Retiree and SSM volunteer Harold Stark, in the lifting harness, leads a work crew from Woodland Baptist Church as they put a new porch on a poor person's home as part of the Mission's Hope Builders projects.
What are YOU investing in?
Our friend Mike Hanson has a truly unique philosophy on investing.
He says that Christ-followers need to move from financial success to financial significance.
It's a subtle, but hugely-important shift.
Financially, success is more easily achieved than significance. Just invest in the right instruments and opportunities at the right times and manage taxation and other eventualities. But significance is more difficult. How can we, as Christ-followers, steward our resources in a way that adds significantly to the Kingdom of God? That's where Mike comes in.
He and his firm, The Hanson Financial Group (HFG), works with you to set goals relating to financial stewardship and other important financial decisions. Mike says "We provide a path to grow in the concepts of stewardship. We offer challenges to adopt stewardship disciplines. We also continue to work with your advisor team to re-assess your overall plan as it relates to your values and financial goals. This allows for new creativity and gives confident assurance that the plan remains consistently coordinated and integrated."
Some of the questions Mike and his team regularly ask the people with whom they work are:
1. How much is enough, and what is God's desired "financial place"
for me to provide for myself and spouse (income, net worth etc)?
2. What is the appropriate amount of inheritance for my family that
will help them and not hurt them (spiritually, financially,
relationally, emotionally)?
3. How much should I pay in death taxes, or choose to give away and
self direct?
Mike says "These are not easily answered, but for some willing to do this hard work
in prayer, it is possible, and rewarding. Recently, the Lord allowed a husband and wife with whom we work to make a larger gift to ministry than they ever thought possible. The key? They were clear about the answers to the above questions and had crafted clear goals. When a ministry with a very specific need approached them for a gift to a project to advance the Kingdom, the large amount requested was the same amount that they believed they were to
give!
Given some recent favorable giving laws (IRA-tax extender & alternative
minimum tax relief act of 2008) they were also able to make this gift in
a tax advantaged manner from their IRA, and avoid all the taxes on the
account.
Mike says "They chose to give from their net worth. We call this "tree trunk" giving, in
addition to their on-going normal giving ("hanging fruit" giving). This type of giving requires faith, but provides lifetime blessings, for both the giver and recipient, to see gifts put to work now while alive making a Kingdom impact. It also I believe has an eternal benefit as we
give cheerfully laying up treasures in heaven for ourselves. Matthew 6:19-21."
For more information about Mike Hanson and his Hanson Financial Group, please telephone him at (309) 676-6600, email him at mhanson@teamhfg.com, or visit the firm's website at www.teamhfg.com.
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