In this episode, Jay Peroni, CFP tackles what they call the “Retirement Squeeze” — the mounting pressure retirees face from inflation, rising taxes, market volatility, and increasing life expectancy. With a direct, faith-centered tone, they warn that retirement today is no longer a coast — it’s a battlefield.

Jay explains longevity risk through real client stories, highlighting how many retirees plan for 15 years but live 25 or 30. Women, in particular, often face retirement alone and unprepared after losing a spouse. The message is clear: both spouses must understand the financial plan.

They expose hidden risks inside Target Date Funds and mainstream portfolios, revealing how many Christians unknowingly invest in companies funding causes that contradict their beliefs. Through Faith Investor Services’ Screen & Clean™ process, Jay emphasizes aligning investments with biblical convictions.

The episode also covers the silent erosion of purchasing power from a weak dollar, the dangers of mishandling inheritances, the impact of AI on jobs, and how wealthy families use tax strategies, insurance, and charitable planning to protect and multiply wealth. Churches and families alike are encouraged to review what they own and ensure stewardship reflects their faith.

In the second half, Jay shares stories of churches shocked to discover conflicting investments, families preserving businesses with strategic insurance planning, and retirees redirecting tax dollars toward ministry instead of government waste. He warns about national debt, bank instability, and delayed long-term care planning.

The episode closes with a strong call to action: if you’re within ten years of retirement—or already retired—don’t guess. Get clarity. Visit FaithAndRetirement.com for a free retirement second opinion.

This episode delivers a direct, faith-centered message to retirees who feel pressure from inflation, taxes, market volatility, and cultural shifts. Jay Peroni, CFP explains that many families are under financial strain as rising costs erode purchasing power while traditional retirement strategies fail to address today’s economic realities. He warns that many retirees rely on outdated assumptions about markets, Social Security, and taxes, leaving them vulnerable to sequence-of-returns risk, rising healthcare costs, and Required Minimum Distribution surprises.

A major theme of the episode is stewardship and alignment. Jay highlights that many investors unknowingly fund companies and causes that conflict with their values through traditional retirement accounts. He explains Faith Investor Services’ “Screen & Clean” approach, which seeks to align portfolios with biblical principles while focusing on businesses that produce real goods, services, and cash flow.

The show also emphasizes that Social Security should be viewed as a supplement—not a full retirement plan—and that taxes often become the largest lifetime expense if not proactively managed. Jay encourages retirees to think beyond simple “set it and forget it” portfolios and instead build comprehensive plans that address income, risk, taxes, values, and legacy.

Throughout the episode, listeners are urged to take action: stop assuming their plan is sufficient, discover what they truly own, and seek a professional second opinion. The core message is clear—retirement success requires intentional planning, protected income, and faith-aligned stewardship, not blind trust in Wall Street or government promises.

This episode explores why true retirement planning goes far beyond portfolios and income...it’s about stewardship, intention, and protecting the people and values that matter most!

This week, Jay Peroni, CFP, reframes estate planning as an act of love, not just paperwork. Jay explains that without clear direction, through wills, trusts, and beneficiary designations, the state decides for you, often leading to probate delays, unnecessary taxes, and outcomes families never intended.

Throughout the episode, Jay breaks down complex topics in plain English, including the purpose of wills, the protective power of trusts, and the practical differences between revocable and irrevocable trusts. He emphasizes that guardianship decisions, tax placement, and beneficiary choices are not minor details, they shape real outcomes for surviving spouses and children.

Listeners also learn why beneficiary forms often override wills, how failing to name contingent beneficiaries can undo even the best planning, and how inherited IRAs can create major tax surprises when structured incorrectly. Jay explains “per stirpes” versus “per capita,” highlights the importance of Special Needs Trusts, and shares real client stories that reveal how easily well-meaning families can stumble without coordinated planning.

The conversation then turns legacy beyond money. Jay introduces values-based investing through his “Screen & Clean” approach, removing companies that conflict with biblical principles and redirecting capital toward responsible, productive businesses. His message is clear: your portfolio communicates what you stand for, even when you’re not in the room.

The episode closes with a powerful reminder that money fades, but stories, letters, and faith-centered traditions endure. As Jay puts it, a lasting legacy doesn’t happen by accident, it happens by design.

