MMBB Financial Services

Each November, we celebrate Native American and Alaskan Heritage Month, a time to recognize and share the abundant and diverse cultures, histories, and traditions of Indigenous Americans. This November, let’s focus on the innumerable and invaluable contributions that Native Americans and Alaskan Natives make to our beautiful country. #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth #AlaskanNativeHeritageMonth

Ministry is no simple feat. While it comes with countless joys and occasions to share in the blessings of God’s people, it also challenges clergy in unexpected ways. Leading God’s church is sacred work and a labor of love that the Lord ordains. With that said, we encourage all pastors to look after themselves and prioritize their well-being by practicing self-care. After all, for the sake of a truly effective Christ-centered ministry, sometimes less is more. Learn more about scaling back your ministry here: https://lnkd.in/edcuDAf9 

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." – 1 Chronicles 16:34 (NIV) This scripture encourages us to give thanks to God, regardless of how we may feel or our life experiences at any given moment. God has a plan for us all and no matter our circumstances, the Lord loves us. Though God may not always answer our prayers the way we want or on our schedule, we can always count on the Lord’s goodness and grace. Our Creator blesses us with life, forgives our sins and makes it possible for us to have eternal life. Let’s celebrate and be grateful for this and all God’s creations.

This weekend daylight savings time ends. This change allows for more daylight in the mornings from early November to March. If you live in a state that observes #DaylightSavingsTime, please don’t forget to turn your clocks back one hour before bed tonight. Also, a friendly reminder that some appliances may not change automatically, (i.e. microwaves), so those will need to be adjusted manually. Most internet-enabled devices should fall back on their own. 

As the end of the year approaches, it is a good time to make sure you are on track to maximize your retirement savings.  Whether you are contributing through payroll deduction to an employer plan or making personal contributions to an IRA (or both), it is important to see where you are relative to the contribution limits, and to consider adding extra if you’re able to do so.

Many people have been eagerly waiting for the Federal Reserve (Fed) to start cutting interest rates after they peaked over the past few years. Some people can breathe a sigh of relief as the Fed reduced interest rates recently to stimulate the economy and employment. Let’s take a closer look at what lower interest rates could mean for the average person's day-to-day life: https://lnkd.in/ewcZTj_u 

Life insurance is one of those things many of us think about but don’t always take the time to fully understand. Life insurance can be very comforting, and is oftentimes seen as a safety net for your loved ones if something happens to you. But how do you really know if you have the right amount? In this article, we cover factors to help you determine that answer: https://lnkd.in/e4VqGjwa #lifeinsurance #financialplanning 

There’s a chill in the air, and that’s a sign that snow and ice are not too far away. Now is the best time to start preparing both your car and home for winter. Here are some tips to keep your car running smoothly all winter, as well as several things you can do to your home to save on heating costs and protect your house from seasonal damages. https://lnkd.in/eJeVJPSV 

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." – James 4:10 (NIV) This verse encourages Christians not to minimize the impact of their sins but address them with God and those we’ve wronged. Christians can trust God to provide for them and lift them up. By submitting to God’s authority, we recognize that our plans for life are dependent upon the Lord. By cultivating humility, we experience God’s grace and power to raise us up beyond our imagining.

Should a person adjust their personal investments during presidential election years? The presidential election cycle is ramping up with news coverage and many political broadcasts. However, investors may want to focus on what ultimately matters to them over the longer term. History suggests that economic and inflation trends tend to have a stronger, more consistent relationship with market returns than election results. In general, rising economic growth and falling inflation have been associated with returns that are considered above long-term averages over the long run. Falling growth and rising inflation have corresponded to below average market returns. So, it’s important to avoid making investment decisions based on potential election outcomes or actual election results. Investors should discuss their current investments and allocations, changes in their personal circumstances and economic and market developments with their financial planner to determine whether any changes are necessary. *This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute any financial, insurance, investment, legal, or tax advice. MMBB is not responsible for the results obtained from the use of this information.