Complete Financial Guide For Young Couples

by Burkett, Larry

• ISBN13: 9781564761309
• ISBN10: 1564761304
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-01-29
• Publisher: Cook Communications Ministries

Summary

Over 100,000 copies in Print LARRY BURKETT The Complete Financial Guide for Young Couples A Lifetime Approach to Spending, Saving, and Investing Now in paperback! Can we ever afford to buy a house? Is it wrong to borrow this much money? Which of us should be the record keeper? Are credit cards a no-no? Do we really need life insurance? Why is it we never seem to have enough? Questions like these can keep you awake at night- or worse. Without a solid financial and spiritual foundation on which to base sound decisions, problems-and not just money problems-tend to multiply in a marriage. And they come whether you're struggling on $20,000 a year or "coasting" on a six-figure income. Whether you are about to marry or are still in marriage's early years, best-selling author Larry Burkett can steer you around the pitfalls that result from mishandling your money. In this valuable guide he will help you: Establish a workable budget Discover what kind of insurance you need and how much Teach your children about finances Diagnose economic danger signs in your marriage Explore different types of investments and decide which are best for you and much, much more. Solid biblical direction, practical advice, and years of "field-testing" make this a book that won't gather dust on your shelf! The late Larry Burkett was founder and president of Christian Financial Concepts in Gainesville, Georgia, a nonprofit organization that specializes in teaching Christians biblical principles for managing money. The host of two daily radio programs, "How to Manage Your Money" and "Money Matters," Larry wrote numerous books on finances, includingInvesting for the Future, The Complete Financial Guide for Single Parents, The Coming Economic Earthquake,andPreparing for Retirement.

Author Biography

Following a long and courageous battle with cancer and heart disease, Larry Burkett completed his journey of serving the Lord Jesus Christ on this earth. Having battled cancer and heart attacks for the past several years, God called Larry into His presence in July 2003. To say that he will be missed is a huge understatement. Larry was truly loved by all those whose lives he touched; his family, his friends and his ministry partners. He lived a life of Christian kindness and genuine humility. He was always extraordinarily generous. One of the central principles Larry taught is that we don't really own things; we are simply stewards and managers of what God has entrusted to us. In Larry's case, that included the ministry he founded. In 1971, Larry gave his life to Jesus Christ and committed to follow wherever the Lord would lead and to boldly teach the life-changing truths of Scripture. And he did this with all his might. In 1973, Dr. Bill Bright invited Larry and Judy to join the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ. Here he counseled the staff, many of whom were struggling financially, on how to handle money God's way. In 1976, he founded Christian Financial Concepts. He poured his life into serving the Lord through this ministry. He loved the ministry, he loved his staff, and he genuinely loved the people who looked to the ministry for help. Larry was a prolific writer, authoring more than 70 books including several best sellers. Larry's radio program was carried on more than 1,000 stations in the United States. His greatest desire was to see Crown Financial Ministries fulfill its God-given vision of teaching 30 million people in America and 300 million around the world to handle money God's way. As he told us, "This ministry is not my invention; it exists because of a calling from God. I'm not alarmed at the thought of Crown's future without me. I recognized that it was crucial to put in place leadership that can carry on and even expand this ministry. And God has been faithful to bring Crown a godly capable leadership team. God has used Crown wonderfully in past. May He use us in the future to help train millions of God's people-even after the Lord calls me home." I believe the impact of Larry's life will continue as future generations apply the biblical truth taught by Crown. And, God will be glorified through the ministry Larry began, one that continues by His grace. Larry is survived by his wife of 44 years Judy and their four children: Allen, Kim, Danny, and Todd.

Table of Contents

Part One Developing a Short-Range Plan
Introduction	11	(4)
God's Wisdom	15	(4)
Money: An Outside Indicator	19	(2)
Combatants or Companions?	21	(2)
God's Minimum Standards	23	(5)
How God Uses Money in a Marriage	28	(9)
Credit Cards	37	(3)
Early Marriage Symptoms	40	(5)
Correcting the Problems	45	(6)
A Workable Budget	51	(4)
A Workable Plan	55	(3)
Establishing a Budget	58	(13)
The Guideline Budget	71	(22)
The Money barometer: Economic Danger Signs in Marriage	93	(17)
Questions and Answers on Family Finances	110	(17)
Part Two Critical Family Issues
Introduction	125	(2)
Long-Range Goals	127	(1)
Insurance	128	(11)
Inheritance	139	(5)
Retirement	144	(9)
Part Three Children's Finances
Introduction	149	(4)
Declining Chistianity	153	(4)
Training Children Ages 1-10	157	(5)
Training Children Ages 11-16	162	(7)
Training Children Ages 17-20	169	(12)
Part Four Ten Keys to Successful Investing
Introduction	179	(2)
Key #1: Formulate Clear-Cut Investment Goals	181	(5)
Key #2: Avoid Personal Liability	186	(1)
Key #3: Evaluate Risk and Return	187	(1)
Key #4: Keep Some Assets Debt-Free	188	(1)
Key #5: Be Patient	189	(3)
Key #6: Seek Diversity	192	(2)
Key #7: Follow Long-Range Trends	194	(2)
Key #8: Focus on What You Own	196	(1)
Key #9: Know Where to Sell	197	(2)
Key #10: Train Family Members	199	(1)
Investment Strategy	199	(2)
Tier #1: Secure Income Investments	201	(1)
Tier #2: Long-Term Income Investments	202	(4)
Tier #3: Growth Investments	206	(2)
Tier #4: Speculative Growth	208	(3)
Tier #5: Pure Speculation	211	(6)
Appendix A Balancing Your Checkbook	217	(1)
Appendix B Developing a Budget	218	(2)
Appendix C Determining Insurance Needs	220