Debate: How to Retire Like a Christian - Christianity Today📖 Brittany Featured in Christianity Today
One of the things we appreciate most about Brittany is her ability to help people see retirement as more than reaching a financial goal. Retirement is a new season of purpose, impact, relationships, and becoming more fully who God created us to be.
That's why we were excited to see Brittany join Christianity Today alongside Arnie Cole and Bishop Walter S. Thomas Sr. for a thoughtful discussion on what it means to "retire like a Christian." The conversation explored topics such as purpose, stewardship, legacy, health, and making the most of the opportunities that come with this next chapter of life.
One thought Brittany shared during the conversation continues to resonate with us:
"I often describe retirement as becoming paycheck optional. But it's not purpose optional."
The article is a wonderful reminder that some of the most important retirement questions aren't financial at all. They're questions about purpose, family, faith, service, and the legacy we hope to leave behind.
We're proud of Brittany for sharing her perspective and honored to be part of conversations that help people think more deeply about living with purpose in every season of life.
A special thank you to Kristy Etheridge and Christianity Today for including Brittany in such a meaningful conversation. ❤️
📖 Read the article here:
https://www.christianitytoday.com/2026/09/debate-retire-like-a-christian/
See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures.
Legacy Isn't Just About What You Leave Behind❤️
Most of us hope to pass something meaningful on to the people we love. Not just our possessions, but our values, wisdom, and the things that have shaped our lives.
If that idea resonates with you, don't forget about our upcoming Purposeful Legacy event on September 22. We'll be exploring how to intentionally pass along the lessons, stories, and values that matter most to future generations.
And if you'd like to continue the conversation, we also invite you to join us for Leaving a Thriving Legacy with Eric Bilger on October 7. While Purposeful Legacy focuses on the personal side of legacy, this virtual event will dive deeper into the planning considerations that help support those intentions, including estate planning, beneficiary designations, long-term care, charitable giving, and more.
The October event is also a great option for our friends and family members who live farther away and may not be able to join us in person on September 22.
📅 Leaving a Thriving Legacy with Eric Bilger
💻 Virtual Event
🕛 October 7, 2026 | 12:00 PM ET
Learn more and RSVP here: https://connect.thrivent.com/inspired-wealth-advisors/events/106933
We'd love to have you join us for one—or both—of these meaningful conversations about caring for the people and values that matter most.
544 Reasons to Be Grateful... and One Week Left to Help.
One of the things we've learned over the years is that whenever we invite this community to do something good, you're quick to respond... and this time you've completely overwhelmed us with your generosity.
Since our last update, donations have been pouring in, and we're excited to share that we've now collected 544 food items through our Better Together: Food Drive benefiting Christian Appalachian Project (CAP). What started as a few cans on an empty table has quickly become a challenge of finding enough room for everything.
We're collecting shelf-stable, unexpired food items through September 22 for Christian Appalachian Project (CAP), and for every item donated, Thrivent and IWA together will donate $1 to CAP.
There's now just one week left to participate before collections close.
✅ Bring a few items to your next meeting
✅ Stop by the office to say hello, enjoy a drink, chocolate, and good company
✅ Bring a few items to an upcoming IWA event
Thank you to everyone who has participated so far. Your kindness, generosity, and willingness to care for others are what make this community so special.
Let's fill the shelves and help care for our Appalachian neighbors
Another Certification in the Team.
Please join us in congratulating Adam on passing the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Exam!
The SIE is one of the first major milestones for those pursuing a career in the financial services industry, and it's an exciting step forward on Adam's professional journey.
Between classes, client service, and helping keep things running smoothly around the office, Adam has been putting in the work behind the scenes. We're proud of his dedication and commitment to learning, and we're excited to see what comes next.
It certainly looks like he's well on his way toward a promising career in the industry.
Congratulations, Adam! We can't wait to see where your hard work takes you next.
Last week I had the opportunity to attend the Growth Minded Advisors Conference.
One of the greatest gifts of events like these is the chance to step away from the day-to-day and spend time with leaders who are building exceptional businesses, serving clients well, and sharing ideas generously.
I came home encouraged and energized. Many of the conversations reinforced what we've been building at Inspired Wealth Advisors: investing in people, creating meaningful career paths, strengthening support teams, and continuously improving the client experience. It was also encouraging to collaborate with advisors from across the country and help shape conversations around advisor engagement, community impact, and future initiatives throughout our region.
