Financial Issues - 08.01.2025

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:05):
Welcome to Financial Issues, where we join reality with truth,
helping you make the most of your money by honoring
God with your investments. Now listen man, as we give
you the practical tools and advice you need to become
a biblically responsible investor.

Speaker 2 (00:25):
Good morning, Welcome to Financial Issues. Thanks for tuning in today.
I'm your host today, Shannon Bert, and we will be
talking about a lot of different things. Financial Issues is
a ministry and our calling is to educate, equip and
edify the saints of the Church in the ways of stewardship.
So we talk about all things stewardship, but specifically our

(00:47):
wheelhouse is with defunding darkness, which we call biblically responsible investing.
We give you a strategy if you want to partner
with us on how to clean up your portfolio and
avoid the companies that are using shareholders money to promote
the causes that God hates, which just send abortion, pornography,
the LGBTQ agenda.

Speaker 3 (01:07):
All of those things.

Speaker 2 (01:08):
And we also encourage you to be to fund the
light to be a joyful, generous and obedient giver. So
on today's show, it is rapid Fire Friday. Our phone
lines are open. If you want to be the first
caller in the queue, the number that you call is
six' ten three six three eleven. Ten if you're listening
to the live, program go ahead and call in and

(01:29):
get in the.

Speaker 3 (01:29):
Queue we're also going to get you caught.

Speaker 2 (01:31):
Up we'll get you in the know about the economic
and market happenings of the. Week and of course we're
going to get encouragement from the scripture today to help
us with our stewardship from First john four. Four so
let's get started at financial. Issues we help you to
stay in the know about the financial issues of the.
Day we help keep you abreast of what's happening in

(01:53):
the economy and the markets and help you understand how
that impacts your own personal financial. Issues so today Is
august the first of twenty twenty, five and there was
a lot of things happening in the economy of the
markets this, week so we'll touch on a few of them.
Here On, WEDNESDAY i guess the biggest news of the
week is The Federal reserve announced that it would keep

(02:15):
interest rates unchanged at a target of four and a
quarter to four and a. Half this was the fifth
consecutive meeting that THE fed had with no change to interest,
rates but for the first, time.

Speaker 3 (02:30):
The decision was not.

Speaker 2 (02:32):
Unanimous there were Two trump APPOINTED fed governors that Was
Christopher waller And Michelle bowman that. Dissented they voted for
a rate, cut a.

Speaker 3 (02:43):
Quarter point rate.

Speaker 2 (02:44):
Cut interestingly, enough this was the first time since nineteen
ninety three that TWO fed governors opposed the decision at
the same. Meeting in the press conference following the interest rate,
Decision Jerome powell emphasized The fed's commitment to, independence suggesting
that the central bank is resisting the political pressure that

(03:06):
they are getting while acknowledging solid economic. Growth yet one
can't help but wonder If powell's commitment to independence was
truly data driven or perhaps more about just making a
statement against political influence that is being heavily put on,
him especially given the recent, feud very public, feud AND

(03:32):
i would say one sided feud Between powell And. Trump
powell remaining pretty well quiet While trump is very. OUTSPOKEN
i guess the best way to show everyone that you
don't have to do What trump wants is not to
do what he. WANTS i question here whether he's acting
independently or just trying to flex back at the man

(03:55):
who has been flexing on, him, who by the, way
appears to be right about a lot of. Things how
described current monetary policy as modestly, restrictive noting inflation remains
slightly above The fed's two percent. Target interestingly, enough the
very next day after this, decision we found out just

(04:18):
how slightly above the target inflation actually. Is On, thursday
we got THE Pce Price index that came, out and
the CORE, pcee which is The fed's preferred measure of,
inflation increased year over. Year i'm sorry for the second

(04:42):
quarter by two point one. Percent that's an annualized, rate
but that is the last three months. Annualized this is
the slowest pace since the third quarter of twenty twenty
four and well below what was. Expected at two point
nine two point one percent is is remarkably close to

(05:02):
The fed's two percent inflation. Target yet The fed had
already decided to Hold rate's, study waiting on expected inflationary
impact from tariffs That powell indicates that he still expects to.

Speaker 3 (05:17):
See trump had something to say about.

Speaker 2 (05:20):
It the, decision of, course on Truth social he posted too.

Speaker 3 (05:25):
Late powell has done it.

Speaker 2 (05:26):
Again he is too late and actually too, angry too,
stupid too political to have the job OF fed. Chair
he is costing our country trillions of dollars in addition
to one of the most incompetent or corrupt renovation of
buildings in the history of. Construction but another, way too

(05:47):
late is a total, loser and our country is paying the.
Price if you want to know Why trump Calls powell
continues to Call palell out on this and calls him
mister too, late among other THINGS i can summon up
in a. Nutshell the data DEPENDENT fed ignored rising inflation
for almost a whole, year calling it, transitory before they

(06:12):
responded to the data and began hiking. Rates The federal
reserves preferred inflation, gauge the core the CORE pce index
breached its two percent target in the spring of twenty twenty,
one the First if you're truly data, dependent maybe you
don't do it the first time or the second, time

(06:34):
but come, on you know ten twelve months later is
when the first rate hike. Came march, sixteenth twenty twenty,
two when THE fed increased the federal funds rates by
zero point two five, Percent so it took roughly ten
to twelve months after CORE pcee moved above the two

