Certified Kingdom Advisor
Jim Kniffen is a Certified Kingdom Advisor
Choosing a Certified Kingdom Advisor® allows you to partner with someone who shares your Christian worldview so that you can confidently navigate financial decisions as a faithful steward.
Certified Kingdom Advisor® is a designation granted by Kingdom Advisors to individuals who have demonstrated themselves to be:
Able to Apply Biblical Wisdom in Counsel:
By successfully completing the rigorous Certified Kingdom Advisor® coursework and examination.
Technically Competent:
By providing evidence of an approved professional designation (varying by discipline) or by having at least 10 years full-time experience in their discipline.
Ethical:
By agreeing to espouse and practice the Kingdom Advisors Code of Ethics (provide link to this part of the CKA® document in PDF here), by maintaining active local church involvement, and by providing pastoral and client letters of reference.
Biblical Stewards:
By pledging that they practice biblical stewardship in their personal and professional lives and by giving regularly in proportion to their income.
What should I look for in a Certified Kingdom Advisor?
A biblical worldview with God as the ultimate authority – a Christian financial professional should operate within a higher standard established by God and should adhere to biblical principles.
An emphasis on stewardship – a Christian financial professional should understand that God owns everything and that we are only managers (Psalm 24:1).
An eternal perspective on money – a Christian financial professional should help the client set a biblical worldview of their financial future as opposed to a “secular” worldview - funding God’s Kingdom as a focal point instead of accumulating money for the client’s use only.
Responsible spending – a Christian financial professional should focus on avoiding a consumptive lifestyle by living within one’s means, spending less than one earns, saving and investing, and viewing the use of debt as something that should be avoided whenever possible.
Integrity – a Christian financial professional should maintain the highest level of professional integrity by maintaining confidential relationships with his or her clients and by having a firm commitment to operate within the law. Christian financial professionals should also put the client’s best interest above their own.
Professional competency – a Christian financial professional should have obtained the proper education, training and or designation to prepare him or her to perform comprehensive financial services for his or her client while always striving to improve his competence to practice.
A good reputation – Proverbs tells us that, “a good name is more desirable than great riches,” and “to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.” A Christian financial professional should be held in high regard by his/her peers and clients, and he/she should be considered a leader in the community and church in which they belong.
Kingdom Advisors Statement of Faith
We believe that the Bible is the inspired, authoritative Word of God. It is without error in all its teaching.
We believe that there is one God, Lord of the universe, eternally existent in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ; in His virgin birth; in His perfect, sinless life; in His miracles; in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood; in His bodily resurrection; in His ascension to heaven to the right hand of God the Father; and in His personal and visible return in power and glory.
We believe that all people are lost sinners and that regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
We believe that all people will be resurrected - those who are saved to eternal life and those who are lost to eternal damnation.
We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
We believe that God, as Creator, is the ultimate Owner of all possessions on earth. God has given people the authority to be stewards of those possessions and the responsibility to faithfully manage them according to the principles in the Word of God.
Personal Practice of Financial Biblical Stewardship
I agree to maintain a financial lifestyle that is consistent with a biblical steward in the following areas:
Giving - Regular giving in proportion to income to the local church and/or other Christian ministries. “On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come” (1 Corinthians 16:2)
Taxes – Exhibit integrity in completing personal and business tax returns. “And Jesus said to them, ‘Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.’“ (Luke 20:25)
Debt – Minimize the use of personal debt and accept an absolute commitment to debt repayment. “The wicked borrows and does not pay back, but the righteous is gracious and gives.” (Psalm 37:21) “Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender.” (Proverbs 22:7)
Provision for Family – Accept an absolute commitment to provide for the family that God has entrusted to you. “Prescribe these things as well, so that they may be above reproach. But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (1 Timothy 5:7-8)
Lifestyle - Maintain a controlled lifestyle, a family budget and good cash management skills. "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?" (Luke 14:28)
Kingdom Advisors Code of Ethics
A Certified Kingdom Advisor®, recognizing Jesus Christ as their ultimate authority, are committed to upholding high standards of excellence in their professions as they work with their clients, the public, colleagues, employers, and employees. A Certified Kingdom Advisor® will seek to espouse and practice the following principles in their practices:
Integrity: A Certified Kingdom Advisor® recognizes that personal integrity demands a commitment to absolute honesty which is never swayed by personal gain or advantage. Integrity is an essential characteristic because of the trust placed in them by their clients. Integrity cannot co-exist with deceit or a departure from one’s principles.
Objectivity: A Certified Kingdom Advisor® will provide honest and impartial advice, services, and products that are always in the best interest of the client without distortion by personal feelings, prejudices, or potential compensation.
Competence: A Certified Kingdom Advisor® must be well qualified in skill, knowledge, and ability to sufficiently serve their clients in the fields in which they engage. Competence includes wisdom to recognize limitations and to know when a client referral is necessary. A Certified Kingdom Advisor® will make an ongoing commitment to learning and professional improvement in their respective disciplines.
Suitability: A Certified Kingdom Advisor® will strive to ensure that the advice, products, and services offered to clients are suitable and appropriate given the client’s goals, objectives, and current financial condition.
Full Disclosure: A Certified Kingdom Advisor® will always make full disclosure to clients with respect to compensation being earned and conflicts of interest that may exist.
Confidentiality: A Certified Kingdom Advisor® shall not disclose confidential client information without the specific consent of the client. Confidentiality includes maintaining proper and prudent physical and technological safeguards to protect confidential client information.
Professionalism: A Certified Kingdom Advisor® will strive to conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent with a Christian financial professional. A Certified Kingdom Advisor® recognizes that as professing Christians their conduct is a direct reflection on Jesus Christ and they must conduct themselves as committed believers. The conduct of a certified member is also a reflection of Kingdom Advisors and directly affects the ability of Kingdom Advisors to fulfill its mission and vision.
Accountability: A Certified Kingdom Advisor® will submit to the authority of the local church, designating bodies, and all governing authorities. In addition, Kingdom Advisors recommends a Certified Kingdom Advisor® maintain personal and business accountability with an accountability partner and/or a Board of Advisors.
Humility: A Certified Kingdom Advisor® shall always maintain a servant spirit as they work with clients rather than a spirit of arrogance or pride. The humility of certified advisors shall be marked by meekness and modesty in behavior, attitude and spirit. Certified advisors recognize that God is sovereign, and the fruit of their labor is a direct result of God rather than their own human efforts. Furthermore, it is a privilege and a blessing to be used of the Lord on this earth.
Generosity: A Certified Kingdom Advisor® shall live a generous life as a reflection of the generous character of Jesus Christ. A generous life includes generosity with time, talent, and treasure.
Conflict: A Certified Kingdom Advisor® shall subscribe to principles of Matthew 18:15-20 and will strive to encourage resolution, reconciliation, and restoration where possible within the legal and compliance guidelines of your firm.