financial intelligence

We took pages of notes from our time with Daniel Johnson so it may take repeated listens to this episode to take in all the gold in his comments.    

Feel free to reach out to Daniel through email or message him on LinkedIn to set up an appointment:

URL:  www.refocusfp.com

Email:  daniel@refocusfp.com

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/danieljohnsoniii/

PW Gopal:  pwgopal@pwgopal.com, pw.gopal@thebluecollarmoney.com

www.pwgopal.com

Mike Hatch:  mikehatch@thebluecollarmoney.com

www.empoweredmanhood.com

The old adage, "money doesnt grow on trees" only applies to us but not to the US government.  They can grow money on their money tree all day long in partnership with the Fed and that is, unfortunately, where our upcoming stimulus checks are coming from.   So it begs the question... where is it coming from?  How is it created and why don't we have to pay it back?

In Part 2 of this discussion we tackle some ideas around planning for the economic winter on the horizon as well as what God would ask of us in preparation.  The following is an outline of our discussion and response to God's narrative of redemptive influence and stewardship.

1. Review of George Clason's 70% rule:
2. In Seasons of Crisis, 70% has to be adjusted:
3. in Seasons of Crisis, money will get expensive - why?:
4. What is your plan for this next season?  What is the side gig?  How will you generate and develop cash flow?:
5. Preparation starts with prayer, time with the Holy Spirit and engaging in crucial conversations - it is the very fuel needed to execute.

Resources and Mentions:

The Creature From Jekyll Island :  A Second Look at the Federal Reserve

The Maker Versus the Takers:  What Jesus Really Said About Social Justice and Economics

1 Samuel 8

2 Corinthians 8:9

John 14

1 Corinthians 2

Contact:

PW Gopal - pw.gopal@thebluecollarmoney.com

Mike Hatch - mikehatch@thebluecollarmoney.com

The old adage, "money doesnt grow on trees" only applies to us but not to the US government.  They can grow money on their money tree all day long in partnership with the Fed and that is, unfortunately, where our upcoming stimulus checks are coming from.   So it begs the question... where is it coming from?  How is it created and why don't we have to pay it back?

in Part 1 of this discussion we tackle the backstory of the partnership between the Federal Reserve and the US Treasury to fill in some of the narrative of how "growth by debt" works and why it will keep us as the middle class enslaved to an unhealthy financial agenda.

Resources and Mentions:

The Creature From Jekyll Island :  A Second Look at the Federal Reserve

The Maker Versus the Takers:  What Jesus Really Said About Social Justice and Economics

1 Samuel 8

2 Corinthians 8:9

John 14

1 Corinthians 2

Contact:

PW Gopal - pw.gopal@thebluecollarmoney.com

Mike Hatch - mikehatch@thebluecollarmoney.com

One of the best things we learned from our previous interview with Jerry Bowyer was that Jesus sees and has a heart for the "load bearing structures" in our society, specifically the folks that are getting their hands dirty and working in the trades - Chris and Jaime Hare of CJT Machine / Shepherd Tactical Supply fit that bill.

We had the opportunity to sit down with Chris and hear his heart for redeeming the quality standards used in the market but also how God has been stirring him to serve his community through his businesses and free time.  Chris is not only a gifted machinist but he and his wife are also students at a local bible college where they take classes in their free time on missions, discipleship and  Theology.

We are excited for you to hear their story and their struggle.  They are some of our favorites and we'd love for you to support their work through the sites below.

Resources / Mentions:

The Maker Versus the Takers:  What Jesus Really Said About Social Justice and Economics - Jerry Bowyer

www.shepherdtacticalsupply.com

www.cjtmachine.com

Contact:

Chris Hare - cjtmachine@gmail.com

PW Gopal - pwgopal@pwgopal.com, pw.gopal@thebluecollarmoney.com

Mike Hatch - mikehatch@thebluecollarmoney.com

In a season where information is highly manipulated, it is becoming increasingly difficult to trust curated information - information that you want to use to build a wealth strategy.   So how do you move forward?  Especially as a young professional or working stiff, where is the  margin / time to weigh the words of one side against the other.  

1.  LISTEN:  START A MEDITATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD -  listen and listen and listen for his voice.  It can only happen with practice and stillness but it can easily accelerate your learning.  

