I created RetirementStewardship.com after deciding that writing about personal finance, stewardship, and retirement was something I wanted to do in “retirement.” I didn’t do it to make money—honestly, it actually costs me money. I did it for one reason: I want to help others with this all-important area of stewardship.
For me, “retirement” means I am no longer employed in a 9-to-5 job and, therefore, free to pursue other things—the things that God has called me to do. This blog is one way I try to “steward my retirement” by doing something I enjoy while serving God and helping others.
I started this blog in 2015, before I retired in the fall of 2018 from my position as an Enterprise Architect and IT Strategist for a large regional bank, after working for over 30 years as an IT professional. I have also been a social worker, social work administrator, account executive, telecom/network engineer and planner, marketing technical consultant, IT architect, consultant, manager, and director. My background is in IT, not financial sales or advising. My mission is to help others with their finances, careers, and retirement.
I am not a self-described guru or financial/retirement planning “expert.” I don’t dispense professional investing or retirement advice as I am neither qualified nor licensed to do so. Therefore, the information here is intended for informational and educational (and sometimes entertainment) purposes only. You can read the full disclaimers page here.
I write this blog from the perspective of someone making the same important decisions you are about retirement stewardship. So if you want to hear from a pretty average, financially conservative guy who writes about the realities of planning for and living in retirement from a Christian stewardship perspective, you may find help and encouragement here. My goal is to be a trusted, independent resource as you navigate one of life’s most challenging transitions: planning for and living in retirement.
My basic views on personal finance are that I value simplicity over complexity and pragmatism over sophistication. I believe money is a gift from God and a means to an end, not an end in itself. My goal in writing on this blog and in my books is to help make the world a bit better for us, our families, our churches, and our communities by encouraging us to live within our means, save prudently, invest wisely, and give generously of our time and our resources during all stages of life. In other words, to be a good steward of everything God has given us.
I have a B.S. degree from Rollins College, an M.B.A. from Florida Institute of Technology, and post-graduate work at Nova Southeastern University (Computer Information Systems) and Reformed Theological Seminary (Theological Studies). I also graduated from the Executive Leadership Training Program at Emory University in Atlanta. I have taken many other leadership development and management training classes throughout my business career.
Much of what I have learned about retirement stewardship comes from my own research and experience. I have an “always learning and growing” perspective on life and stewardship, so I continually read about and study this topic and others.
In addition to writing for this blog, I have published articles on The Gospel Coalition blog, Desiring God Ministries, and Radial.net.
I have also published five books. The first was Reimagine Retirement: Planning and Living for the Glory of God, which B&H Publishing Group (LifeWay) released in November 2019. Rainer Publishing published The Minister’s Retirement in August 2020. Most recently, I independently published Redeeming Retirement: How to Steward What You Have and Retire With Dignity (Revised Version) in March 2026 (original version was published in 2021), NextGen Steward: Faith-Filled Stewardship for Your Financial Future (a book for young adults) in September 2025, and Legacy Stewardship: A Biblical and Practical Guide to the Last Chapter of Life in 2026.
I also serve as a deacon in my local church, focusing on stewardship, generosity, and community outreach. I do a fair amount of financial and career counseling and coaching. I also volunteer in local ministries focused on poverty alleviation, serve on the board of Changed Choices, a ministry to incarcerated women, and volunteer regularly at a Title I elementary school.
I am a trained Ramsey Solutions Master Coach (Ramsey Solutions) and lead the stewardship ministry at my home church. In addition to my Ramsey Solutions training, I am a graduate of Dan Miller’s (48Days.com) Coaching with Excellence training program.
I am also a certified Coaching Core Essentials Graduate (CCEG) from CoachU. CoachU is considered one of the leading international training programs for professional personal and business coaches and is fully accredited by the International Coach Federation (ICF). The CCEG program is 70+ hours of coach-specific training accredited by the ICF. I subsequently received ICF-approved Coach Mentoring through Coach Approach Ministries.
*Chris Cagle attended and completed Ramsey Solutions’ Financial Coach Master Series Training. However, completion of this training does not create an employment or an agency relationship, or give any Coach the right to speak for or bind Dave Ramsey or his company, Ramsey Solutions, nor does it constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Dave Ramsey himself.