Nick Garofalo is a CFP candidate and the founder of Open-Handed Wealth. With a heart for helping Christians align their life goals and financial decisions with biblical wisdom, Nick speaks to the intersection of faith, business, and generosity. His mission is to transform financial stress into clarity — empowering believers to give freely, find peace with money, and leave a lasting legacy, one small choice at a time.

The episode wraps up with encouraging words for pastors who may feel isolated in their financial struggles, emphasizing that they are not alone and highlighting the importance of seeking trustworthy financial advice.

• 00:00 Introduction to Pastors & Money Podcast
• 00:36 Meet Nick Garofalo: Founder of Open-Handed Wealth
• 01:06 Nick's Journey into Financial Planning
• 01:56 The Story Behind Open-Handed Wealth
• 03:34 The Paradox of Generosity: Tithing vs. Quitting Smoking
• 05:18 Overcoming the Fear of Tithing
• 14:07 Balancing Stewardship and Generosity
• 17:35 Understanding Wealth and Income Quadrants
• 18:04 The Importance of Giving and Saving
• 19:27 Personal Testimonies on Financial Obedience
• 21:41 Leaving a Lasting Legacy
• 26:41 Encouragement for Pastors and Church Leaders
• 30:20 Final Thoughts and Resources

What You'll Discover

• Why starting small — even with just a dollar — is one of the most powerful steps you can take toward a generous life
• How debt quietly becomes a barrier to giving, and what to do about it
• A simple two-by-two framework that helps you find the right balance of saving and giving for your exact season of life
• Why financial legacy is about so much more than money — and how to pass on something that actually lasts
• That you are not alone in navigating church finances, and what it feels like to finally put that burden down

Key Quotes

• "My hands can and should be open before God so that he can both give to others through me and give to me."
• "When you are up to your eyeballs in debt, you have already pre-given your income to your lenders."
• "Taking a long-term perspective means saying, 'The next two years, I'm not going to do all these things — because I need to get to a position of health.'"
• "If you leave them no money but leave them decades of an example of character to follow, they'll be just fine."
• "You're not alone. You don't have to figure it out alone."

Practical Takeaways

• Start with one small step — even a single dollar builds the habit, opens the account, and makes every next step far easier
• If debt is holding back your generosity, name it honestly and make a plan to clean it up; getting out of debt is an act of stewardship, too
• Use the income-and-wealth framework to assess where you are today and what giving and saving can realistically look like in this season
• Begin talking about money with your kids and grandkids now — the financial values you model and teach are the most lasting inheritance you can leave

Resources:

Visit Nick at Open-Handed Wealth where you will find resources to help you take control of your financial future as a small business owner. Nick equips you to make solid financial decisions to continue building your legacy.

Check out the One Degree Podcast

Connect with @nickmakescents on IG

Follow Nick on Facebook

Connecting with Nick Garofalo

• Website: openhandedwealth.com
• Instagram: @NickMakesCents

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share, and leave a review — it helps us get the word out and invite more people into these conversations.

Connect with Pastors & Money

Email: [email protected]

Instagram/Facebook: @pastorsandmoney

Website: pastorsandmoney.com/podcast

The Pastors & Money Podcast helps pastors, ministry leaders, and churches start thriving financially using money as a tool to fuel God's mission in our churches and families.

Want to be a guest on Pastors & Money Podcast? Send Joy Hunt a message on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/pastorsandmoney