(06:54):
percent target and remained. Elevated so the situation feels a
little bit too. Familiar, MAN i sure hope that poll
doesn't make that transitory mistake, again refusing to cut rates because,
disinflation because he thinks the disinflation trend is only, transitory
because he's waiting For he's constantly waiting for the other

(07:17):
shoe to drop from the. Tariffs here are a couple
of notable snippets from the. Presser these are all things
That pale said. Snippets it's still early days on inflation
impact of. Tariffs tariffs are starting to show in consumer.
Prices we expect to see more tariff impacts in the inflation.
Data could, say you could say that The fed is

(07:39):
looking through inflation by not, hiking you, mean rather than
being data. Dependent pal also said economy calls for modestly
restrictive stamps for. Now you can't separate out tariff effects
on inflation. Services inflation is coming, down goods are going,
up and some companies will take advantage of. Tariffs oh

(08:03):
sounds like we better Get. Pocahontas Bernie kamala AND aoc
and set them loose on all of those greedy corporations
that might be price gouging us with tariffs as their.
Cover al also said that what we see now is
the very beginnings of tariff. Inflation i'll get to more
of my thoughts on tariffs next, segment but for NOW
i need to move. On the markets reacted cautiously to the.

(08:26):
Announcements the market drops, Slightly treasury yields, ease indicating that
investors are adjusting their expectations for rate, cuts and the
odds of A september rate cut fell significantly from sixty
five percent to around forty six. Percent how made it
clear that the unemployment rate is now the critical indicator

(08:47):
guiding future rate, decisions stating explicitly during his press, conference
you know the main number you have to look at
now is the unemployment.

Speaker 3 (08:56):
Rate so let's do.

Speaker 2 (08:57):
That we got the latest read on the labor market
just this. Morning The july jobs report was expected to
show a slowing labor, market and indeed it. Did The
Dow jones estimates called for one hundred thousand increased to
non form payrolls and for the unemployment rate to creep
to four point two. PERCENT us non form payrolls came

(09:19):
in light at seventy three. Thousand unemployment continued to trend
up In I'm, sorry employment continued to trend up in
healthcare and in social, assistance and federal government jobs continued
to see. Losses the figures For may And june non
form payroll numbers were revised sharply lower by two hundred

(09:42):
and fifty eight thousand.

Speaker 3 (09:44):
Jobs the worst.

Speaker 2 (09:45):
Part private payrolls were revised down from seventy eight thousand
to only a gain of three thousand over the last two.
Months hourly earnings came in as. Expected the unemployment rate
stayed at four point two as. Expected the labor force
generally shrank by three hundred and eighty thousand in the

(10:05):
first six months of twenty twenty.

Speaker 3 (10:07):
Five the markets for the week are down.

Speaker 2 (10:11):
Slightly THE s AND p five hundred is down less
than a point for the, week and the nastacs about,
flat except the pre markets are, moving indicating lower opens
in all three. Indicies next week is pretty light as
far as the economic calendar, goes so we'll continue to
pour through incoming earnings reports and follow the Tariff ping

(10:34):
pong match that's going. On so now that you're in
the know about the upcoming financial issues and recent, issues
we hope you'll learn more about our ministry and how
we can help you integrate those issues into your own personal.

Speaker 3 (10:47):
Stewardship find out more about our. Ministry Financial issues dot.

Speaker 4 (10:51):
Org security is offered THROUGH Ga repel And, company a
registered Broker dealer And Investment advisor MEMBER finra AND. Sipc

(11:12):
opinions expressed By shanna are hers alone and are for
informational purposes only and do not necessarily represent those OF Ga.

Speaker 5 (11:19):
Repel or the outlet on what you are.

Speaker 4 (11:20):
Listening you should consider how the information applies to your
situation prior to personally implementing, it and consult any financial
professional you work with to make sure it's applicable to
your financial.

Speaker 3 (11:31):
Plan welcome back to financial.

Speaker 2 (11:37):
Issues it is rapid Fire Friday, friday and our phone
lines are open six ten three six three eleven ten
is the phone number if you want to give us a.
Call if you want to weigh in about some of
the things that we've been talking, about feel free to do.
So if you've got questions about your own personal financial,

(11:58):
issues especially as it relates to. Stewardship those are the
kind of things that we love to talk about here
on the. Program so six ten three six three eleven.
Ten darlene's not here, today but if you, call you'll
get to talk To. Elijah so six ten three six
three eleven ten is the number to call if you
are a. Partner make sure that you did see our

(12:21):
sell alert FOR cd eighty six that did come. Out
it is FOR br. Reasons we are working on putting together.

Speaker 6 (12:30):
A letter to.

Speaker 2 (12:33):
The company that IT'S i WILL i can say It's,
tesla a sell alert For tesla FOR br, reasons and
we're working on putting together a letter so that you
can get, involved so you can let them. Know, now
we don't ever want to be like the. Left we
don't want to use the tactics of the left and
try to, say you, know, hey this is what we.
Believe We're, christians and we don't believe in you, know

(12:56):
the things that you're, doing and if you don't, stop
we're all going to sell your stock and you know
your stock price is going to go down and things like.

Speaker 3 (13:03):
That that's not what we're trying to.

