No Answers

Has anyone ever asked you a question that you could not answer? Not just a simple question, but one of those really deep, meaningful, complex questions of life. You know the type: Is there life after death; do you believe in God; is Jesus the only way to heaven? Imagine yourself for a moment, listening to a soul-searching question–one that is convicting, paralyzing, and so deep that it penetrates the depths of your soul. If you have been there, you know how this feels. Contemplating the possibilities can leave you speechless. Your mind becomes impatient and longs for an instant answer. Yet, often there is nothing there. There is no foundation on which to formulate a response–just emptiness. No matter how hard you try, you cannot craft a response. You could fake it, but then you would risk sounding foolish. I received such a question in February 2003.

The question came in the form of a phone call from a dear client. The phone rang with a life-altering inquiry that literally turned my world upside down. After nearly seven years of professional experience at the time, a master’s degree in financial planning, and rigorous train­ing to become a CFP professional, I could not answer “the question” because it challenged conventional wisdom.

My mind kept racing. Every time I thought about “the question,” I interrupted myself. Though I had all this schooling and industry ex­perience, I did not even know where to start in attempting a solution. I continued looking out the window as if the answer were there. How can you not have a response, you coward? I thought. I sat there with a blank stare for another fifteen minutes before moving on to a more meaningless task. It was as though a barrier in my mind prevented me from reaching a logical conclusion.

Because I could not lay “the question” to rest that February evening, my mind continued to search for a resolution. The more I thought about it, the more it haunted me. I would think about it long and often, some­times at the most inopportune moments. It began to tug on my soul, it kept me up at night, and it wrestled with me and nearly won.

This continued for almost two years until I finally reached a conclu­sion. Though I would like to say the journey was smooth sailing, it was anything but. Sixteen years of school and by now nearly ten years of pro­fessional work experience were contradicted by a simple question. What appeared so innocent was actually a pivotal moment in my life. Little did I know, I was at a crossroads and forced to choose sides. By now you are probably intrigued. At least I hope so . . . What was “the question”? How could something that appeared so simple challenge a financial advisor’s foundational beliefs? What could it possibly be?

The Question That Changed It All

I remember these words from one of my clients like it was yester­day: “Jay, can I expect God to bless my investments if I am investing in companies that violate His principles?” Wow! I had never con­templated this. I’m paid to provide financial advice and improve the financial lives of my clients. Such a powerful question had never been posed to me. Here was a Christian woman asking if she could expect God to bless her investments (401[k], stocks, and mutual funds) if she was investing in the abortion industry or pornography companies. This question challenged and convicted me. I’d never thought about this in regard to my personal finances, let alone those of my clients. I felt like a deer caught in the headlights. My education and industry experience never prepared me for this question. Today, with confidence, I can not only answer this question, but I can also help you develop a financial plan based on integrating your faith into your investments.  I detail my entire 2 year journey in The Faith-Based Millionaire (foreword by Dan Miller).