On September 18, the Federal Reserve (the Fed) lowered the federal funds rate by 0.50% (50 bps). Whether the Fed would cut rates by 0.25% or 0.50% was hotly debated, and opinions oscillated based on inflation and unemployment data. There were valid arguments for both. Regardless, this cut indicates the Fed is entering a rate-cutting […]
"*" indicates required fields
Written by Everyday Steward Senior Financial Advisor Dan Wolthuis With the rising costs of insurance coverage, it is often worth the time and effort to “shop around” every few years for your homeowners, automobile, and personal umbrella liability policies. Shopping around can help you find suitable coverage at favorable pricing that yields the best value […]
"*" indicates required fields
Financial fraud is on the rise—and it’s impacting Americans of all ages. This fact hit home for millions of people after hackers breached the Social Security database and accessed 2.9 billion records, including Social Security numbers. Unfortunately, talented individuals with bad intentions are continuously looking for new opportunities to make off with your personal data. […]
"*" indicates required fields
Written by Private Wealth Advisor David Lawless and Sr. Financial Planner Blake Mankin In 2019, Blue Trust published “Should I Give My Children An Allowance?” by Private Wealth Advisor Shawn Jacques, who described teaching his children about stewardship through an allowance system. As Shawn’s article explains, conversations with our children about finances, work, generosity, saving, […]
"*" indicates required fields
"*" indicates required fields
On a summer day in 1776, 56 men affixed their signatures to a document declaring the United States’ independence. After laying out the reasons for the separation from England, they concluded the Declaration of Independence by saying: “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we […]
"*" indicates required fields
Originally conceived in the early 1900s by Anna Jarvis, Mother’s Day was created to honor the sacrifices that mothers make for their children. Jarvis envisioned Mother’s Day as a time of personal celebration between mothers and their families. In today’s busy world, she would likely encourage us to return to the simple act of reflecting […]
"*" indicates required fields
Written by Brian Shepler I am grateful and humbled by the Board of Directors’ invitation to serve as the next CEO of Blue Trust―just the fourth CEO in the company’s 45-year history. I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity before us to maximize the firm’s mission and continue providing trusted, biblical financial counsel to […]
"*" indicates required fields
Written by Nick Stonestreet For the last seven years, I have been honored to serve as chief executive officer (CEO) of Blue Trust and be part of the significant growth we’ve achieved as a firm and the dedication with which we have continued to serve our clients. Now, I am privileged to announce that Brian […]
"*" indicates required fields
Written by Jeff Chinery, Sr. Partner and Managing Director of Blue Trust’s Everyday Steward Division Baskets, egg hunts, and chocolate bunnies are some of the things people often associate with Easter. But we know that none of those things has anything to do with Easter’s true meaning. In fact, Easter would not be worth celebrating […]
"*" indicates required fields
Observed every February, Black History Month is a time to honor the contributions and legacy of African Americans across U.S. history and society. In addition to remembering the activists and civil rights pioneers who bravely fought for equality, we also appreciate the opportunity to recognize leaders and organizations that work tirelessly to help our local […]
"*" indicates required fields
Many of us will celebrate Valentine’s Day with our spouses, partners, and friends this week. At Blue Trust, we want to join the celebration by providing you with some critical, often overlooked, counsel on money and relationships derived from the many conversations we’ve had with our clients on the topic. This article includes relational questions […]
"*" indicates required fields
Today, we pause and remember the legacy and impact of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Confronted with often violent opposition, he fully embraced a peaceful approach, nonviolent resistance, and quiet strength when advocating for his belief in a more just society. In the face of violent opposition, constant threats, and social upheaval, what do gentleness […]
"*" indicates required fields
Written by Ryan Anderson, Private Wealth Advisor, and Blake Mankin, Financial Planner, in Blue Trust’s Houston, Texas office Blue Trust specializes in helping clients understand strategic approaches for giving generously to the ministries and charities they’re passionate about. Many donors are familiar with how to donate liquid assets like cash; however, they can also give […]
"*" indicates required fields
Written by Russ Crosson, EVP and Chief Mission Officer As we enjoy the lazy days of summer, children expend their energy on camps, vacations, visiting family, hanging out with friends, and enjoying freedom from homework. In this blog, I would like to give you, as parents and grandparents, something to think about as we wrap […]
"*" indicates required fields
The following was written by Jim Wise, Senior Partner, Senior Private Wealth Advisor, and Director of Ministry Services We live in the world’s wealthiest nation, yet every year, ministries close their doors, and missionaries leave the field for lack of adequate funding. The problem is not that there aren’t enough resources in the hands of […]
"*" indicates required fields
Have you considered how you will influence the lives of your children, grandchildren, and beyond? Many of us have life stories and lessons we want to pass down to our descendants, but how do we leave a legacy that can survive future generations? When sharing your values and hard-won wisdom with your descendants, there […]
"*" indicates required fields
"*" indicates required fields
Bank failures have put stress on the markets this year, but another area that has the potential to frustrate the economy is the $20 trillion commercial real estate (CRE) market. Commercial real estate is a broad term that encompasses various types of properties used for business purposes, such as offices, retail shops, industrial and logistics […]
"*" indicates required fields
This week, we celebrate Independence Day! As we give thanks for our freedom as a nation, we also want to take a moment to highlight another type of freedom – financial freedom. At Blue Trust, we value financial planning and believe it is the first step in a journey to financial freedom. We’ve prepared this […]
"*" indicates required fields
Most of us are familiar with the verse in John 13:34, where we are commanded to love one another. Loving our families and those close to us may be easy, but what does it truly mean or look like to demonstrate love, care, and concern for others? Matthew 6:21 states, “Where your treasure is, there […]
"*" indicates required fields
"*" indicates required fields
Written by Michael Spencer, Financial Advisor at Blue Trust Memorial Day is a time to remember and honor the service men and women who sacrificed themselves for others in defense of our great nation. This Memorial Day, I would like to honor a few of the fallen men and women I served with in the […]
"*" indicates required fields
Written by Nathan Lackey, Financial Planner for Blue Trust In my experience and conversations with young professionals, college graduates often do not receive enough coaching on making wise financial decisions. Thankfully, the Bible has a lot to say about money, and it is never too late to implement financial discipline! Here are some tips for […]
"*" indicates required fields