Speaker 2 (13:04):
Do the number one priority for investing in a biblically
responsible way is at the heart of the. Issue we
want to honor The. Lord we love The lord so
much that we love the things that he, loves and
we hate the things that he.

Speaker 3 (13:20):
Hates god doesn't hate. People he loves.

Speaker 2 (13:24):
People in, fact he sent his son to die for
all people so that anyone who believes in him would
have eternal, life would have the ability to have eternal.
Life But god does hate, sin and he's very clear
about that in his. Word he talks about the things
that he. Detests and you, know some of those things
that are very prevalent in our culture today are, abortion it's.

(13:46):
PORNOGRAPHY i, MEAN i, mean you just turn on REGULAR,
tv you, know or go to the, movies and you're
going to see, pornography maybe in a softer kind of,
way but you, know maybe not the horrific way that
you think of when you think of, pornography but you'll
see a lot of indecent.

Speaker 3 (14:03):
Things you, know the WHOLE lgbtq.

Speaker 2 (14:08):
Agenda that is being, pushed especially on the most most
vulnerable in our, society our young. People so and we
see As, christians you, know we're praying against these things
all the. Time we're supporting organizations Like preborn who are
fighting the darkness of. Abortion we're fighting back against what
our kids are being taught in public school and about

(14:30):
how to use the right pronouns and all of those
things that even people are having to go through THEIR
dei training within their company so that they're focused, on you,
know social agendas rather than just doing what they've been
hired to. Do and, so you, know As, christians we
hate the things That god, hates and we believe That

(14:51):
god owns, everything so we don't want to use his
money in a way that's going to support any of those.
Things and whenever you invest in publicly traded, company you're
becoming an owner With god's. Money and so you, know
you don't get to make the day to day decisions
of how these companies operate and exactly what they, do
but you can make a decision about whether you own

(15:12):
them or. Not and so we're working on a, petition
and whether you are a partner with us or, not
we would encourage you to get involved because you, KNOW
i think there's a lot of companies in Corporate america
that have that are currently on The Dirty list or
currently have, violations and we are choosing not to invest

(15:33):
in those kind of companies that maybe don't really care
about the things that we're staying away from them.

Speaker 3 (15:40):
For but they've done.

Speaker 2 (15:41):
Them they've succumbed to the pressure of the left that
has approached them and, said you, know you need to
give us a lot of money for these pride parades
and for these pride festivals and to help us get legislation,
passed because if you, don't we're going to make a
big stink about it and tell the public that you're you,
know that your, bigots and that you're homophobes and different

(16:01):
things like, that and it's going to impact. Yourselves and
so these companies have had a weak backbone and they
cave to.

Speaker 3 (16:07):
THIS i, MEAN i.

Speaker 2 (16:08):
Guess there are some CEOs that really do buy into
that whole agenda and would like to be activist and you,
know use the weight of the company to support those
kind of. Things BUT i, think AND i would hope
that most of these companies just want to be, neutral
and that's what we encourage them to. Do we don't encourage,

(16:28):
them as Dan celia used to, say to go down
to the river and get. Baptized he used to tell
them that we would pray to that, end but you,
know we just want them to be. Neutral just operate in,
excellence do what you, do make the best widget or
service that you can, make deploy all of your company

(16:50):
resources behind, that and just return value to. Shareholders let
the culture warriors fight the culture battles and stay out of.
It and you, know as long as companies are doing
that and staying, neutral then we consider them okay to invest,
in because we.

Speaker 3 (17:07):
Don't we don't want. To we don't want to weaponize.

Speaker 2 (17:10):
Them we don't want to weaponize those corporations to promote our.
Agenda we believe everybody has free will and gets to
make their own, choices but we don't want to be
coerced into supporting.

Speaker 3 (17:23):
And ungodly. Agenda so be on the lookout for.

Speaker 2 (17:26):
That and we hope that if this is maybe the
first time that you've ever heard about biblically responsible investing
and you're A, christian that you would go to our
website and use one of our resources to screen the
current investments that you. Have just go down to the
resources tab and go to the evaluator and you'll be
able to punch in a couple of ticker symbols either

(17:47):
for the, stocks ETFs or mutual funds that you, own
and you'll get a verdict right there whether they're clean or,
dirty and then you can take that to The lord in.
Prayer and you, know that's WHAT i did WHEN i
first heard about, it and The lord convicted my, heart
And i've committed fully to.

Speaker 3 (18:06):
No compromise in. That AND.

Speaker 2 (18:09):
I can tell YOU i could talk all day about
the ways That i've been blessed for that, obedience but
it is rapid fire.

Speaker 3 (18:16):
Fighting and we don't have time for.

Speaker 2 (18:18):
That many of you have probably heard it, already SO
i would just encourage you to take it to The,
lord find out for, yourself see what The lord has
to say about, it and then have the courage to
follow your. Heart all, right let's, see we'll put off
the tariff, COMMENTARY i guess until the next segment because

(18:39):
we've got a caller in the, Queue so let's get
To Craig craig's colonists From Ohio.

Speaker 3 (18:45):
High, craig you're live on financial, Issues.

Speaker 7 (18:48):
Nie thanks for taking my. Call i'm just curious as
to Why Timothy plan liquid dated the market neutral. Fund.

Speaker 2 (18:59):
Yeah the answers THAT i got was that they're just really.

Speaker 3 (19:06):
Wasn't enough interest generated in.

