Hey everybody, welcome to our broadcast today. Thank you for stopping by Business, Money, and Christianity. We’re a financial podcast from a faith-based perspective.
I truly appreciate you joining us. Our goal is simple: to help people make life work better. Christianity is central to what we do. The principles we discuss are rooted in Scripture, even when we’re not directly quoting chapter and verse.
Today, I want to talk about the times we’re living in. A lot is changing—especially with AI. Jobs are being displaced, industries are shifting, and the entire economic environment is evolving. How does that affect you? Have you really thought it through?
For many years in business, there were essentially two ways to increase net income. You could raise gross revenue, or you could reduce expenses. In other words, you could work from the top line or the bottom line. Either strategy worked just fine.
But now we need to consider additional factors. Will AI displace your job? Will it make your skills obsolete? Will it reshape your field in a way that forces you to adapt in order to remain relevant?
One of the ministries I’m involved in is a group home for young women placed with us by the state. We’re required to provide 24-hour supervision. It’s a one-to-three ratio, so we can have up to six girls at a time, which means we must have one or two staff members on duty. In that environment, AI probably won’t have much impact. You need live human beings present. You can’t automate care and supervision when safety is involved. So in that case, there’s not a great deal to worry about.
But what if I were an attorney? I’m not—but imagine if I were. The other day we needed a contract drafted for a business venture. I went to Grok AI, explained what we needed, and within seconds—literally a second or two—it generated all the relevant information. If I were practicing law today, I’d be paying close attention. I don’t believe AI will eliminate attorneys altogether. Courtrooms, especially in criminal law, still require human presence. Any situation involving a jury will always demand real people.
However, the parameters of the profession will likely change. The question is: are you on the leading edge of that change?
In this season, we need to think beyond current income and expense levels. How do I ensure that income continues to flow? Will this shift toward AI hurt me—or could it create opportunities if I recognize them early enough? If I see what’s coming, I can make adjustments and protect my relevance.
First, we need to look ahead. Are there aspects of your income that technology can perform better, faster, and more cost-effectively?
Here in California, the state government decided that fast-food workers—at places like McDonald's—should earn $20 an hour. Meanwhile, the federal minimum wage is under $8. That creates a significant gap.
Several months ago, I walked into a McDonald’s in my city that had been there for over 20 years. I don’t usually go there, but I stepped inside and noticed something striking. There were only a couple of tables and a kiosk. No cashier. You couldn’t walk up and place an order with a person—you had to use the kiosk.
What happened? Businesses responded to higher labor costs by eliminating positions. There wasn’t even a public restroom anymore. Essentially, you walk in, order on the kiosk, pay electronically, and an employee prepares the food. I’ve also heard that some fast-food chains are automating food preparation—machines assembling hamburgers without human involvement.
If I owned a McDonald’s franchise, I’d likely invest in that technology. Once purchased, I wouldn’t have to pay hourly wages for those roles. But what if I were the employee? Did I think through the long-term consequences when the wage law passed? My job opportunities might shrink significantly.
We have to examine how we make money and whether our services will still be needed in the future.
Look at retail. Many stores are closing because they can’t compete with Amazon. I buy from Amazon myself. It’s convenient. I can order from the app and have something delivered the next day. Unless I need an item immediately, it’s often easier than going to a store.
So how far will this technological shift go? We don’t know.
That’s why I’ve long been an advocate for owning assets—particularly cash-flowing assets. Personally, I favor real estate. I’m not telling everyone to invest in property, but people will always need a place to live. Even though there’s a push in some areas to move people into apartments and away from homeownership, many still prefer a home environment. If you own property, you create the potential for ongoing cash flow.
Consider hard assets as well. Toward the end of last year and into January, we saw silver and gold rise dramatically. I’ve primarily invested in silver, though I’ve owned some gold too. I believed it would appreciate over time. Silver rose roughly 140% last year—that’s substantial.
Precious metals can also function as a medium of exchange. If currency becomes fully digital and heavily tracked—especially if the U.S. transitions toward centralized digital currency—how might that affect you? Many people focus only on today. As long as they can manage current bills, they feel secure. But change is accelerating.
We need to evaluate every dimension of our lives: income, skill sets, expenses. Can our work be replaced?
Even this podcast—while I don’t monetize it—raises questions. Could podcasts eventually become obsolete? For those who rely on them for income, AI can already generate sophisticated responses to almost any question. In some cases, the answers rival or exceed what many individuals could provide.
So how much of our current structure is vulnerable to advancing technology? What will it do to expenses? What will it do to income? Strategic planning is no longer optional.
If you own a home—even if you’re still paying a mortgage—you might prioritize paying it off. Owning your residence outright provides stability. Rental property could also be an option, if purchased wisely and prudently. Numbers must make sense.
What about online business? There’s a model—dropshipping—where you create a website, sell products, and the manufacturer ships directly to the customer while you earn the margin. If you understand technology and marketing, that could present opportunity.
My main encouragement today is this: think through your life carefully.
Examine your income. How sustainable is it?
Review your expenses. What can be eliminated?
Assess how technology might impact your field.
If you’re paid under the table and currency becomes fully digital and traceable, what happens then? If paper cash disappears, how does that affect your earning capacity?
Systematically evaluate your exposure to change. How long is your current trajectory sustainable? Do you need to pivot?
Everything now runs through apps—appointments, orders, payments. If you’re “old school,” as I tend to be, you may still prefer face-to-face interaction. But adaptation may be necessary.
Take this moment seriously. Change is happening quickly. If it moves beyond your ability to adjust, catching up becomes extremely difficult.
Look at every aspect of your situation. Plan deliberately. Make the adjustments you need to make.
Thank you again for spending time with us. Like, subscribe, leave a comment, or ask a question. We appreciate you being here. I hope today’s discussion has stirred you to think more strategically about the road ahead.
We’ll talk to you next week.
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