Guide
How to choose a Christian financial advisor
A Christian who gives financial advice is not automatically a Christian financial advisor. This guide covers what to look for, what to ask, what it costs, and how to verify credentials — so wise counsel actually reflects your convictions.
Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
What makes an advisor genuinely "Christian"?
Prayer before meetings and a fish logo on the business card are not the test. The test is whether the advice itself — recommendations, portfolio construction, planning priorities — actually reflects biblical principles of stewardship. A genuinely Christian advisor can explain how faith shapes what they recommend, not just that it does.
Questions to ask before hiring
- What percentage of the portfolios you manage is faith-aligned or biblically screened?
- How many years of experience do you have specifically with Christian investing?
- Which principles govern how you select companies, funds, and sectors?
- Which industries do you avoid, and why?
- How do you screen the funds and ETFs you recommend?
- Can you show sample portfolios or case studies?
A good advisor welcomes these questions. Treat automatic agreement as a red flag — wise counsel sometimes pushes back, including on investments that contradict your values.
Credentials and how to verify them
Two verifications take five minutes and are always worth doing: look up the advisor on FINRA BrokerCheck and the SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure database for registrations and any disciplinary history. For faith alignment specifically, the Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) designation from Kingdom Advisors indicates formal training in biblically wise financial advice; their public directory lets you search advisors near you.
What does a financial advisor cost?
Fee models vary; ask directly and get it in writing. Common structures include:
- Assets under management: commonly around 0.5%–1% per year of the portfolio.
- Hourly: commonly in the $100–$400 range.
- Flat-fee planning: commonly $1,000–$5,000 for a comprehensive plan.
Some traditional planners have investment minimums (often $250,000+); newer and online-first advisors frequently accept much less. If an advisor isn't a fit yet, that's fine — much of stewardship can be learned and practiced yourself first.
Can I keep my current (non-Christian) advisor?
Often, yes. Many investors "upgrade" an existing relationship: share your convictions, ask for values-screened alternatives, and verify the recommendations against your own screening (free tools exist for this). If the advisor dismisses your values rather than engaging them, that tells you what you need to know.
Start here
- Search the Kingdom Advisors directory for CKA professionals near you.
- Interview two or three, using the questions above.
- Verify registrations on BrokerCheck and the SEC database.
- Ask fellow believers at your church for referrals — then still verify.
Not ready for an advisor yet?
Learn the foundations first — the free 10-lesson email course covers stewardship, giving, budgeting, and faith-aligned investing.