By Eric Boyum, AAMS®, CKA® financial advisor with Inspire Advisors
If you’re an investor blessed with $500,000 or more in investable assets, finding the right financial advisor isn’t just about numbers—it’s about aligning your finances with your values. A financial advisor since 2007 and the first Certified Kingdom Advisor in the Boise metro area, I’ve experienced all types of markets and scenarios and witnessed firsthand how our approach offers unparalleled benefits compared to a Ramsey Solutions coach. Let me break it down for you with wisdom, humor, and a little inspiration along the way.
The Bigger Picture: Values-Driven Advice
Dave Ramsey’s advice offers a solid foundation for financial peace—practical, accessible, and effective for many. But here’s where Certified Kingdom Advisors (CKA®s) stand apart: we bring an advanced level of training, licensing, and biblical insight to help you navigate the complexities of significant wealth while aligning with your values.
Training and Licensing: While Ramsey Coaches receive basic training in budgeting and debt reduction, CKA®s are licensed professionals governed by organizations like FINRA and NASAA. We’ve passed rigorous exams, such as the Series 6, 7, 63, and 65, to provide a wide range of financial services—from investment management to estate planning. Think of it like this: a Ramsey Coach might help you plan a road trip, but a CKA can help you navigate an international journey with all the twists, turns, and surprises along the way.
Depth of Expertise: CKAs go beyond surface-level financial advice to address the unique needs of high-net-worth individuals. From managing tax-efficient giving strategies to building legacy plans, we design solutions that honor both your goals and God’s principles. For example, while Ramsey Coaches emphasize mutual funds and basic budgeting, CKAs focus on Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI), ensuring your portfolio reflects your faith by avoiding industries like gambling or pornography and supporting companies that make a positive impact.
Tailored Guidance: Imagine trying to fit into a one-size-fits-all sweater. Sure, it might work, but it’s not made just for you. A CKA® tailors financial strategies to your unique situation, family needs, and eternal priorities. Whether it’s navigating the complexities of retirement or optimizing your estate for Kingdom impact, we craft personalized plans that work for your life.
Proverbs 15:22 reminds us, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers, they succeed.” Dave Ramsey’s advice is a great foundation for personal finance, but a Certified Kingdom Advisor goes deeper, applying Biblical wisdom to every aspect of your financial life. If you want to align your portfolio with your faith and values, I’d love to help.
Comprehensive Biblical Stewardship
Ramsey coaches focus on debt elimination, budgeting, and basic investing—an excellent foundation. But for high-net-worth individuals, the game changes. You face complex questions about estate planning, charitable giving, tax optimization, and business succession. CKA®s are uniquely trained to provide sophisticated strategies while ensuring your money glorifies God.
Taking Stewardship to the Next Level: Ramsey’s focus on financial literacy and debt reduction is commendable—like teaching someone to ride a bike. But as CKA®s, we take stewardship to the next level by integrating Biblical principles into every aspect of your finances. One client jokingly told me, “You’re like my financial shepherd.” And that’s exactly the point! Proverbs 3:9 says, “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.” We help you honor God not just with your giving, but in how you grow and manage your resources.
For example, if you’re considering a donor-advised fund or legacy trust, a CKA® will help you navigate these tools in light of Matthew 6:20: “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” It’s about making financial decisions that echo into eternity.
For example, if you’re considering a donor-advised fund or legacy trust, a CKA® will help you navigate these tools in light of Matthew 6:20: “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” It’s about making financial decisions that echo into eternity.
Biblically Wise Investment Strategies
Let’s talk about investing—a critical component for individuals with $500,000+ in assets. Ramsey’s advice emphasizes simple mutual funds with predictable returns. While sound for many, it lacks the nuance that higher asset levels demand.
CKA®s are trained in biblically responsible investing (BRI), an approach ensuring your portfolio aligns with your faith. As Proverbs 13:22 says, “A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children.” A CKA® helps you build wealth responsibly—screening out companies that conflict with your values while pursuing solid financial returns.
For instance, we might steer your investments away from industries like gambling or pornography while supporting companies that foster human flourishing. It’s about making your money work hard for both you and the Kingdom.
Faith and Finances—Hand in Hand
A Ramsey coach will cheerfully quote “Live like no one else now, so later you can live and give like no one else.” That’s great! But a CKA® recognizes that financial stewardship isn’t just about what you achieve; it’s about who you’re becoming in the process. Our guidance is rooted in scripture, prayer, and wisdom that helps you walk more closely with God.
One client once told me, “You’re like a financial advisor and a pastor rolled into one.” And honestly, that’s the goal. We’re here to shepherd you through tough decisions with the grace and truth of Proverbs 3:9-10: “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing.”
Real Stories of Impact
Take Barney and Betty Rubble, for example—a couple who sold their business for $2.3 million and had a heart’s desire to be the best stewards possible. (Names have been changed to protect their identity.) Barney admits he likes to be in control of things, but he recognized there are some areas where he needed to trust and hand over control to someone with more knowledge and expertise. Together, we developed a personalized plan that balanced their desire for retirement income, their passion for missions, and their hope to leave a legacy for their grandchildren.
With our guidance, they implemented tax-advantaged giving strategies and shifted their portfolio to align with their values. The result? Not only did their wealth grow, but so did their confidence in God’s provision. Now Barney is free to pursue different passions and ministry leadings of the Holy Spirit. “We’ve never felt more at peace,” Betty told me. That’s the difference CKAs make.
The Humor of Stewardship
Stewardship and humor may not seem like natural partners, but they can be! I often joke that Jesus’ parable of the talents in Matthew 25 could inspire its own modern reality TV show. Imagine pitching to the Master: “Here’s your five talents… and by the way, I doubled them!” It’s a lighthearted way to remember that God calls us to multiply what He’s given us—not for personal gain, but for His glory.
But let’s not forget the other servant in the parable—the one who did nothing with his talent. This servant buried it in the ground, paralyzed by fear or apathy. Doing nothing is not an option. God has given us resources to manage and multiply, and He expects us to engage with them actively. Living by default—just coasting along—is a missed opportunity to glorify Him and bless others.
While managing wealth involves strategy and diligence, it doesn’t have to be heavy or somber. When we approach stewardship with joy and gratitude, it transforms our perspective. Proverbs 17:22 says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine.” Embracing humor and lightheartedness in our financial journey reminds us that stewardship is not just a duty—it’s a privilege to partner with God in His work.
What I Want You to Remember
If you have $500,000 or more to steward, don’t settle for cookie-cutter advice. A Certified Kingdom Advisor brings:
- Biblically sound, values-driven strategies.
- Expertise in complex financial planning.
- A heart for your eternal impact.
Proverbs 11:25 says, “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” With a CKA® by your side, you’ll prosper not just financially, but spiritually as well—all while refreshing others through your stewardship.
So why settle for Ramsey’s one-size-fits-all coaching when you could partner with a CKA® who truly understands the unique calling of high-net-worth stewardship? Let’s work together to build a financial legacy that honors God and inspires others.
Investments that Inspire, Advice that Elevates.