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Episode theme: You can build “retirement wealth,” but if you don’t protect your health, you may never enjoy it. True planning includes health, relationships, purpose, and finances—not finances alone.
Key Scripture
- 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 — Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit; honor God with your body.
Big Ideas Covered
- The 4 pillars of a successful retirement:
Health, Relationships, Purpose, Finances (finance is only one pillar). - Myth in the advisor world: “Hustle for 3–10 years and everything else will fall into place.”
Reality: Health and relationships don’t “auto-fix.” They require intentional planning. - Stress and performance:
Advisors who care for their health tend to experience lower chronic stress and have more capacity for business, family, and clients. - The “Illness–Wellness Spectrum” (1–10):
Many people live in a false wellness zone (5)—not “sick,” but not truly healthy—and unknowingly drift toward illness. - The “Two Fathers” retirement story:
Same money + same time, very different outcomes depending on health habits. - Compound effect:
Your small daily decisions compound—good or bad—just like money does. - Health KPIs matter like financial KPIs:
If you don’t track numbers, you don’t know trends. - Two practical starting actions:
- Waist-to-height ratio (target 0.5 or less)
- Break sedentary time: move 1 minute every hour
- Two lab values to ask for:
- A1C (long-term blood sugar)
- Vitamin D
- Breathing check: If you’re mouth-breathing at rest, that’s a signal to pay attention.
Resources Mentioned
- Grow Wealthy score/quiz: growwealthy.com
- Client conversation starters PDF: growwealthy.com/retire
- Free wellness audit (financial advisors): link in episode description (your show notes)
Calls to Action
- Listen to the full audio episode.
- Join the Live Q&A on LinkedIn/YouTube.
- Financial advisors: claim the free wellness audit.
- Need help with finances: schedule a consultation at abrwealthmanagement.com.
Hello, my fellow faith-based investors. This is Financial Advisors Say the Darndest Things. I’m your host—and my mom’s favorite faith-based investment advisor—A.B. Ridgeway.
If this is your first time here, welcome. If you’re coming back for another spiritual refill and you want to learn more ways to increase your faith and increase your finances, welcome back.
Today’s episode is a little different—and I believe it may be one of the most important conversations we’ve had.
We’re talking about:
- The four pillars of a well-balanced life
- The illness/wellness spectrum (and how to tell which side you’re on)
- Why your health should be treated like a retirement account
- And a few practical action steps you can start today
And before you scroll—pause for a second.
Take a breath.
If your mouth is open and you’re breathing through your mouth instead of your nose, you may not want to miss the rest of this message.
Listen to the Full Episode
Before we dive in, I want you to listen to this episode in full. It’s available in audio, and you can play it right here while you read.
[Embed Audio Player Here]
Scripture for the Episode: Honor God With Your Body
Our scripture comes from 1 Corinthians 6:19–20:
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit… You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
That scripture sets the tone for the entire conversation.
Because here’s the question nobody likes to ask:
What’s the point of learning how to manage your money for the future if daily you’re reducing your chances of making it there?
That’s why I brought on today’s guest.
Meet Our Guest: Wellness Coach and Exercise Physiologist Stephen Gwynup
I sat down with Stephen Gwynup—an exercise physiologist and certified wellness coach, and founder/CEO of Grow Wealthy.
Stephen’s story is powerful. She grew up watching the financial industry from the inside because her father was an advisor. She saw what wealth could do for families—but she also saw what stress and neglect could take from advisors and clients alike.
Then her own life changed when she nearly died in Australia after becoming septic. In her words, she “aged a decade in a day.” Her recovery forced a new realization:
Fitness isn’t just exercise. Health is a complete system.
And she discovered something that hit home for me as a financial advisor:
Health and finance run on the same principles.
Planning. Habits. Tracking. Consistency. Discipline. Compound effect.
One without the other is half a plan.
The 4 Pillars of a Successful Retirement
Stephen referenced a study that identified the four pillars of a successful retirement:
- Health
- Relationships
- Purpose
- Finances
Most people build their entire future on one pillar: money.
But retirement doesn’t work like that.
You can have the perfect portfolio and still have a painful retirement if:
- your health is failing
- your relationships are strained
- you’ve lost a sense of purpose
- or you’re too stressed to enjoy the life you built
This is why I keep saying:
A financial plan without a health plan is incomplete.
The Illness–Wellness Spectrum: The “False Wellness Zone” That Traps Most People
One of the most useful tools Stephen shared was the Illness–Wellness Spectrum, a 1–10 scale.
- Moving down the scale means you’re drifting toward illness
- Moving up the scale means you’re building wellness
But here’s the trap: the middle.
Stephen calls it the false wellness zone—a “5.”
You’re not sick… but you’re not well either.
