For many of us, heading outside for a run, walk or bike ride during the cold months of winter is not very appealing. Yet how can we stay active and fit through this chilly season without paying for a pricey gym membership? Luckily, in our ever-connected world, there are an increasing number of ways to fit in fitness in the convenience of your home or with neighbors in your community, all at little to no cost to you.

In recent years, an alarming trend has emerged, linking the growing concerns about climate change with the rise in human anxiety levels. It’s called climate anxiety.

When it comes to finances, the human mind plays a significant role in shaping the decisions we make. Our mental state, past experiences, and emotions can often cloud our judgment and cause us to make impulsive decisions that can sabotage our financial goals.

Our financial decisions are often influenced by various cognitive biases that can lead to less-than-optimal financial outcomes. Let’s explore a few of them.

Rev. Bruce G. Epperly, PhD

And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. (Matthew 12:2)

The Pension Boards interviews the Rev. Dr. Michael L. Sloan, Senior Pastor for The First Congregational Church in Spencerport, New York, to learn of his experiences with the Ministers’ Financial Vitality Initiative (MFVI) program, a three-year personal finance program designed to alleviate the debt burden of UCC authorized ministers. Rev. Sloan is also a participant in the Next Generation Leadership Initiative (NGLI). Both programs are administered by the United Church Board for Ministerial Assistance, the philanthropic arm of the Pension Boards.