The Sound Mind Investing Handbook: A Step-By-Step Guide to Managing Your Money from a Biblical Perspective

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Financial Resource from a Biblical Perspective
Review: "The Sound Mind Investing Handbook" was one of my best purchases. It is chock full of information on all things financial and, most importantly, not only is it replete with facts and definitions but it offers financial counsel from a biblical perspective. If you only purchase one book as your go-to financial resource, this is the one to get.

Rating:
Summary: Can it be put more simply?
Review: At age 26, I arrived at a critical point in my marriage: I had to make a plan. The plan would include things like buying a house, investing for the long run, savings in a monthly budget, and inclusion of stock market strategies that have proven successful. It was this last on the list that left me searching for months. Everyone has their opinion, but their opinions are almost like dreams. They THINK it will work, but they still wait for the payoff. Point #1: in this book is a mutual fund investment strategy that keeps you ahead of the market, with reasonable, not out-of-this-world results--the kind of results needed in a strong long-term plan. Not one of those things that promises a million in a year (unless of course you have more than $10,000,000 to invest!).

Point #2: Austin's delivery of a what-you-need-to-know approach left me educated, enthusiastic, and unafraid to enter the stock market. I became knowledgable of bonds, something I had no clue about. I began to grip the incredible power of time and compounding interest. As a young person, being kept in the dark about this sort of thing knocks hundreds of thousands of dollars off the end of my retirement-savings years.

My wife is completely uninclined to watch the market, though I find crunching numbers fascinating. What to do to help her see through the numbers? Point #3: Sound Mind Investing describes stories which include numbers, but illustrate the meanings behind the numbers, and motivate you to take action.

Why five stars? So many stock-related books leave you with an unfinished feeling. Not this one. It's complete. Five stars. So many books end up trying to sell you something. Not this one (except for their excellent website at an EXTREMELY low monthly subscription cost). Five stars. And some books are so disorganized.

This one reads like a map. Find where you are, go from there. And most importantly, find yourself GETTING TO YOUR GOALS!!!

Most definitely five stars.

Rating:
Summary: Finances: Simply Supported by Scripture
Review: Austin has created an easy to read handbook on handling finances in a God honoring fashion. Each recommendation is fully supported by an abundance of scripture. As your read it, you will grow in your understanding of what God thinks about money.

The methods taught are simple, practical , easy to understand and easy to implement. He outlines and details four levels of financial growth and then guides you in step-by-step fashion through each of the levels.

I have never read a book on financial growth that I just couldn't wait to get back to until I got all of the way through it, until NOW! The finest resource on financial planning I have ever read.

Rating:
Summary: Great Information, Comprehensive, Easy to Read
Review: This book gives you the essentials that you need to know and then shows you step by step how to prepare your own financial stategy based on your tolerance for risk, years until retirement and your goals. It is written with timeless principles from God's word and also with expert knowledge of mutual fund investing. The book has many web resources listed and is up to date with numerous data tables, charts and scenarios that help you decide how to save for retirement, college, and give more to the Lord's work.