No major symptoms. No emergency. No “wake-up call.”
So you get comfortable.
And the body quietly drifts toward disease.
This is exactly what happens with money too:
People aren’t broke… but they’re not building wealth either.
So they get comfortable—and drift.
The “Two Fathers” Story: Same Retirement, Two Completely Different Lives
Stephen shared a story that should stop every listener in their tracks.
She has two fathers in her life:
Both are retired.
Both have enough money.
Both have enough time.
But one father:
- walks golf courses
- plays pickleball
- rides bikes
- lives with strength and energy
The other father:
- goes to dialysis three times a week
- spends most days in medical appointments
- has time and money, but not the body to enjoy it
That’s the part most investors overlook:
Retirement is not just a number. It’s a quality of life.
The Same “Compound Effect” That Builds Wealth Also Builds Your Health
As financial advisors, we understand compounding.
Stephen and I talked about the truth most people don’t want to face:
Small daily choices don’t stay small.
They compound.
- A little discipline compounds into strength
- A little neglect compounds into chronic issues
- A little movement compounds into resilience
- A little “I’ll start later” compounds into regret
Your habits are building your future—whether you notice it or not.
Practical Health KPIs You Can Track Like a Financial KPI Dashboard
If you don’t know your numbers, you don’t know your trend.
Stephen gave three strong starting points:
1) Waist-to-Height Ratio (Do This Today)
Measure your waist at your belly button and divide it by your height.
Target: 0.5 or less
If your waist is more than half your height, it’s time to take action.
2) Ask for These Lab Values
- A1C (long-term blood sugar)
- Vitamin D (linked to immunity, bone health, stress, and more)
3) Break Sedentary Time
Move at least 1 minute every hour during your workday.
It can be pacing, pushups, walking, stairs—anything.
The goal is simple: keep the system “on.”
A Word for Financial Advisors: Is Health a Variable in Your Planning?
As an advisor, I always tell people: “It depends.”
Because decisions depend on variables.
So here’s a professional question for every advisor listening:
Is your health a variable in your retirement plan?
If it’s not being considered, it can’t be planned for.
And if it can’t be planned for, you’ll be forced to react to it later.
Often at the worst time.
Often at the highest cost.
Resources Mentioned in the Episode
Stephen shared two resources for the audience:
- Wealth score quiz: growwealthy.com
- Conversation starters PDF (for advisors): growwealthy.com/retire
We also announced:
- A Live Q&A on LinkedIn and YouTube
- And a Free Wellness Audit for financial advisors (link in the show notes)
Final Thoughts: Build Wealth, Protect Health, Honor God
This episode isn’t meant to scare you.
It’s meant to wake you up—with hope.
Because your body is a gift.
Your life has purpose.
And you’re not called to just retire… you’re called to live well.
If you’ve been putting your health on the back burner, start small:
- Track one KPI
- Take one walk
- Breathe through your nose
- Move one minute per hour
- Make one change you can repeat consistently
The goal isn’t perfection.
It’s progress.
Ready to Build a Plan That Supports Your Life (Not Just Your Portfolio)?
If you want help aligning your finances, retirement strategy, and long-term goals, I’d love to speak with you.
Schedule your free consultation here:
[Insert your scheduling link]
Or visit: abrwealthmanagement.com
As always, I’m A.B. Ridgeway—
and I’ll see you on the other side of your blessings.
About the Author
A.B. Ridgeway, CPWA® is the founder of A.B. Ridgeway Wealth Management and host of The Ridgeway Report. He specializes in helping retirees and pre-retirees create reliable income, invest with clarity, and make confident financial decisions.
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About The Ridgeway Report:
As Christians, we were taught to be good stewards over our tithing and giving to the less fortunate. But when it came to our personal finances and investing we were left clueless on what the Bible says. What does the Bible say about managing debt, leaving a legacy, investing, and planning for your retirement? Mr. Christian Finance answers these and many other questions because we want to teach you how to become rich and righteous!
Meet A.B. Ridgeway:
A.B. Ridgeway, MBA, CPWA®️ (info@abrwealthmanagement.com) is the owner and Christian Financial Advisor with A.B. Ridgeway Wealth Management. With a decade in the finance industry, his goal is to give believers clarity around the most confusing topic in the Bible, money, and tithing. A.B. Ridgeway helps tithing Christians become cheerful givers but unlocking their money-making potential, so they can prosper and be the great stewards of the wealth God has entrusted them with.
*Disclaimer: This communication is not intended as an offer or solicitation to buy, hold or sell any financial instrument or investment advisory services. Any information provided has been obtained from sources considered reliable, but we do not guarantee the accuracy or the completeness of any description of securities, markets or developments mentioned. This is strictly for information purposes. We recommend you speak with a professional financial advisor.
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