“Then he looked across the table at us, disappointment written all over his face, and said, ‘If only you had worked more…’” The dean of women and a beloved professor at the Bible college I attended was telling us about an encounter she had with her financial advisor. While her children were young, she chose to put her career on hold in order to raise them. Now that they were grown, the financial advisor was telling her and her husband that they were not on track to retire with their peers.
When she told us this story, I wanted to jump out of my seat and tell her, “They aren’t all like that! There are good ones out there!”
It pained me to hear that a financial professional had made her feel like a failure simply because he had a different worldview. She and her husband may not have enough money to stop working today and spend the last decades of their lives on a golf course, but one of her children is a pastor and church planter and the other one is a missionary in Southeast Asia, so I think she made the right decision.
Does Your Financial Advisor’s Religion Matter?
When you think of working with a professional, religion isn’t usually the first thing that comes to mind. It’s not like dating and marriage. So what if your dentist has a different worldview than you do. Does that mean she doesn’t clean your teeth as well? Not really.
Atheist plumbers can unclog toilets and Jewish lawyers can write good wills, so why would financial professionals be any different? The difference is in worldview and priorities. I think it’s safe to say that people of all faiths believe that toilets should flush rather than overflow. And people of all different religious backgrounds agree that legal documents should be written in accordance with the law.
But finances are different. They’re more personal. They’re more subjective. There is a lot more variance as to how people view money and its purpose and management.
Not All Non-Christian Advisors Are Bad
Does that mean that only Christian financial advisors are good? By all means, no. There are many true professionals out there who are able to set their own personal beliefs aside in order to help their clients. There are many who understand that there is much more to life than just accumulating wealth.
Just because someone hasn’t met Jesus yet doesn’t mean they can’t help you be a better steward of your money. Who knows, maybe God has paired you with them so that you can be a light in their world. Just because a financial advisor is not a Christian doesn’t mean you can’t have a fruitful and successful relationship with them.
Not All Christian Advisors Are Good
In much the same way, just because an advisor professes to be a Christian does not mean that he shares your worldview or has your best interest in mind. Many advisors use their religion as nothing more than a marketing tool.
Christians often trust other Christians. Some unscrupulous people take advantage of that fact. And it doesn’t just happen in the finance industry, it happens everywhere. You should never hire someone just because they profess to be a Christian or have a fish on their business card. You need to practice discernment and be wise.
The Difference In Working With Someone Who Shares Your Belief System
Working with a financial professional who truly understands Biblical stewardship and shares your heart for God’s Kingdom can make a world of difference, though. Recently, I’ve gotten to witness this firsthand. Since my goal is to become a financial advisor, this spring I started apprenticing with one in order to get some hands-on education.
Seeing how true faith and finance can intersect has been an eye-opening experience. Whereas most financial advisors start out with questions like At what age do you want to be able to retire? and How much money do you want to accumulate?, this guy starts with What does stewardship mean to you? Sounds to me a lot more like a pastor than an investment advisor chasing returns. Because that’s how it’s supposed to be.
A financial advisor should basically be a pastor for the financial side of your life. They should be there to help you think through your options, articulate your dreams and goals, and then come up with a plan to finance them. That’s much easier done with someone who shares your value system and understands your worldview.
In one of my financial planning textbooks, it talks about budgeting and cash flow planning. It discusses the difference between fixed expenses that you’re committed to paying, like a car payment or groceries, and discretionary expenses that are optional, like eating out or cable TV. The book states, “Some clients who tithe may initially consider monthly gifts in the fixed column. Advisors should consider encouraging clients to classify gifting (including tithing) as a variable expense.”
When I read that my blood started to boil. Financial planning students are being taught to pressure their clients to dismiss Biblical stewardship in favor of a Godless approach to money management.
If you’ve worked with someone who has pressured you to compromise your values or who has made you feel inferior for your choices, I want you to know that you don’t have to. Financial advisors who espouse Biblical stewardship do exist.
How To Find A Christian Financial Advisor
Growing up in a tiny church, I never knew any Christians my own age. When I visited the Bible college for the first time and saw a bunch of my peers passionately worshiping God I had an epiphany. Oh, wow, they really do exist!
I’d like to give you the same epiphany regarding financial advisors. They aren’t all out there pushing products to pad their own pockets. Biblically wise financial counsel does exist.
If you’re interested in finding a Christian advisor, look first on the Christian Financial Advisors Network. You can also search for one on the Kingdom Advisors website or search for a Christian advisor on the XY Planning Network website. You’ll be amazed at the difference it makes when you’re equally yoked.
I am not affiliated with Christian Financial Advisors Network, Kingdom Advisors, or XY Planning Network and receive no benefit for recommending them. I just know some of their advisors and think you would benefit from knowing them too!
