Faith Driven Finance

10/26/2025

10/22/2025

Imagine this for a moment:
You've been seeing the same doctor for 5 years. You trust them. They know your complete medical history. They've walked with you through health challenges.

Then in January 2026, you discover your Medicare plan doesn't cover them anymore.

This is happening to people all over the country RIGHT NOW.
Here's what's going on:
Medicare insurers are cutting back on PPO plans and pushing people into HMOs with much more restrictive networks. Hospitals are dropping out of Medicare Advantage networks.

The result? People are losing access to doctors they've trusted for years—often without even knowing it until it's too late.

And here's what breaks my heart: Most people don't discover this until January, after Open Enrollment has ended. By then, they're stuck for the entire year.

Biblical stewardship includes being wise stewards of our healthcare relationships.

Your doctor isn't just a service provider—they're often a trusted partner in maintaining the health God has given you. Losing that relationship unexpectedly can be devastating, both emotionally and financially.

Proverbs 27:12 tells us: "The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty."

So here's what you need to do this week—I mean THIS WEEK:
1️⃣ Make a list of ALL your doctors - Primary care, specialists, everyone
2️⃣ Call each office directly - Personal phone call, not email
3️⃣ Ask this question: "Will you be accepting [Your Plan Name] in 2026?"
4️⃣ Write it down - Document who you spoke with and what they said
5️⃣ Check your hospital too - Verify your preferred hospital is in-network

This takes about 10 minutes per doctor. But it could save you from heartbreak and thousands in unexpected costs.
Don't trust the insurance directory:
Those online listings are constantly changing and often inaccurate. Go straight to the source—call the doctor's office directly.

This is what faithful stewardship looks like in action. It's not glamorous. It's making phone calls and checking details. But it's protecting what God has entrusted to you.

👉 I've created a FREE Medicare 2026 Survival Guide to help you be a wise steward: medicare.retirementlearninglab.com

Inside you'll find:
✅ Exact phone script for calling doctors
✅ Network verification checklist (printable)
✅ Documentation template
✅ What to do if your doctor isn't covered
✅ How to find quality doctors in your area
✅ Questions to ask insurance agents
You have until December 7th to make changes during Open Enrollment.
After that, you're locked in for the entire year—even if you discover in January that none of your doctors are covered.
Please don't let this happen to you or someone you love.
And please share this with your church family, small group, or Bible study. We're called to look out for one another, especially our seniors who might feel overwhelmed by these changes.
Drop a comment below: Have you checked if your doctors are covered yet? How can we pray for you during this season? 🙏

"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." - Proverbs 16:3

📺 Watch the explanation: [https://youtu.be/t6Ut-g1QhxM]
📥 Get the FREE guide: medicare.retirementlearninglab.com

10/21/2025

I want to share something that's affecting many in our community. 💰🙏
A woman in our Medicare community just discovered her 2026 plan changes:

Hospital daily rate: $395 → $550 (an extra $155 per day!)
Monthly premium: $0 → $48

Here's what this means in real dollars:
If she needs a 5-day hospital stay, she'll pay an EXTRA $775. Plus $576 more per year in premiums.
That's over $1,350 in additional healthcare costs—money that could have gone to ministry, family, or other Kingdom purposes.
And here's what breaks my heart: Most people won't discover these increases until they're actually in the hospital. By then, Open Enrollment is over and they're stuck for the entire year.
This is happening to millions of Medicare enrollees right now.

Biblical stewardship means being wise with what God has entrusted to us—including our healthcare decisions.
Proverbs 27:23 reminds us: "Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds."

In modern terms? Know what's happening with your Medicare plan. Pay attention to the details.

If you or someone you love is on Medicare, here's what you need to do:
1️⃣ Find your Annual Notice of Change (mailed to you)
2️⃣ Look specifically at hospital daily rates
3️⃣ Compare to what you paid in 2025
4️⃣ Calculate what a hospital stay would actually cost you

Don't wait until you're facing a medical crisis to discover you're unprepared.

👉 I've created a FREE Medicare 2026 Survival Guide to help you be a good steward of your healthcare decisions: medicare.retirementlearninglab.com

Inside you'll find:
✅ Hospital cost comparison worksheet
✅ Complete plan review checklist
✅ Questions to ask insurance agents
✅ Side-by-side comparison tools
✅ Links to free Christian counseling resources

This isn't about fear—it's about faithful stewardship.
We can't control what insurance companies do. We can't control rising healthcare costs. But we CAN be diligent in making wise decisions with the information we have.

