Is a Christian Financial Advisor Right for You?

By Arturo Conde | AUG 30, 2023

Everyone has financial goals, but you may not have a ton of time to devote to planning for them. Whether they entail saving up for a specific goal, giving to charity or just making your money last into retirement and beyond, it can often help to work with a financial advisor. However, not every financial advisor is a match for every person. Those who practice the Christian faith may be especially interested in working with a financial advisor who can help them plan and invest with their faith in mind. There is even a financial advisor certification called a certified kingdom advisor (CKA) that signals an emphasis on Christian faith-based financial advising. If you’re looking for a financial advisor of any type, SmartAsset’s free tool can help you find options in your area.

What Is a Christian Financial Advisor?

People make lots of assumptions when it comes to the intersection of faith and finance. While some may think that a Christian financial advisor is someone who only invests in religious-based organizations, it’s not that clear cut. A Christian financial advisor can help you invest in such organizations, but the overall philosophy is pretty similar to that of any other financial advisor. That is, they help you plan for the future and maximize a return on your investments.

Many Christian financial advisors have the certified kingdom advisor (CKA) certification. However, this isn’t a requirement to be a Christian financial advisor. CKAs are trained in offering biblically wise investment and financial advice to clients, while still helping them maximize investment returns and create effective financial plans.

A Christian financial advisor can help you invest with the tenets of Christianity in mind. This may guide how you decide which investments to make and how to save money. For example, a Christian financial advisor may steer you towards a financial plan that involves setting aside money for religious missions like charitable giving. They may also help you invest in companies whose missions align with Christian teachings.

Above all, a Christian financial advisor can connect with clients on a different level due to a shared Christian identity. Your specific relationship with a Chrsitian financial advisor may differ significantly from someone else’s, as there isn’t a specific way to invest with Christian values in mind, though.

Is a Christian Financial Advisor Right for You?

Ultimately, you need to decide on the most important factors to you when it comes to picking a financial advisor. However, if you’re a practicing Christian or even just believe Christian values, it may be a good idea to work with a Christian financial advisor who shares or espouses these beliefs. A Christian financial advisor can help you feel better about how your money is invested, as such advisors typically avoid investments that don’t line up with Christian values.

In addition, a Christian financial advisor can also help you create a financial plan that aligns with Christian values. This may include plans to set aside money to give to charitable organizations or to your church. It also may include Christian-guided plans on how and where to spend money.

At the end of the day, only you can make the final decision as to whether a Christian financial advisor is right for you. If you decide that Christian values are important to your financial journey, you should certainly consider working with one.

How to Find a Christian Financial Advisor

If you want to work with a Christian financial advisor, you may find yourself with only a few options. Beyond that, you may be forced to work with an advisor that isn’t based close to you if there aren’t any in your area. However, here are three common ways you can find a Christian financial advisor:

• Word of mouth: Many people find financial advisors by asking friends and family, and the same is true when it comes to Christian financial advisors. Consider asking around at your Church or in your community. You can often interview a financial advisor before deciding to work with them, so be sure to go over any questions you have about a potential advisor’s faith-based approach.
• Advisor matching tools: SmartAsset’s free advisor matching tool can pair you with three financial advisors in your area. Simply answer a few questions to identify matches and then you can interview those advisors to see whether they fit your needs.
• Online databases: Online databases are another strong resource when it comes to finding financial advisors to work with. You’ll have access to a wide range of different advisors, and you can narrow things down from there. The National Association of Christian Financial Consultants (NACFC) is a good place to start.

Bottom Line

A Christian financial advisor could be a great fit for your needs. However, ask questions to make sure that their methods align with what you’re looking for in an advisor. On top of that, there are certifications like the certified kingdom advisor (CKA) certification that can help you narrow your search.

Tips for Investing

• Investing isn’t always the easiest task, but a financial advisor could help you create a financial plan for your investing goals. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
• If you’re investing on your own, you want to make sure you have your bases covered. SmartAsset wants to help you with this process, and our site has lots of free resources that can help you on your journey. Check out our free investment calculator today.

Photo credit: iStock.com/filadendron, iStock.com/ridvan_celik