Faith, Finance, and Stewardship: A Conversation with Nick Garofalo
In this episode of the Pastors & Money Podcast, I talk with Nick Garofalo, CFP candidate and founder of Open-Handed Wealth. We discuss the integration of faith and financial planning, the spiritual significance of money, learning to tithe, and innovative ways to shift from a perspective of scarcity to abundance. Nick shares his journey into financial planning, the story behind his firm's name, and practical advice on balancing financial stability with generosity. We also delve into the psychological aspects of giving, overcoming fears related to tithing, and leveraging financial behaviors to leave a lasting legacy.
The episode wraps up with encouraging words for pastors who may feel isolated in their financial struggles, emphasizing that they are not alone and highlighting the importance of seeking trustworthy financial advice.
00:00 Introduction to Pastors & Money Podcast
00:36 Meet Nick Garofalo: Founder of Open-Handed Wealth
01:06 Nick's Journey into Financial Planning
01:56 The Story Behind Open-Handed Wealth
03:34 The Paradox of Generosity: Tithing vs. Quitting Smoking
05:18 Overcoming the Fear of Tithing
14:07 Balancing Stewardship and Generosity
17:35 Understanding Wealth and Income Quadrants
18:04 The Importance of Giving and Saving
19:27 Personal Testimonies on Financial Obedience
21:41 Leaving a Lasting Legacy
26:41 Encouragement for Pastors and Church Leaders
30:20 Final Thoughts and Resources
Resources:
Visit Nick at Open-Handed Wealth where you will find resources to help you take control of your financial future as a small business owner. Nick equips you to make solid financial decisions to continue building your legacy.Check out the One Degree Podcast Connect with @nickmakescents on IGFollow Nick on Facebook
Transcript:
Learning to Tithe: A Conversation About Faith and Finances
Opening and Introduction
Joy Suzanne: [00:00:00] Welcome to the Pastors & Money Podcast, where we help pastors, ministry leaders, and churches start thriving financially using money as a tool to fuel God's mission in our churches and our families. I'm your host, Joy Suzanne Hunt. I'm a pastor and a financial coach, and my goal is to create a space to have conversations about the challenges and opportunities we all face when it comes to money.
You can find the episode show notes, free resources, and more at pastorsandmoney.com. And here's the show.
Joy Hunt: Nick Garofalo is a CFP candidate and the founder of Open-Handed Wealth. His goal both in his business and through his podcast, is to help Christians align their life goals and vision with biblical wisdom, transforming stress into clarity and solving their financial pain points, he speaks to the intersection of faith, business, and generosity, empowering his listeners to find financial peace, give freely, and leave a lasting legacy, one small choice at a time.
Well, Nick, welcome to the show.
Nick Garofalo: Oh, Thanks for having me Joy. I'm Glad to be here.
Nick's Journey into Financial Planning
Joy Hunt: To get started, can you tell us just a bit about your journey into financial planning and what led you to focus specifically on serving Christians?
Nick Garofalo: Yeah, absolutely. So I came into financial planning because I love solving problems and helping people feel confident about their future, especially their financial future. For Christians money isn't just practical, it's spiritual. We recognize that we're stewards and that God owns it all.
And what we do with the resources God's given to us can and will impact eternity. And so many of us, myself included, that's honestly just downright scary. So I want to help people reframe this as an invitation and an opportunity to, push back darkness and expand the reach of the gospel through the conduit of entrepreneurship and investing in financial decision making.