What is a Certified Kingdom Advisor®?

By Jake Preston, CFP®, CKA®

Choosing a financial advisor can be a difficult process. It can be time-consuming and overwhelming to sort through all of the qualifications, backgrounds, and designations that might be relevant for your situation. But we’re here to help! We want to help you gain clarity on what matters most when choosing a financial advisor.

In our last blog, we provided an overview of the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® designation, walking through both why and when you might consider working with a CFP® professional. In this blog, we want to do the same for the CKA® designation.

First, what does CKA® stand for? It stands for Certified Kingdom Advisor® and the designation is issued by Kingdom Advisors, an organization dedicated to equipping financial advisors to incorporate and apply biblical wisdom in the financial advice they are providing to clients. Today, there are over 3,500 advisors who have obtained the CKA® designation.

CKA® qualifications

So, what are the qualifications needed to become a CKA®? First, there is an education requirement. Advisors wishing to obtain the designation must complete the CKA® educational program which outlines biblical principles of money management and how to integrate those values with contemporary financial advice.

There is also an experience requirement. To obtain the CKA® designation, an advisor must either have at least 10 years of industry experience or hold one of the major designations such as the CFP®, CFA®, or ChFC®.

Candidates must also obtain 3 letters of reference, one of which must come from the advisor’s pastor/church leader. These references are required in order to prove that the advisor has a commitment to stewardship and biblical values. Along with the reference letters, the candidate must also sign a statement of personal stewardship, demonstrating a commitment to live personally by the advice they are giving professionally.

Finally, applicants must also pass an exam designed to test the advisor in their knowledge of Scripture and how to incorporate the biblical story into each area of financial planning such as tax planning, estate planning, and investments.

Working with a CKA® advisor

So, should you work with an advisor who holds the CKA® designation? It’s important to note the difference between designations like the CKA® and others like the CFP®. While the CFP® designation qualifies an advisor to provide holistic financial advice, the CKA® qualifies an advisor to incorporate biblical principles into their advice. It isn’t an either/or, CKA® or CFP®… it could be a both/and.

Working with an advisor who is a CFP® professional ensures you are receiving the highest level of technical expertise and working with someone who is obligated to put your interests before their own. And working with a CKA® ensures you are working with an advisor who shares your values.

A CKA® can help integrate your Christian worldview with your investments, ensuring you are supporting companies that promote human flourishing. A CKA® will challenge the traditional American view of retirement in favor of a more biblical perspective on vocation. And a CKA® will help you think through your estate plan, ensuring you are stewarding God’s resources now and leaving a legacy for the future.

It is important to work with a financial advisor who both possesses the skills necessary to accomplish your goals and who aligns with you on what you value most. If incorporating biblical principles into your financial plan is important to you, you may consider a CKA®.

We have a number of Certified Kingdom Advisors® on our team and you can view the CKA® directory at kingdomadvisors.com/find-a-cka.

Jake Preston is the Director of Financial Planning at Beacon Wealth Consultants.