Educational Financial Content for Pastors

An actual pastor.
Not an outside advisor looking in.

Most pastors I meet don't need a lecture on money. They need someone who actually understands their world.

That's the gap I built Pastoral Finance to fill.

I'm an ordained pastor. I've also spent my career on the financial side of ministry. For 18 years I've served as Finance Director for the Tennessee Ministry Network, overseeing roughly 200 churches. I first entered the financial advisory profession in 2000, and I hold a Bachelor of Science in Finance with a concentration in Financial Planning.

So when I write about housing allowance, a 403(b) rollover, or the Social Security opt-out, I'm not an outside advisor guessing at what ministry feels like. I've sat on both sides of the table. I know what a board meeting sounds like. I know what it's like to shepherd a congregation and quietly wonder whether your own retirement is going to be okay.

Why this site exists

Pastors face a tax and retirement landscape that almost no general financial advice accounts for. Dual tax status. SECA instead of FICA. The Section 107 housing allowance. Church plans that don't work like a corporate 401(k). A single wrong move, like the wrong kind of rollover, can permanently change what retirement looks like.

Most pastors were never taught any of this. That's not a failure of intelligence. It's a failure of the system around them.

Pastoral Finance is here to teach it plainly. Everything here is educational, written for pastors and ministry families who are smart and sincere but were never handed a guide to the financial side of their calling.

What I believe about money and ministry

Faithful stewardship isn't about fear, and it isn't about chasing wealth. It's about handling well what you've been trusted with, for your family and for the work God called you to.

That applies to the offering plate and to your own household. This is not about suspicion of money. It's about stewardship of it.

Where to start

The simplest first step costs nothing. Before you make a decision you can't undo, start with the free checklist below. When you're ready to go deeper, I also founded Legacy Path Advisors, a fiduciary financial planning firm built specifically for pastors and ministry families. There's no pressure here. Start with what's free, and take the next step only when it's right for your season.

Pastoral Finance is educational only and does not provide individualized financial, tax, or legal advice. It is editorially independent from Legacy Path Advisors LLC. Tax rules change and apply differently to each person. Consult a qualified professional about your situation before acting.