Thanks so much for your advice and all your resources. Your support, advice, validation and sincere heart have been such an encouragement and blessing to us. We left our time with you feeling great peace and clarity, even though all our financial problems are not instantly solved. God used you to speak into our lives and we are so thankful for that. Back to Testimonials Thank you for your advice Thanks so much for your advice and all your resources. Your support, advice, validation and sincere heart have been such an encouragement and blessing to us. We left our time with you feeling great peace and clarity, even though all our financial problems are not instantly solved. God used you to speak into our lives and we are so thankful for that. R.G. Toronto, ON, Canada Previous Next

I have learned how to manage my finance according Biblical Principles . It has been an eye open experience for me. Back to Testimonials Thank you Copland Financial Ministries I would like to Thank Copland Financial Ministries, Tom Copland and Randy Ziegenhagel for this amazing teaching on Financial Management God’s Way for Women. I have learned how to manage my finance according Biblical Principles . It has been an eye open experience for me. R.G. Previous Next

Learn how to manage your money based on Biblical principles. If you have financial questions, let us know and Tom Copland or one of our trained financial coaches will advise you. Investing Back to Articles Overview The following steps should enable you to learn and implement God’s investment principles. 1. Pray and depend on God for his wisdom (James 1:5) and his direction (Psalm 32:8) when investing, because no human can consistently predict the direction of the markets (James 4:13–15). Read More First, Pray and Depend on God for His Wisdom & Direction Prayer and dependence upon God are required in order to develop a personalized and biblically-based investment strategy. It is well known that the past performance of investment provides no guarantee for its future performance. Read More Develop & Implement a Biblically Based Investment Strategy A biblically-based investment strategy should meet the following two criteria: 1. be consistent with God’s principles 2. reflect God’s specific will for your life Read More Diversification (1 of 2) In my experience, I’ve seen too many cases where an individual has invested the majority of retirement funds in one company or in one sector. Read More Diversification (2 of 2) As explained in my previous Financial Moment, God’s Word recommends the diversification of one’s portfolio into different types of investments that will likely react differently to any particular market condition. Read More Use Minimal Debt - Or Better, No Debt Over the past 28 years, I have met many investment advisers who have instructed their clients to use debt in order to increase their investment returns. Read More Ensure that you Understand the Investment Over the past 28 years, I have had the privilege of working with 300 to 400 business people. In my experience, generally when they invest in something that they understand, and within biblical principles, they earn a profit. However, when they invest in something that they don’t understand, frequently they lose money. Read More Assess your Tolerance for Risk and Invest Accordingly In Ecclesiastes 11:1–6, God recommends the assumption of a reasonable amount of risk within your investment portfolio. Read More Avoid "Get-Rich-Quick Investments" and Hasty Decisions In my experience, the following are the common elements of a “get-rich-quick investment.” 1. There is a promise of an abnormally high rate of return. If the expected rate of return is unusually high, then the risk associated with that investment is also unusually high. Read More Obtain Biblical Counsel God admonishes us to obtain counsel. Proverbs 12:15 states, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel” (NASB), and Proverbs 15:22 states, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers, they succeed.” Read More Ensure that your Motives are Godly and not Worldly It is possible for a Christian to be involved in investing with godly motives or worldly motives. Your motives for investing are important to God. “All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD.” (Proverbs 16:2) Read More Following God's Directives Not Human Tendencies Human tendency is to respond to what is happening in the financial markets or news from the media. Good news frequently provides confidence or triggers greed, which tempts us to buy; bad news makes us feel uncomfortable or fearful, which results in a desire to sell. Read More Giving to God's Work Produces Eternal Benefits Giving to God’s work is an investment with eternal rewards for both the giver and the beneficiaries of the gift. In regard to the giver, Jesus said: “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done” (Matthew 16:27). Read More Keep a Balanced Perspective We are bombarded with information on investments. Every day hundreds of individuals give their opinion as to where you should invest your money. It is easy to spend excessive amounts of time and energy on investing. This is not God’s will: “Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Read More

Thanks so much for the opportunity to take Financial Management God's Way. Blessings to Tom and his team. Back to Testimonials Zoom Small group Participant Testimony I'm constantly amazed that this excellent course, Financial Management God's Way, is offered free of charge. The leaders are experienced, knowledgeable and very open and easy to talk to. The book is user-friendly and overflowing with God's word and how it relates to everyday life. Just the understanding that God owns everything and we are His caretakers is mind-changing. I encourage everyone - young and old - to take this course. I wish I had learned these practical financial principles when I was younger. It would have helped me be better prepared for my senior years and left me in a much better position, both financially and in my relationship with God. Thanks so much for the opportunity to take Financial Management God's Way. Blessings to Tom and his team. JG Kemptville, Ontario Canada Previous Next

