Greetings
! Welcome to my blog. It’s nice to meet you. Pull up a chair. I hope you’ll visit often.
My name is John. I was born and raised in a small town near Pittsburgh, PA. I moved to Boston, MA to go to college in the early Eighties, and have been here ever since. I love everything about Boston Metro except the winters. Until I figure out how to hibernate through them, I guess I’ll just have to live with them.
I call this place The Planner’s Pulpit because it brings together my two fields of labor: personal financial planning and Christian ministry. I’ve been active in ministry since 1983, and was ordained in 1990. But I’ve always supported myself primarily with my “secular” work, which has been in financial services since 1987. I’m a Certified Financial Planner™ professional, and the founder of Aspire Financial Advisors, a company that serves churches and the people who attend them.
As you might guess, I’ll be opining on money matters, and Christian practice, and especially about the many ways those things intersect and overlap. I’m hoping for a blend of the practical and the thought-provoking. I want it to be helpful and encouraging. I hope you like funny, too, because many people tell me I am that. In fact, they say it even when I’m not trying to be funny. I’m still not sure if that’s a good thing. Anyway, I’ll speak the truth as I understand it. I don’t worry much about political correctness, conventional wisdom, or anyone’s view of orthodoxy, be it economic, denominational, or whatever. Just so you’ll know.
I want you to be part of the conversation. Your comments are more than welcome, but they will be moderated before they appear. There are two reasons for that: the first is to make sure that nothing posts that is not appropriate for a family-friendly, Christian-themed blog. I know you wouldn’t try to post anything like that, but some people might. The second reason is that I’m a financial professional who holds securities licenses. That means the financial regulatory authorities will hold me responsible for anything that appears on my blog, even if I didn’t say it myself.
Speaking of regulators; now is probably a good time for a disclaimer. Nothing here is intended as legal or accounting advice, or even as personal financial advice. I’d have to get to know you better to give you individual advice, and I’d also have to be licensed to do so in your home state. You can contact me to discuss that sort of thing, but everything said here on the blog is just for purposes of general discussion and education.
You know the “offered through” disclaimer that always appears in fine print on advisor business cards and advertisements? No fine print here: Securities are offered through Essex Securities, a registered broker/dealer, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services are offered through Global Investment Advisors, 168 Centre Street, Danvers, MA 01923. (800) 377-7964. Aspire Financial Advisors is not affiliated with Essex Securities.
But enough of the formalities; we’ve got lots of things to talk about!
