Stewardship and Freedom: Lessons from “Personal Finances 101”

On April 25 th, I had the pleasure of attending the first Master Class organized by the

Gregory the Great Institute: “Personal Finances 101”, taught by Mr. Jesse Underwood. The

course began with an introduction from Dr. Ryan Topping where he outlined the important

principle of stewardship and its connection to household management in light of Catholic social doctrine. He emphasized how we must have our own personal affairs in order first before we can properly direct our attention outward to helping others. Understanding the tools at our disposal to reach financial freedom and flexibility for the prosperity of our own households, the Church, and our communities is necessary in order to best accomplish this task. This was the intended purpose of “Personal Finances 101”.

Mr. Underwood started by addressing the psychology of money and led participants

through a reflection on happiness. A key takeaway was that, while the acquisition of wealth

itself cannot make one truly happy, a proper understanding and use of one’s personal finances can aid in attaining the goal of happiness that all men seek, the ultimate end being an increased ability for service towards others and contemplation of the Divine. Other sessions walked participants through budgeting and debt-management strategies. The majority of the afternoon was spent examining and explaining various investment options and tools available in Canada, with a brief foray into investment strategies. Mr. Underwood strove to bring awareness to the various alternatives to investing through the major Canadian banks that may not be as well known, highlighting options with lower fees to maximize returns. While there were many excellent lessons, a particular point that stood out was Mr. Underwood’s assertion that “choosing not to invest is choosing inflation”, meaning that not utilizing investment strategies to outpace inflation is, in essence, assenting to decreasing the purchasing power of one’s money over time.

The course was well-attended and provided an excellent opportunity for attendees to

connect, exchange stories, and seek advice. The principles of financial literacy to promote

freedom and stewardship laid out in the Master Class clearly aligned with the Institute’s goal of providing educational opportunities to aid in renewing Catholic Culture. Additionally, the event was wonderfully hosted and very reasonably priced. I anticipate attending future Gregory the Great Institute Master Classes and am excited to see what else will be offered.