2.  STUDY:  

READ THE OLD STUFF FROM THE OLD PEOPLE:  It's simple.  Reach back to the times when information wasn't being weaponized by red and blue against the opposition.  Read the historical books/ accounts of money and understand the movements of those specific leaders.  The human animal is still the same and the aggregate of them - what we call the "herd", still makes the same moves.  They have for hundreds of years.  

LEARN THE BASICS OF THE BASIC NARRATIVES:  Learn the basic narratives and it will help you catch up on the ongoing conversation of money and finance.  (See E3 - "Learn the Narratives").  AND, it will help you engage that conversation because the language will not be the prohibitive element.

3.  CAPTURE:  The moment you finish a plan, it's wrong but at least you have taken the time to  write down all the elements in the constellation that will affect your plan.  The written plan is paramount to building your working narrative, which is simply the paper manifestation of your plan.  Once it's on paper, it becomes easier to put that plan into action.  Aim small, miss small.  Execute in small steps and refine your movements until you get more comfortable with the plan.

REPEAT:  Every plan needs refining.  There isn't a financial strategy out there that is able to sit stagnant and succeed.  Constant refining and adjustment may be necessary to come to a working model that honors your values, skillset, cashflow and long term plan.

CONTACT:

PW Gopal - pwgopal@pwgopal.com, pw.gopal@thebluecollarmoney.com

Mike Hatch - mikehatch@thebluecollarmoney.com

www.thebluecollarmoney.com

We were really excited to do this episode with friend and listener, Chase Hardin - not just because he is a close friend but because he brings a unique perspective to stewardship and finance as a millennial trying to understand a shifting landscape.  Millennials have a lot on their plate dealing with trust issues for people and resources and keeping focused on the timing of their professional pivots.  

Our hope is that you get to see Chase's heart for people seeing and experiencing Jesus - his lead motivator as well as glean from his experience tackling the starting blocks of the financial / investing world.

Mentions / Resources:

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen Covey

The World is Flat - Thomas Friedman

Contact:

PW Gopal - pwgopal@pwgopal.com, pw.gopal@thebluecollarmoney.com

Mike Hatch - mikehatch@thebluecollarmoney.com

The following are personal lessons we took away from 2020.  We hope that they, in some way, resonate with you and affirm the values that you are working with to bolster your goal of having a redemptive influence in  your community.

1. We must not forget to take our daily activities and goals to God to sift on a weekly basis
2. Values, while they may serve you for a season, may need to be refined at different stages of your life to better lead you though where God is taking you.
3. Take care of your highest values and leave the rest to God to sort out.
4. Keep putting out value and understand that pretense isn't helpful in building a transparent offering to your community.  Be willing to be walk humbly through your path of entrepreneurship, especially when it gets ugly.
5. Investing is a lifestyle and takes years to refine and perfect.
6. Invest in relationships where you see Kingdom values being prioritized.  As such, it is even more important to partner with folks who share your Kingdom values.  This is where you will experience incredible synergy in having a redemptive influence.
7. Investing / commerce is better with a partner, especially one who shares your desire for change.
8. Invest in the lane where you have passion and a wealth of knowledge.

Resources/ Mentions:

Enneagram Test - enneagramtesting.org

The Compound Effect - Darren Hardy

Andrew Carnegie - The Gospel of Wealth

Contact:

PW Gopal - pwgopal@pwgopal.com , pw.gopal@thebluecollarmoney.com

Mike Hatch - mikehatch@thebluecollarmoney.com

Previous Relevant Episodes:

E5:  The Order of Investing, Part 1

E6:  The Order of Investing, Part 2

E15:  The Pivot

E29:  Biblical Investing, Part 2

E32:  Interview with "Rigged: Exposing the Largest Financial Fraud in History" author, Stuart Englert 

Resources / Mentions:

Rigged:  Exposing the Largest Financial Fraud in History

Apmex - Precious Metals Bullion Dealer

Contact:

PW Gopal - pwgopal@pwgopal.com, pw.gopal@thebluecollarmoney.com

Mike Hatch - mike.hatch@thebluecollarmoney.com

Resources and Mentions:

Citron Research 

Melvin Capital

Game Stop

Flash Boys :  A Wall Street Revolt

Previous Podcasts:

BCM Episode  "10 Essential Principles for Investing in 2021"

BCM "The Mindset of an Investor Series"...