The best conferences don't simply provide new ideas. They reaffirm what's working, challenge what isn't, and inspire us to think bigger about what is possible.
Grateful for the relationships, the conversations, and the opportunity to help influence what's next.
What will your family remember when you're gone?
When people think about legacy, it's easy to focus on the things we'll leave behind. But for many families, the most meaningful gifts aren't possessions at all. They're the values, stories, lessons, and traditions that continue shaping future generations long after we're gone.
In just two weeks, we'll gather for Purposeful Legacy: How to Share Values and Valuables With the Next Generations. We'll enjoy good food, good company, and a thoughtful conversation about how to intentionally pass along the things that matter most.
📅 September 22
📍 The Manchester, Lexington
If you received an invitation, don't forget to RSVP! Please check your email for event details, and if you have any questions or can't find your invitation, we're happy to help.
We'd love to spend the evening with you exploring what it means to leave a truly purposeful legacy. ❤️
Blast from the Past! 🤸
Before Brittany was helping clients pursue their goals and building the next chapter of IWA, she was spending much of her free time upside down.
Brittany started gymnastics at age 8 and competed in power tumbling and trampoline from ages 9–11. While the bars, beam, and artistic side of gymnastics never became her favorites, she always preferred events where she could put a little more power behind her skills. It seems Brittany has been a bit of a powerhouse from an early age. 💪
Pictured here is Brittany (sitting on the floor directly beneath the word "National") with her gymnastics team during her competitive years. As a member of the Alberta Provincial Team, she traveled to competitions in Winnipeg and Vancouver, competing alongside athletes from across Canada.
Along the way, she learned a few lessons that still serve her well today: work hard, train harder, keep improving, and when life knocks you flat on your face... get back up and keep flipping! 😄
The good news is that Brittany can still do a flip today. The bad news is that these days she prefers a soft landing, which explains why trampoline parks with the kids are much more appealing than gymnastics competitions.
And that's a wrap on our Blast from the Past series! Thanks for taking a trip down memory lane with the IWA team.
114 Items and Counting.
One of the things that never stops amazing me is how quickly a community can come together when given an opportunity to help.
A few weeks ago, our shelves were empty. Today, thanks to the generosity of so many wonderful people, we've collected 114 food items through our Better Together: Food Drive for Christian Appalachian Project (CAP).
That's 114 reminders that small acts of kindness add up. A can here. A box of pasta there. A few items picked up during a grocery trip. On their own they may seem small, but together they're becoming something much bigger.
We're still collecting shelf-stable, unexpired food items through September 22 for Christian Appalachian Project (CAP), and we're incredibly grateful for everyone who has participated so far.
Want to join in?
✅ Bring a few items to your next meeting
✅ Stop by the office to say hello, enjoy a drink, chocolate, and good company
✅ Bring a few items to an upcoming IWA event
Every item makes a difference, and I'm thankful to be part of a community that cares for its neighbors so well.
Let's fill the shelves and help care for our Appalachian neighbors
Legacy planning doesn't have to be stressful. With the right tools and timely strategies, you can stay true to your vision and help your loved ones feel prepared.
Here are a few key things to keep in mind:
• The amount you can pass on without federal estate or gift tax is $15 million per person—or $30 million for married couples in 2026. These higher limits give families more flexibility and room to plan for the future.
• Preparing your wealth transfer priorities today can make a meaningful difference. Name beneficiaries, establish a will and consider trusts.
• Gifting can also play a role. Many people give annually to take advantage of the gift tax exclusion—up to $19,000 per person in 2026 without triggering gift tax.
A thoughtful approach can help more of what you’ve built reach the people and causes you care about. ➡️ https://bit.ly/4hpRIzN
Retirement isn't just about making your money last. It's about having the confidence to enjoy the life you've worked so hard to build.
One of the things we enjoy most is helping clients think through questions like, "Am I going to be okay?" and building plans designed to support the retirement they've worked so hard for. Even with a plan in place, though, we believe there's value in hearing new perspectives and ideas.
That's why we're sharing an upcoming virtual workshop: From Savings to Security: Making Your Money Last in Retirement. This workshop is a great opportunity to learn from two respected voices in the retirement planning space and perhaps discover a few new questions or strategies to bring to your next conversation with us.
