Episode 217 – How Kingdom Advisors is Shaping The Future of Faith-Driven Finance | Rob West

Episode 217 – How Kingdom Advisors is Shaping The Future of Faith-Driven Finance | Rob West

Podcast episode

Episode 217 – How Kingdom Advisors is Shaping The Future of Faith-Driven Finance | Rob West

Host John Coleman sits down with Rob West, CEO of Kingdom Advisors and host of the nationally syndicated Faith-Fi radio program, to explore how biblically-wise financial advice has moved from the fringes to the forefront of Wall Street—and what that means for the trillions of dollars in Christian hands today.

All opinions expressed on this podcast, including the team and guests, are solely their opinions. Host and guests may maintain positions in the companies and securities discussed. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as specific investment advice for any individual or organization.

Episode Notes

What happens when biblical stewardship meets Wall Street? Rob West, CEO of Kingdom Advisors and host of the Faith-Fi radio program reaching over a million Christians weekly, joins John Coleman to map the seismic shift underway in Christian financial advice—and the $22 trillion opportunity still waiting to be unlocked.

Kingdom Advisors has grown from Larry Burkett’s original 16 CFPs to a network of 4,000 advisors, with 2,000 holding the Certified Kingdom Advisor designation—the gold standard for biblically-wise financial planning. Rob unpacks groundbreaking research showing CKA clients are twice as likely to report significantly increased giving, and that advisor satisfaction skyrockets when faith and vocation fully align. With demand for faith-based investing jumping from 20% to 50% of advisor searches in a single year, the data is clear: the market is ready.

From the role of AI in values-based planning to collaborative giving funds, generational wealth transfer, and 11 Christian universities training the next generation of Kingdom Advisors, this conversation covers the full landscape of where faith-driven finance is headed—and why now may be the most important moment in its history.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction & Kingdom Advisors Overview

02:18 From Larry Burkett’s 16 CFPs to 4,000 Advisors

05:30 The Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) Designation

07:49 Breaking News: Trends in Values-Based Financial Advice

10:16 AI and the Future of the Faith-Driven Advisor

11:51 Pinkston Research: Data on CKA Client Outcomes

13:07 Advising Christian Clients: What Makes It Different

14:43 Closing the Gap: Faith Values & Investment Portfolios

16:15 Faith-Based Investing Universe: Growth & Opportunity

18:40 Strategic Generosity & Collaborative Giving Funds

22:13 Faith-Fi Radio: 2,000 Stations & Consumer Ministry

24:14 Kingdom Advisors Conference & Study Groups

28:45 The Conference Origin Story: From 70 to 3,100

29:38 The Great Wealth Transfer & Next-Gen Stewardship

31:51 Vision for Kingdom Advisors: The Next 30 Years

35:11 How to Get Involved with Kingdom Advisors

Subscribe to the newsletter

Stay Connected
to the Movement

We know that as an Entrepreneur, your most valuable asset is time. So each month we take the very best of the podcast, the blog and all the news, resources, and upcoming events happening across the space and bring it to you.

Episode 216 – Marks on the Market: America’s Push to Reshore U.S. Manufacturing | Steve Cook (LFM Capital)

Episode 216 – Marks on the Market: America’s Push to Reshore U.S. Manufacturing | Steve Cook (LFM Capital)

Podcast episode

Episode 216 – Marks on the Market: America’s Push to Reshore U.S. Manufacturing | Steve Cook (LFM Capital)

Join hosts Richard Cunningham and Luke Roush as they sit down with Steve Cook, Executive Managing Director of LFM Capital, for a deep dive into the state of US manufacturing and the reshoring revolution transforming American industry. From the deck of an aircraft carrier to the shop floor to private equity boardrooms, Steve brings a unique perspective on what it takes to build manufacturing companies that strengthen both portfolios and national security.

All opinions expressed on this podcast, including the team and guests, are solely their opinions. Host and guests may maintain positions in the companies and securities discussed. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as specific investment advice for any individual or organization.

Episode Notes

The manufacturing renaissance is here – but not in the way most investors think. Steve Cook, Executive Managing Director of LFM Capital, pulls back the curtain on what’s actually driving the reshoring of US production, which sectors offer the best risk-adjusted returns, and why operator-led private equity is outperforming financial engineering approaches in today’s market.

