept of delayed gratification – deliberately waiting until costs have been covered before enjoying something – can help us not only to spend within our means but also to gain pleasure from the anticipation of looking forward to something that has been paid for. [18:42]
• In his closing comments, Simon speaks about how we can be good with money and do good with money when dealing with the topic of debt. [21:10] He also mentions ‘Christians Against Poverty’ and ‘Citizens Advice Scotland’ as two highly respected organisations that can provide assistance to individuals struggling with unmanageable debt. [22:18]
• Wrapping up the episode, Bex draws attention to previous podcast episodes about ‘Debt’. In particular, the content covered in Episodes 6 and 7 of Season 1 and Season 7 Episode 3 could provide some additional useful listening material. [24:21]
• Next week’s episode will focus on the topic of ‘Insurance’.

Suggestions or feedback arising from this episode can be sent via email to [email protected] while messages via Instagram should be directed to @whereyourtreasureispodcast.

Our Instagram page will also provide you with additional content and features.

This show has been brought to you by Free Range Podcasting.

You can sign up to receive news and updates about this podcast by filling out the brief form to which you will be taken when clicking here: https://where-your-treasure-is.kit.com/13c7b5fec6

In Episode 5 of this ‘Good with Money’ season, Simon and Bex discuss what our attitude towards taxes should be.

Some key points of interest covered in this episode include the following:

• Simon introduces the topic of taxes by quoting from the UK Parliament’s introduction to taxes on its website. [01:44] He then makes mention of Tax Freedom Day to illustrate the extent, variety and significance of our tax system. [03:36]
• When it comes to our attitude towards taxes, Simon and Bex note the importance of recognising how much we as individuals, and also society as a whole, benefit from the UK’s taxation arrangements. [05:04]
• For its part, the Government has made a priority of explaining how taxes are used, with HMRC publishing detailed information about the expenditure that has been made possible through taxation. [06:55]
• Simon suggests that the ‘right’ amount of tax to pay should be based on honest and accurate personal financial information, combined with any valid reductions that can be applied for specific, recognised purposes. [08:24]
• To illustrate the challenge that the Government faces in trying to make the tax system efficient and effective, Simon talks about the Laffer Curve, explaining that it shows how individuals and businesses alter their behaviour in response to changing tax rates. [09:49]
• References to tax in the Bible include the following: Jesus saying that we should give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s (Matthew 22.15-22); Jesus providing a coin from a fish to pay the temple tax (Matthew 17.24-27); and Paul saying that it is right to pay taxes (Romans 13.6-7). [12:20]
• Simon explains the difference between tax evasion and tax avoidance: the former means that the right amount of tax is not being paid, which is illegal; the latter is sanctioned, and indeed promoted, by the Government in order to prompt people to participate in specific schemes (eg investing in their pensions) that - over the long term - will produce better outcomes for the government, for society and for the individual. [17:59]
• Simon suggests that our default position should be to obey the law by paying the taxes that we owe. If we are unhappy about the amount of tax that we can pay, we can look into allowable, practical ways of improving our individual circumstances, and we can also engage with the politics of the situation by lobbying for change. [20:18]
• In Simon’s concluding remarks, he encourages us to be deliberate, thoughtful and prayerful in this area while also seeking practical advice, as appropriate. [21:59]
• Next week’s episode will explore the very important topic of ‘Debt’. [23:37]

Suggestions or feedback arising from this episode can be sent via email to [email protected] while messages via Instagram should be directed to @whereyourtreasureispodcast.

Our Instagram page will also provide you with additional content and features.

This show has been brought to you by Free Range Podcasting.

You can sign up to receive news and updates about this podcast by filling out the brief form to which you will be taken when clicking here: https://where-your-treasure-is.kit.com/13c7b5fec6

In the fourth episode of this ‘Good with Money’ season, Simon and Bex talk about the key role that pensions can play in assisting us to manage our money well, right through to the end of our lives.