You have until December 7th to make changes during Open Enrollment. After that, you're locked in for 2026.
Please share this with your family, small group, or anyone in your community on Medicare.

We're called to look out for one another, especially when navigating complicated systems like healthcare.

Drop a comment below: Have you checked your Medicare plan changes yet? How can we pray for you during this season? 🙏

"For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?" - Luke 14:28
📺 Watch the explanation: [https://youtu.be/t6Ut-g1QhxM?si=8DPLvgdAXGS2yI8A]

📥 Get the FREE guide: medicare.retirementlearninglab.com



Van Richards | Retirement Learning Lab
Helping believers navigate retirement with biblical wisdom

10/21/2025

The Bell Lap: When You're Exhausted But the Finish Line Is Finally in Sight 🏃‍♂️
You might be at lap 20 in your career right now.
Your body is aching. Your soul is weary. Every day feels like a struggle just to maintain your pace.
And you're thinking: "I just want to stop."
But here's the truth: You're close. The bell lap is coming.
In distance running, the bell lap is that final 400 meters. You hear that bell and something happens. You dig deeper than you ever thought possible—not because you have energy left, but because the end is finally in sight.
Your retirement date is that finish line.
There's something powerful about crossing that finish line. Not because work is the goal of life. Not because anyone's keeping score. But because finishing well honors the race you've already run.
You didn't quit at lap 20. You didn't step off the track. You pushed through to the very end.
And when you cross it—when you reach that retirement day—you'll feel that quiet satisfaction of knowing you finished what you started.
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." - 2 Timothy 4:7
🎥 Watch this 48-second encouragement above 👆
💬 Where are you in your career race?

Lap 13 (halfway but exhausted)?
Lap 20 (struggling to maintain pace)?
Bell lap (retirement in sight)?

Comment below and let's encourage each other! 👇

10/20/2025

Friends, we need to talk about what's happening with Medicare in 2026. 😤
If you or someone you love is on Medicare, the next few weeks could save you thousands of dollars. I'm not exaggerating.
Here's what's happening:
Over 1.2 million people are losing their Medicare plans completely. And for those whose plans are still around, many are seeing:

Hospital costs jumping by $155+ per day
Monthly premiums going from $0 to $48
Doctors dropping out of networks
Benefits disappearing

So why is this happening?
Insurance companies miscalculated their pricing years ago. Medical costs came in higher than expected, and now they're making "business decisions" to protect their profits.
I know it's frustrating. Trust me, I'm on Medicare too, and I feel it.

But here's where our faith comes in...
We can't control what insurance companies do. We can't control Congress. We can't control healthcare costs.

But we CAN be good stewards of what God has entrusted to us.
Proverbs 21:5 reminds us: "The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance."

Being diligent right now means:
✅ Understanding these changes
✅ Making wise decisions with the information we have
✅ Taking action before the December 7th deadline
This isn't about pointing fingers or getting angry. It's about being faithful stewards and helping each other navigate these changes.
I've created a FREE Medicare 2026 Survival Guide to help you through this process step-by-step: medicare.retirementlearninglab.com
It includes:

Complete review checklist
Questions to ask your doctors
Plan comparison worksheet
Direct links to free resources like SHIP counselors
A timeline so you know exactly what to do when

Please share this with anyone in your family or community who might need this information. We're called to look out for one another, especially our seniors who might feel overwhelmed by all these changes.
Drop a comment below: Are you reviewing your Medicare coverage this year? What's your biggest concern? Let's help each other through this! 🙏

10/19/2025

If you're on Medicare - or your parents are - some big changes are coming that could cost you thousands of dollars.

Over 1.2 million Medicare plans are being eliminated in 2026. Costs are going up. Benefits are disappearing. And the deadline to make changes? December 7th.

When I saw my own Medicare notice, I felt frustrated. Then I remembered Proverbs 21:5: "The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance."

Being diligent means we can't just ignore this. We need to understand what's happening and take wise action as good stewards.

So I spent weeks researching every change, and I put together a complete guide to help you navigate this.

In this video, you'll learn:

✅ The 5 biggest Medicare changes for 2026
✅ Why insurance companies are making these changes (the honest truth)
✅ A simple 4-step action plan
✅ Where to get FREE unbiased help
✅ How to protect yourself before December 7th

I also created a FREE Medicare 2026 Survival Guide with checklists, worksheets, and everything you need. No strings attached.

This isn't about fear. It's about faithful stewardship and helping each other through confusing times.

