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Essentials

Get pointed in the right direction

Wherever you are on your financial journey—or at whatever fork in the road you find yourself—we’re here to help. Through our Essentials Paid Consulting engagements, Pro Bono Sessions, and additional resources, we’ll meet you where you are and help you take the right next step.

Essentials Paid ConsultingPro Bono SessionAdditional Resources

Essentials

Essentials Paid Consulting

Currently not accepting new clients

Essentials Paid Consulting is designed to help those with less than $450k investable assets cut through the noise, make wise decisions, and avoid costly mistakes. Our laser-focused, four-meeting engagement pairs you with a professional advisor to assess and organize your finances and help get you on track.

Essentials Paid Consulting

Currently not accepting new clients

Essentials Paid Consulting is designed to help those with less than $450k investable assets cut through the noise, make wise decisions, and avoid costly mistakes. Our laser-focused, four-meeting engagement pairs you with a professional advisor to assess and organize your finances and help get you on track.

Essentials

Pro Bono Session

Our free, no-obligation Pro Bono Sessions are designed to help those who may not yet need comprehensive financial planning and investment management services get pointed in the right direction. Pro Bono Sessions are 40 minutes long and offered at specific times throughout the year. Families may schedule one session per year.

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Essentials

Additional Resources

Essentials

Websites

From high-level “What is a Roth IRA?” type questions to nitty-gritty investment details and tips, the websites below are great starting places to research, learn, and find some answers to your questions.

  • Bogleheads — (Secular) — For the dedicated DIYer, Bogleheads has everything you need to go as deep as you wish to go. While their site lacks the visual refinement and ease-of-use of other more “mainstream” sites, they make up for it with a) an active forum and dedicated userbase, and b) highly informative “how-tos” for any investment-related question you have. If you’re a DIY-minded person looking to go a mile deep, we recommend carving out a few weekends while you get lost in Bogleheads.
  • FaithFi — (Faith-Based) — FaithFi is a platform designed to help Christians maintain a healthy perspective of their money. FaithFi provides a helpful podcast and mobile app, as well as budgeting tools, a quality blog, and an active user community to engage with.
  • Investopedia — (Secular) — As its name may imply, you can think of Investopedia as the “Wikipedia of Finance.” Investopedia is a robust, informative site providing everything from topical education pieces to a financial dictionary, calculators, courses, and beyond.
  • Nerd Wallet — (Secular) — Think of Nerd Wallet as the Consumer Reports of the financial industry specializing in comparing “best-of” financial products. If you’re looking to find out what credit card, bank account, or mortgage might make the most sense for you, head over to Nerd Wallet. Their website, however, goes far beyond product comparisons and provides a wealth of additional resources and information on all things finance.
  • Ramsey Solutions — (Faith-Based) —Dave Ramsey and his company, Ramsey Solutions, have helped countless families achieve debt freedom and build healthy financial habits. If you’re looking for faith-based financial resources and a network of vetted providers, Ramsey Solutions is the first place you should turn.  The Ramsey Solution’s website contains countless resources and information, including many free calculators and a robust, practical blog.

Websites

From high-level “What is a Roth IRA?” type questions to nitty-gritty investment details and tips, the websites below are great starting places to research, learn, and find some answers to your questions.

  • Bogleheads — (Secular) — For the dedicated DIYer, Bogleheads has everything you need to go as deep as you wish to go. While their site lacks the visual refinement and ease-of-use of other more “mainstream” sites, they make up for it with a) an active forum and dedicated userbase, and b) highly informative “how-tos” for any investment-related question you have. If you’re a DIY-minded person looking to go a mile deep, we recommend carving out a few weekends while you get lost in Bogleheads.
  • FaithFi — (Faith-Based) — FaithFi is a platform designed to help Christians maintain a healthy perspective of their money. FaithFi provides a helpful podcast and mobile app, as well as budgeting tools, a quality blog, and an active user community to engage with.
  • Investopedia — (Secular) — As its name may imply, you can think of Investopedia as the “Wikipedia of Finance.” Investopedia is a robust, informative site providing everything from topical education pieces to a financial dictionary, calculators, courses, and beyond.
  • Nerd Wallet — (Secular) — Think of Nerd Wallet as the Consumer Reports of the financial industry specializing in comparing “best-of” financial products. If you’re looking to find out what credit card, bank account, or mortgage might make the most sense for you, head over to Nerd Wallet. Their website, however, goes far beyond product comparisons and provides a wealth of additional resources and information on all things finance.
  • Ramsey Solutions — (Faith-Based) —Dave Ramsey and his company, Ramsey Solutions, have helped countless families achieve debt freedom and build healthy financial habits. If you’re looking for faith-based financial resources and a network of vetted providers, Ramsey Solutions is the first place you should turn.  The Ramsey Solution’s website contains countless resources and information, including many free calculators and a robust, practical blog.
Essentials

Tools & Apps

Whether you’re looking for a comprehensive budgeting app or a retirement calculator, here are some apps and resources to consider:

