Author Steve Repak is a Certified Financial Planner ® (CFP) professional, army veteran, financial literacy speaker, and author. His inspiring financial literacy presentations and one-on-one financial coaching have helped many people turn their finances around. Steve has been a frequent guest on Fox and Friends, Fox Business, The 700 Club, and CNN Headline News. He has been interviewed on NPR, Bloomberg Radio, Market Watch Radio, Wall Street Journal Radio, and many other national and regional shows. Steve’s work has been featured in Forbes, Investor’s Business Daily, BusinessWeek, New York Post, Chicago Tribune, MSN Money, Yahoo Finance, and USA Today.
The Foreword by Boyd Bailey, CEO of Ministry Ventures, notes that financial matters are mentioned more than 2,000 times in the Bible. Like many people, Steve Repak was spiritually and financially broke. Mr. Bailey relates that through God, Steve Repak became a CFP, helping countless people in both the secular and faith-based realms with his motivational and inspiring presentations. Mr. Bailey accurately notes that the financial situation in America – and indeed worldwide – is challenging and uncertain. Into this financial chaos steps Steve Repak with a challenge for individuals and families to improve their personal finances.
Following the Foreword is the Introduction where the author challenges the reader to examine their financial state by answering 10 questions. I thought the use of questions were a good way to get the readers to think about their own situation and the chosen questions were good choices. The one I particularly enjoyed was, “Is your retirement plan to work forever?” Regular readers of this blog know my opinion on working forever as a retirement plan. Hint … working into your late 60s, 70s or beyond, while possible, isn’t really a retirement plan.
Checking in at a modest 158 pages, most readers will likely be able to work their way through the book in three or fewer settings. Considering the name of the book, it doesn’t come as a surprise that the book is broken down into six chapters.
The first chapter utilizes biblical references and passages as the foundation for the discussion of building a solid financial future. Chapter two focuses on spending, chapter three on debt and credit, chapter four on savings and investments, and chapter five on estate planning documents and insurance.
Each chapter finishes with a wrap-up of the respective lessons and a list of the week’s challenges. As an example, week one challenges include spending at least 15 minutes each day reading the New Testament and increasing the amount or percentage of money you give. Chapter six concludes the book by conducting a review of the previous five chapters and a reminder of the challenges.
While I did not stumble upon any new insights – I wasn’t really expecting to – the author did a nice job of laying out well-known key principles and practices that help individuals take control of their money and set themselves on a course to a satisfying retirement. While all readers can benefit from the lessons communicated in the book – and the suggested challenges – Christian readers will certainly appreciate the biblical references and guidance.
6-Week Money Challenge; For Your Personal Finances is available at Amazon in Kindle and Hardcover formats.
The Giveaway – simply leave a comment to be entered – will end, and the winner selected, at 12:00 p.m. (EDT) on Sunday, December 27th.
