Speaking Up for Shareholders with Chris Meyer

So they familiarize themselves with the necessary information to speak intelligently and purposefully when they engage the company. And that takes, of course, a lot of preparation. 

They also seek to build trusting relationships with the companies they engage with. This comes over many minor and significant interactions with company leaders. Trust, as we know, is usually earned and not given, and so that takes time as well. However, companies typically come to understand that Praxis is approaching them in good faith and that we're invested in their success, not just our own; an overarching goal they have for every engagement is to reach mutually beneficial outcomes. 

So, for instance, if a power company is able to reduce its air and water pollution substantially, it's excellent for creation. The company is also more efficient in its operations and better positioned to compete against its peers. And its reputation can benefit as well. In the long term, that's better for shareholders, the company, and the communities where it operates.

How do you stay motivated when change seems to come so slowly?

Recognizing incremental changes along the way, even small ones, is crucial as these can facilitate future progress. As individuals, we are not responsible for solving all the world's problems alone or righting all wrongs. The mission is to work toward creation's wholeness with the time and resources available while honoring the progress made step by step. This long-term perspective can help us persevere even when change does not happen as quickly as desired.

On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:

• Is there any way I could make an extra $400 per month to help support my wife and me until her disability is reapproved, which is expected to take up to nine months? My job in the restaurant industry doesn't provide stable hours, so I wanted to know if there were any other options to increase our income temporarily during this challenging time.
• Should start taking my Social Security benefits at age 67 or wait until age 70? I recently applied for Social Security but haven't received a decision yet. I want to put the lump sum retroactive payment and my monthly benefits toward paying my $87,000 mortgage. According to a mortgage calculator, I could pay it off within two years if I do this. However, my nephew thinks I should wait until I am 70 for higher monthly benefits. I didn't fully understand his perspective, so I wanted your help in explaining the pros and cons of each approach.
• Do I need to pay tithes based on the interest I am earning from a CD that I have invested in through my financial advisor? Rather than taking the interest payments, I have been reinvesting them, so I would like to know if I should be tithing on that interest income even though I have not actually received the money since it has been reinvested back into the CD.

Resources Mentioned:

• Praxis Mutual Funds
• Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich Fool
• Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) or Certified Christian Financial Counselor (CertCFC)
• FaithFi App