Mindset of An Investor, Lesson #1

Redemptive Economics Course - Mike Hatch

Below are a few bullets that outline our takeaways from 2020.  Please take a listen for further details and reach out if we can help you in any way to bring clarity to this information, resources or your financial goals.

2020 Investment Lessons (not comprehensive)

1 .  We are living in a time of "mania" where folks are "stacking maybes" keeping their money tied up in the stock market without counting the cost of the historical and mathematical narratives.  We think the risk of market correction is significant and may cause individuals to have to rethink retirement and even worse, lose time to make their financial goals work.

2.  Most people are still ignoring the Meta Narratives of Investing (see Episode 3)

3.  Greed can look civil and rational

4.  Very few of us have a defined Mission and Vision and can even tell the difference between the two.

5.  Vision outlines the "how" of how we progress.  It outlines the specific path and components in the constellation that we use and utilize to bring about our financial goals.  It also sets the parameters for "safety" that protect our families from financial ruin/risk but also defines the specific entry fees for future endeavors/ investments

6.  Have a specific person/people group in mind when you invest - how will your investment benefit someone and specifically, who is going to be the beneficiary.

In part 2 of "Lessons We Learned in 2020, we will discuss the personal lessons we have learned this past year.

Resources/ Mentions:

Switch :  How to Change When Change is Hard

The Fourth Turning

Become Your Own Banker 

The Richest Man in Babylon

Contact:

PW Gopal - pwgopal@pwgopal.com, pw.gopal@thebluecollarmoney.com

Mike Hatch - mikehatch@thebluecollarmoney.com

Contact:

Mike Hatch - mike.hatch@thebluecollarmoney.com

PW Gopal - pwgopal@pwgopal.com, pw.gopal@thebluecollarmoney.com

Resources/ Mentions:

Success Magazine - www.success.com

Below are a list of investing principles to consider when approaching your financial plan for 2021.  This episode is paired with E37 (part 1).

1. BIBLICAL NARRATIVE - trade and invest by the Biblical narrative which we nickname "tree, fruit, tree..."  Our investments need to be in a machine or tree that is able to bear fruit which can grow another fruit bearing tree.  This allows us to be in close proximity to the growth and also allows us to be generous monthly instead of after receiving a yearly stock dividend check.
2. CLOSE TO HOME - Bring your investments close to home meaning you can see, feel and touch the value that is being created and also be in relationship with those who are helping you create that value.
3. DIRTY HANDS - Warren Buffet is known for coaching traders to "trade what you know" - in a season where there is little to no transparency in the stock market, we believe it is paramount for seasoned and new investors to get their hands dirty and truly know what it is they are trading.
4. INVEST IN TANGIBLE VALUE - this being value that is easy to see and experience mainly through the barometer of measuring customer sentiment.  If you can see the value and see the customer enjoying the value that has been created for them, then it is an asset worth looking into.
5. REDUCE EQUITY EXPOSURE - better said, STOP putting so much trust in the stock market where there is little to no transparency or understanding of growth and value.  Move your assets to promise based assets or FIXED INCOME ASSETS.  (we described them as "fixed assets" in the audio but they are correctly named, FIXED INCOME ASSETS).  In addition to buying into "products" that are being sold to you, even good fixed income products, please consider investing in or starting a small business and build tangible value for customers in your community.
6. STAGE TO BUY - in this next season of the market, there is a chance that mania will continue and we will see 40,000 on the Dow.  The is an equal chance that we will see mass sell-off and the market will seek equity between 18,000-23,000.  It's a dangerous game to wait this one out - smart investors have already done their work to figure out how to move money with the least amount of penalty to free up cash to buy/create their next cash flow vehicle.  We cannot afford to be late to the party on this point - if we wait, we miss.
7. PROTECTION FOR FAMILY/ ASSETS - wills, trusts and insurances.  Protect your family with term or whole life depending on your long term goals.  Most middle class families in the US have not priced out life insurance nor done the homework to understand what it can do for their spouse and children.
8. MONETARY "INSURANCE" - buying gold and silver can help in hedging your stock portfolio investments against market failure or recession.  Buying gold and silver is not investing - it is hedging.  Historically gold and silver are a reliable store of value so in our mind, when in doubt... do what rich people and governments do.
9. TAX DEFERRED to NON TAX-DEFERRED - Would you rather pay taxes on the seed or the crop?  Well, thats what the government is hoping you don't investigate.  If you leave your $ in tax-deferred vehicles you will pay tax on the full crop that you waited to grow and take distributions from.  Non-tax deferred vehicles allow you to pay the tax once and then never again.  Be sure to consult with a qualified fiduciary for help in determining what is appropriate for your family.
10. LONG TERM to MID-TERM INVESTMENTS - "set it and forget it" to cash-flow vehicles.  The narrative that the market always has ups and downs and will continue to range up doesnt take long term time cycles into account.  Since we see the 100 year cog moving into place we are due for a massive correction in stocks.  So while you may not lose money over the next 30 years, you may lose a significant amount of time - time that is paramount in creating a significant yield curve.