Now is a great time to review your estate plan, beneficiaries, and investments to ensure everything aligns with your family, faith, and long-term vision. Go to faithandretirement.com today to book your estate review.

In this week’s episode, Jay Peroni, CFP explores the powerful idea of “money in motion"...the financial decisions that arise during life’s major transitions. Retirement, inheritances, job changes, business sales, and the loss of a spouse are moments when money naturally moves, and Jay emphasizes that these transitions can either create long-term peace or lasting stress depending on how intentionally they’re handled.

Jay explains that money in motion isn’t about trading or market timing, but about stewardship. Many retirees save diligently yet fail to reassess why their money is where it is. Drawing from Matthew 25, Jay contrasts simple preservation with faithful deployment, reminding listeners that stewardship requires direction, not just accumulation. These moments of transition are opportunities to realign finances with faith, purpose, and the next season of life.

The episode highlights three priorities for retirees in 2026: proactive tax planning, intentional generosity, and alignment between values and investments. Jay discusses the often-overlooked $19,000 annual gifting exclusion, showing how thoughtful giving can bless family members, reduce future tax burdens, and bring joy. Faith reframes generosity—not as reckless giving, but as wise and cheerful stewardship.

Jay also addresses common retiree concerns, including misleading deficit headlines, rising healthcare costs, and increasing tax complexity. He stresses that hope is not a strategy; preparation is. From Roth conversions and inherited IRA planning to RMD coordination and Qualified Charitable Distributions, Jay underscores the cost of inaction during critical windows.

Faith-based investing plays a central role, with Jay explaining the “screen and clean” approach, removing investments that conflict with biblical values and focusing on high-quality, durable companies. The episode closes with a call to intentional planning, encouraging listeners to ensure their money reflects what matters most: faith, family, and legacy.

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This week's episode focuses on preparing wisely in 2026 by aligning financial planning with biblical stewardship. Jay Peroni, CFP emphasizes that retirement success is not about predicting markets, but about intentional preparation before challenges arrive. Jay explains that most retirement stress stems from missed planning opportunities rather than market crashes, and that true wealth management is about alignment—ensuring money supports one’s faith, family, calling, and peace of mind.

For 2026, Jay describes it as a “reset year,” marked by tax changes, permanent income decisions, and narrower margins for error. He stresses that retirement planning shifts from accumulation to coordination—aligning income sources, taxes, investments, risk management, and legacy goals. Even strong savers can lose thousands unnecessarily if these elements are misaligned.

Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI) is presented as foundational, not optional. Jay challenges listeners to consider whether their investments reflect their values, noting that peace often follows faith-aligned portfolios. Scripture reinforces the call to steward worldly wealth wisely and intentionally.

Common mistakes heading into retirement include confusing familiarity with safety and drifting instead of designing a plan. Jay reframes risk management as foresight, grounded in diversification, downside awareness, and income stability. He affirms that faith-based investing can remain competitive, often favoring durable, ethically run companies with strong fundamentals.

In the second segment, the discussion turns to income sustainability, RMDs, charitable strategies like Qualified Charitable Distributions, and legacy planning. Jay highlights that legacy is about more than assets—it’s about passing on values, unity, and purpose. The episode closes with a call to action, encouraging listeners to seek a second opinion and schedule a complimentary, faith-based retirement review to prepare confidently and intentionally for 2026 and beyond.

In this week's episode, Jay Peroni, CFP®, explores what truly makes retirement fulfilling, not just financially stable. The episode reframes retirement as a life design project, rooted in stewardship, purpose, and faith.

The first segment focuses on inflation and its quiet but powerful impact on retirees. Jay explains that inflation rarely shows up as a crisis; instead, it erodes lifestyles slowly through higher everyday costs. Even modest inflation can force subtle compromises: fewer trips, less time with family, or postponed dreams. While Social Security cost-of-living adjustments help, Jay reminds listeners that Social Security is a “seatbelt, not the engine.” It provides safety, but it cannot drive a fulfilling retirement on its own.

