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Bluffton, OH 45817
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Tuesday, January 10, 2023

I recently saw a social media post about being sure you have beneficiaries set up on your accounts.  My first thought was - that is really good advice, but it is not quite 'complete.'  My next thought was - how many people...

Tuesday, December 27, 2022

Watching Christmas come and go can be a tricky thing emotionally. Some people experience 2 or 3 or 5 different family Christmas celebrations, plus work gatherings, church events, school programs, and more. There is a LOT of momentum...

Tuesday, December 13, 2022

If you have ever gone on a diet, you know that you must create a plan that is sustainable for you. Otherwise, you will lose 5 lbs. in the first week and gain 10 back the next. This same concept is true for budgeting...

Tuesday, November 29, 2022

It won't be long and 2022 will come to a close.  All of our income for the year will be earned. All of the expenses will be paid.  There won't be many options or opportunities to change how our 2022 tax return will play out....

Tuesday, November 15, 2022

I have been on several mission trips in my life - to the Dominican Republic as a teenager, to Romania to teach English at a church camp, to Alaska to help and serve in practical ways at a Bible Camp, and recently to Jamaica. The trip...

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Tuesday, November 1, 2022

Regardless of the type of life insurance you buy, it can be very helpful in the long run.Young adult—life insurance can help take care of burial expenses OR pay off debts that you’ve incurred.  Life insurance is least...

Tuesday, October 25, 2022

When I talk to a mechanic, I am always amazed at what they know and how quickly they access that knowledge and act on it.  I’m not a “car person” and there are many reasons I say that.  I haven’t...

Tuesday, October 18, 2022

Investing is a rewarding and necessary component of your financial plan. Unfortunately, the cost of taxes is also a necessary component of your financial plan. Paying taxes is not, from my perspective, the most exciting part of...

Tuesday, October 11, 2022

Young families:  Consider cutting back on discretionary spending, such as subscriptions, eating out, and travel.  Network with friends for date nights (exchange babysitting, cook meals for each other, etc.)  Up your...

Tuesday, October 4, 2022

 WHO HELPS EXECUTE MY WISHES? When you plan ahead for your inevitable death, you have much more say in how your affairs are handled after death.  This isn’t selfish — it is prudent.  You can choose an executor...

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

WHAT LEGAL DOCUMENTS SHOULD I HAVE PREPARED? Will or trust. Please be sure that you understand what you are signing and why.  This isn’t a cookie-cutter decision! There are a lot of Medicaid-avoidance trusts being...

Tuesday, September 20, 2022

WHAT ABOUT NURSING HOMES AND LONG-TERM CARE? According to Dept of Health and Human Services at www.aspe.hhs.gov 23 percent of those who die between ages 65 and 74 receive any paid long-term care and only 9 percent receive long-term...

Tuesday, September 13, 2022

WHAT ARE SOME PRACTICAL STEPS TO TAKE? Some practical ways to help your family face the inevitability of your death include: Downsizing, Getting all of your paperwork and information together in one, easy to access...

Tuesday, September 6, 2022

As you age and approach death, it is important to clearly communicate to your spouse, your children, or other heirs.  They need to know what assets you have, how they are set up, whether they are tax-qualified or have already had...

Tuesday, August 30, 2022

As most of us travel through life, we utilize experts to help with various aspects of life.  A car mechanic, an attorney, a financial adviser, an appliance repairman, etc.  In the financial realm, the list of experts often...

Tuesday, August 23, 2022

There are things you can do to make the transfer of assets easier.  It is important to have up-to-date beneficiaries on all investment accounts.  You can put transfer-on-death (TOD) or payable-on-death (POD) designations on...

Tuesday, August 16, 2022

There are many different kinds of life insurance and they serve different purposes.  Term life insurance (cheaper insurance that usually only lasts for a specific period of time) is an inexpensive way to protect your family when...

Tuesday, August 9, 2022

We probably all hate paying Federal income tax.  We think about government waste, misuse of funds, what are (and are not) the constitutionally acceptable roles for the Federal government, and a hundred other things.  We also...