During this session, David Blanchett and Michael Finke will discuss strategies for turning savings into reliable retirement income, protecting your lifestyle through changing markets, and approaching retirement with greater confidence.
Can't attend live? Register anyway to receive the recording.
👉 RSVP here: https://connect.thrivent.com/inspired-wealth-advisors/events/105879
We hope you'll join us as we explore new ideas, gain fresh perspectives, and continue building confidence for the years ahead.
What a Difference a Few Weeks Can Make! 🥫
When we launched our Better Together: Food Drive, we knew this community had a generous heart. Seeing that generosity in action has been incredibly encouraging. Thank you to everyone who has stopped by with donations so far. 😊)
We're now halfway through our Better Together: Food Drive! Before we had 11 food items. Today, we're up to 82 items collected for Christian Appalachian Project (CAP)! That's 71 additional items added since our last update.
And the impact doesn't stop there. For each donated item, $1 will be provided to CAP, meaning $82 have already be raised.
There's still time to join in before our collection ends on September 22. We're collecting shelf-stable, unexpired food items such as canned goods, pasta, rice, and other pantry staples.
📦 Bring a few items to your next meeting
☕ Stop by the office, even if you don't have an appointment. We'd love to say hello and share a drink, chocolate, and good company
🎉 Bring donations to an upcoming event, including our September 22 event 👀🤔
Good people doing good. That's what this drive is all about. Together we can make an impact as we help our Appalachian neighbors. Let's fill the shelves! ❤️
One of our favorite parts of building Inspired Wealth Advisors isn't found on a balance sheet or a business plan. It's getting to spend time with thoughtful people who care enough to ask hard questions, challenge assumptions, and help us become better.
This week, we spent an evening at The Kentucky Castle talking about the future of IWA with Stacy Nystrom and Ashley Swanson (affectionately known around our office as "The Bobs" after the consultants in Office Space. If you get that reference, you may be showing your age. 😄).
The conversation covered everything from leadership and career growth to culture and the kind of experience we want our team members and clients to have for years to come. There was plenty of healthy debate, lots of laughter, a few "that's not what I meant!" moments, and a shared commitment to building something meaningful.
One quote from the evening that stuck with us:
"Keep it simple. Hire really good people that rock and pay them well so they stay."
— Stacy Nystrom
We're not trying to build the biggest firm we can. We're trying to build the best one we can for our clients, our team, and the people who will someday join both.
We're thankful for thought partners who challenge our thinking, help us see around corners, and make the journey a lot more enjoyable.
Blast from the Past🥊
Before I was helping clients pursue their goals, I was spending my weekends pursuing a very different goal: winning boxing matches.
This photo was taken after winning the Eastern Regional Collegiate Championships while competing for the University of Kentucky boxing team. During my collegiate career, I earned All-American honors and spent countless weekends competing in Golden Gloves tournaments against some of the top amateur boxers in the country.
A lot has changed since I retired from boxing (including the fact that the hair in this photo has officially retired from my head 😄). These days, the challenges usually don't involve jabs and uppercuts, but many of the same lessons still apply: discipline, preparation, resilience, and keeping your eyes on the long-term goal.
And for anyone wondering... we're just as surprised as you that Elisabeth and Coleman have golden locks? 🤔😂
Copilot said:
It's the little things that make a community special.
During a recent meeting, Brittany mentioned how much she loves strawberry rhubarb pie and how difficult it can be to find. A few days later, a client stopped by with a surprise: a specially ordered strawberry rhubarb pie just for her.
Moments like this are a reminder that great relationships are built on more than conversations and planning. They're built on listening, thoughtfulness, and genuine care for one another. We strive to create those same moments for our clients every day, so it's especially meaningful when that kindness comes back around to us.
We're grateful to be part of a community that pays attention to the little things and understands how much they matter.
Brittany's Back from Canada! 🍁
Last week, Brittany headed north to Manitoba to reconnect with family, bring home the middle Lawson child after a month-long Canadian adventure with the grandparents, and enjoy a little time away from the day-to-day routine.
