The Shepherd's Wallet Podcast
by Seth Scott
Finally, financial guidance that speaks pastor. This podcast is dedicated exclusively to helping pastors navigate housing allowances, SECA taxes, and ministry-specific financial complexities.Hosted by ministry financial specialist Seth Scott, each episode delivers practical strategies for compensation optimization, retirement planning, and biblical stewardship—advice you can implement immediately. Stop letting financial stress distract from your calling.
Episodes
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Navigate Tax Season Without Losing Your Peace
Tax season is stressful for everyone. For pastors, it's a different kind of stress — because your tax situation is genuinely unlike anyone else's. In this special episode, I'm sharing the audio from my recent live tax webinar, where I walked pastors through the clergy-specific tax issues that…
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The SECA Deduction Many Pastors Don't Know About
In this episode, I highlight a SECA tax deduction that's been legitimate IRS policy since 1980 - but has the potential to fall through the cracks for ministers. Pastors can still deduct unreimbursed ministry expenses when calculating self-employment tax, even after TCJA eliminated those…
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Why Sabbaticals Aren't Selfish: A Case for Pastoral Rest
Should pastors take sabbaticals? It seems like a simple question—but it's sparked heated debate in ministry circles. Some pastors feel guilty taking extended rest when their congregants don't get the same benefit. Others argue that sabbaticals are just poor boundary-setting dressed up in…
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The Super-Roth: Why Your 403(b) Might Be Your Best Retirement Tool
It's December, and lots of financial professionals are talking with their clients about Roth conversions—but is that the best strategy for pastors? In this episode, we break down the "Super-Roth" concept: how your church 403(b) combined with housing allowance in retirement can actually beat a...
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What Your CPA Doesn't Know to Ask About Your Taxes
Most CPAs who make errors with clergy tax returns aren't failing pastors out of incompetence—they're failing because the system never equipped them to succeed. In this episode, I walk through what clergy taxation looks like from a tax preparer's perspective, the proactive questions they'd need to...
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Dear Church Board: Your Pastor is Your Best Investment
Listen in as I make the case to your church board for investing in your financial wellness. In this unique episode, I speak directly to church board members about why caring for their pastor's financial health isn't just compassionate – it's good stewardship. Pastors, this is designed for you to...
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The SECA Offset Conversation: Your Complete Board Meeting Playbook
What if a single conversation could save you $1,500 every year for the rest of your ministry? In this tactical episode, we walk through exactly how to ask your board for a SECA offset: the game-changing compensation adjustment that transforms pastors' tax disadvantage into an advantage. You'll…
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Ministry Expense Tracking: Saving Money Without Losing Your Soul
Ever felt guilty keeping a receipt from a ministry lunch? Like somehow you're being "too worldly", or taking away from the earnestness of your ministry? You're not alone. Many pastors struggle with the tension between faithful ministry and financial wisdom, often to their family's detriment. In...
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Building Equity In a Parsonage: The Power of the Phantom Mortgage
Every parsonage pastor knows the sinking feeling: "Everyone else is building equity except me." Today, I'm going to sit with you in that feeling—then show you why it's based on a lie. I've developed a simple strategy just for parsonage pastors that has the potential to build wealth faster than…
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The Housing Allowance Trap: Why Your "Free Money" Is Costing You
Think your housing allowance is free money? Think again. In this eye-opening episode, I reveal why treating your housing allowance like a spending target instead of a tax benefit could be sabotaging your financial future. We'll explore: Why the "maximize at all costs" mentality is backwards The...
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The Salary Reduction Tax Trap: Why Refusing Salary to "Tithe" Doesn't Work
Your church board suggests reducing your salary to save on taxes. It sounds brilliant—lower salary means lower SECA taxes, right? Wrong. In this episode, we expose why voluntary salary reduction arrangements violate IRS constructive receipt rules and could trigger audits, penalties, and financial...
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You Opted Out of Social Security. Now What? Your Action Plan
If you signed Form 4361 and opted out of Social Security, you can't undo that decision. But you CAN build real financial security with the right plan. This episode walks opted-out pastors through four essential steps to replace the benefits you gave up: Qualifying for Medicare through secular…
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Pastor Mortgage Calculator: Should You Refinance or Pay Off Your Mortgage?
Are you accidentally paying your bank thousands in interest just to save a few hundred in taxes? In this live Q&A excerpt, I walk through my mortgage refinance calculator designed specifically for pastors and show you exactly how to compare three scenarios:✅ Keep your existing mortgage✅ Refinance...
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Pastor Tax Mistakes That Cost You $1000s Every Year
Professional tax prep costs $500+ and many CPAs still get minister taxes wrong. Filing yourself? I've never seen a self-prepared pastor return without major errors. There has to be a better way. In this video, I break down the 5 most costly mistakes I see in both professional AND self-filed…
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The Pastor's Financial Guilt Trip: Why You Need the 5-10-15 Rule
Ever preached about stewardship then came home worried about your own financial reality? You're not alone. The #1 thing keeping pastors from financial security isn't lack of money—it's guilt. In this episode, I address the toxic theology that makes pastors feel guilty about pursuing financial...
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Housing Allowance Calculator: How This Pastor Tool Saves Thousands in Taxes
Missing thousands in housing allowance benefits? You're not alone.In this live demonstration, I walk through my housing allowance optimization tool using real pastor scenarios. Watch as we uncover hidden qualifying expenses most pastors miss and see exactly how proper housing allowance planning…
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Minister SECA Tax Reduction: Three Strategies to Save THOUSANDS! [IMPORTANT NOTE IN DESCRIPTION]
IMPORTANT UPDATE: This video mentions strategic 1099 arrangements with the pastor’s church for non-ministerial duties as a potential way to access expense deduction capabilities from church income. However, this strategy is NOT recommended as it puts pastors at increased audit risk and could lead...
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Nominate Your Pastor for Financial Peace of Mind
Pastor Appreciation Day is October 12th, and this year I want to do more than just say "thank you." I'm giving away up to three Pastor Spotlight Scholarships - and YOU get to nominate your pastor.Each winner receives:✅ 90-minute Financial Quick Start session✅ Advance copy of "Shepherding Your...
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The Sharpie Strategy: Housing Expense Tracking That Actually Works for Pastors
Most expense tracking systems fail because they're too complicated for busy ministry life. The Sharpie Strategy changes that. In this episode, you'll discover a dead-simple method busy pastors can use to track their housing allowance expenses - a system that takes 15 minutes to set up and runs on...
About this show
Finally, financial guidance that speaks pastor. This podcast is dedicated exclusively to helping pastors navigate housing allowances, SECA taxes, and ministry-specific financial complexities.Hosted by ministry financial specialist Seth Scott, each episode delivers practical strategies for compensation optimization, retirement planning, and biblical stewardship—advice you can implement immediately. Stop letting financial stress distract from your calling.
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Seth Scott
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