As a former Navy fighter pilot and Dell manufacturing leader who managed 2,200 shop floor employees, Steve brings rare perspective to both the strategic importance and investment potential of American manufacturing. He explains why major companies are finally bringing 100% of supply chains back to the US, how global labor costs have converged faster than expected (English-speaking managers now cost more in China than the US), and why the combination of quality issues, logistics challenges, and geopolitical risk has made reshoring economically compelling.

This episode delivers specific insights on deal flow, valuation multiples, creative financing structures, and the role of interest rates in shaping the PE market. Steve also shares surprising data on AI’s limited current impact on manufacturing floors, why aerospace and defense warrant long-term allocation, and how LFM evaluates EBITDA margins and leadership quality when underwriting investments. He closes with profound reflections on Genesis, marriage, partnership structures, and why 50/50 ownership consistently fails in both business and relationships.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction

01:43 Steve Cook’s Background and LFM Capital Overview

03:20 Shop Floor DNA: Operators vs Deal Partners in Private Equity

06:43 Leadership Training and the LFM Difference

08:25 The Reshoring Movement: Why US Manufacturing Matters

11:45 Events That Woke America Up to Manufacturing Vulnerability

15:26 Trump 2.0, Liberation Day Tariffs, and Trade Data

17:10 Manufacturing Employment vs Revenue: The Real Story

19:26 Economic Strength Equals Military Strength

21:23 Which Industries Must the US Control?

22:08 Tax Policy, Labor Costs, and the Reshoring Formula

25:35 China Labor Convergence: Managers Now Cost More

26:53 High EBITDA Margins and Free Cash Flow Fundamentals

27:34 AI on the Manufacturing Floor: Reality vs Hype

32:09 The 3D Printing Myth and What Actually Works

33:01 The PE Deal Market: Slow 2024 and Creative Structuring

36:45 Landing on Aircraft Carriers vs Leading Through Uncertainty

40:06 Interest Rates and Their Impact on PE Transactions

41:22 Genesis, Marriage, and 50/50 Ownership Structures

46:43 Why Biblical Partnership Principles Work in Private Equity

Subscribe to the newsletter

Stay Connected
to the Movement

We know that as an Entrepreneur, your most valuable asset is time. So each month we take the very best of the podcast, the blog and all the news, resources, and upcoming events happening across the space and bring it to you.

Episode 215 – Why NASCAR Legend Carl Edwards Walked Away at His Peak

Episode 215 – Why NASCAR Legend Carl Edwards Walked Away at His Peak

Podcast episode

Episode 215 – Why NASCAR Legend Carl Edwards Walked Away at His Peak

Carl Edwards, NASCAR Hall of Famer and one of the 75 greatest drivers of all time, sits down with host John Coleman to share his remarkable journey from a Columbia, Missouri Volkswagen shop to the pinnacle of motorsports—and his decision to walk away from it all at age 36.

This conversation goes far beyond racing. Carl vulnerably discusses the dangers of building identity on performance, the cost of fame, and the miraculous moment on a mountaintop that transformed his understanding of faith. 

All opinions expressed on this podcast, including the team and guests, are solely their opinions. Host and guests may maintain positions in the companies and securities discussed. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as specific investment advice for any individual or organization.

Episode Notes

Join host John Coleman for an intimate conversation with NASCAR Hall of Famer Carl Edwards, recorded at the Main Street Summit in Carl’s hometown of Columbia, Missouri.

Carl Edwards shares one of the most compelling retirement stories in professional sports. After finishing just laps away from winning the 2016 championship in the best equipment of his career, Carl walked away from a guaranteed multi-million dollar contract to prioritize his family and preserve his cognitive health. But the journey to that decision reveals even more about identity, stewardship, and what it means to build a life of true significance.

From making fake IDs to race at 15 to sweeping floors just to be near a NASCAR truck team, Carl’s entrepreneurial hustle took him from a Volkswagen repair shop in Columbia, Missouri to Victory Lane at the sport’s highest level. Along the way, he learned hard lessons about building identity on performance, the intoxication and devastation of fame, and why Jimmy Johnson became his model for how to compete with integrity.