Speaker 2 (19:09):
It so from WHAT i could, tell there was about
thirty million dollars in THE. Etf that's not a lot
at all when it comes TO etf, size and a
good bit of that was actually from The timothy funds,
themselves and THEN i would suspect that financial issues partners

(19:29):
probably made up a good bit of the rest of.
It so it just didn't take. Off one explanation THAT
i heard was that people didn't really understand well what
it was intended to do or supposed to, do but
the interest just wasn't. There and like all businesses and,
investments you have to watch your bottom, line and so you,

(19:52):
know for AN etf there's a certain break. Even you,
know there's expenses that go. On you, know you have
to pay for the, strategy you have to pay for
all of the regulatory, filings you have to pay for
all of the things that go into managing the E,
tpp and so you get to a point where you're
just where a for profit business is not generating. Profit

(20:16):
the forces of the free market system really force you
to take a look at.

Speaker 8 (20:21):
That, Yes shanna And craig heard a very similar thing as,
well you know from art ally just saying it was
a pretty pretty natural, thing nothing to be concerned.

Speaker 1 (20:29):
About, yeah just.

Speaker 5 (20:30):
Happens all that, happens, Right, yeah.

Speaker 7 (20:33):
Yep and for for what for the other? Ets as
far as placing new, money would of the six, others
which one would be a good one to move into
if you if you just had that money put in
your sweep.

Speaker 2 (20:46):
Account, well the thing that you want to do is
is to use your portfolio tracker on The Financial issues.
Website so go ahead and update. It you'll remove, that
that'll go into your cash and then you'll see a new. Output,
KNOW i, MEAN i DON'T i don't know how to
answer that question BECAUSE i don't know anything about. YOU
i don't know your risk, TOLERANCE i don't know your,

(21:07):
AGE i don't even know what model you're. Following so
the tracker tool is going to be the most valuable
asset for you at that. Point whenever you go into
looking at, THAT i will say two OR i will
encourage you to go read the commentary from this week.
Too there are two other of The timothy ETFs that
are going to be merging with two of the, Others

(21:28):
so you know that the number of ETFs there is
going to be.

Speaker 5 (21:34):
Shrinking, okay all, right thank, you all, right.

Speaker 3 (21:38):
Thanks for Calling. Craig That's.

Speaker 5 (21:39):
Craig blessings.

Speaker 3 (21:40):
Brother all, right.

Speaker 2 (21:43):
Let's get to our stewardship verse of the, day and
it comes From john four to. Four you are Of
god little, children and have overcome, them Because he who
is in you is greater than he who is in the.
World you, know stewardship is all about out how we
manage what we've been given to. Manage and as, believers

(22:05):
do you know really all that we've been. Given if
we've made a profession of faith and surrendered the lordship
of our life over To Jesus, christ we have been
given the most precious deposit. Ever that's the deposit of
The Holy. Spirit god himself now lives in. Us think about,

(22:25):
that the creator of the, universe the knower of all,
things the, helper always, present always available here to help
us face whatever comes our. Way we don't have to
schedule an appointment with The great counselor we don't have
to wait weeks to get. Guidance the one who holds
all wisdom lives inside of. Us once we allow him

(22:48):
to direct our, thoughts our, emotions and our. Actions we
have everything that we need for life and. Godliness let
me say that again everything we are lacking nothing to
face any challenge because The one who is in us
is greater than the agents of The antichrist that is
fighting against, us or more, accurately fighting against The christ

(23:09):
that is in. Us so how do we exercise good
stewardship over the most precious gift of The Holy.

Speaker 3 (23:14):
Spirit we? Yield we Let god Be.

Speaker 2 (23:18):
God Following jesus when we can't see him physically or
walk beside him like the disciples. Did means acknowledging him
first in, everything first thing in the, Morning, god what's
on the agenda? Today it means pausing and listening in every. Situation,
well let me encourage you today to be a good
steward of the deposit inside of you as A, christian

(23:39):
The Holy, spirit and, pause yield and listen to.

Speaker 3 (23:43):
Him we're going to pause now for a.

Speaker 2 (23:45):
Break if you're listening to an outlet that only carries
the short, version we wish you a. Farewell for everyone,
else stick. Around we've got more financial issues coming right.

Speaker 6 (23:53):
By welcome back to financial.

Speaker 2 (24:10):
Issues it is rapid Fire friday here, today and our
call queue is open six ten three six three eleven.
Ten we'll get you access into the call que and
you'll be the second one in, line so we'll be
sure to get to you today if you get your
call queued up. Now six ten three six three eleven

(24:30):
ten is the phone? NUMBER i always wonder If i'm
saying that's slow, enough BUT i guess if they're. Watching,
no we don't have it on the, screen do We we.

Speaker 5 (24:37):
Can't we can get it on the screen very.

Speaker 3 (24:39):
Easy six ten sixty six eleven.

Speaker 8 (24:42):
Ten radio coming in, Clutch, Shanna you're you're missing out radio.

Speaker 5 (24:46):
Audience you didn't see the phone number? There that's pretty.

Speaker 2 (24:48):
Cood, yeah you know, What and now THAT i think about,
IT i don't think the most of the video is,
live right unless they're watching on the. Website, yep, yep
absolutely all. Right so if you're watching at a different,
time you'll just have to call us.