Some key points of interest covered in this episode include the following:

• Simon explains why pensions can be so important to our attempts to be good with money throughout our lives [00:51] despite the fact that, as Bex points out, it is now being reported that a significant number of working age adults are currently not paying into a private or workplace pension. [02:42]
• Simon outlines what a pension is [04:18] and then goes on to describe different types of pension, including the state pension, the defined benefit workplace pension, the Career Average Revalued Earnings pension and personal pensions. [06:17]
• Drawing on her own experience, Bex notes that personal pension providers have become adept at simplifying and streamlining pension arrangements for their customers. [09:18]
• In response to questions from Bex, Simon talks about the different factors that can influence our pension-related behaviour ranging from being in our 20s (when any pension contributions can ultimately yield a high return) [12:39], then progressing into the very busy and expensive middle stage of life [15:50], and finally into the pre-retirement phase. [19:33]
• For some people, the pre-retirement period can be a helpful time to seek professional financial advice. [20:14] Among the options that can be worth considering at this time are exploring the possibility of phased, or even ‘multiple’, retirements [22:05] and proactively planning the detail of what we would like our retirement to look like. [23:29]
• Concluding his comments, Simon stresses the importance of having a realistic and effective plan to manage money throughout retirement, for however long that may last [24:17]. He also notes the invaluable benefits, to family members in particular, of being organised and communicating well when it comes to putting our affairs in order in preparation for the end of life. [25:56]
• After a week’s break, our next ‘Good with Money’ episode will be on the theme of ‘Taxes’. [27:13]

Suggestions or feedback arising from this episode can be sent via email to [email protected] while messages via Instagram should be directed to @whereyourtreasureispodcast.

Our Instagram page will also provide you with additional content and features.

This show has been brought to you by Free Range Podcasting.

You can sign up to receive news and updates about this podcast by filling out the brief form to which you will be taken when clicking here: https://where-your-treasure-is.kit.com/13c7b5fec6

In the third episode of this ‘Good with Money’ season, Simon and Bex talk about when and why ‘Investing’ may be worth considering in the context of our personal finances.

Some key points of interest covered in this episode include the following:

• Simon starts off by explaining the two core elements of investing: to counteract the effects of inflation [04:48]; and to achieve an expected return, very often for a specific purpose. [06:14]
• Simon talks about the different kinds of ‘bonds’ (including premium bonds, bank bonds and corporate bonds) that can be used for investing. [08:23]
• In response to a question from Bex, Simon explains that activities such as acquiring gold, buying currency and day trading do not have an expected return and should not therefore be classified as ‘investing’ in the pure sense of the term. [11:05]
• Simon uses a story about the respective business needs of a farmer and a baker to illustrate how hedge fund traders can attempt to take advantage of the commodities market. [14:24]
• Property is another interesting area – unlike many other investments, it is generally not a passive income stream; instead, it requires active management and involvement from those wishing to make a profit from investing in that area. [16:06]
• Simon then goes on to address the issue of whether investing should be regarded as a form of gambling, with the key point being the presence, or not, of an expected return. [17:18]
• Quoting from Luke 12.16-21, Mark 10.17-21 and 1 Timothy 6.10, Bex and Simon highlight the importance of resisting the temptation to make money a goal in its own right when engaged in investing activities. [19:40]
• For anyone interested in exploring how we can adopt a heavenly perspective and have pure motivation when working and earning money, Bex would recommend ‘The Garden City’ by John Mark Comer. [23:34]
• Concluding his comments, Simon emphasises the importance of investing in order to achieve a specific and appropriate purpose. [24:01]
• Next week’s episode will focus on the related topic of ‘Pensions’. [25:20]

Suggestions or feedback arising from this episode can be sent via email to [email protected] while messages via Instagram should be directed to @whereyourtreasureispodcast.

Our Instagram page will also provide you with additional content and features.

This show has been brought to you by Free Range Podcasting.

You can sign up to receive news and updates about this podcast by filling out the brief form to which you will be taken when clicking here: https://where-your-treasure-is.kit.com/13c7b5fec6

In the second episode of this ‘Good with Money’ season, Simon and Bex talk about the advantages of including ‘Saving’ as a core element of the way that we manage and use our personal finances.