Carl vulnerably discusses his conversion to faith through a “mountaintop ambush” orchestrated by Brent Beshore and Stephen Garber, his ongoing struggle with scarcity mindset despite financial success, and why his mother’s willingness to risk their family’s entire $18,000 life savings on a race car shaped his understanding of generosity. He also shares why prioritizing his marriage to Kate above his children has become his greatest parenting strategy.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction at Main Street Summit

02:40 Growing up in Columbia, Missouri racing scene

04:23 The entrepreneurial hustle to break into NASCAR

10:05 Landing the big break with Jack Roush

13:04 The discipline and focus required at the highest level

15:25 Fame, identity crisis, and the facade

18:03 Welcome to the league: Mark Martin’s lesson

20:15 Moments of pure joy in the race car

23:24 Jimmy Johnson’s model of competitive excellence

25:00 Marriage to Kate and balancing family with racing

27:51 The retirement decision that shocked the sport

31:01 Loss of identity after walking away

33:23 The mountaintop conversion story

37:53 Life today: stewarding wealth and raising kids

42:19 Being the dad your kids need to see

45:11 Following the stirring in your soul

Subscribe to the newsletter

Stay Connected
to the Movement

We know that as an Entrepreneur, your most valuable asset is time. So each month we take the very best of the podcast, the blog and all the news, resources, and upcoming events happening across the space and bring it to you.

Episode 214 – Marks on the Market: Kicking off 2026 in the Markets & Economy | Brandon Pizzurro

Episode 214 – Marks on the Market: Kicking off 2026 in the Markets & Economy | Brandon Pizzurro

Podcast episode

Episode 214 – Marks on the Market: Kicking off 2026 in the Markets & Economy | Brandon Pizzurro

Join Richard Cunningham and John Coleman for the first Marks on the Markets episode of 2026 as they welcome Brandon Pizzurro, President & Chief Investment Officer at GuideStone Capital Management, to unpack what investors need to know heading into the new year. After three consecutive years of double-digit returns, the conversation explores whether markets can sustain this momentum, the future of AI investing, and the opportunities emerging in small caps and private markets.

All opinions expressed on this podcast, including the team and guests, are solely their opinions. Host and guests may maintain positions in the companies and securities discussed. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as specific investment advice for any individual or organization.

Episode Notes

Join Richard Cunningham and John Coleman for the first Marks on the Markets episode of 2026 as they welcome Brandon Pizzurro, President & Chief Investment Officer at GuideStone Capital Management, to unpack what investors need to know heading into the new year. After three consecutive years of double-digit gains, the question on every investor’s mind is whether this generational bull run can continue—and where the next opportunities lie.

Brandon and John unpack the surprises of 2025, including Liberation Day’s muted economic impact, the ongoing Mag 7 dominance, and why markets continue to reward mega-cap stocks despite stretched valuations. The conversation explores whether 2026 will finally bring the long-anticipated rotation to small and mid-cap stocks, what Fed policy changes to expect, and why private equity and IPO markets are poised for a significant thawing after years of constrained liquidity.

Beyond market mechanics, this episode addresses the stewardship questions that matter most to faith-driven investors: How do we navigate unprecedented market concentration? What does it mean to invest with eternal perspective when returns have been extraordinary? And how do we balance gratitude for God’s provision with wisdom about potential risks ahead?

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction and Holiday Reflections

00:39 Welcome to Marks on the Markets 2026

02:28 Looking Back at 2025: What Surprised Us

02:58 Liberation Day and Market Resilience

05:05 Tariff Policy and Supreme Court Implications

08:42 Market Outlook for 2026

09:21 Brandon’s Temperature Check on Markets

10:26 John’s Bullish Case for the Economy

14:04 Shock and Awe: 10 Headlines in 10 Trading Days

15:09 Mag 7 Dominance vs. Small Cap Opportunity

19:12 Market Concentration Concerns

20:28 Interest Rate Sensitivity and Small Caps

21:06 Fed Policy: How Many Cuts in 2026?

24:07 The Future of the Federal Reserve

26:08 John’s Defense of the Fed System

28:24 AI’s Impact on Employment and Productivity

30:32 Productivity Growth and the National Debt

32:48 Private Equity and IPO Markets Thawing

34:47 The Private vs. Public Market Conundrum

37:54 Could Apple Buy OpenAI?

38:14 Geopolitical Risks and International Markets

42:04 Emerging Markets Opportunity

43:44 Spiritual Goals for 2026

44:18 Brandon: Being Present (Matthew 6:34)

45:10 John: Serving Under Authority

46:31 Closing Thoughts

Subscribe to the newsletter

Stay Connected
to the Movement

We know that as an Entrepreneur, your most valuable asset is time. So each month we take the very best of the podcast, the blog and all the news, resources, and upcoming events happening across the space and bring it to you.

