Growing up, I always viewed the wealth management and finance industry negatively. I saw it purely as a numbers game and relatively sleazy. It is just something about insurance and service sales that leaves a weird taste in my mouth. This past year, I have met some folks who actually are both in wealth management and great people at the same time. About a month ago, a man named Justin Lopez messaged me on LinkedIn and invited me to have a conversation with his team about a possible future with his firm, 49 Financial. It was then that I began my research. I scoured the company website and discovered some extremely exciting content. Essentially, 49 Financial is a wealth management firm that believes in its mission, values, and foundation. The name of the company comes from the company Bible verse, Ecclesiastes 4:9, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor”. They take a holistic approach to financial wellness and instill the characteristic of stewardship into everyday practices.
The folks I have spoken to have amazed me. The way they speak on the culture of the company, as well as the recent prosperity and significant growth, shows me they are doing things right. It is a breath of fresh air to see people taking the industry by storm. Being successful without exploitation or selling someone short is impressive as well. The leadership encourages the employees to be involved in their churches and communities as well. I would love to be employed by this firm upon graduation.
I believe that the 49 Financial team is actively choosing to operate within a redemptive context. They understand how finances have historically been idolized and misguided by people with selfish motives. 49’s philosophy is all about stewardship and freedom from financial burden. They also prioritize loving their neighbor and client, no matter who they are. I believe that this humble, redemptive perspective is directly correlated with the trust their clients have in them.
Finances and marketing have certainly been looked down upon for being deceiving, however, with the help from these 49 Financial employees, they have shed a new light in this industry. Their ability to connect with business owners and other individual clients to help them with their finances has greatly demonstrated their kingdom impact and redemptive spirit. Also, the name for 49 financial is loosely based off of Ecclesiastes 4:9 where “two are better than one.” They are able to provide guidance for these people in finances and money and they aren’t leaving them to fend for themselves. This certainly shows that they are providing redemptive entrepreneurship practices and that the point of the business is to help other people.
I would agree with you that it is hard to see the good in financial firms, but I love that you pointed out 49 Financial as a non-exploitative firm. This gives me hope for the future. I think its cool that they use a bible verse to live by, and I hope you get the opportunity to work for them.