Meeting with a Geneva Financial Planner: What You Can Expect from a 1:1 Consultation

For many pastors and ministry leaders, money is a tricky topic. It’s deeply connected to calling, stewardship, and discipleship, and yet it’s also one of the areas that can feel hardest to navigate.

“It’s sort of taboo to talk about money as a pastor,” said Rev. Tim Sin, Assistant Pastor of Denver Presbyterian Church. “We’re not in it to be rich and famous.”

If you’ve ever felt uncertain about your financial future, unsure where to start, or simply stretched thin by the realities of ministry income and responsibilities, you’re not alone. Many pastors and ministry workers quietly carry those same questions.

That’s exactly why Geneva’s one-on-one financial planning consultations exist.

Available to anyone enrolled in Geneva’s Retirement Plan—regardless of account balance—these conversations ensure every ministry family has access to high-quality, personalized guidance and tools. While many firms require $500,000 or more to begin, Geneva meets you wherever you are, whether you’re just getting started or nearing retirement.

Each consultation is free, confidential, and designed specifically for ministry families—rooted in understanding, shaped by experience, and offered in a space that is entirely judgment-free.

Understanding Ministry Life

When you work in ministry, money doesn’t always follow a predictable pattern. Some seasons bring stability; others bring transition, support raising, or bi-vocational work. Many pastors also carry the added weight of generosity expectations while still trying to discern how to plan wisely for their own families.

Because of this, it’s common for pastors to feel a quiet tension around money. Some hesitate to reach out because they assume they should already know what to do. Others worry they’re “behind,” or that their situation is too complicated to sort out.

And for many, there’s a question beneath the surface: Where do I even begin?

Geneva’s financial planners understand that reality. All of them are pastors themselves, bringing years of firsthand ministry experience to every conversation. They’ve worked with ministry families long enough to know that these questions are not signs of failure; they’re part of faithfully navigating a very unique calling.

Meeting You Where You Are

A one-on-one consultation always begins with listening.

There are no assumptions, no expectations, and no pressure to present a “put-together” financial picture. Instead, the planner’s role is to understand your life as it actually is, and to meet you there with clarity and care.

When Tim met with Geneva Financial Planning Advisor Paul Chi, he was surprised by Paul’s approach. “You feel incredibly loved and seen, and he’s not going to judge you based on your financial situation,” said Tim. “There’s a lot of empathy.”

These conversations are confidential and judgment-free, shaped by the belief that wise guidance starts with genuine understanding.

Depending on your situation, planners may also work alongside church leadership or sessions to help evaluate and offer guidance on a pastor’s compensation (i.e. call package). Because compensation in ministry is often unique to each context, having a trusted third party can bring helpful perspective and clarity for both pastors and churches.

Most importantly, planners take time to understand:

• Your ministry context and responsibilities
• Your stage of life and family situation
• Your personal goals and priorities
• Your current financial realities

Nothing is rushed or assumed. The goal is simply to see the full picture before offering any direction.

Creating a Personalized Plan, Together

From there, the conversation shifts toward building something practical and life-giving.

Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all approach, Geneva’s financial planners work with you to create a plan that fits your real life: your calling, your constraints, and your hopes for the future.

Together, you’ll work through things like:

• Clarifying what matters most to you and your family
• Identifying wise next steps for your current season
• Thinking ahead toward long-term goals like retirement or transition planning

Many ministry workers leave these conversations with a renewed sense of direction, not because every question is answered at once, but because they finally have a framework to move forward with confidence.

Since the planners bring experience working specifically with ministry families, their guidance is both practical and context-aware. They understand the pressures and rhythms you’re living in, and they help you think wisely within them.

Ongoing Support, Not a One-Time Conversation

Financial planning with Geneva is an ongoing relationship.

As ministry seasons change, so do financial needs. A new call, a move, a growing family, or a shift in compensation can all bring new questions. Your financial planning advisor is there to walk with you through those changes over time, offering continued guidance and support as needed.

And importantly, this service is always offered at no cost to Geneva participants.

Schedule a Free, One-on-One Consultation Today

At its heart, Geneva’s financial planning is about helping ministry families live with greater peace and clarity so they can focus more fully on their calling. It’s about removing unnecessary stress and replacing it with wisdom, support, and direction.

Because when financial life becomes clearer, ministry life often becomes freer.

If you’re ready to take the next step towards financial wellbeing (or even explore what it might look like), schedule a consultation with one of Geneva’s financial planners today.