Watch the video here ⬇️

Download your FREE guide: medicare.retirementlearninglab.com

Please share this with anyone you know on Medicare. Let's help each other make wise decisions!

Drop a ❤️ if this was helpful, and let me know - what questions do you have about Medicare?

10/16/2025

“Come to Me and Rest”

10/12/2025

Even prophets hit their breaking point.

Elijah had just called down fire from heaven and defeated the prophets of Baal—one of the most dramatic spiritual victories in Scripture.

But right after that triumph, he collapsed under a broom tree and prayed: **“I’ve had enough, LORD. Take my life.”**

So how did God respond?

Did He shame Elijah? Give him a pep talk about purpose and calling? Tell him to pull himself together?

10/10/2025

If you've ever felt this way, you need to hear this message.
I just released a brand new podcast episode addressing something we don't talk about enough in the Christian community: what to do when you're so exhausted that "purpose" is the last thing you want to hear about.
Maybe you're 58, 62, or 65. You've worked for decades—manufacturing, nursing, teaching, construction, management. Jobs that demanded everything from you.
You wake up tired. You go to bed tired. Weekends aren't enough to recover.
And when people talk about "purposeful retirement," something inside you screams: "I JUST WANT TO BE LEFT ALONE."
Here's what you need to know today: God hears you. Your exhaustion is real. And wanting rest is not a spiritual failure.
🎙️ In this 23-minute podcast episode, you'll discover:
✅ Why your exhaustion is valid (and not weakness)
✅ What happened when the prophet Elijah told God "I've had enough"
✅ What God is NOT saying to exhausted workers
✅ What God IS saying (4 powerful messages)
✅ The "Bell Lap" principle for finishing your career with dignity
✅ What you're REALLY longing for when you say "I want to do nothing"
✅ 5 practical steps for making it to retirement with your soul intact
PLUS: I created a FREE Prayer Guide for the Exhausted Worker using the ancient practice of the Examen—a 30-minute guided prayer experience to help you bring your exhaustion directly to God.
👉 Download FREE: finishwell.faithdrivenfinance.com

🎧 LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Or any major podcast platform
Direct link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1598632/episodes/17989469

💬 Comment below: Where are you in your "career race"?

Lap 13 (halfway but exhausted)?
Lap 20 (struggling to maintain pace)?
Already hearing the bell lap (retirement in sight)?

Let's support each other. You're not alone in this struggle. 💙
SHARE this with someone who's barely holding on. Sometimes just knowing we're not alone makes all the difference.

10/09/2025

"I just want to retire and do nothing."

If you've ever had that thought—if it's the voice in your head as you drag yourself through another exhausting day—you need to hear this message.

Maybe you're 58, 62, or 65. You've worked in manufacturing, nursing, teaching, construction, retail management—jobs that demanded everything from you.

You wake up tired. You go to bed tired. Weekends aren't enough to recover.

And when well-meaning people talk about "purposeful retirement" or "finding your next calling," something inside you screams: "I JUST WANT TO BE LEFT ALONE."

Here's what I want you to know today:

God hears you. Your exhaustion is REAL. Wanting rest is NOT a spiritual failure.

In this video, I share what Scripture actually says about faithful people who hit their breaking point—including the prophet Elijah, who literally told God "I've had enough. Just let me die."

And here's what might surprise you: God didn't shame him. God didn't give him a pep talk. God fed him, let him sleep, and then gave him a new mission.

In this 23-minute message, you'll discover:

✅ Why your exhaustion is valid (not weakness)
✅ What God is NOT saying to exhausted workers
✅ The "Bell Lap" principle for finishing your career with dignity
✅ What you're REALLY longing for when you say "I want to do nothing"
✅ 5 practical steps for making it to retirement with your soul intact
✅ How to seek support when you have nothing left to give

PLUS: I've created a FREE Prayer Guide for the Exhausted Worker using the ancient practice of the Examen—a 30-minute guided prayer experience to help you bring your exhaustion directly to God and discern His direction for your unique situation.
👉 Get it FREE here: finishwell.faithdrivenfinance.com
Watch the full video below. ⬇️

And if this resonates with you, please SHARE it with someone who's barely holding on. Sometimes just knowing we're not alone makes all the difference.

You're not weak for being tired. You're human. And God made you human on purpose. 💙

Comment below: Where are you in your "career race"? Lap 13? Lap 20? Already hearing the bell lap? Let's support each other. 👇

10/06/2025

10/04/2025

Let’s live like we’ve already received the gift. 🙌