Speaker 3 (25:02):
Whenever, well they can.

Speaker 4 (25:03):
Still look and appreciate that the number is.

Speaker 8 (25:05):
There that's, right that's, right and our chat folks can
appreciate as well as they're appreciating the appropriate dunking On
Woodrow wilson right, now which is.

Speaker 5 (25:12):
Fun but, anyway.

Speaker 9 (25:15):
We all.

Speaker 2 (25:16):
Good so we ran out of time in that last
segment as we were doing The stewardship.

Speaker 3 (25:19):
Versath i'd love to hear your.

Speaker 5 (25:20):
Thought, yeah, No i'd be glad To. Shanna this is
a great verse and encouraging.

Speaker 8 (25:23):
One isn't it funny when The lord speaking Through john
obviously this Is john The apostle, writing he calls us little.
Children that sounds like it could be pretty like, patronizing
but it's exactly. Right we are in and of, Ourselves,
shanna we are very much like little, children and we
need to trust our Heavenly. Father and you, know it's so.
Easy WHAT i find about little kids is they tend

(25:44):
to forget. Things they don't have a very long. Memory
now that's actually really.

Speaker 9 (25:48):
Good you.

Speaker 8 (25:48):
KNOW i found if i'm IF i do something that's
hurtful to my, children they're very, forgiving which is really.
Cool but they also tend to forget the, love they
forget the. Protection those things so, easily and we do that.

Speaker 3 (25:59):
Too they forget they get to.

Speaker 5 (26:01):
Obey that's exactly. Right it's easy for us to do
the same.

Speaker 3 (26:04):
Thing we forget to take out the. Garbage that.

Speaker 8 (26:08):
Absolutely Sometimes josiah will forget to go potty in the
morning and then he has an, accident And i'm, like
how can you, forget? Dude but, anyway it's easy to
forget for, Us. Shanna you know the great victory we
have In christ over the foes of the. World sometimes
the trials and attacks in this world just overwhelm, us
they really. Do and so we have to train our
hearts to keep our eyes fixed On, christ remembering he's.

(26:29):
Greater he's greater than any worldly foe we can, face
be it, physical be it, spiritual and the victory is
assured In.

Speaker 5 (26:34):
Him it's good.

Speaker 2 (26:35):
News that is good and it's good to be constantly
reminded of that. Too into you, know As i'm As i'm,
reading because we're a stewardship, Ministry i'll always try to
think of the stewardship application of, that and you, know
it's we're stewarding The Holy. SPIRIT i, mean that's a
that's an immense blessing when you think about. IT i,
mean it's it's an immense responsibility as, well but you,

(26:57):
know it's a it's a great blessing to get to
carry that around all. Day and so you, know we
should use all of the resources That god has given
us to their. Fullest SO i think that's really, Great
AND i just want to mention to The bible study
That seth you lead every. Week you did it this
morning and Every. Friday so if you want to tell

(27:18):
everybody how to get in on, that, Yeah i'd be
glad To.

Speaker 8 (27:20):
Shanna go to the resources tab, folks and under the
resource stams click join Our Bible.

Speaker 5 (27:24):
Study it's. Free you don't have to be a partner
to join.

Speaker 8 (27:26):
Live if you are a, partner you do get access
to Past bible, studies which we post on the partner
side of the. Website if you go to The partner,
hub scroll down under the eight main boxes down, there
you can click Past bible studies and that takes to
The bible study Page today's is.

Speaker 5 (27:39):
Posted so, yeah check that out whenever you have the. Chance.

Speaker 8 (27:43):
Folks we've been In daniel Seven. Shannis so we're talking
about the Four beasts and real juicy. Stuff you don't
want to miss.

Speaker 3 (27:48):
It it's, fun good. Stuff, yeah because it is. IMPORTANT i,
mean we're financial.

Speaker 2 (27:52):
ISSUES i MEAN i think people tune in to hear
about the things that we talked about in the first
segment about you, know the labor market and inflation and
the feud going on between pal and tariffs and all
of THAT i think is interesting to our general. Audience
but you, know we really want to drive home that
what we're here to. Do, yes we'll deliver that news

(28:13):
and we'll help, you you, know navigate how that applies
to your own financial. Issues but at the end of the,
day We're Stewardship ministry and you, know our audience IS
i would say Mostly, christians so you, know we're not
preaching the gospel or digging. WELLS i, mean we do
are encouraging you to support ministries Like, preborn to fight
back against abortion and things like, that but you, know

(28:34):
our real goal is to help people learn more about
stewardship and to really take the stewardship responsibility. Seriously so
we really try to tie all of that back to you,
know what it means to walk The christian.

Speaker 3 (28:50):
Walk and you, know it just.

Speaker 2 (28:52):
So happens that our expertise lies in that financial and
that financial part of. Life and you, know The bible
has a lot to say about, money so it's we've
got plenty of things to talk. About speaking Of chris
wants to know. Something so we've Got chris in the.

(29:13):
CALL C chris From texas is calling. In, Hi, chris
you're live on financial.

Speaker 9 (29:18):
Issues, hey good.

Speaker 10 (29:19):
Morning SORRY i haven't called very, much But i've got
my hat acid allocation model working. Great BUT i do
have A.

Speaker 5 (29:28):
Chris never apologize. Brother always great to hear from.

