HELPING OTHERS
The complexity of good stewardship for today’s family has gone way beyond the average person’s comprehension and understanding. As an independent financial advisor for over forty years, I have found it increasingly difficult to stay abreast of the constant changes in government programs, tax law, health care, debt management, portfolio analysis, technology, food cost reduction, consumer products, automobile maintenance, estate planning, retirement planning, college cost reduction, home financing, extended health care (nursing homes, assisted living, etc.), career management, employment benefits, and personal budget management.  Living expense reduction and asset management is my life’s work, but few financial planners specialize in both of these areas.  If I have trouble keeping up with all the changes, do you think most people in our society have missed taking full advantage of their resources?
 Recently a lady came into my office requesting help because she was about to lose her home. Her situation was not unlike what I see every day. In her case, she was eligible for health benefits that would cost her no more than $60 a month, but she was using a plan costing $400 a month. In addition, she was paying $40 each month for insurance she could never use. She was also not aware that she was eligible for a property tax reduction of $400. Because she was behind on her mortgage, she was eligible for rescue funds of up to $3,000 at no interest, yet she had just used a check cashing place at 60% interest to try to keep her home.   There were at least ten other ways that we found for her to save money. Sadly, she was not tithing during this time so the body of Christ was losing as well.
 You might be thinking the problem is ignorance on the part of the lady, but it’s not. The systems have become so burdensome that our ‘experts’ don’t know of, let alone understand, all the changes taking place. I reviewed the lady’s information with a CPA (without revealing her personal data) and he confessed he was only aware of a few of the items that we found would save her money.  A CPA! And he isn’t the only one. In the last few years I have helped a financial planner with 30 years experience save over $20,000 and another planner with 15 years experience save $6,000.Â
 Saving Without Sacrifice specializes in reviewing over 300 separate ways to reduce expenses, increase income and reduce taxes by analyzing insurance policies, tax returns, business structures, utility bills, investment contracts, deeds, food purchase habits, real estate holdings, employment benefits, debt agreements, government benefits, college cost reduction techniques, and your future goals.   We also assist in providing ways to assist in all future budget purchases. Our goal is not to change our clients’ lifestyle, although it may be important to do so. Our goal is to help simplify their life and transform them into wise stewards of the resources that have been entrusted to them.
Every church has vast assets within the body of Christ that either lie dormant or are wasted because people lack the understanding of proper stewardship. Most churches have responded to programs like Crown Financial Ministries’ ‘Journey to True Financial Freedom’ or Dave Ramsey’s ‘Total Money Makeover’, but for the most part they focus on debt reduction and cutting items out of the budget. We use our unique principles of living expense reduction to help you save without sacrificing your lifestyle. Our book, workbook and devotional can help get people started in the right direction. Our methodical cost containment process will take people from a complex, stressful life of bondage to one of simplistic, peaceful stewardship. Visit our website, savingwithoutsacrifice.com, for more information. Â
Robert Ostrander, CFP®
SWS Advisors, Inc.
Tags: business, debt, financial, health, income, money, save, tax