When Is “Enough” Enough to Retire? Faith, Finances, and Courageous Retirement (with Mike Perez)

How much is enough to retire?

In this episode of Courageous Retirement, Vona Johnson sits down with Mike Perez, author of Faith and Finances, to tackle one of the most common fears facing retirement-age believers: What if I don’t have enough money saved?

Together, they explore how retirement may require less than we assume—and how financial decisions become clearer when filtered through prayer, calling, and kingdom purpose. Mike shares his practical cash-flow framework, including his five-part “financial pie” (covering giving, taxes, debt, lifestyle, and investing), and introduces the concept of creating a personal financial “finish line.”

This conversation goes beyond numbers. Vona and Mike talk about releasing the need to strive, trusting God with outcomes, and shifting from accumulation to impact. Mike shares the story of selling a second home after bathing the decision in prayer—gaining margin, increasing generosity, and expanding meaningful travel as a result.

They also discuss:

• Viewing ROI through a kingdom lens
• Living as faithful “seed planters” in everyday conversations
• The courage to step away from distractions (including social media during Lent)
• The power of community encouragement
• Approaching second-half-of-life transitions with flexibility and trust

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re financially ready—or spiritually ready—for retirement, this episode will help you rethink “enough” through the lens of faith.

Connect with Mike at MikePerezSpeaks.com for his book, workshops, speaking, and personal consultations.

00:00 When Is “Enough” Enough to Retire?
01:35 Letting Go of Striving in the Second Half
03:40 Understanding the Five-Part Financial “Pie”
05:45 Aligning Lifestyle Choices with God’s Calling
07:30 Selling the Lake House: A Prayerful Decision
09:40 Margin, Generosity, and New Freedom
11:55 Kingdom ROI vs. Performance-Based Thinking
14:30 Living as Faithful “Seed Planters”
16:45 Lent, Social Media, and Creating Margin
19:25 Small Acts of Faithful Impact
21:35 Presence Over Distraction
23:50 Taking Bold Steps (Including an Israel Trip Without Fear)
25:35 How to Connect with Mike Perez
27:35 Final Encouragement: Money, Faith, and Courageous Retirement

Scriptures Referenced

"And we know that God causes everything to work together[a] for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them."

Romans 8:28 NLT

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message!

Thank you for stopping by today! Remember to Engage Your Faith and Live Your More as you reap the benefits of Courageous Retirement!

Check out my YouTube Channel!

Learn more about the show, author Vona Johnson, and more at vonajohnson.com!

Schedule a free 15 minute Your Path to More call with Vona.

Join ClubMore!

Lately, I’ve sensed God inviting me into a shift — from striving to faithfulness. From doing more to loving more deliberately.

In this episode of Courageous Retirement, I share how retirement created space for Scripture to speak more deeply into my life — and how Romans 10 and 1 Corinthians 13 reshaped the way I see this season.

Retirement isn’t a winding down. It’s an invitation.
An invitation to steward our time with eternity in mind.
An invitation to reflect God’s love more intentionally.
An invitation to finish well.

As we approach Lent and consider what it means to quiet the noise, I also share a personal decision I’m prayerfully considering — and a gentle invitation for you, if you’ve been feeling that same nudge.

If you’ve sensed God calling you to simplify, refocus, or live this season with deeper purpose, this episode is for you.

Because sometimes, the most powerful shift is discovering that less truly is more.

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message!

Thank you for stopping by today! Remember to Engage Your Faith and Live Your More as you reap the benefits of Courageous Retirement!

Check out my YouTube Channel!

Learn more about the show, author Vona Johnson, and more at vonajohnson.com!

Schedule a free 15 minute Your Path to More call with Vona.

Join ClubMore!

Living Your Best Life in Retirement: Lessons from Legos and Faith

In this episode of Courageous Retirement, Vona Johnson shares an unexpected lesson learned while building Legos with her grandson—and how it beautifully mirrors the opportunity retirement offers us.

By watching her grandson playing with legos, Vona reflects on what it means to “dump everything on the table,” reassess what we’ve built so far, and intentionally rebuild for the season ahead. Retirement, she reminds us, isn’t an ending—it’s an invitation to start fresh with purpose.

Vona encourages listeners to thoughtfully use their God-given gifts and talents, while gently challenging the belief that our value is tied to income or productivity. With faith woven throughout, she invites retirees to trust God’s provision, seek His plan, and embrace retirement as their best season yet.

This episode offers practical encouragement, faith-filled perspective, and a genuine call to live fully and courageously in retirement.

Episode Timeline

00:00 – Introduction: The Joys of Retirement
00:16 – Life Lessons Learned from Grandchildren
00:50 – The Lego Lesson: Building, Dumping, and Rebuilding
03:47 – Embracing Retirement with Purpose
04:17 – Financial Freedom and Trusting God’s Provision
05:54 – Avoiding the Trap of Equating Worth with Money
08:02 – Exploring New Opportunities in Retirement
09:12 – Conclusion: Stepping into Your Best Season

Schedule a call with Vona: https://tidycal.com/vona/your-path-to-more

Email me: courageousretirement@gmail.com

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message!

Thank you for stopping by today! Remember to Engage Your Faith and Live Your More as you reap the benefits of Courageous Retirement!

To watch the video, check out my YouTube Channel!

Learn more about the show, author Vona Johnson, and more at vonajohnson.com!

Schedule a free 15 minute Your Path to More call with Vona.

Join ClubMore!