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Back to Testimonials God used you to save a life It is amazing to hear from you and would be thrilled to speak with you. You were the first human voice I heard as God’s grace filled my life. Please know that at least once God uses your recorded voice to save a human life and to add my name to the Book of Life. Thank you. C.L. Halifax, NS, Canada Previous Next

Back to Testimonials A man was in the depths of despair A man was in the depths of despair and psyched himself to drive his car into the water to commit suicide. He said the only station that would come in was CJLU 93.9. He specifically heard Tom Copland and decided against killing himself. He gave his life to Christ and has been a Christian now for a year and a half. He talked about the Bibles he has been giving out to people and how he now attends a local church. He called the station this week to share his testimony. Thank you for airing Financial Moments on Harvesters FM. God bless you. J.L. (Radio Host) Eastern Canada Previous Next

Want ed: We are currently in need of an intermediate or senior accountant. _______________ We are currently in need of an intermediate or senior accountant. The ideal candidate should have at least 5 years of public accounting experience and be familiar with preparing financial statements, corporate tax returns and personal tax returns for private businesses. We need an individual who is available for at least 3 to 4 days a week, and we are open to hiring someone on a full-time basis. Our preference is for the candidate to work in our office located in Markham, ON but if you live a long distance away, working remotely may be acceptable. The successful candidate would have significant experience with Caseware, Caseview, Profile tax software, and Microsoft Office. Remuneration will be based upon the individual's training and experience. One unique aspect of our firm is that we give biblically-based financial advice to clients in conjunction with accounting and tax services. If interested, please send your resume at info@copland-ca.com Also feel free to tell to your friends about this ad who you think would qualify and might be interested.

Back to Testimonials Your radio programs have been a daily source of inspiration I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to reach out and express my gratitude for the impact your work has had on my life over the past two years. Your radio programs have been a daily source of inspiration and have guided me towards discovering my purpose. ME Waterloo, Ontario Previous Next

Back to Testimonials This brought healing knowledge and advice Hi Efrain [one of our small group leaders of the small groups series-Financial Management God's Way] Thank you so much for such a wonderful class. Your sincere honesty and sharing of true situations in your life, helped the rest of us to open up and share too. This brought healing knowledge and advice and help to all of us - from you and each other. I felt supported, cared for, and valued, as I trust others did too. BW North Vancouver Canada Previous Next

Back to Testimonials You have changed my life I just want to let you know that I was listening to your message years ago when we were working together. You have changed my life. I sold my larger house and minimized my lifestyle and set new financial goals because of the time you spent talking with me and the CD’s you gave me. I wanted you to know that I was listening. I’ve made saving a priority. Thank goodness! I know it won’t be an easy time here, but boy I’m glad I’ve been saving. B.P. South Carolina, USA Previous Next

Back to Financial Deceptions Debt Restructuring Will Solve Your Financial Problems By: Tom Copland June 15, 2020 Several years ago, I counselled an individual who had accumulated significant debt on his credit cards. To lower his interest costs and to be able to make appropriate repayments, it made sense to restructure his debt. He obtained a line of credit from his bank at a much lower interest rate and used those funds to pay off his credit cards. At the same time, I emphasized to him that restructuring his debt was treating the symptom and not the problem. The real problem was that he and his wife were spending more than they were earning, and they had been doing this for a couple of years. I strongly recommended that they develop and implement a budget with the objective of ensuring that they spend less than they earn on a monthly basis so that they can use the surplus to pay down debt. Unfortunately, they did not do so, and within three years they had accumulated new credit card debts. Since his bank line of credit had been fully utilized, it was necessary to take out a second mortgage on his home to pay off the new debt. Again, I emphasized the importance of spending less than their income. About four years later, he came to me again with the same problem. With all sources of credit maximized, it was necessary to withdraw money from the couple’s RRSPs to pay off the high-interest credit card debt and satisfy the credit card companies. This resulted in two new problems: first, a tax liability because of the RRSP withdrawals and second, a significant concern that they would not have sufficient funds for retirement. At this point, you may well think that this individual cannot be very astute financially. Actually, the reverse is true. He is a chartered accountant who understood and agreed with the advice. However, because he and his wife were not prepared to make the necessary sacrifices to reduce their personal spending, today they are reaping the negative consequences. Sometimes the root of financial problems goes beyond the financial sphere and into the spiritual. Some spiritual problems that can give rise to financial problems include covetousness, lack of contentment, greed, selfishness, and pride. These mindsets are clearly contrary to God’s Word. Often it is necessary for a Christian to meditate on God’s Word with regard to finances in order to think differently about money and material things. Romans 12:2 states, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” In summary, if you are in debt, may I encourage you to do two things: 1. Develop and implement a budget to ensure that you are spending less than you are earning, and use the surplus to pay off your debts. For a free copy of my firm’s Excel-based budgeting template, see the Budgeting page. 2. Study and meditate on God’s Word regularly with regard to finances. Previous Article Next Article More Topics The Joseph Principle Read More Co-Signing/Surety Read More Freedom from Financial Anxiety Read More

