As I sat in the empty conference room at church, I nervously checked my email inbox and phone for any missed messages. Nothing. It felt like a very lonely, awkward moment that challenged my very motive for becoming a financial counselor.

To get to this point, I had spent the previous six months setting up a counseling business. I set up a website from scratch, began networking with local financial advisors, and engaged my church’s leadership in my new venture. But despite the effort, I received no inquiries or calls until a text message came from a friend one Sunday afternoon.

“Hey Nate, I spoke to my wife, and we would like to meet with you.”

I felt a renewed sense of energy and passion. Maybe this could work.

No amount of reading books or listening to podcasts could prepare me for my first counseling session. Even while I showed up extra early for this in-person session to ensure all of my technology was going to work, there was no client. And after what felt like an eternity, I finally received an incoming text message

“Hey Nate, sorry we’re running late…be there in 5 mins.”

The inaugural session was probably more instructive for me than for my clients. While I had an agenda, our conversation drifted into areas I hadn’t anticipated. And while I had some knowledge of their situation, their needs and desires were not quite what I expected.  However, it was after this experience that I decided to seek out help from the Institute for Christian Financial Health to learn better what it means to be a financial counselor. This training, combined with continued practice, has taught me several lessons.

Consider these eight lessons learned as a Christian Financial Counselor:

1. You don’t need a business to get counseling experience.

Starting a business can feel overwhelming and even a bit daunting as you navigate developing your process and client workflow. However, there are numerous ways to gain counseling experience outside of a formal business setting without the added complication of running a business.

For instance, churches often provide opportunities to support their members through financial stewardship programs that utilize resources from well-known experts such as Larry Burkett, Ron Blue, and Ramsey Solutions. More directly, you can approach your pastor or elders and offer to assist individuals needing financial guidance. And depending on the needs of your church, you may find this becomes a core of your counseling ministry.

2. Listening must precede good advice.

The CERTCFC® program offers a wealth of valuable biblical knowledge to assist counselors in providing sound guidance to their clients. However, the effectiveness of this guidance is greatly enhanced when it is preceded by attentive and active listening.

Without feeling heard, clients are unlikely to pay attention to or act upon the advice you give them. Instead of rushing to offer advice, it is important to ask probing questions and delve into the heart of the issue. As Matthew 12:34 states, "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." By allowing clients to express themselves, they will open up and share their heart.

3. Counsel within a framework.

A counseling framework is crucial in guiding clients toward achieving financial well-being. The framework will help clients understand where they are in their current situation and provide the necessary steps and actions to progress them towards financial health. An added benefit of this framework is that it will help you as the counselor explain your process to show your client the path to achieve financial health. But a word of caution, any framework should be adaptable to accommodate the evolving needs of clients as they navigate their life situations.

4. Be honest about what you know and what you don’t know.

It's important to be transparent about your knowledge and acknowledge what you're unsure about. While you might feel pressure to be an expert in all areas of personal finance, it's simply not feasible given the breadth and depth of the subject. It's perfectly acceptable to admit when you don't have all the answers. This honesty can strengthen your clients' trust and confidence in you. It also presents an opportunity for you to demonstrate your commitment to providing accurate information by researching the answer and following up with your client.

5. Think deeply about your client’s situation, putting yourself in their shoes.

As you begin counseling clients through potentially traumatic circumstances, consider taking time to think deeply about your client’s situation by putting yourself in their shoes. In fact, we need to treat our clients and their situations with a similar level of concern and empathy that you would have for your family or even children. You certainly don’t want to live in their stress and pain, but you should feel their situation as you counsel them through their difficult situations.

6. Spend time preparing for your counseling sessions.

Maybe this seems obvious; take the time to prepare for your counseling sessions adequately. Even if you start to feel more comfortable with your role as a counselor and the sessions begin to feel more routine, it's important not to cut your preparations short. Instead, set aside sufficient time to reflect on the individual's circumstances and jot down the specific questions you need to ask during the session. 

7. Know the Word of God and memorize Scripture.

To provide financial counseling that is grounded in Scripture, it is important to have a deep understanding of God's Word. One effective way to achieve this is by regularly committing to memorizing verses and chapters. While it may be challenging at first, consistent practice and study of the verses related to financial stewardship will help you easily recall and share biblical principles.

8. Counseling is built on trust, and trust takes time to develop.

One of the most important steps I took early in my counseling career was seeking the guidance of experienced CKA advisors. The themes from each advisor were the same: it takes a long time to develop the relationships necessary to cultivate a successful financial practice. It might seem discouraging when you do not have clients to counsel, but take the time instead to build lasting relationships. This means sending emails and making phone calls to people you know. Even handwriting a note to local advisors with a stack of business cards can help you build your network. Never stop building relationships.

Financial counseling has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve done professionally. Getting into the details of your client’s situation and helping them navigate difficult times is worth the investment. But counseling is not always easy as you navigate the unexpected. Hopefully, these eight lessons learned as a Christian Financial Counseling can help make that journey a little easier.

About the author: Nate Sargent loves serving at his church with his wife and two children. In his free time, Nate enjoys running, hiking, and woodworking. Learn more about Nate and his financial counseling services through his website, natesargent.com.