Episode 213 – Seeds vs. Silos: A Sneak Peek of the 2026 FDI Conference

Episode 213 – Seeds vs. Silos: A Sneak Peek of the 2026 FDI Conference

Podcast episode

Episode 213 – Seeds vs. Silos: A Sneak Peek of the 2026 FDI Conference

Join hosts Henry Kaestner, Justin Forman, and Luke Roush as they preview the upcoming 2026 Faith Driven Investor Conference, exploring the transformative theme “Seeds vs. Silos” and what it means for how we steward capital in service of God’s kingdom.

All opinions expressed on this podcast, including the team and guests, are solely their opinions. Host and guests may maintain positions in the companies and securities discussed. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as specific investment advice for any individual or organization.

Episode Notes

As the Faith Driven Investor Conference approaches its seventh year, the movement stands at a pivotal moment. Henry Kaestner, Justin Forman, and Luke Roush preview the 2026 conference theme “Seeds vs. Silos,” examining how faith-driven investors are moving from accumulation mindsets to seed-scattering strategies that bear fruit in unexpected places.

This episode explores the maturation of faith-driven investing over six years—from a movement struggling with both supply and demand to an ecosystem with top-quartile performers across asset classes, engaged advisors serving as river guides, and investors hungry for alignment between faith and portfolio. The hosts discuss the convergence of giving, investing, and building into unified mission-focused asset allocation, real-world examples of first-loss capital strategies in emerging markets, and why excellence in stewardship requires both diligence and courage to act on urgent opportunities like Africa’s growing economy.

The conversation challenges conventional risk frameworks, asking what it means to truly steward capital when eternal outcomes matter more than avoiding financial volatility. With stories from Bible translation collaboration to Kenyan agricultural enterprises, this preview sets the stage for a conference designed not for hype, but for mobilizing capital toward solving real problems in community.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction and Conference Theme Overview

01:27 Welcome and Six Years of FDI Conferences

02:17 Understanding the J-Curve in Investing

03:10 Seeds vs. Silos: Our Relationship with Money

04:07 The J-Curve of Seeds: Planting for Future Harvest

05:46 Movement Stages: Storming, Forming, Norming, Performing

06:59 Movement Measurement and Cultural Mindset Shifts

08:12 Supply, Demand, and the River Guide Advisor

09:31 Asset Allocation Convergence: One Pocket, Not Three

10:58 John Cortines on Good Money and Unified Motive

11:24 Hopeful Expectancy and Community in Investing

12:47 Peer Groups and CEO Encouragement Stories

13:31 The Need for Examples and Courage

15:32 Top Quartile Performance: Excellence Because of Faith

17:27 Beacon Power and Sustainable Business Solutions

18:08 Different Flavors: One Size Fits One

18:45 Build, Invest, and Give: Solving Problems

19:58 Solving the World’s Greatest Problems Under God’s Power

21:04 Power Balance: Recognizing We’re Problems Too

22:01 A Call to Arms: The Body of Christ Mobilized

22:40 Darkness Coordinated vs. Church Unity

23:32 Barns All Around Us: Margin and Retirement

24:45 Repositioning Philanthropy as Early Catalyst

25:00 First-Loss Capital Example in Kenya

26:56 Emergency Response Analogy: Means vs. Ends

29:26 The Africa Strategy: Urgency and Opportunity

30:18 Partnering with Local Faith-Driven Entrepreneurs

31:30 High Risk Appetite in Generosity

32:07 Jesus as First Adopter and First Responder

32:27 Rethinking Risk from an Eternal Perspective

33:35 The Joy of Doing It Together

34:11 Illuminations: Bible Translation Collaboration Story

34:55 Mart Green: Cheaper, Faster, and Better Together

35:34 The Motive Question: What’s in It for Us?

36:35 Blessed to Be a Blessing

37:01 The Fun and Joy of Kingdom Investing

37:56 Call to Action: Watch Parties and Community

Subscribe to the newsletter

Stay Connected
to the Movement

We know that as an Entrepreneur, your most valuable asset is time. So each month we take the very best of the podcast, the blog and all the news, resources, and upcoming events happening across the space and bring it to you.