Ecclesiastes 11:2
But divide your investments among many places, for you do not know what risks might lie ahead.
Diversification
For your investment portfolio to be resilient, it should mitigate risk in an effective manner. This practice is called diversification. Instead of jeopardizing one’s resources by investing solely in one asset class, industry, or geographic region, a healthy portfolio should have a stake in different stocks, bonds, ETFs, and other investments.
Every sector and investment has distinct risks associated with it. This uncertainty derives from events that could have adverse effects on a particular sector or asset. For instance, the COVID-19 pandemic caused the most impact on Airlines; Automobiles; Energy Equipment & Services; Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure; and Specialty Retail industries, while the least impacted industries were Communications Equipment; Health Care Equipment & Supplies; Life Science Tools & Services; Pharmaceuticals, and REITS (Vidovic, 2022).
Diversification also reduces volatility through the possession of differing risk-return profiles. The long-term performance of a properly diversified portfolio offers more consistent returns, and therefore, your financial goals are more obtainable and safeguarded.
Proverbs 13:11
Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.
Time
Taking pride in the way one accumulates wealth can be essential to ethical finances. The possibility of conviction for a crime, diminished reputation, and guilt are all probable when one comes by a monetary gain in a dishonest, unethical, or illegal approach.
The type of discipline and patience referred to in this verse allows for more growth spiritually (being two of the nine fruit of the spirit) and financially. Allowing your profile to grow with time is extremely important to understanding investments. Most people don’t win the lottery, but many do receive a paycheck. A plan to allocate some of these funds to investments allows for this money to grow. As an example, say that you invested $100,000 in the S&P in 1993. With an average return rate of 9.9% and an additional contribution of $100 at the end of each month, you would have $1,900,305.74 by 2023.
Matthew 25:25-27
‘So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
Compound Interest
Technically “interest on interest,” compound interest is the financial gains from when the initial amount, or principle, gains a set of returns typically after every year. Over time, this compounds and you receive interest on the interest. As an example, if you had a savings account at a bank with a 4% interest rate and an initial principle of $10,000, you would have $10,400 at the end of the year. After the end of another year, you would have interest paid on the $10,400, which would be $10,816. Over time, this can add up. Especially if you continue to contribute to your account every year.
If you add $1,000 to your account at the end of each year, the total interest also grows. So in 30 years at 4% interest, with a $10,000 principle and $1,000 yearly contribution, you would have $88,518.91.
Matthew 7:6
Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
Finding an Advisor
Finding an advisor can be difficult. Your wealth is valuable, just like the pearls, but sometimes when our values don’t align with the one giving us advice, we lose. We are taken advantage of or depart from our character. For example, If you are coming into retirement, a 90% allocation to stocks in your portfolio would not be the best strategy for you. As Heidi Ardris says in her book (get the link to it here), “The stock market is like a roller coaster. As we age, we’d much rather have a pontoon boat. No stress” (Ardis, 9).
Find the right advisor that can help with your specific goals. They will aid you with planning and strategy, and they will ensure that your interests are their priority. They should never take offense when you ask questions about your account or if you seek additional help or resources.
Matthew 6:24
So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldy wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?
No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Remaining Holy
Since faith is at the center of our mission, we have values that supersede our personal gain. This means that though we are tempted, money is never the final goal. God is. The wealth of love and peace he can bring is more fundamental to our existence than profit ever will be. We grow with Him and in Him. As long as our investments align with the love that He shares with us, we can expect not only financial growth but blessings of abundance of more than one kind.
Sources:
Ardis, Heidi. Simplifies Strategies for Retirees . 90-Minute Books.
Vidovic, Luka. “Industries Most and Least Impacted by COVID-19 from a Probability of Default
Perspective – January 2022 Update.” S&P Global Homepage, 11 Feb. 2022, www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/blog/industries-most-and-least-impacted-by-covid-19-from-a-probability-of-default-perspective-january-2022-update.
“Insurance products are offered through the insurance business Agape Wealth, LLC. Agape Wealth, LLC is also an Investment Advisory practice that offers products and services through AE Wealth Management, LLC (AEWM), a Registered Investment Advisor. AEWM does not offer insurance products. The insurance products offered by Agape Wealth, LLC are not subject to Investment Advisor requirements. AE Wealth Management LLC. provides services without regard to religious affiliation and the views of individual advisors are not necessarily the views of AE Wealth Management. 2094505 – 12/23”