Speaker 9 (29:30):
You So i'm sixty two AND i plan to retire
when i'm, seventy And i've got only about ten percent
of my acid allocation model in my.

Speaker 10 (29:43):
Step SHOULD i slowly draw that out Because i'm going
to pay higher taxes WHENEVER i.

Speaker 9 (29:50):
Retire.

Speaker 2 (29:52):
Yeah so that's the general concept of how to plan
how to do tax. Planning, so you, know a lot
of times people get really narrowly focused on, returns, like you,
know how much DID i make last? Year AM i
beat in the? Market all of those kind of. Things
BUT i think the focus really needs to be on
not just what you, make but what you get to.

(30:14):
Keep and so that, involves you know what you're talking about,
here trying to figure, out you, know how to get
the money out of that account at the most efficient tax.
Rate so the really simple overview is that you want
to take the tax break when it's most beneficial to.
You so when you put the money into a, step

(30:34):
you're getting a tax break on, it so you're not
paying taxes on the money that goes. In the issue
is that the money that goes in is then going
to be taxed at Some you're postponing the. Tax you're
not getting rid of, it you're not eliminating, it you're postponing.
It so you're going to pay the tax on that
money at some point in the. Future plus you're going
to pay taxes on the money that it earns because

(30:56):
hopefully it's going to. Grow and so the idea, is,
really DO i want to pay taxes now or DO
i want to pay taxes. Later i've been in the
camp for a long time and still, am maybe not
as solidly AS i used to be with the current,
administration BUT i believe that taxes are going to be
higher in general in the future than what they are,

(31:17):
today mostly because of the crisis level debt that our
politicians have spent us into and their failure to be
able to balance a. Budget you know they. Can't they're
spending more money than they're bringing, in and you, know
as long as that, continues the debt's going to continue

(31:37):
to go, higher and if you don't cut, expenses you
have to increase, revenue and that's essentially what the government is. Doing,
so you, know if you believe taxes are going to
be higher either personally for you because you know what
your income is going to look like and it's going
to be in a higher tax, bracket then it does
make sense to get the money out whenever the tax
bracket is going to be. Lower so if you think

(31:58):
that your tax bracket in retirement's going to be, higher
then it makes sense to start doing some of that right.
Now you just have to be, mindful especially at age sixty.
Two you know in a few years you're going to
be at the age where you can get that you Start,
medicare and so your your premiums For PART b And
PART d are going to be determined by your income

(32:20):
two years. Prior SO i don't know exactly when you're
going to turn that, age but you want to probably,
consider you, know not breaching the twenty two percent tax.

Speaker 9 (32:31):
Bracket that makes total. Sense so it's probably wise to
go ahead and just slowly in the next few years
pull out of the step and put into my regular
individual account and keep it in there for long term
so That i'm only getting tax on fifteen percent of

(32:51):
it instead of Capital.

Speaker 2 (32:52):
Gainstown, yeah, Hey, chris we're coming up on THE ag.
Report i'm going to hold you over until after we
hear From. Craig stick around and we'll pick that up
on the other side Of craig and the.

Speaker 5 (33:02):
Break, yeah good. Stuff hang on just a, Second.

Speaker 3 (33:07):
Chris, yep all, Right so hang, On. Chris we're going
to have preg coming, up and then we'll be.

Speaker 5 (33:11):
Back this Is.

Speaker 11 (33:13):
Craig how guide with your financial?

Speaker 5 (33:14):
ISSUES i go update For.

Speaker 11 (33:16):
August, first a corn bounced off contract lows again yesterday
and then was able to close in positive territory for
the second day in a. Row export sales came in
near the upper end of trade. Estimates total new crop
commitments now stand at eight point six million metric. Tons
that's the second largest number of the last twelve years
for this Date, december corns a pennion a half higher

(33:36):
at four thirteen and three. Quarters some means futures fell
to multi month lows On. Thursday in, fact we saw
the weakest level we've seen Since april. Ninth the decline
was driven by FAVORABLE us crop weather and continued weak
demand From. China november beans were six and a half
cents lower for the, day closing in nine to eighty
nine and a. Quarter we'd started the day off with
very respectable weekly export. Sales despite the export, sales the

(33:59):
market was mostly quiet and kind of without direction for the.
Session Minneapolis september week was a half cent higher at
five seventy seven and three. Quarters Kansas city was four
and a quarter cents better at five twenty six in a.
Quarter In chicago was a half cent lower at five
twenty three in a. Quarter cotton futures just continue to inch.
Lower yesterday saw The december futures ending the session twenty

(34:20):
five points, lower closing at sixty seven twenty. Five livestock
futures were. Mixed we Had october live cattle futures six
dollars fifty seven and a half cents lower at two
hundred and twenty three dollars and fifteen cents per. Hundredweight
september feeder cattle slumped by eight dollars and twenty, cents
closing at three hundred and thirty one dollars and fifty
five cents per Hundred october leenhawk futures were thirty seven

(34:41):
and a half cents higher eighty nine dollars fifty seven
and a half cents per hundred. Way When President trump
announced the deal Of, mexico we saw cattle prices plump.
It now there's no mention of reopening the border for cattle,
imports but traders are speculating that the agreements With mexico
is going to allow zecu viagricultural rollins success that protocols
have been mad and go ahead and reopen that border

(35:01):
To mexican beef coming into this. Country class three milk
futures rerouted nicely from their recent. Losses we Had september
futures twenty seven. POINTS i heard at seventeen. Sixty this
has Been. Craig how guard with your financial. Issues egg.
Update we'll be right back with more financial issues after.

