Rusty Benson
AFA Journal associate editor
May 2011 – Dan Celia looks the part – mid-50s, trim, conservative dresser, slight Philadelphia accent and a haircut that says low maintenance. No surprise – Dan is a financial investment expert.
What’s not so apparent is that the host of the popular Financial Issues radio show on American Family Radio believes that accumulating wealth is less important than giving it away.
It’s advice that he offers to nearly everyone who seeks his counsel. Whether it’s a single mom wondering how she is going to buy gas for her car, or someone asking about buying gold as a hedge against inflation, Dan is quick to remind Christians that he has never seen a faithful giver with financial problems.
“I know that’s a remarkable claim,” Dan said. “But it’s true. I’ve talked to hundreds of Christians about their finances. I’ve even heard missionaries returning from years of service in third world countries ask, ‘Where did I ever get all this money?’ The answer is that they were faithful in their giving.”
But if that counsel seems too simplistic to qualify as expert advice, rest assured that Dan’s expertise in finances doesn’t stop there. He spent nearly 30 years in the financial business, including working for a Wall Street firm and owning an investment company that managed about a half billion dollars in trust funds.
In a recent interview with the AFA Journal Dan reflected on his journey from stock broker to radio host, his investment advice for Christians and the fiscal woes of the nation.
AFA Journal: How did you come to partner with AFA?
Dan Celia: After a period in the military and then night school, I entered the financial industry. Along the way I owned my own trust firm. That ended with a federal racketeering charge against a former partner. I won that case. In the midst of all that, I came to Christ through the radio ministry of Charles Stanley.
After that for about 10 years, I partnered with a ministry that sponsored my radio show. That ministry began to take a different road theologically, so I had to make the difficult decision to move away from that partnership. It was a step of faith because it was a good partnership and I didn’t have another sponsor.
I contacted three ministries that I love deeply and believe in. Although all three responded positively, AFA moved ahead quicker than the others. That was in January 2010. God has certainly blessed that decision.
AFAJ: What gifts, abilities and outward encouragements have you received that confirm to you that working in the financial industry is God’s vocational call on your life?
DC: What has most profoundly confirmed that call is the trust that individuals and institutions have extended to me. When I was directly involved in money management, I had hundreds of clients that stuck with me and often expressed their thanks.
God wired me for this. There is a certain gift that you must have to enjoy analyzing corporate financial statements. I like that side of it. And I’ve managed to come up with systems that have worked well. Along with that, God blessed me with the ability to make good decisions for the people of God and others.
I have a great hunger for God’s Word, so a few years ago my wife and I were asking if God would expand the boundaries of my ministry, perhaps into the pastorate. One morning during my devotions I realized that while I had a hard time remembering the details of Scripture passages, I had no trouble at all remembering what DuPont stock sold for five years ago or the price of cotton futures. I realized that it was God who gave me the ability to remember all this information and He wants me to use that for His work. That was an overwhelming relief and joy.
AFAJ: Express your vision for your radio ministry.
DC: I want listeners to know that giving is an act of worship. When we give we are parting with something that we need and value. We are saying our security lies not in money, but in God. What an incredible act of worship.
I also want to motivate God’s people to give to God’s work because I’m concerned where the church will be in 20 years. I love AFA, but I tell people to give to your church first, assuming that it is a Gospel-centered church.
AFAJ: As you’ve grown older, is money more or less important to you?
DC: It’s less important than ever because as the old hymn says, as you turn you eyes toward Jesus, the things of this world grow dim.
On the other hand, money is not unimportant. God uses it to do great things in His kingdom. I understand that God can do anything He wants. At the same time, He chooses to use us as His instruments. So, I often say that God is depending on us in the sense that we are His instruments here on earth.
In God’s orchestra, I see the radio ministry as an oboe or English horn. I may have only one instrument to play, but I want God to direct it for His glory.
Also, I want to help others make good decisions that result in having more money to give to kingdom work.
AFAJ: Dealing with finances all the time, how do you keep a right perspective about money?
DC: The real problem most of us have is not about growing or spending money, but worrying about it. When worry starts to consume our daily activities, it can be like a drug. It may start small, but soon it can dominate our thoughts.
When that happens we must remember, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:34). In other words, worry about money reveals that something is wrong with our hearts. It simply means our heart is not in the right place. We have placed money above God.
I don’t believe God promises prosperity as some preach, but I also know that He does promise blessings for those who give. And I know that He promises to provide for the needs of His people. When Christians complain to me about their investments, I say to them: “Did you eat dinner today. Do you have a car to drive? Do you have a job? Do you have talents and abilities? Then why are you worried about your 401K?”
True story: A few months ago I got a call on the radio show from a single mom with three children. She was very upset because she could barely afford to put gas in her car to get to work and she heard me talking about giving. She told me that she desired deeply to give, but just didn’t see how that was possible.
I suggested to her that next time she buys $10 worth of gas, only pump $9.50. Then take the remaining $.50 and give it to her church. Then I asked her to keep a list of all the ways God blessed her.
Several month later she called me back. My wife, who was answering phones for me that day, told the lady I would have to call her back off air. My wife knew that when I heard the woman’s story the radio show would be over. I’d be a blubbering mess.
I called her back after the show. I can’t go into all the details, but, through tears of joy, she read off an amazing list of ways God had blessed her. She told me that the advice I had given her was the best thing anyone had ever told her. She said it several times.
AFAJ: Two-part question: 1) What is your best advice to a young married couple planning their financial future? 2) What is the worst mistake they can make?
DC: My best advice would be, first, to commit to an unwavering discipline of giving, no matter what the circumstances. Second, develop the discipline of saving. The amount doesn’t matter, but the discipline does.
The biggest mistake they could make is to listen to the world, and begin to be financially motivated by wants rather than needs.
AFAJ: Imagine that same couple, 15 years later. They now have children and a house payment. He has lost his job, and they are struggling. What’s your best advice and what’s the biggest mistake they could make?
DC: Their biggest mistake would be to quit giving. My best advice would be to budget at a whole new level. If you have the right heart and make a list of your expenses, you will find some expenses that are wants, but not needs. Then, stay disciplined in the search for a job and be willing to do anything moral to earn money.
AFAJ: Same couple, another 15 years later, they are now looking toward retirement, but their 401K has been hit hard. They are concerned that they may outlive their savings. What’s your best advice and what’s the biggest mistake they could make?
DC: Their biggest mistake would be to try to recoup their losses quickly through higher risk investments. Remember, high risk investments are highly volatile. Whenever you hear someone fear mongering about the economy and offering a quick fix, weigh what they say against what they have to gain through your fear. It may be selling gold, a book, an insurance policy or a seminar.
I would also tell them to get out of debt. Don’t think about investment strategy when you are in debt.
Finally, if you’re concerned about outliving your money, use part of your retirement saving to create permanent income, such as through a charitable gift annuity.
AFAJ: If you had five minutes before a national audience, what would you say to America about the national economy?
DC: The most important thing I could say to the nation would be to stay active and engaged in the process. Hold your lawmakers’ feet to the fire. Assume that they are doing nothing and that all we are getting is talking points, rather than action.
I would tell Americans, particularly Christians, that we are the common sense of the nation. We must stay informed and mobilized. 
Visit Dan's website: financialissues.org