Some key points of interest covered in this episode include the following:

• Simon introduces this episode by explaining that saving allows us to control our money by moving it through time so that it is available when we need it. [01:44] He goes on to explain that saving is a means of putting money aside while the aim of investing is to generate a financial return from money that has been placed into some kind of venture with that purpose in mind. [02:37]
• In response to a question from Bex, Simon comments that, generally, saving should be our second priority (after giving) when organising and deploying our money. [03:55]
• When it comes to deciding on a desirable size for an emergency fund being created by saving, Simon suggests that the key consideration is to go for a proportionate amount or ratio that suits our particular circumstances. [06:03]
• When asked to pinpoint a key benefit of saving, Simon talks about the resilience that it gives to our financial journey, for example by cushioning the shock of a sudden spike in expenditure that happens annually for most people at Christmas and which otherwise could push us into debt. [08:13]
• However, a saving strategy can only protect us against known future expenses [12:09] if we are able and willing to use our emergency fund when the need arises. [13:59]
• Being flexible in how we respond to financial pressure points or competing demands on our resources can be assisted significantly by maintaining a God-focused perspective of, ‘It’s His money; what would He have me do with it? [15:24]
• Simon remarks that the need to save is likely to be less of a priority for those who are approaching retirement or who are already retired. [17:57]
• When wrapping up the episode, Simon comments that the next stage after saving is to consider investing. He also addresses the issue of whether or not we should attempt to save if we are in debt. Regarding that latter point, he mentions that a number of previous episodes of the podcast have focused on the issue of debt; for example, , Season 8 Episode 6 looks at ten top tips for dealing with debt. [19:46]
• Simon’s final, final, final observation is that John Wesley, in his ‘Use of Money’ sermon, encourages his congregation to earn, give and save as much as they can – notably, omitting any mention of ‘spending’ as a significant priority. [22:30]
• Next week’s episode will focus on the topic of ‘Investing’. [23:23]

Suggestions or feedback arising from this episode can be sent via email to [email protected] while messages via Instagram should be directed to @whereyourtreasureispodcast.

Our Instagram page will also provide you with additional content and features.

This show has been brought to you by Free Range Podcasting.

You can sign up to receive news and updates about this podcast by filling out the brief form to which you will be taken when clicking here: https://where-your-treasure-is.kit.com/13c7b5fec6

In the first episode of this ‘Good with Money’ season, Simon and Bex talk about ways in which budgeting can help us get off to a great start if we want to be good with money and also to do good with our money.

Some key points of interest covered in this episode include the following:

• Simon and Bex start off the show by announcing the three charities that will each receive £100 as part of the celebrations for the podcast’s 100th episode, aired on July 30th. [00:37]
• Bex and Simon explain that Season 11 is going to be about using our money well and not just managing it well. Topics covered in the eight core episodes of the season will comprise the following: budgeting, saving, investing, pensions, tax, debt, insurance and family matters. [02:22]
• Simon uses a couple of examples to support his comment that budgeting is a pervasive topic when dealing with money and is therefore a really good place to start when aspiring to be good with money. [06:22]
• The power of a budget is that it enables us to plan ahead and to decide how we are going to ensure that we give ‘every pound a purpose’. Equally important is the encouragement not to pay ourselves first, but instead to give to God first, as illustrated by Proverbs 3.9: ‘Honour the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all you produce.’ [12:46]
• In response to a question from Bex, Simon gives an example of how ‘framing’ our priorities can help us to strike the right balance between what we allocate to current expenditure and what we earmark for the future. [14:16]
• Simon provides a broad-brush overview of Christian budgeting, starting off with Psalm 24.1 (‘The earth is the Lord's and everything in it’) to illustrate that we are stewards of any wealth we have, and going on to mention the importance of prioritising our giving and ensuring, also, that we live within our means. [17:43]
• When asked to identify some additional key principles, Simon highlights the following behaviours: use money as a tool rather than making it a goal in its own right; be aware of the danger of having a rigid attitude to budgeting that can inhibit our ability to be sensitive to prompts from God about how He wants us to use our money; be open about money matters with others and seek wisdom from them. [21:46]
• Listeners are warmly invited to share their thoughts and experiences related to budgeting. Next week’s episode will explore the topic of ‘Saving’ [24:07]

Suggestions or feedback arising from this episode can be sent via email to [email protected] while messages via Instagram should be directed to @whereyourtreasureispodcast.

Our Instagram page will also provide you with additional content and features.

This show has been brought to you by Free Range Podcasting.

You can sign up to receive news and updates about this podcast by filling out the brief form to which you will be taken when clicking here: https://where-your-treasure-is.kit.com/13c7b5fec6

In the second bonus episode of this ‘Money and Me’ season, Naomi Martin (previously an Intern and now a Trainee Financial Planner at Stewardship Wealth) reflects on ways in which she and her generation experience money and interact with it.