I couldn't express enough how grateful I am to have Christine, and now Ton, helping us. Christine is incredibly skilled, creative and the most amazing blessing in so many ways! Back to Testimonials Sincerest thanks and may the Lord continue to bless you, your family and Copland financial ministries. Dear Tom, I couldn't express enough how grateful I am to have Christine, and now Ton, helping us. Christine is incredibly skilled, creative and the most amazing blessing in so many ways! I'm not exaggerating, in any way, that my life is so much fuller with her in it. Her help and wonderful person she is are a miracle in motion. I am/we are so incredibly blessed to have made this connection through you. I was near to giving up, in my own affairs, but feel so much hope moving forward. And, especially relieved and thankful for help with Paul's affairs. Sincerest thanks and may the Lord continue to bless you, your family and Copland financial ministries. SR & PN Stouffville Ontario Canada Previous Next

Your ministry is a blessing to me & my family. I am very appreciative of your 'all wise' emails. DM, Chester Basin, Nova Scotia Canada. Back to Testimonials Your ministry is a blessing to me Your ministry is a blessing to me & my family. I am very appreciative of your 'all wise' emails. DM Chester Basin, Nova Scotia Canada. Previous Next

God has spoken to me through this workshop series by allowing me to better understand how to manage the money he’s entrusted to me. I’ve been actively consulting with Christ regarding all financial decisions. Establishing a budget has allowed me to get a sense of what I can afford. The case studies allow us to explore real life situations in which non-biblical principles can lead to financial ruin. Tom is an inspiration and great leader. I’ve taken his workshops several times and I always learn something new. Thank you! Back to Testimonials God has spoken to me God has spoken to me through this workshop series by allowing me to better understand how to manage the money he’s entrusted to me. I’ve been actively consulting with Christ regarding all financial decisions. Establishing a budget has allowed me to get a sense of what I can afford. The case studies allow us to explore real life situations in which non-biblical principles can lead to financial ruin. Tom is an inspiration and great leader. I’ve taken his workshops several times and I always learn something new. Thank you! S.G. Toronto, ON Previous Next

An individual’s ministry effectiveness will generally be significantly influenced by the biblical or non-biblical use of money. Jesus indicated that, if you are not trustworthy with money, then God will not entrust you with something of greater importance, which Christ called the “true riches. “If you have not been trustworthy in the handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” (Luke 16:11). Back to Priorities Effective Ministry By: Tom Copland June 13, 2020 An individual’s ministry effectiveness will generally be significantly influenced by the biblical or non-biblical use of money. Jesus indicated that, if you are not trustworthy with money, then God will not entrust you with something of greater importance, which Christ called the “true riches. “If you have not been trustworthy in the handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” (Luke 16:11). I believe that God’s “true riches” include a close relationship with God, God’s peace, and God’s joy. In addition, I believe that God’s “true riches” include an effective ministry that has been blessed by God. It is interesting to note that one of the requirements for an elder is that the person must not be a “lover of money” and must be able to manage one’s own family well—which, by the way, would include managing family finances in a godly fashion (1 Timothy 3:3–5). From a practical perspective, 1 Timothy 3:5 raises this question: “If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?” Further, some biblical scholars interpret the “true riches” that Jesus Christ is referring to in Luke 16:11 to include spiritual responsibilities, which obviously affects one’s ministry. It is important to note that the verse preceding Luke 16:11 indicates that an individual must demonstrate faithfulness in a small amount before God will entrust him or her with a larger amount. Jesus said, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” In short, it is one’s character that determines the extent of one’s faithfulness to God, not the amount of money a person has been entrusted with. In summary, if a Christian is not faithful to God in regard to something of less importance, such as money and material things, then why would God entrust one with something of greater importance, which would include an effective ministry that has been blessed by God? I believe there is no substitute for studying and meditating on God’s Word with regard to finances. This, in conjunction with prayer, will enable you to determine God’s will for your life in regard to the money he has entrusted you with. As you implement God’s financial principles, God will provide you with his peace and joy in regard to finances as well as an effective ministry. Previous Article Next Article More Topics Investing Counsel & Wisdom Stewardship Principle Read More Read More Read More

