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Editor’s note: April is Financial Literacy Month. In this article, Portico Benefit Services reminds us that it’s a good time to take one faithful step forward, even when the path ahead feels uncertain.
Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much (Luke 16:10).
Will I have enough? Have I planned well enough? Is it too late to make a difference?
These questions are more common than most people realize—and difficult to talk about openly in a world where costs, work and economic conditions keep shifting. The path forward isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about taking informed, intentional steps and asking for help when we need it.
For people of faith, that path often has a name: stewardship. In the Lutheran tradition, stewardship encompasses time, talent and treasure—both what we give away and how we care for what we’ve been given.
One ELCA member, a pastor’s widow (members’ names withheld for privacy), describes it this way: “I have long known that all that I have has come from God and that my duty is to manage God’s gifts to the best of my ability.”
When worry becomes a starting point
The call to steward what we’ve been given often begins with questions. Financial literacy meets people right where worry shows up, helping to turn uncertainty into understanding.
Brooks Rankin leads the Financial Planner team at Portico Benefit Services, the benefits ministry of the ELCA. His team serves ELCA retirement plan members, working alongside them on core aspects of financial literacy—practical guidance that holds up even when circumstances change:
- Budgeting and spending
- Saving and planning for the future
- Handling debt wisely
- Understanding investment options
The team hears a range of concerns, but the most common question is simple and weighty: “Do I have enough to retire?” Close behind it are questions about saving and investing wisely—and how to hold steady when headlines repeatedly trigger uncertainty.
“A lot of what drives financial anxiety is fear of the unknown,” Rankin said. “Getting a basic picture of your financial situation—even at a high level—can go a long way toward bringing that anxiety down.”
For many people, that process begins with a deceptively simple question: “How much do you think you spend on groceries in a week?” Answering it can open the door to a clearer understanding of overall expenses and whether spending aligns with their values.
Guidance through life’s transitions
For some, the need for guidance arrives during moments of significant change.
One plan member reached out to Portico after losing her husband, an ELCA pastor for 40 years who had always managed their finances. In the midst of grief, she also faced financial uncertainty without a clear road map.
Over time, she worked with a Portico financial planner on everything from budgeting to a comprehensive financial plan. Along the way, she gained both knowledge and confidence—and, perhaps most meaningfully, reassurance that she has not outspent her resources.
Her faith shapes how she views the future. “There are no promises that no misfortunes are ahead,” she said. “God promises to be with me always. Portico gives the assurance that the support and guidance I have received is ongoing.”
Another plan member found reassurance while navigating a divorce settlement and health challenges. “I don’t have anyone else to rely on and can’t make mistakes with this money,” the member said. “I thank God every day for what I have, that I have this little bit extra.”
Retirement brings its own set of questions, and steadiness matters. For many people, retirement planning is less about a single decision and more about working through questions and practical details over time—from paperwork to next steps—and building confidence about what comes next.
For others, progress takes shape when long‑standing financial strain finally has structure and direction. In some cases, that comes when Portico connects its retirement plan members with LSS Financial Counseling, a nonprofit service of Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota.
One plan member came to LSS Financial Counseling carrying the weight of inconsistent income, a difficult separation and an anxious relationship with money. Five months later, something had shifted. She had a spending plan that she followed consistently and, for the first time, three months of savings along with regular contributions toward retirement.
Debt, in particular, can be one of the heaviest sources of stress. One plan member discovered that his student loans weren’t structured to qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. His LSS financial counselor helped him restructure the loans and establish a repayment plan that reduced his monthly costs.
The transformation seen in one member’s journey is echoed across the program as a whole. Of the retirement plan members who enroll in debt management counseling through LSS of Minnesota, 92% successfully pay off their debt—31% higher than the national average.
Remaining grounded when markets shift
Market volatility adds another layer of anxiety when headlines make every swing feel urgent.
David Quello, chief investment officer at Portico, offers a steadying perspective: “In times of uncertainty, the temptation is to react. But those who navigate volatility best are usually the ones who stay focused on the long view. A well-considered plan, built around personal goals and time horizon, is designed to withstand that.”
Navigating uncertainty doesn’t mean you need all the answers. It begins with clarity about where you are, what matters most and what one faithful step forward could look like.
Progress often looks like a small, steady movement in the right direction—taken not from fear but from faithfulness.
As one plan member reflected: “For now, the financial resources I have are enough. I have the help and support I need available.”
That kind of peace—steady, grounded and rooted in trust—is what faithful stewardship, supported by the right guidance, can offer.
In its own way, it sounds like grace.
