The right financial advisor can help you plan for the future. But the right kind of counsel can do something more: help you stay anchored to what matters most.

When we seek financial guidance, we’re not simply looking for information. We’re looking for direction. And for believers, that direction should be shaped by God’s Word—not merely by the market.

Money decisions are never just financial. They touch our hopes, fears, sense of control, and ultimately our trust in God. That’s why Scripture consistently points us toward the importance of wise counsel.

Proverbs 11:14 says:

“Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.”

That word safety matters. It points to the protection and stability that can come when we humbly seek wisdom beyond our own perspective.

Seeking counsel requires humility. It means admitting that we don’t always see the whole picture. That isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom.

Consider Moses in Exodus 18. God had called him to lead Israel, yet his father-in-law, Jethro, noticed something Moses had missed. People were lining up from morning until evening while Moses tried to handle every dispute himself.

Jethro told him plainly, “What you are doing is not good.” He then suggested a better way. Moses listened. He delegated responsibility, and both he and the people were better served.

If Moses needed wise counsel, surely we do too.

That is especially true when it comes to money. In a culture that prizes financial independence, it can be easy to confuse independence with self-reliance. But Proverbs 19:20 reminds us:

“Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.”

Not all counsel is the same. Technical expertise matters. Credentials matter. Experience matters. But the worldview beneath the advice matters too.

Every financial recommendation carries assumptions about what constitutes success, how much is enough, where security is found, what generosity should look like, how we should think about retirement, and ultimately what wealth is for.

Advice may sound impressive and still quietly move our hearts toward goals Scripture never gives us. Jesus warned in Luke 12:15:

“Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

A spreadsheet can help us plan, but it cannot shepherd the heart. That is one reason values-aligned financial counsel can make such a meaningful difference.

Recent research from Pinkston compared clients working with Certified Kingdom Advisors® (CKA®)—financial professionals trained to integrate biblical wisdom into their practice—with clients of general financial advisors.

Among clients of general advisors, 64% prioritized investment returns. Among CKA® clients, however, 70% prioritized shared beliefs and values.

For many Christian investors, shared faith is not simply an added benefit. It shapes the entire financial conversation.

That alignment also appears to foster significant trust. CKA® clients reported a 98% retention rate and a Net Promoter Score of 83, compared with 58 among general-advisor clients.

But perhaps even more important is how values-aligned counsel can broaden the conversation beyond financial performance alone.

Eighty-one percent of Certified Kingdom Advisors® (CKA®) said they help clients incorporate faith or values-based investing into their financial plans, compared with 57% of general advisors. Clients working with CKA®s were also twice as likely to have significantly increased their charitable giving.

That matters because Scripture never treats money in isolation. It connects our financial choices with worship, trust, contentment, generosity, and obedience.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:21:

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Our financial decisions do more than move money. They reveal—and help shape—what has captured our hearts.

The research also found that 72% of Certified Kingdom Advisors® (CKA®) reported being very fulfilled in their work, compared with 48% of general advisors. In addition, 80% said their work was closely aligned with their life’s purpose.

That kind of perspective matters.

When an advisor sees financial planning not simply as managing assets but as serving people, the relationship can become about much more than maximizing returns. It can create space to ask deeper questions:

Those are not questions a financial calculator can answer by itself.

So, how do you find wise, values-aligned financial counsel?

Start by asking good questions. Ask a prospective advisor how their faith shapes the way they think about money, risk, generosity, success, and the purpose of wealth. Look for someone with both professional competence and a worldview that recognizes God as the ultimate owner of everything we have.

A wise advisor will not make every decision for you—and shouldn’t. You remain responsible for the resources God has entrusted to your care.

But the right advisor can help you cut through the noise, ask better questions, see blind spots, and build a financial plan around what matters most.

Surrounding yourself with godly, competent counsel does not remove your responsibility as a steward. It can help you carry that responsibility more faithfully.

To connect with a Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA®) who is committed to integrating biblical wisdom with financial expertise, visit FindACKA.com.

Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every weekday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God’s resources.

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