Tuesday, August 2, 2022

“I’m going to retire in two months, Mr Adviser.  This is your chance to be a miracle worker!”  HA! Most of us know it doesn’t exactly work like that...

Tuesday, July 26, 2022

Changes are on the horizon for the tax code.  What could be changing?1) Long-term capital gains may soon be taxed as ordinary income.  When that happens, the gains you experience in your non-retirement accounts will be...

Wednesday, July 20, 2022

You may have considered putting your child or grandchild as a beneficiary on life insurance, bank accounts, retirement accounts, or other investing accounts.  But if they are under the age of 18 this can cause unintended problems....

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

It can be hard to step into the “unknown” and call a financial adviser.  Allow us to answer a few of these objections! 1) I don’t know what you’ll expect from me or if you will be too pushy.  You...

Tuesday, July 5, 2022

A donor advised fund (DAF) is a way for individuals with high incomes to give charitably, manage their overall tax strategy, and make planned gifts.  You may think:I’m not a high-income earner!The truth is—while it is...

Tuesday, June 28, 2022

BRI is Biblically Responsible Investing, a means of screening your investments to know whether the underlying companies and funds are voluntarily supporting things such as abortion, pornography, anti-family lifestyles, gambling, or...

Tuesday, June 21, 2022

Consider for a moment driving down the interstate, focused on your destination. You begin to see signs indicating that the highway is narrowing: “Right lane closed ahead,” red barrels, flashing arrows.  Change is...

Friday, June 17, 2022

“Our bedroom wall tore away!” described Richard Goodis, a victim of California’s Northridge earthquake.  “It felt like a jackhammer was going at it.  I was looking at the ceiling one moment, then I was...

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

Is Life Insurance worth the cost? Ultimately, that all depends on the situation. No one person’s scenario is the same as another’s. Writing off life insurance as an unnecessary cost is a bold statement with potentially...

Thursday, June 9, 2022

What does security mean to you? For many of our clients, security is found in the person of Jesus Christ.  Hebrews 6:18b-20a reminds us “Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to...

Monday, June 6, 2022

Are you a small business owner? Do you want to help your employees prepare for retirement while realizing tax benefits in the process? You might want to consider starting a SIMPLE IRA.  A SIMPLE (Savings Incentive Match Plan for...

Thursday, June 2, 2022

There are many ways to beat an economic downturn. Check out some of these quick suggestions to help ease the pressure.

Tuesday, May 31, 2022

“Plans are worthless, but planning is everything.”1 This iconic, and ironic, quote was from one of the very few 5-Star Generals in U.S. history, Dwight D. Eisenhower. It has been nearly four decades since the U.S. has had...

Thursday, May 26, 2022

How do you choose investments in your 401k? Which investments meet your goals and needs? Most people are unsure which investments to pick inside their 401k.  401k plans usually offer a variety of mutual funds ranging from...

Monday, May 23, 2022

If you know that dying today would leave confusion or stress for your family members, you might be wondering who can help you.  Do you need an attorney to write a will, do you go to the estate planning seminar you saw an ad for...

Friday, May 20, 2022

Many people have likened the role of financial adviser to that of a quarterback.  What is the significance of considering us your financial quarterback?  There are many! 

Tuesday, May 17, 2022

For many people, ‘tax season’ is over and tax details are no longer front of mind. Perhaps you’ll start thinking about taxes toward the end of this year, or, at the beginning of April next year. I hope for your sake...

Saturday, May 14, 2022

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

Does your employer offer a 401(k) plan as a benefit? If you answered yes, then this blog post is for you! There are a few important questions you should consider to make the most of your 401(k).

Thursday, May 5, 2022

At Faith Investment Services, you can “come as you are.” We welcome conversations with people in all phases of life. We have a wide range of clients from experienced investors to clients who are just learning about investing.

Monday, May 2, 2022

Enjoy this opportunity to encourage and be a light to the graduates in your life!

Thursday, April 28, 2022

The best way to start investing is - to start. Let us help you, whether it is baby steps or a full-on deep dive!

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

“Remember, the enemy builds strongholds in secrecy and enforces them by silence.  Break the silence and you will break the stronghold.”  - Donald A Lichi, PhD. It is amazing how accurately this pertains to finances.