  • YNAB — (Budgeting App) — YNAB (You Need a Budget) is a powerful budgeting app. YNAB differs from other budgeting apps in its focus and budgeting methodology. YNAB embraces a zero-based budgeting approach that requires you to give every dollar a job and embrace/plan for your true expenses.
  • EveryDollar — (Budgeting App) — EveryDollar is a fantastic budgeting app under the Ramsey Solutions umbrella of products. Whether or not you’re a long-time fan of Dave Ramsey, EveryDollar is a great option that allows you to personalize your budget, set custom savings goals, and track all your expenses.
  • Qube Money — (Budgeting App & Banking Platform) — You may have heard of the envelope budgeting system. Qube Money brings this concept to the digital age, providing an integrated, digital-first banking experience built on the envelope budgeting approach.
  • Nerd Wallet Retirement Calculator — (Retirement Calculator) — Nerd Wallet’s Retirement Calculator is a straight-forward, fairly basic retirement calculator that allows you to calculate retirement savings based on your age, income, and savings.
  • cFIREsim — (Retirement Calculator) — For the advanced finance DIYer, cFIREsim provides an advanced educational tool that allows users to run retirement simulations and view solve rates based on a wide variety of variable inputs.
Essentials
Essentials

Advisor Searches, Robo-Advisors, & Investment Platforms

Wherever you are on your financial journey—whether you’re just getting started or well on your way—here are some advisor networks and investment platforms for you to explore:

  • Christian Financial Advisors Network — Christian Financial Advisors Network is a small network of faith-based financial advisors. Each advisor operates as a fee-only, fiduciary advisor and is required to hold the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Certified Kingdom Advisor® designations.
  • XY Planning Network — XY Planning Network allows clients to search for and find fee-for-service financial advisors. Use XY Planning’s filter feature to search for advisors with specific focuses or interests, featuring everything from faith-based advisors to motorcycle-owning advisors. 
  • NAPFA — Looking specifically for a fee-only advisor? NAPFA (The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors) is considered the standard bearer for fee-only, fiduciary financial advisors. Use their search feature to find a NAPFA-sanctioned, fee-only advisor near you. 
  • Ramsey SmartVestor — Looking for an advisor in the “Dave Ramsey universe?” Ramsey’s SmartVestor program provides families and individuals access to a broad, vetted network of financial advisors and investment professionals nationwide. You can have peace of mind knowing all SmarVestor designated advisors are experienced and dedicated to advising with Dave Ramsey’s principles.
  • Kingdom Advisors — Kingdom Advisors is a leading voice in the field of faith-based financial advising. Use their “Find a CKA®” directory search to find a Kingdom Advisor designated Christian financial advisor near you. 
  • 3rd Decade — If you’re a young adult serious about building your financial literacy, consider looking into 3rd Decade. 3rd Decade provides a dedicated, virtual curriculum to young adults looking to build a strong foundation for their financial future.
  • Vanguard — If you’re a DIYer when it comes to finances, you’ve likely heard of Vanguard. Vanguard provides individual DIY investors access to high-quality, low-cost ETFs (exchange-traded funds) and mutual funds. 
  • Betterment — With a sleek, modern app and user experience, look into Betterment if you want to explore robo-advisory and automated investing options.

Advisor Searches, Robo-Advisors, & Investment Platforms

Wherever you are on your financial journey—whether you’re just getting started or well on your way—here are some advisor networks and investment platforms for you to explore:

  • Christian Financial Advisors Network — Christian Financial Advisors Network is a small network of faith-based financial advisors. Each advisor operates as a fee-only, fiduciary advisor and is required to hold the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Certified Kingdom Advisor® designations.
  • XY Planning Network — XY Planning Network allows clients to search for and find fee-for-service financial advisors. Use XY Planning’s filter feature to search for advisors with specific focuses or interests, featuring everything from faith-based advisors to motorcycle-owning advisors. 
  • NAPFA — Looking specifically for a fee-only advisor? NAPFA (The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors) is considered the standard bearer for fee-only, fiduciary financial advisors. Use their search feature to find a NAPFA-sanctioned, fee-only advisor near you. 
  • Ramsey SmartVestor — Looking for an advisor in the “Dave Ramsey universe?” Ramsey’s SmartVestor program provides families and individuals access to a broad, vetted network of financial advisors and investment professionals nationwide. You can have peace of mind knowing all SmarVestor designated advisors are experienced and dedicated to advising with Dave Ramsey’s principles.
  • Kingdom Advisors — Kingdom Advisors is a leading voice in the field of faith-based financial advising. Use their “Find a CKA®” directory search to find a Kingdom Advisor designated Christian financial advisor near you. 
  • 3rd Decade — If you’re a young adult serious about building your financial literacy, consider looking into 3rd Decade. 3rd Decade provides a dedicated, virtual curriculum to young adults looking to build a strong foundation for their financial future.
  • Vanguard — If you’re a DIYer when it comes to finances, you’ve likely heard of Vanguard. Vanguard provides individual DIY investors access to high-quality, low-cost ETFs (exchange-traded funds) and mutual funds. 
  • Betterment — With a sleek, modern app and user experience, look into Betterment if you want to explore robo-advisory and automated investing options.
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