Between campfires, farm visits, quad rides, beautiful prairie sunsets, and plenty of time catching up with family and friends, the trip offered something that's becoming harder and harder to find—a chance to truly unplug. With little cell service and spotty WiFi, it was a welcome reminder of the value of slowing down and being fully present.
One of the most meaningful parts of the trip was spending time with family, including celebrating the opportunity to make more memories with Brittany's 95-year-old grandfather before his 96th birthday.
As much as she enjoyed her time in Canada, we're happy to have Brittany back home in Kentucky and back serving the clients and community she cares so much about.
Now that she's back, we're sure she'll be making up for all those missed emails. 😉📧
Blast from the Past! 📣
Before Beth was helping support our clients and keep the IWA office running smoothly, she was busy cheering for her high school's football and basketball teams as a 90s cheerleader.
Beth was part of a 12-person cheer squad that led cheers from the sidelines and performed halftime dances at games. And while her school didn't have a marching band, she still found her way into the music program by playing the flute in the band.
A lot has changed since then (especially the hairstyles 😄), but one thing hasn't: Beth has always enjoyed encouraging others, supporting her team, and helping people succeed.
Stay tuned for more Blast from the Past highlights from the rest of the IWA team... we might even find a photo of Rob with hair. 👀
A Small Start Can Lead to Something Special 🥫
One of our favorite things about this community is watching people show up for one another. Sometimes that starts with a grand gesture, and sometimes it starts with a single can of food dropped off during a visit to the office.
We're only a couple of weeks into our Better Together: Food Drive, and we've already collected 11 food items for Christian Appalachian Project (CAP). It may be a humble start, but every great effort begins somewhere—and this could be the beginning of an amazing food drive.
We're collecting shelf-stable, unexpired food items through September 22, and for every item donated, Thrivent and IWA together will donate $1 to CAP. All donations will be delivered to CAP as part of their Hunger Walk food collection efforts.
Want to participate?
✅ Bring a few items to your next meeting
✅ Stop by the office to say hello, enjoy a drink, chocolate, and good company
✅ Bring donations to an upcoming event, including the one on September 22 👀🤔
Let's fill the shelves and help care for our Appalachian neighbors! ❤️
You've worked hard to save for retirement. Make sure your money is working just as hard for you.
Retirement isn't only about reaching a number. It's about creating the freedom to spend time with loved ones, pursue your passions, and leave a meaningful legacy. Understanding how your IRA fits into that journey can make a difference.
At our upcoming Five Phases of an IRA workshop, we'll discuss:
• The key stages of an IRA's lifecycle
• Important decisions that arise throughout retirement
• Tax considerations for you and your beneficiaries
• Strategies to help you make the most of what you've saved
📅 Thursday, August 20, 2026
🕕 7:00 PM ET
🔗 https://connect.thrivent.com/inspired-wealth-advisors/events/106097
If you're retired or preparing for retirement, we hope you'll join us for this conversation. We're looking forward to seeing you there. ❤️
A Familiar Face Is Officially Joining the IWA Team
After spending the summer with us as an intern, we're excited to share that Adam Campisano will be continuing with Inspired Wealth Advisors part-time as an Office Professional while he completes his final year at the University of Kentucky.
Throughout his internship, Adam demonstrated a genuine desire to learn, build relationships, and serve others—qualities that align closely with the culture we're working to create at IWA. We're grateful that he has chosen to continue growing with our team as he takes the next step in what we believe will be a promising career.
In his new role, Adam will work alongside Beth and Elizabeth to support client service and office operations while continuing his education.
Please join us in congratulating Adam on this next chapter. We look forward to seeing all that he accomplishes in the year ahead.
Beth's Week at the Beach 🌴
Beth recently traded Kentucky for the South Carolina coast, spending a relaxing week in Isle of Palms enjoying the beach, visiting family, and slowing down for a few days.
When we asked Beth to send us a few photos during her vacation, this picture was her response, so we had to wait. 😄
One highlight of the trip was seeing Little Women at Charleston's historic Dock Street Theatre. When asked about her favorite part of the vacation, Beth didn't hesitate—quality time with family, making memories together, and having the chance to recharge.
And while every vacation eventually comes to an end, she's happy to be back in Kentucky, sleeping in her own bed, getting back into a routine, and doing work she loves. (The slightly cooler weather doesn't hurt either!)
Welcome back, Beth! 😊