Diversification (1 of 2) Back to Investing By: Tom Copland October 19, 2021 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. For “a season” these investments may do well, but inevitably every company and sector falls on bad times. This results in significant losses because the portfolio was not diversified in a manner that was consistent with God’s Word. Because no human can consistently predict the direction of any market (see James 4:13–15), it is important to diversify your assets into different categories of investments that will likely react differently to any given market condition. The Bible recommends this type of diversification. “Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again. Give portions to seven, yes to eight, for you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.” (Ecclesiastes 11:1, 2) At the time this was written, “Cast your bread upon the waters” was a metaphorical expression used in the grain trade that illustrated the potential successful prospects of a business investment (per Dr. Charles Ryrie’s study bible). In short, it is biblical to take some risk within one’s portfolio, however, verse 2 recommends diversifying your investments into 7 or 8 categories, because you do not know what disaster may come upon any particular company or sector. In 1999, I met with a client who had invested most of his money in 25 technology stocks. I recommended biblical diversification of his portfolio. He believed he was diversified because he owned 25 different stocks. I explained to him that generally, all stocks in any particular sector will react the same under the same market conditions. He made no changes and as a result, during the bear market (2000-2004), his portfolio decreased 70% in value! Biblical diversification is obtained by allocating one’s assets into different types of investments that will probably react differently to any particular market condition. Here are some examples: 1. During inflationary times (e.g. the 1970s), natural resource equities, commodities and real return bonds increase in value, while medium and long-term bonds do very poorly. 2. In a period of deflation (e.g. 1991-1995), medium and long-term bonds generally increase in value, while natural resource equities, commodities and real return bonds usually do poorly. Further, diversify your assets among several sectors of the economy and to appropriate countries, as generally, this will reduce the risk and volatility of your total portfolio. Many investors try to “time the market”—that is, they buy when they believe that the market is headed higher and sell when they believe the market is going lower. God says (and history shows) that no human can consistently predict the future value of any investment (Prov 27:1). Therefore, unless God specifically directs you otherwise [John 10:3, 4, 27], there is a need for biblical diversification in one’s portfolio because, under normal market conditions, if one category of investment decreases in value, generally another category will likely be increasing, thus reducing the volatility of your total portfolio. Over the long run, a well-thought-out biblically based portfolio should provide reasonable returns. In summary, it is biblical to take on a reasonable amount of risk within one’s investment portfolio. However, God recommends diversification. This will reduce the risk and volatility of your portfolio. See my next Financial Moment for suggested asset allocations. Previous Article Next Article More Topics Freedom from Financial Anxiety Read More Priorities Read More Counsel & Wisdom Read More

Back to Testimonials A good steward of the resources God has given us It has become very clear that what I thought was a biblical view towards money was somewhat off base. This course has taught me that…an intimate walk with God…is the only way to be a good steward of the resources God has given us. Anonymous Previous Next

Back to Testimonials Praise God for the work Thank you so much for your prompt response; much appreciated. I will be checking out the website. Praise God for the work you guys are doing for The Body of Christ. Anonymous Previous Next

Avoid "Get-Rich-Quick Investments" and Hasty Decisions Back to Investing By: Tom Copland October 19, 2021 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. Hence there is a risk of very significant losses. If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. 2. Generally, the investor has a limited understanding of the investment. It is easier for a salesperson to sell you a high-risk investment when it is outside of your expertise. 3. It usually requires a quick decision that will prevent the potential investor from obtaining independent counsel from someone who has a thorough understanding of the investment. 4. Frequently, debt is utilized because debt increases the returns if the investment is successful; but debt also increases the losses if the investment goes sour. 5. Generally, a get-rich-quick investment is not diversified in accordance with Ecclesiastes 11:1, 2 but is focused on one investment or one sector, which increases the return if the promoters are right in their predictions, but it also increases the losses if they are wrong. God clearly warns of the dangers of trying to get rich quick: Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. (Proverbs 23:4–5) The emphasis in Scripture is to save and accumulate a little at a time over a long period of time and not to try to get rich quick. Proverbs 13:11 states, “Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow” (emphasis added). As explained in my Financial Moment titled “Investing—Assess Your Tolerance for Risk and Invest Accordingly,” it is biblical to assume some risk within your investment portfolio. However, when investors try to make a lot of money very quickly (i.e., to get rich quick), then generally they assume an excessive amount of risk and debt, and they frequently lose everything. This is not God’s will. Therefore, if someone recommends an investment that promises an abnormally high rate of return, or requires a significant portion of your portfolio, then I recommend the following: 1. Pray and ask God to direct you through his Holy Spirit. A lack of peace can be God’s way of communicating to you or your spouse that it is not God’s will for you to invest. 2. Ask God to reveal to you your motives. Motives are important to God (Proverbs 16:2). Ungodly motives include greed, covetousness, impatience, and pride; the corresponding godly motives would be generosity, contentment, patience, and humility. 3. Take the time that is required to obtain sufficient knowledge and understanding of the investment before you invest (Proverbs 28:19, 20). 4. Use godly counsellors who have the necessary experience and knowledge and will not personally profit if you decide to invest (Psalm 1:1–3). In summary, if you do not have sufficient time to complete the four suggestions above, then do not invest. Some of the best investment decisions ever made are the decisions not to invest. Hasty decisions are usually bad decisions (Proverbs 21:5). And remember, the emphasis in God’s Word is to save and accumulate assets for future needs over a long period of time—not to get rich quickly. Previous Article Next Article More Topics Freedom from Financial Anxiety Read More Priorities Read More Counsel & Wisdom Read More

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