185: Balancing Financial Success and Christian Values

Faith is a big part of our relationship to money. And this is something that I've had come up with my students over the years, not surprisingly, as they're working through their beliefs around money. 

So many of the messages we receive about money come from this space -- either from what we witnessed growing up in a faith community or from experiences within our current community. And sometimes these beliefs are ones that folks don't want to hold anymore, but they’ve already shaped how they think about money and the world. 

In today’s episode, faith-based private practice consultant Whitney Owens and I get into how she reconciles her Christian faith with charging premium fees and building wealth in her group practice. She shares what it means to be a financially successful Christian, and how being such elicits feelings of guilt. We also discuss messages about frugality, specifically in Christianity.

The Intersection of Faith and Financial Success 

(00:04:17) Enhancing Impact through Team and Services 

(00:10:26) Balancing Faith and Financial Success 

(00:14:16) The Relationship Between Premium Fees and Client Commitment 

(00:17:32) Stewardship and Relationships: Impact of Financial Earnings 

(00:22:12) Money Management Aligned with Christian Values 

(00:28:15) Navigating Emotional Struggles of Financial Success 

(00:31:38) Transformative Profit-First Money Management Strategies 

How Stewardship with Money Impacts Your Relationships and Community 

Faith and money are intertwined in our daily lives, whether we realize it or not. 

By intentionally aligning our financial decisions with our spiritual values, we become more financially confident and experience feelings of security and fulfillment. As a result, we’re more likely to make decisions that benefit others.

When we charge higher rates, for example, we are taking care of ourselves and valuing our worth, which allows us to better serve our clients and ultimately provide them with the best care possible. It's a cycle of self-care leading to better client care, creating a positive impact on both sides of the relationship.

"When we don't charge our full fees, we don't feel good about ourselves. We are overwhelmed because we have to see more clients. So it's the idea that we're actually serving our clients by serving ourselves. It's like circular, right? Cyclical." - Whitney Owens

In addition to implementing profit-first strategies in business, creating a supportive team and culture is crucial to achieving financial success, because it sets the tone for how financial decisions are made. When team members feel supported and valued in their workplace, they are more likely to make decisions that align with their values, including their spiritual beliefs.

Consider these actions to align your money management habits with your faith and personal values: 

• Invest in marketing services, business consulting, and essential tasks that align with your goals and values to expand your reach and fulfill your mission
• Create a supportive team and culture that compensates your team members fairly and promotes enjoyment in your workplace
• Charge premium fees for your therapy work to increase client commitment and to allow yourself to show up as your very best self for those you’re serving 
• Be a good steward of finances in support of your personal values, using money to care for and support yourself and others, and have a positive impact on issues that matter most to you 
• Manage money based on your mission to do good in the world, balancing frugality and excessive consumption
• Implement...