I listen to you almost every day on Faith FM. I have learned so much and you have been God sent to me. I was praying to God for help in understanding His law with regards to finance and God blessed me with the best teacher/mentor I could have asked for. Thank you Tom and God bless you. Back to Testimonials Faith FM Listener I listen to you almost every day on Faith FM. I have learned so much and you have been God sent to me. I was praying to God for help in understanding His law with regards to finance and God blessed me with the best teacher/mentor I could have asked for. Thank you Tom and God bless you. Ellyna Previous Next

God’s Word warns of the dangers of signing surety, which includes a situation in which a company owner gives a personal guarantee for the company’s debt. Back to Co-Signing/Surety Avoiding Surety for Company By: Tom Copland June 14, 2020 God’s Word warns of the dangers of signing surety, which includes a situation in which a company owner gives a personal guarantee for the company’s debt. By refusing to give a personal guarantee for company debt, you will effectively protect your family’s assets, such as your home, retirement fund, etc. The objective is not to avoid paying your obligations, but rather to limit your risk and the potential negative consequences if something goes wrong. If you do not provide personal guarantees, and if the company does have a bad year, you will be in a much better negotiating position with your bank. Although financial institutions generally ask for personal guarantees, it is definitely possible to obtain a business bank loan without signing surety. If your company has a lot of debt, it may take a few years for you to convince the lender to release you from your personal guarantee. However, it is possible fundamentally because all things are possible with God, and it is clearly God’s desire that you do not sign surety. The following are some practical suggestions to avoid signing surety. 1. Build sufficient retained earnings in your company with the objective of negotiating the release of your personal guarantees. 2. Develop and implement a personal budget in order to minimize your salary from the company so that you are able to build the retained earnings of the company faster. 3. Another option is to obtain equity investors, who generally do not require personal guarantees because the nature of their investment is equity, not a loan. To do this, you will have to give up a portion of the ownership of your business. If your company has significant debt, the use of equity investors is a much safer way to finance your business. Also, when the company has a bad year, equity investors are your partners, who want to help, whereas a bank generally is focused on protecting its position. 4. Frankly, the best option is to develop and implement a plan to reduce and eliminate your company’s indebtedness. God warns of the dangers of borrowing (Proverbs 22:7), and every reference to borrowing in the Bible is a negative one. I firmly believe that the God of this universe does not need a bank in order for God to bless a business. Over the past 23 years, I have been blessed by God with the privilege of assisting approximately 200 businesses and families become debt-free both corporately and personally. Philippians 4:19 states, “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Please note that it is God himself who promises to meet our needs—God does not need the bank. Previous Article Next Article More Topics Financial Deceptions Read More Freedom from Financial Anxiety Read More Investing Read More

Is it ok to do co-signing? Discover expert insights on co-signing/surety. Is it ok to do co-signing? Visit for comprehensive guidance. Co-Signing/ Surety Back to Articles Co-Signing for Loans Several years ago I received a phone call from a woman who indicated that the bank had just taken a significant portion of her and her husband’s retirement fund to pay off a loan for which they had cosigned with their son. Read More What if you Have Already Co-Signed a Loan? Statistics demonstrate that in more than 50 percent of instances when someone has co-signed, it is the cosigner, not the borrower, who ends up paying the loan. If you have already cosigned for a loan, I strongly recommend that you take the advice given by God to do everything possible to free yourself from the financial obligation related to cosigning. Read More Avoiding Surety for Company God’s Word warns of the dangers of signing surety, which includes a situation in which a company owner gives a personal guarantee for the company’s debt. Read More Personal Guarantees for a Business Loan The issue of surety (guaranteeing payment of a debt for another) arises when one takes on a financial obligation without a certain way to pay. When the owner of a company gives a personal guarantee in regard to the company’s debt, that person assumes that the company will be profitable enough and have sufficient cash flow to service the debt—without the debt falling back onto the personal guarantor. Read More

Thank you Tom for your faithfulness in teaching through God's word, and many hours on your own time, for our benefit and God's call. It has been great and very much appreciated by me and I am sending a donation for your ministry, by mail today. I will continue to pray for your ministry, too. Thank you again for all you do. Back to Testimonials Thank you Tom for your faithfulness Thank you Tom for your faithfulness in teaching through God's word, and many hours on your own time, for our benefit and God's call. It has been great and very much appreciated by me and I am sending a donation for your ministry, by mail today. I will continue to pray for your ministry, too. Thank you again for all you do. L.M. Stouffville, ON, Canada Previous Next