Eight Financial Metrics You Should Know for Faithful Stewardship

By MMBB Financial Planning Specialist, Alina Parizianu, CFP®

What You’ll Find in This Article

After-tax income
Monthly Expenses
Emergency Savings
Debt and Interest Rates
Net Worth
Savings Rate
Credit Score
Key Financial Accounts

Financial well‑being is not built on complicated formulas or perfect decision‑making. More often, it grows from having a clear understanding of key financial metrics and using them thoughtfully over time. Knowing these numbers can help individuals and families reduce anxiety, make informed choices, and plan with confidence for the future.

Financial metrics act like signposts along the journey. They do not tell us everything, but they help us understand where we are today and where God may be calling us to go next as faithful stewards. This is not a comprehensive list but rather focuses on some of the most significant personal finance indicators.

After Tax Income

One of the most essential measurements to know is your after tax income, sometimes called take home pay. This is the amount you actually have available after taxes, health insurance, and retirement contributions are deducted. While many people know their salary, day to day decisions should be based on what truly comes home each pay period. Budgeting, saving, and giving become much more realistic when you have an accurate view of this number.¹⁻³

Monthly Expenses

Equally important is understanding your monthly expenses. This includes both fixed costs—such as housing, utilities, insurance—and variable spending like groceries, transportation, and discretionary purchases. Tracking expenses over time reveals patterns and helps identify areas where small adjustments can free up funds for saving, generosity, or peace of mind.¹⁻²

Emergency Savings

An emergency savings balance provides an essential financial cushion. Whether facing a medical bill, home repair, or job loss, having funds set aside can reduce stress and reliance on debt. As a rule of thumb, many financial planners advise working towards having three to six months’ worth of your living expenses in your rainy-day fund. The goal is not perfection but preparedness—building reserves gradually as circumstances allow.²⁻⁵

Debt and Interest Rates

Debt is a part of many financial journeys. Knowing your total outstanding debt, along with the interest rates attached to each balance, allows you to make thoughtful repayment decisions. Higher interest debt often carries greater long term cost, making awareness an important first step toward reducing financial burden.¹⁻⁴

Net Worth

Net worth is a figure all people can benefit from knowing. It’s simply the difference between what you own and what you owe and offers a broader view of financial health. While this number may rise and fall over time, tracking it periodically can reveal long term progress. Net worth is not a measure of success or faithfulness; it is simply a tool for understanding direction and momentum.¹⁻⁴

Your net worth can be calculated by subtracting the value of your total debt from the value of your total assets. Your assets include, but are not limited to, your real estate, cars, savings accounts, 403b or retirement accounts and your checking accounts.

Savings Rate

Closely related is your savings rate, or the portion of income set aside for future needs. Whether saving for retirement, education, or short term goals, this number reflects intentional planning. Even modest, consistent savings can grow steadily over time, providing greater flexibility and security.²⁻⁵
See how to calculate your savings rate by reading our article, “Are We There Yet? Measuring Your Progress on Your Journey to Retirement.”

Credit Score

Your credit score influences your borrowing costs and access to financial opportunities. While it does not define a person’s worth, it does affect interest rates, housing options, and insurance premiums. Periodic review helps catch errors and supports informed decision making when credit is needed.¹⁻⁴

Key Financial Accounts

Finally, it is important to know where your money is held—bank accounts, retirement plans, investment accounts, and insurance policies—and to keep that information organized. Keeping this information current and accessible supports day-to-day financial management and helps you navigate life transitions, while also enabling trusted individuals to step in with clarity if needed.¹

Clarity as an Act of Stewardship

Financial awareness is not about control or comparison. It is about stewardship—caring responsibly for the resources entrusted to us. With clearer understanding comes greater confidence, reduced stress, and the ability to plan thoughtfully for both present needs and the future.

Footnotes