Speaker 4 (35:18):
This the opinions and recommendations expressed on this program do
not necessarily represent the opinions of the station or any
of the program's. Sponsors, additionally all products or services offered

(35:39):
by the program sponsors may not be known by the.

Speaker 2 (35:42):
Program welcome back to financial. Issues thanks for sticking with.
Us all the way almost to the. End we're at
the home stretch of the program. Today and before we
took a break and heard From, craig we were talking
To chris and he was asking us some questions about
kind of a tax strategy that he's using with his

(36:04):
qualified and non qualified. Account SO i Told chris to hang.
On if we still Got, chris let's bring him back
and get the answers to the rest of his.

Speaker 5 (36:11):
Questions, yeah sounds, Good, chris you're still with, us all,
Right i'll.

Speaker 9 (36:16):
Go. Ahead, so, so because of capital, gains AND i
slowly switched my step over to my individual, account AND
i keep it for longer than a, year you, know
so it's long. Term AM i.

Speaker 10 (36:35):
Only taxed on fifteen percent of? That or DO i
still have to pay capital gains tax on?

Speaker 2 (36:40):
It so a capital gains tax is triggered when you sell.
Something so if you just have an unrealized, gain there's you,
know there's there's no tax consequence at that. Point but
if you do sell, it then you could be subject
to capital. Gains and What i'll say about that is
that you, know if you're looking at potentially having some

(37:03):
huge capital gains in any one given, year the long
term capital gains rate in the twelve percent bracket is actually,
Zero so it sounds to me like you're probably not
anywhere close to the twelve percent. Bracket but for most,
people you, know unless you make, over unless you're a
really high income, earner then you could have a twenty

(37:24):
percent capital gains. Rate But i'm guessing your's is probably
gonna be.

Speaker 9 (37:28):
Fifteen so with my, preferge the money THAT i make
off the, preferreds AND i don't sell the, preferreds it's
just the interest that they're giving. Me how is that
taxes that the capital gains or is That.

Speaker 2 (37:46):
No you'll get a ten ninety nine for, that and
that'll be included with your income on your tax. Return
so all of the, interests like if you have if
you had A, cd you get, interest you get interest
on your savings, accounts things like. That if stocks pay
dividing or mutual funds paid, dividends you'll receive that reported
on a ten ninety nine in your taxable.

Speaker 9 (38:06):
Account, okay but that's not capital gains considered capital gains,
though right?

Speaker 10 (38:13):
Correct, Okay, okay well you've answered my. Question i'm SORRY
i haven't called you. Guys AND i know you, say
don't be, sorry But I'm i'm beating THE s AND
p five hundred by seven percent so far this.

Speaker 7 (38:33):
Year that's.

Speaker 3 (38:34):
Wonderful that's.

Speaker 9 (38:36):
Yeah, Yeah i'm telling you. Why you guys have helped
me out the last few, years and it's just been.
GREAT i hope more and more people get onto this
because not only we Glorifying god in, this but, uh
he's glorifying us. Too, yeah that's that's.

Speaker 2 (38:53):
Awesome thanks for your, Testimony, chris and thanks for encouraging other.

Speaker 3 (38:57):
People awesome and.

Speaker 5 (39:00):
Stuff, well thank, You. Chris that's so, Cool, shanna.

Speaker 3 (39:04):
Awesome that is.

Speaker 2 (39:04):
Cool SO i did have a FEW i had kind
of teased in the beginning THAT i would come back
with some more thoughts about the tariffs and the inflation
and all of. That So i'll kind of take that
opportunity because we don't have any more callers yet right.

Speaker 3 (39:17):
Now, so you, KNOW i think one of the.

Speaker 2 (39:19):
Biggest mistakes that economists make and the, media you, know
the talking heads kind of make is treating is the
way that they treat policy, decisions especially, tariffs as sort
of isolated. Variables you, know economic activity doesn't happen in a.
Vacuum so you, know when you look at tariffs and you, say, oh,

(39:39):
well if tariffs are going up whatever it was Whenever
Liberation day, happened anywhere from fifty you, know baseline of,
ten all the way up TO i can't even remember
the highest, ones fifty plus. Percent you, know you, think, oh,
well that's going to make prices increase by at least you,
know are at most that, much but at least some.

Speaker 3 (40:00):
Thing but you, know the reason that even.

Speaker 2 (40:02):
The best economic models miss the mark is because things
don't happen in a. Vacuum there's a lot of variables at.
Play it's just, like you, know it's a hurricane season
here In. Texas and speaking of, models you, know we
watch the models in the coastline all the, time especially
when things look like they're coming our. Way and you

(40:23):
see these spaghetti models a lot of times when the
hurricane is way off and they, vary you, know like
if a hurricane's out in The, atlantic or even if
it gets closer to The gulf Of. Mexico you see
all of these lines going. Everywhere you, know so if
something's coming to, us maybe it looks like it's coming
right at. Us but the spaghetti models are pointing toward

(40:43):
even the panhandle Of florida all the way down Into.
Mexico and you, know the closer it, gets the more
consolidated that path, comes until you actually know where it.
Went AND i would say that's what happens with these
economic models. Too SO i, mean we can't really be
too hard on the people that are looking at. Models
you have to make a lot of assumptions when you're
trying to come to a. Conclusion, so, yes in, isolation

(41:08):
tariffs could increase, prices particularly if corporations end up passing
those costs directly onto the. Consumers but you've got three parts, there,
Right you've got the person that's the foreigner that is selling.