Some key points of interest covered in this episode include the following:

• Naomi introduces herself, speaks about her Christian upbringing and explains how it came about that she completed a degree in philosophy and theology and then entered the world of finance and financial services. [01:02]
• In response to questions from Bex and Simon, Naomi talks about how her attitude towards money has been affected by living in a number of different countries [04:38] and also by examples of sacrificial generosity from the Bible and her own experience. [06:06]
• For Naomi, the last few years have been an interesting time of responding to new financial challenges and opportunities, as well as a period of trying to put in place good money management building blocks for the future. [09:56] Looking to the long-term, her hope would be that she would build up a track record of using money well, wisely and for the benefit of others. [11:13]
• When asked about the relationship that her peers currently have with money, Naomi suggested that a number of different trends seem to be emerging, including a genuine appetite to talk about money, a desire to deal with it well and to ‘work it out’. [12:29]
• Prompted by Simon, Naomi talks about an occasion when God’s provision for a mission trip came as a natural outcome of responding positively to what she felt that God was saying to her about getting a job. [16:09]
• When asked about practical money tips that have helped her, Naomi highlights the value of using written notes to help her plan ahead, coupled with an honest and pragmatic approach that ensures that she doesn’t ignore problems and neither is she unhelpfully optimistic about her financial position. [18:06]
• Naomi proffers some comments on her generation’s awareness of scams and also the extent to which they have embraced the variety of payment and purchase options available these days. [19:41]
• On the topic of things that money can’t buy, Naomi comments that ‘if money is your goal, you won’t ever achieve it,’ and observes that, as far as she is concerned, relationships – with others and with God – are priceless. [21:57]
• Despite Bex’s lack of awareness of what is next for the podcast, these show notes can reveal that Episode 1 of Season 11 (‘Good with Money’) of the ‘Where your Treasure Is…’ podcast will drop on Wednesday 1 October 2025! [23:21]

Suggestions or feedback arising from this episode can be sent via email to [email protected] while messages via Instagram should be directed to @whereyourtreasureispodcast.

Our Instagram page will also provide you with additional content and features.

This show has been brought to you by Free Range Podcasting.

You can sign up to receive news and updates about this podcast by filling out the brief form to which you will be taken when clicking here: https://where-your-treasure-is.kit.com/13c7b5fec6

In the first bonus episode of this ‘Money and Me’ season, Frank Morton, Operations Manager at Stewardship Wealth, talks about key moments and turning points in his journey with money.

Some key points of interest covered in this episode include the following:

• Simon introduces Frank [00:56], who talks about his Christian upbringing [02:05] before going on to explain how his career in financial services came about. [03:15]
• Next, Frank speaks about the challenges of maintaining a faith perspective within the workplace [04:53] and of becoming more open and natural about his Christian beliefs over time. [06:55]
• In response to a question from Bex, Frank shares some thoughts about his experiences of having conversations with people about money, outside the work context. [10:14]
• Prompted by Simon, Frank remembers a lesson in generosity and compassion that he learnt from his father. [12:07]
• When asked about generational attitudes to money, Frank highlights the different experiences of, and perceptions of, the availability of credit and the nature of debt. In that context, the money course run by CAP (Christians Against Poverty) has proved to be a very useful resource. [16:28]
• For Frank, the standout passage from the Bible that deals with attitudes to money is Hebrews 13.5: ‘Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”.’ He then goes on to share a story of God’s provision to illustrate that verse in action. [19:48]
• When asked about a possible tip to share with his younger self, Frank highlights the importance of letting God into our financial situations and getting to the point where we genuinely trust Him to provide what we need. [22:21]
• On the issue of things that money can’t buy, Frank agrees with The Beatles and also prizes genuine, deep-rooted friendships far above worldly wealth. [24:14]
• The second bonus episode of this ‘Money and Me’ season will feature a conversation with another of Simon’s colleagues – whose identity is currently shrouded in mystery! – which will serve as a companion piece to this episode. [25:21]

Suggestions or feedback arising from this episode can be sent via email to [email protected] while messages via Instagram should be directed to @whereyourtreasureispodcast.

Our Instagram page will also provide you with additional content and features.

This show has been brought to you by Free Range Podcasting.

You can sign up to receive news and updates about this podcast by filling out the brief form to which you will be taken when clicking here: https://where-your-treasure-is.kit.com/13c7b5fec6