Contact:

PW Gopal - pw.gopal@thebluecollarmoney.com,  pwgopal@pwgopal.com

Mike Hatch - mikehatch@thebluecollarmoney.com

Resources/ Mentions:

Debt Collapse:  20,000 Gold - Mike Maloney

The Fourth Turning

Guide to Investing in Gold & Silver - Mike Maloney

The New Case for Gold - James Rickards

Money & Man:  A Survey of Monetary Experience - Groseclose

Honest Money - Dr. Gary North

The Ascent of Money - Niall Ferguson

Below are a list of investing principles to consider when approaching your financial plan for 2021.  This episode is paired with E38 (part 2) so the second half of the notes will be attached to the audio in E38.

1. BIBLICAL NARRATIVE - trade and invest by the Biblical narrative which we nickname "tree, fruit, tree..."  Our investments need to be in a machine or tree that is able to bear fruit which can grow another fruit bearing tree.  This allows us to be in close proximity to the growth and also allows us to be generous monthly instead of after receiving a yearly stock dividend check.
2. CLOSE TO HOME - Bring your investments close to home meaning you can see, feel and touch the value that is being created and also be in relationship with those who are helping you create that value.
3. DIRTY HANDS - Warren Buffet is known for coaching traders to "trade what you know" - in a season where there is little to no transparency in the stock market, we believe it is paramount for seasoned and new investors to get their hands dirty and truly know what it is they are trading.
4. INVEST IN TANGIBLE VALUE - this being value that is easy to see and experience mainly through the barometer of measuring customer sentiment.  If you can see the value and see the customer enjoying the value that has been created for them, then it is an asset worth looking into.
5. REDUCE EQUITY EXPOSURE - better said, STOP putting so much trust in the stock market where there is little to no transparency or understanding of growth and value.  Move your assets to promise based assets or FIXED INCOME ASSETS.  (we described them as "fixed assets" in the audio but they are correctly named, FIXED INCOME ASSETS).  In addition to buying into "products" that are being sold to you, even good fixed income products, please consider investing in or starting a small business and build tangible value for customers in your community.

**Principles 6-10 will be attached to E38:  10 Essential Principles to Build Your Financial Future in 2021, Part 2

Contact:

PW Gopal - pw.gopal@thebluecollarmoney.com,  pwgopal@pwgopal.com

Mike Hatch - mikehatch@thebluecollarmoney.com

Resources/ Mentions:

The Fourth Turning

We hope this episode encourages you in your journey as an entrepreneur.  The following is a basic outline of key points from our discussion that may be helpful in your journey to execute on your values.

1. Stop reacting -  instead, execute on your values.  And if you don't have a list of family or business values then it's time to sift through what matters most to you as you seek to provide value to your community.
2. Pretense Isn't Helpful - it will always be a trap to look good while you learn and perform.  Don't give in to the temptation to look like you have it all together.
3. Know Your Limitations - this piggy backs upon avoiding pretense...  know what you are good at and the environment you need to succeed, including your triggers and blindspots.
4. Have Your Vendors in Place - whether its a vendor or a friend or a spouse, you must have people you trust who can help you execute, whether directly to the task or indirectly supporting you through it.
5. Stage for the Next Round - each time we execute we are allowed a unique view into what could be better or improved upon.  Use each experience to improve your environment where you perform or the elements needed to execute appropriately.
6. Be Grateful for God's Provision - Don't forget to take time each week to thank God for what and whom he has already given you including finances, people and time to execute and succeed bringing about your goals.