Speaker 3 (41:20):
The goods to.

Speaker 2 (41:21):
Us they've got you, know you've got negotiation in price. Points,
there you've got the importer who is actually responsible for
collecting and pay and submitting the tariff to the. Treasury
and then you've got the, consumer you, know so the.
Company you've got three parts, there three different possibilities for

(41:45):
who's going to pay the cost of.

Speaker 3 (41:48):
That and you, know.

Speaker 2 (41:49):
Real world outcomes are rarely, linear and we're seeing that
a lot in earning, season, right now is where we're
seeing the different companies report and a lot of them
are saying how tariffs are impacting them either you, know
not at, all or maybe a, little or maybe a
lot in some. Cases but there are counterbalancing forces out

(42:11):
there that are helping to absorb into offset some of
the inflationary impact that some thought that we would see by.
Now so there's a few things. Here there's the WHOLE ai.
Trend so you, know if you're a, partner if you're
following our, strategy if you're looking at OUR, bylst you're
going to see a lot of names on there that

(42:32):
are involved in the WHOLE ai. Trend we believe that
this is going to be a long term. Trend it's
going to significantly change how our economy works over the long.
Term and so where we have companies on there that
we think are going to benefit from everything that's happening IN.
Ai so we have a global race for artificial intelligence right,

(42:55):
now and The United states is winning that race so.
Far our countries and companies are eager to tap INTO
us BASED ai, infrastructure which means that they're buying our,
chips they're buying our, servers they're using our data center.
Capacity that inflow of foreign capital helps to strengthen domestic,
productivity and it helps to cushion some of the pressure

(43:18):
that tariffs would otherwise be exerting if they operated in a.
Vacuum then you've got the whole tax relief part of
What President trump's economic team is. Doing you, know you've
got one hundred billion dollars potentially in corporate tax relief
thanks to The Big Beautiful. Bill many corporations are going
to benefit significantly from things that are in that bill

(43:42):
that gives them room on their balance sheets to absorb
more of a portion of the tariffs instead of passing
all of that along to. Consumers so that means that
they're that they have more wiggle room in their. Margins
they could potentially maintain the same level of profitability even
if their input costs are a little bit higher because

(44:04):
one of their other input costs or one of the
other drags of the bottom line was. Taxes and if
they're saving, there then they have room, to you, know
to have a little bit of margin a little bit
absorb those costs without having margin. Compression so, essentially you,
know tax breaks are sort of acting as a buffer

(44:25):
to that as well lower oil. Prices you, know the
cost of energy ripples through every aspect of the, economy, manufacturing,
logistics food, production actually putting gas in your. Tank so
when oil prices are, easying it reduces the input a
key input cost for many of the.

Speaker 3 (44:44):
Industries the energy.

Speaker 2 (44:45):
Cost relief also helps to offset price pressures from, tariffs
making the net inflationary impact smaller than it might otherwise.
Be and then you've got the weaker. Dollar so a
softer dollar also plays a. Role it MAKES us exports
more attractive because other companies that have a stronger dollar

(45:07):
against THE us can afford our exports.

Speaker 3 (45:11):
More one of the goals of which was one of the.

Speaker 2 (45:14):
Goals of tariffs in the first, place is to increase
our exports to create a more fair playing field to
bring down those non tariff. Barriers so while a weeker
dollar can push up the cost of, imports it also
incentivizes companies to source, locally which can ultimately stabilize or
even reduce longer term dependency on foreign. Goods so the

(45:36):
bottom line is that, tariffs like any other tool in
the economy or of the economic, toolbox don't operate in a.
Vacuum they interact with dozens of other. Variables and you,
know we've all Seen President trump very. Busy it's really
hard to keep up with everything that he's. Doing so you,

(45:56):
know we can't really oversimplified and just say that tariffs
are going to lead to a certain kind of. INFLATION
i think the consensus really now is that, yes one
time price, increase BUT i don't think it's going to
cause inflation to run.

Speaker 3 (46:09):
Away all, right, folks we're at the end of the.

Speaker 2 (46:12):
Program we thank you guys for tuning in, today for
calling in with your questions and your. Comments it's been
a great rapid Fire, friday and we just want to
encourage you to come back next week to you, know
learn what biblically responsible investing, needs to take it to
The lord in prayer and see how he convicts your.

Speaker 3 (46:31):
Heart come back next.

Speaker 2 (46:33):
Week Because lord, willing we will be here to remind
you That god owns. Everything there is going to be
a test one, day and we want to help you
be found a good and faithful.

Speaker 3 (46:42):
Steward in all that you.

Speaker 2 (46:44):
Do find out more about our ministry At financial issues dot.

Speaker 3 (46:48):
Org i'm your, Host Shannon. Bert have a great. Weekend

(47:10):
if we

Speaker 1 (47:10):
Ever forget that we're one nation Under, god then we
will