Healthcare inflation receives special attention, as Jay notes that medical costs don’t follow averages, they “ambush” retirees unexpectedly. This reinforces the importance of stress-testing plans early in the year. Jay also challenges outdated advice like “living off the interest,” emphasizing the need for intentionally designed income and multiple aligned strategies. True protection against inflation, he says, comes from clarity, flexibility, and alignment—not a single investment solution.

The second segment shifts to habits, health, and purpose. Jay highlights that the biggest divider between happy and unhappy retirees is structured. Without intention, retirees can drift into loneliness, declining health, and dissatisfaction—often misattributed to money. Physical health, community, lifelong learning, and meaningful hobbies are essential pillars of a rich retirement.

Faith sits at the center of the conversation. Jay emphasizes that God doesn’t retire His people—He reassigns them. Biblically responsible investing and purpose-driven living bring peace, alignment, and fulfillment. The episode closes with a powerful reminder: Hope is not a retirement strategy—stewardship is. Listeners are encouraged to start the year with a thoughtful retirement checkup and design a life they don’t want to escape from.

Episode 100 of Faith & Retirement marks a milestone moment, pausing to reflect on why faith-aligned investing matters and how it works in real life. Jay Peroni, CFP® is joined by special guests Steve Nelson, CEO of Faith Investor Services, and John Rowley, Co-Portfolio Manager of the Christian Stock Fund (ticker: PRAY).

In Segment One, the conversation pulls back the curtain on why PRAY exists. Jay explains that many Christian investors have long felt forced to choose between financial discipline and biblical conviction. PRAY was created to close that gap, combining professional, fundamentals-based portfolio management with clearly defined Christian values. Steve and John share their personal journeys as investors and outline PRAY’s philosophy: a GARP (Growth at a Reasonable Price) approach with a quality bias, global opportunity set, and a long-term mindset designed to help investors stay steady through full market cycles.

Jay adds real-world stories from his work with retirees and pre-retirees, emphasizing that faith and discipline are not enemies of performance. In fact, aligning values with investments often removes emotional friction, helping investors stay committed when markets get difficult.

Segment Two widens the lens to the broader market environment. The group discusses late-cycle markets, the “Goldilocks economy,” tariffs, inflation, Federal Reserve policy, valuations, and the ongoing evolution of artificial intelligence. Jay frames market volatility through the lens of stewardship, preparation without fear, discipline without panic.

Looking ahead to 2026, the episode reinforces a central theme: faith-aligned investing isn’t about prediction or perfection. It’s about understanding what you own, why you own it, and having the confidence to stay invested when it matters most. Listeners are encouraged to seek a second opinion and ensure their portfolios reflect both their long-term goals and their deepest convictions.

In this episode, Jay Peroni, CFP explores how retirees can transform decades of savings into dependable income while staying aligned with biblical values.

In Segment One, Jay explains that the biggest retirement misconception is equating success with account size rather than income clarity. Retirement is no longer about accumulation — it’s about creating sustainable income. He emphasizes shifting from “how much do I have?” to “how much does it produce?” Through biblical principles like stewardship and counting the cost (Luke 14), Jay encourages intentional income planning.

The episode highlights faith-based investing, reminding listeners that financial decisions reflect spiritual convictions. Aligning portfolios with biblical values can bring peace and purpose. Longevity planning is also critical, as 30-year retirements require strategies that address inflation, healthcare, taxes, and volatility.

Jay outlines the importance of structured income segmentation — covering essential expenses with stable sources while using diversified investments for lifestyle and growth. Multiple income streams and diversification help protect against market concentration and unexpected disruptions. Holistic planning integrates taxes, healthcare, risk management, and legacy into one coordinated roadmap.

Segment Two focuses on execution. Taxes often become retirees’ largest lifetime expense, making strategic withdrawal sequencing essential. Jay explains tactical asset management as a responsive approach that adapts to market conditions, helping reduce emotional decision-making. Healthcare and estate planning are positioned as proactive steps that replace fear with clarity.

Ultimately, retirement success is defined not just by wealth, but by peace, purpose, and provision. The episode concludes by inviting listeners to schedule a complimentary Retirement Roadmap consultation at faithandretirement.com or 800-270-7310 to gain clarity, align investments with faith, and build a retirement plan that finishes both financially secure and spiritually faithful.