Well, it's hard to believe, but soon the kids will be headed back to school. Are you ready to get the new school year started on the right foot? On this Faith & Finance on AFR, Rob West and Crystal Payne share some great advice to make your back-to-school experience easier. Then, Rob answers listener questions on a variety of financial topics.

Corrie ten Boom once said, “If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. But if you look at Christ, you’ll be at rest.” When money becomes the place we look for peace, security, or identity, financial unrest is never far behind. On this Faith & Finance on AFR, Rob West is joined by Elizabeth Brickman to talk about why more money won’t solve that unrest and how biblical wisdom can move us toward true peace. Then it’s on to calls.

Inflation may have cooled—but for many households, the credit card balances built up in recent years are still very real. Many families navigated rising costs by relying on credit cards. Now, even though inflation has eased, the balances—and the interest—remain. On this Faith & Finance on AFR, Rob West and Neile Simon share how credit counseling can help. Then, it’s on to calls.

“The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.” - Proverbs 19:8  Wisdom doesn’t just shape what we believe—it shapes how we live, including how we handle money. On this Faith & Finance on AFR, Dr. Greg Forster joins Rob West as we begin a new series on the cardinal virtues by looking at prudence and why faithful stewardship requires more than financial knowledge. Then it’s on to calls.

When it comes to retirement, many of us are taught to think mainly in terms of escape—escape from work, pressure, schedules, and responsibility. But is that the full biblical vision? On this Faith & Finance on AFR, Rob West considers what is conveyed in Scripture about retirement. We’ll also discover how to steward our later years with purpose and faithfulness. Then, it’s on to calls.

This weekend, our nation celebrates freedom. But Scripture points us to a freedom even deeper than national liberty. As we mark the Fourth of July weekend and the 250th anniversary of our nation, it’s worth asking: What does it mean to live as truly free people? On this Faith & Finance on AFR, Rob West will explore the freedom Christ gives—and how that freedom reshapes the way we handle money. Then, Rob answers listener questions on a variety of financial topics.

In his book titled, The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis wrote, “Prosperity knits a man to the world. He feels that he is ‘finding his place in it,’ while really it is finding its place in him.” Prosperity can be a blessing from God, but it becomes dangerous when it begins to shape our identity. On this Faith & Finance on AFR, Rob West examines the story of King Hezekiah and the subtle danger of using wealth to boast. Then, it’s on to calls.

Before you borrow, it’s worth asking what the debt may cost beyond the interest rate. Debt can affect your budget, your marriage, your margin, and your ability to respond freely when God leads. That doesn’t mean borrowing is always wrong, but it does mean it should be approached carefully. On this Faith & Finance on AFR, Rob West and Ron Blue help you think wisely about borrowing. 

1 Corinthians 4:2 says, “Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” Faithful stewardship doesn’t happen by accident. In fact, the choices we make with money can either create pressure or help us manage those resources with wisdom and devotion to God. On this Faith & Finance on AFR, Rob West looks at six financial choices that can help us steward well what God has entrusted to us.

Credit card rewards can look like easy money—especially when we hear about earning flights, hotel stays, and cash bonuses, just by opening new cards. On this episode of Faith & Finance on AFR, Rob West cautions us about a growing strategy called, “credit card churning” that may carry more risk than reward. Learn what it is, where the dangers are, and how Christians can think wisely about rewards, debt, and stewardship. Then, it’s on to calls.

Do you know if your retirement plan is on track—or are you simply hoping it is? Whether retirement is years away or just around the corner, it’s wise to pause and take a closer look at your plan. On this Faith & Finance on AFR, Rob West walks you through a retirement checkup—what numbers to know, what assumptions to test, and how to think biblically about the season ahead. Then, it’s on to calls.

Why wait to give when the impact could start today? It’s easy to assume generosity will grow over time—after we’ve earned more, saved more, or reached a certain level of financial security. But what if waiting causes us to miss something greater? On this Faith & Finance on AFR, Rob West and Cody Hobelmann discuss the impact of giving now, rather than later. Then, it’s on to calls.

James 1:5 says, “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you.” When we think about financial decisions, we often turn first to budgets, spreadsheets, or expert advice. And those tools can be helpful. But for followers of Christ, wisdom begins with prayer. On this Faith & Finance on AFR, Sharon Epps joins Rob West to talk about inviting God into our financial lives and seeking His guidance with trust and humility. Then it's on to calls.

When Christians respond with generosity, doors open for hope that lasts. You’ve heard about the devastating crisis in Lebanon and how families are displaced by war. On this Faith & Finance on AFR, Rob West and May-Lee Melki revisit that story because, while much has been done, the need remains great. They share what your generosity has already made possible—and the opportunity still before us. Then, it’s on to calls.

Joshua Becker states, “Minimalism isn’t about removing things you love. It’s about removing the things that distract you from the things you love.” Clutter not only competes for your space, but it also vies for your attention, affection, and generosity. On this Faith & Finance on AFR, Joshua Becker joins Rob West to discuss possessions and simplicity. Discover how owning less can help you love more and live more purposefully. Then, it’s on to calls.

With Father’s Day approaching, we’re asking a deeper question: What kind of legacy are we leaving as men, as dads, and as stewards of what God has entrusted to us? On this Faith & Finance on AFR, Jonathan Lewis from Fathers for Fathers joins Rob West to talk about fatherhood, faith, and the financial discipleship that shapes generations. Then, it’s on to listener calls.

When the paycheck stops, and retirement income begins, how should giving change? During our working years, giving often feels straightforward. But in retirement, income may come from Social Security, pensions, investments, or savings—and that can raise new questions about what to give from and how to think about it biblically. On this Faith & Finance on AFR, Rob West is joined by Anthony Saffer to help us think wisely and faithfully about tithing in retirement. Then it’s on to calls.

When one listener’s burden became another’s calling, the body of Christ went to work. Every now and then, through this program, we get to see what happens when God’s people respond to very real struggles in extraordinary ways. On this Faith & Finance on AFR, Rene in North Carolina joins Rob West to share how a simple phone call led to a powerful act of generosity. Then, it’s on to listener calls.

Many investors wonder whether the market is getting ahead of itself—especially in AI and tech. What if the better question isn’t whether we’re in a bubble, but how we should respond if we are? On this Faith & Finance on AFR, Rob West and Mark Biller discuss what investors should do when markets look overheated. They also explain why trying to predict the exact peak usually backfires. Then, it’s on to listener calls.

In Genesis 11:4, the people of Babel said, “Let us make a name for ourselves.” That same temptation can surface in times of success, when achievement becomes a personal monument rather than a platform for God’s glory. On this Faith & Finance on AFR, Rob West and Jim Wise discuss the spiritual risks of prosperity. They also explain how to keep the focus on God’s Kingdom, rather than our own name. Then, it’s on to calls.