John-Mark Young

Stock market headlines are scary right now — but they always are. Before you make any moves with your portfolio, look at 75 years of S&P 500 data. From the 1970s stagflation crisis to the 2008 financial collapse to a global pandemic, the market has averaged +11.7% annually with an average intra-year drop of just -13.6%. The Rule of 72 says your money doubles every 6 years at that rate. Here's what the data — and Dave Ramsey's Baby Steps — say to do right now.

A new kind of retiree is emerging—the Everyday Millionaire, Generation 2.0. Raised on God’s wisdom and disciplined financial habits, they avoided debt, saved faithfully, and invested 15% of their income. Many will have more than enough to retire early. But retiring before age 59½ raises questions. The good news? IRS rules like 72(t) distributions and the Rule of 55 allow early access to retirement savings—without penalties—when used wisely and intentionally.

On a warm July 4th night in 2025, as fireworks lit the Florida sky, a quiet but powerful shift in the tax code took place. The One Big Beautiful Bill didn’t just extend the largest standard deduction in U.S. history—it created a rare window for thoughtful generosity. In this chapter, we explore how Donor-Advised Funds and charitable “bunching” can turn faithful giving into an even greater act of stewardship, allowing families to give more, pay less in taxes, and align their wealth with values