MISSION

The mission of The Hundred Movement is to provide points of exit for survivors of sex trafficking through specialized counseling, support, and educational services. We engage individuals, organizations, and the church to create sustainable models of aftercare and a cultural movement.

VISION

The vision of THM is providing personal and specialized care for survivors of sex trafficking that allows opportunities for self-determination, health, and stability. Our heart is for the community to see and value survivors as family, neighbors, and equals.

The Hundred Movement will accomplish this by:

Providing trauma-informed counseling services with expertise in the field of sex trafficking.

Providing relational case management services that are individualized to each person’s needs and goals.Building integrated systems for sustainable aftercare models.

Developing foster care resources for both minor and adult victims by training existing foster homes and recruiting new families.

Providing professional and community educational opportunities in order to develop and expand the resources available to survivors.

Moving the Christian Church to support survivors in all areas of healing and growth.

CORE VALUES

We do this because we believe each survivor is unique in their experiences, needs, and goals. We believe that relationships are transformative and necessary for healing. We believe the Church is responsible for, and capable of, caring for survivors of trafficking. We believe in the need for community-wide participation to fuel movement and growth for survivors. 

Resources and Mentions:

BCM Podcast on Entry Fees

BCM Podcast on Order of Investing

Proverbs 18:11 - 

Contact:

pwgopal@pwgopal.com

www.pwgopal.com

www.hundredmovement.com

 Luke Walker lives in Columbus Ohio with his wife Carrie and 3 kids Jude, Titus, and Maggie. Luke loves working with his hands and tinkering with anything mechanical. Jesus, family, and helping those in need are Luke's top values. He is also an entrepreneur and started an auto repair shop in 2009 at 22 years old (also the year he married his wife:-). The rent was $350 a month for a 1 bay shop. The first full year (2010) Luke's Auto did $260K in sales.

11 years into business there are now 16 bays, 24 employees and $3.6MM in revenue 2020. Luke's Auto is the top Yelp and Google rated independent shop in Columbus Ohio. 

TRADE CENTER:

In 2018 Luke took over management of an inner city mechanic training program for 11-19 year old students with first seats open to those at risk. Almost 100 student have come through this program in the past couple years and the program expand in 2020 by adding another larger facility that is 10,000ft2 and has 5 lifts. 200 students a year will be able to attend a 6 week intro class and 50 of them invited into an advanced class. Those who graduate will receive a certification, tool set, and job placement. The mission statement of the trade center is "to help students identify and cultivate: 1. Being gifted with their hands 2. God's love for them 3. A life of loving others."

Resources and Mentions:

What's Best Next:  How the Gospel Transforms the Way You Get Things Done

"The power behind our productivity comes from realizing that, through faith in the gospel, we are accepted by God in Christ apart from what we do. This puts wind in our sails and unleashes the power of the Spirit in our lives (Gal. 3:5). Truth: The only way to be productive is to realize that you don’t have to be productive."

Contact:

luke@lukesautoservice.com

www.lukesautoservice.com

Facebook

We continue to challenge ourselves to fill in the gaps in the financial narrative we use to write our own financial and investment strategies.  Luckily, Author and Journalist, Stuart Englert was willing to sit down with us and unpack the historical events that formed the largest financial fraud in U.S. and world history.  We were able to get specific answers regarding the differences between real money and currency and also identify the lasting monetary value of gold and silver.

Below are just a few notes that outlines the shift that Stuart's book is asking of the everyday investor.  We believe and follow a similar narrative and think it would be worth your time to check out his book and take the time to evaluate your own strategy and the narrative it is based upon.

1. Education - we, as individuals must be educated on finance, stewardship and investment.
2. Debt Is Not Wealth - we must understand that a great deal of the "wealth" that has been created is actually debt and not real wealth.
3. Gold and Silver are insurance, not an investment
4. Savings, more specifically aggressive savings is a lost component of great stewardship and investing
5. We must all evaluate our own risk tolerance for investing but also evaluate the narratives we use to asses our own risk /the products we invest in.
6. Employ great patience and keep a long term perspective in the foreground.

Contact:

Stuart Englert - srenglert@comcast.net for questions or autographed copies of his books.

