FAQs for Christian Financial Advisors

Christian Financial planning is the process of assessing your current financial situation and creating a plan to reach your financial goals.

Many investors think that investing and financial planning are synonymous but they are not.

An investment manager is only interested in managing your investment portfolio.

Christian Financial planners are interested in helping you manage your many aspects of your financial life.

Topics covered may include but not limited to: Debt-management, Savings, Taxes, Insurance, Estate Planning, Investments, College Planning, and Wealth Transfers.

Luke 14: 28- For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

Every financial plan is unique to the individual and their stage in life. Considerations can include: age, career status, income, expenses, goals, debt, marital status, and tax obligation. Some of the most popular topics include:

1. Faith and Family

2. Financial Goals

3. Retirement Plans

4. Insurance Coverage

5. Estate Plans

6. Debt-Management

7. Budgeting and Cash Flow

8. Emergency Funds

Yes.

We will help you consolidate your accounts to the least amount of accounts necessary.

Some accounts may be able to consolidate and some can not be consolidated.

For example: If you and your spouse both have an IRA account. Those accounts can not be combined.

But if you, as the investor, has two separate IRA accounts at different banks. We will be able to consolidate those into one IRA account, if it makes sense for the plan.

Also, we will help you call, walk you through paperwork, and guide you to its completion during the transition.

Proverbs 19:20-Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.

Sometimes people just need some help getting organized. Our younger working professionals may not have the complex financial situation as some of our more seasoned investors.

So receiving a one-time Christian Financial plan could get them pointed in the right direction.

One-Time Christian Financial plans come with unlimited updates for a year and access to a 24/7 client portal so they can update the information to reflect any changes that may occur after the plan is delivered.

A Certified Private Wealth Advisor®️ Professional not only creates the plans, they will partner with you to prepare and implement the strategies in the plan.

They work with you to consolidate accounts, roll over retirement funds, add beneficiaries, speak with customer service, and work with your Certified Public Accountants, and Estate Attorneys, to make sure your financial decisions are legal, tax effective, and executed properly.

In our Christian Financial Plans we integrate biblical principles with financial management. That involves aligning your money decisions with your faith.

This can include budgeting based on biblical stewardship, investing ethically, tithing and prioritizing generosity and stewardship in your financial planning.

Throughout the process, we reference Bible scriptures and make sure our financial decisions and goals align with the Word of God.

And we believe that charity starts at home.

1 Timothy 5:8- Anyone who doesn't provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than a nonbeliever.

Before the meeting, take some time to write down your top three financial issues that you would like to work on immediately.

Also bring anyone who will be involved in making the final decision about whether to work with us.

No need to bring in your financial statements. You can leave the budget sheets in the file cabinet.

During this free consultation, we are just getting to know each other and determine if we are a good fit.

By the end of the meeting, we should be able to answer these 3 questions:

1. Would you like me as your Christian Financial Advisor

2. Would I like you as a Christian investor and

3. Will I be able to help solve your top 3 financial issues?

If we can answer 'YES' to all 3. We have a match and will schedule the first official meeting.

All meetings will be held via Zoom .

No more being stuck in traffic. No more long drives into town to wait in a lobby, only to be cancelled. You can meet in the comfort of your own home, or sitting outside with your favorite drink.

Zoom is a cloud-based video conferencing platform that allows users to connect online for meetings, webinars, and live chat. It can be accessed through a computer desktop or on your phone.

Perfect those who may be under the weather but don't want to cancel their meeting.

There is not a definitive way to determine if a Christian financial advisor is good or not. But there are some qualities that you should look for when looking for a Christian financial advisor such as: certifications, years of experience, and expertise.

Check out this blog titled "Finding A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™️ For Busy Christian Business Executives featuring Nic Nielsen, CFP®️" to learn more about Financial Planning.

Also check out the interview that covers:

What is the Main Purpose of Christian Financial Planning?

How Do You Know A Good Christian Financial Advisor?

Christian Financial Advisors for Business Executive

Luke 18:19- “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.

There are typically 3 reasons someone is looking for a different advisor:

1. They no longer feel comfortable with their current advisor.

2. They need a second opinion to make sure they are still receiving good advice and

3. They don't want all of their investments in one place.

In the first two cases, we recommend you invest in our Good Faith Review.

We perform a 35-point financial health report to make sure your current financial plan is up to par.

We also highlight any weaknesses, opportunities, or threats to your current financial plan.

In the third case, we don't recommend working with our firm.

We believe that financial planning is a holistic approach. And when you have two or more advisors, those plans can conflict.

In Matthew 6:24 Jesus says, no one can serve two masters. You will either love one and despise the other.

No.

You don't need any money to work with a Christian Financial Advisor.

Financial planning is a service, therefore, prices are based on need.

Those who may be in financial need and can't afford our services may look into 'Pro-Bono' financial planning services.

Pro-Bono is short for "pro bono publico" which means in Latin "For the Good of the public.

The Financial Planning Association has a pro-bono service that you may apply for and see if you qualify.

Other alternatives would be to find a financial advisor on XY Planning Network. They have a database of financial advisors that have different pricing models, including hourly rates and project-based pricing.

Investment Advisors are required to arrange for a custodian bank to hold assets that they manage for their clients.

The custodian bank is used to minimize the risk of theft or loss.

A.B. Ridgeway Wealth Management has arranged for Charles Schwab to be our custodian bank because it is a name our client's know and trust.

And yes.

During the onboarding process we will help you open an account so you can always maintain 24/7 control and access to your funds.

We are a Fee-Only Registered Investment Advisory (RIA) firm.

We get paid directly by you for the services we provide.

We do not receive a commission from a third-party for suggesting, selling, or investing in a certain product.

We act in the fiduciary capacity and have no incentive to offer a specific financial planning strategy except that it is in your best interest.

As far as payments:

One-time payments can be paid by credit or debit card.

On-going services can be streamlined and billed quarterly through your investment account.

We like to work with investors who understands that as Christians, God has commanded us to pay a fair wage for great service.

1 Corinthians 9:7-10: Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.”

Assets under management (AUM) is the total market value of the investments that we manage on your behalf.

The amount will fluctuate to reflect the movement of money in and out of the account, and price performance of the asset.

Our firm charges a percentage of those assets to manage them as part of our service.

Therefore, we share in the ups and downs with you.

When the market value goes down, so does our fee.

And it only increases back up, when your market value goes back up.

No.

We all have to start somewhere.

We are here to help you get set up, and willing to use as many meetings as necessary to get you up to speed.

Jus remember, if you can get on the internet and text message your children. You are halfway there.

A computer, phone, or tablet with a camera and internet capability.

Click HERE to schedule a free consultation about the next steps.