I created RetirementStewardship.com after I decided that it is one of the things I want to do in “retirement”. For me, “retirement” simply means when I am no longer employed in a “9 to 5” job and therefore free to pursue other things. It is part of my plan to “steward my retirement” by doing something I enjoy with the goal of serving God and helping others.
I am currently employed full time as an Enterprise Architect and IT Strategist for a large regional bank (work I really enjoy, by the way), but I have been a social worker, social work administrator, account executive, telecom/network engineer and planner, marketing technical consultant, IT architect, IT consultant, IT manager, and IT director. My background is that of an IT professional, not a salesperson or financial adviser. My mission is to help others with their finances, careers, and retirement.
I am not a self-described guru or financial/retirement planning “expert”. I don’t dispense professional investing or retirement advice as I am neither qualified nor licensed to do so. Therefore, the information here is intended for informational and educational (and sometimes entertainment) purposes only. You can read the Disclaimers here.
My perspective in authoring content for this blog is that of someone who is making the same important decisions about retirement stewardship that you are. So if you want to hear from a pretty average, financially conservative guy who writes about the realities of planning and living in retirement from a Christian stewardship perspective, then you may find some help and encouragement here. My goal is to be a trusted independent resource for you as you navigate one of life’s most challenging transitions: planning for and living in retirement.
My basic views on personal finance are that I value simplicity over complexity, pragmatism over sophistication, and I believe that money is a gift from God and a means to an end and not an end in itself. My goals for this blog, and through the other services I offer, are to help make the world a bit better for us, our families, our churches, and our communities by encouraging us to live within our means, save prudently, invest wisely, and give generously of our time and our resources during all stages of life. In other words, to be a good steward of everything God has given us.
In terms of my education background, I have a B.S. degree in psychology and sociology from Rollins College, studied in the M.A. in Counseling program at the University of Central Florida, earned an M.B.A. from Florida Institute of Technology, and have done post-graduate work at Nova Southeastern University (Computer Information Systems) and Reformed Theological Seminary (Theological Studies). I am also a graduate of the Executive Leadership Training Program at Emory University in Atlanta, and have taken a number of other leadership development training classes throughout my business career.
Much of what I have learned about retirement stewardship comes from my own research and experience. I have an “always learning and growing” perspective on life and business, so I continually read about and study this topic as well as others.
In addition to writing for this blog, I am also a Financial/Career/Retirement Coach. I am currently focusing my activities on the financial coaching ministry in my local church, but I may expand that in the future. Although I have managed and coached in corporate business settings for many years, and coach people on their finances and careers in other settings, professional coaching is a relatively new discipline that requires extensive training. So, over the last few years, I have been building on my experience by getting the training I needed to become a good coach.
I am trained as a Financial Master Series Coach* by The Lampo Group (Ramsey Solutions), and lead the Financial Coaching/Counseling Ministry at my home church. I also lead Ramsey Solutions’ Financial Peace University (FPU) seminars at my church. In addition to my training from The Lampo Group, I am also a graduate of Dan Miller’s (48Days.com) Coaching with Excellence training program.
I am also a certified Coaching Core Essentials Graduate (CCEG) from CoachU. CoachU is considered one of the leading international training programs for professional personal and business coaches and is fully accredited by the International Coach Federation (ICF). The CCEG program is 70+ hours of coach-specific training that has been accredited by the ICF. I subsequently received ICF approved Coach Mentoring through Coach Approach Ministries.
In my coaching and consulting activities, I strive to adhere to the Coaching Competencies and Ethical Standards of the ICF, and the Code of Ethics of the Christian Coaches Network.
*Chris Cagle attended and completed The Lampo Group’s Financial Coach Master Series Training. However, completion of this training does not create an employment or an agency relationship, or give any Coach the right to speak for or bind Dave Ramsey or his company, Ramsey Solutions /The Lampo Group, Inc., nor does it constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Dave Ramsey himself.