LinkedIn

Facebook

Resources and Mentions:

Rigged:  Exposing the Largest Financial Fraud in History

The Richest Man in Babylon - George Clason

Previous Episodes for Review:

Jerry Bowyer Episode

The 7 Roads of Investing

There was so much to unpack in this episode - our time with Jerry was mind blowing and inspiring!  We hope that this short list of points will spark you to learn and investigate the principles in his book  - principles that can surely charge your investing future for success.

1. In the marketplace we are used to discussing the role of buyer, seller and speculator.  Unfortunately, we cannot in all honesty speak of them in the first person.  Jerry outlines the characteristics of the Galilean in that time and culture which we would use to reinforce the idea of becoming a "producer" (and not remaining an abdicator of your financial future)
2. We asked Jerry what  "shift" needs to happen with our mindsets and understanding.  He describes Jesus as one of a "mediatorial" class - someone who can speak to the banker/aristocrat class as well as the blue collar class of folks.  He is our example to be able to speak both languages and be able to perform in both environments.  As Jerry describes, He was not only God but also fully man, but not just any man - a highly sophisticated and educated blue collar leader.
3. Understand the idea of Currency Centralization or Decentralization and understand the different example of that in US history and world history.
4. Entrepreneurism is about loving people!  Why?  Because they are willing to takes risk to love their families, communities and folks who rely on them.  In Jerry's words, they are the "load bearing structures in their world".
5. Theism and capitalism have massive ties as does socialism and atheism.  It is good to palate the reminder that God wants us to create and pass on value.

Jerry Bowyer is a Forbes contributor, contributing editor of AffluentInvestor.com, and Senior Fellow in Business Economics at The Center for Cultural Leadership. Jerry has compiled an impressive record as a leading thinker in finance and economics. He worked as an auditor and a tax consultant with Arthur Anderson, as Vice President of the Beechwood Company which is the family office associated with Federated Investors, and has consulted in various privatization efforts for Allegheny County, Pa.

He founded the influential economic think tank, the Allegheny Institute, and has lectured extensively at universities, businesses and civic groups. Jerry has been a member of three investment committees, among which is Benchmark Financial, Pittsburgh’s largest financial services firm. Jerry had been a regular commentator on Fox Business News and Fox News. He was formerly a CNBC Contributor, has guest-hosted The Kudlow Report, and has written for CNBC.com, National Review Online and The Wall Street Journal, as well as many other publications. He is the author of The Bush Boom and more recently The Free Market Capitalist’s Survival Guide, published by HarperCollins.

Jerry Bowyer Contact info:

Linked In

Facebook

Twitter

Resources and Mentions:

The Maker Versus the Takers: What Jesus Really Said about Social Justice and Economics

The Free Market Capitalists Survival Guide

We were absolutely blown away by this interview and we think this will be one of the most valuable hours you will spend listening to Jerry unpack his thoughts on Biblical Economics and entrepreneurship.  We were thrilled that he was willing to sit down with us and share his thoughts on Jesus' unique perspective on these topics.

Jerry Bowyer is a Forbes contributor, contributing editor of AffluentInvestor.com, and Senior Fellow in Business Economics at The Center for Cultural Leadership. Jerry has compiled an impressive record as a leading thinker in finance and economics. He worked as an auditor and a tax consultant with Arthur Anderson, as Vice President of the Beechwood Company which is the family office associated with Federated Investors, and has consulted in various privatization efforts for Allegheny County, Pa.

He founded the influential economic think tank, the Allegheny Institute, and has lectured extensively at universities, businesses and civic groups. Jerry has been a member of three investment committees, among which is Benchmark Financial, Pittsburgh’s largest financial services firm. Jerry had been a regular commentator on Fox Business News and Fox News. He was formerly a CNBC Contributor, has guest-hosted The Kudlow Report, and has written for CNBC.com, National Review Online and The Wall Street Journal, as well as many other publications. He is the author of The Bush Boom and more recently The Free Market Capitalist’s Survival Guide, published by HarperCollins.

Jerry Bowyer Contact info:

Linked In

Facebook

Twitter

Resources and Mentions:

The Maker Versus the Takers: What Jesus Really Said about Social Justice and Economics

The Free Market Capitalists Survival Guide