Jonathan Lopez and Drew Harris aren’t your typical financial advisors. Sure, they know their way around tax strategies and balance sheets, but what makes them different is they’ve been in the trenches. They’ve made payroll when the bank account was tight. They’ve had to pivot when plans fell apart. They’ve experienced the weight of decisions that affect real people’s livelihoods.
As co-owners of Truvize Financial, Jonathan and Drew work primarily with business owners who want to move from reactive financial management to proactive stewardship. They understand something critical: when you’re the one everyone depends on, every dollar matters. And yet, most business owners are so busy running their businesses that strategic financial planning becomes one more thing on an endless to-do list.
In our recent conversation on the 323 Podcast, we explored what it looks like to lead well financially, how faith shapes business partnerships, and why proactive planning beats reactive scrambling every single time.
The Problem Most Business Owners Face
Drew explained the gap they saw in traditional financial advising. “We started to see a need for more in-depth advice that’s not just surface level,” he said. Too many business owners only hear from their financial advisors when there’s something to sell or a new account to open. What’s missing is true financial planning, someone who sits on your side of the table and helps you think through not just this year, but the rest of your life.
The distinction between what Truvize does and what a typical CPA does is important. CPAs focus on compliance, making sure your forms are filed correctly and your taxes are defensible if audited. That’s critical work. But Jonathan emphasized where they add value: “We need to have some conversations of what did we pay in taxes last year? What does the business look like this year and planning into next year? How can we try to minimize that tax liability as efficiently as possible?”
It’s the difference between looking backward and looking forward. Between checking boxes and building strategy.
From Reactive to Proactive
One phrase came up repeatedly in our conversation: reactive versus proactive. Most business owners find themselves in a constant state of reaction, responding to deadlines, putting out fires, making decisions on the fly. Jonathan described it perfectly: business owners feel the questions but don’t have time to ask them.
“Should I pay myself more in salary? Should I pay bonuses out? Should I change my business election?” These aren’t small questions. They have real implications for your tax liability, your personal finances, and your business operations. But when you’re buried in the day-to-day, these strategic conversations don’t happen.
This is where Proverbs 21:5 comes alive: “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty” (NIV). Proactive planning requires diligence. It requires carving out time to think strategically, to run scenarios, to make calculated decisions rather than rushed ones.
Drew and Jonathan don’t just create the plan, they help execute it. They’ll call you five times if that’s what it takes. They’ll remind you of deadlines. They’ll make sure the things you said mattered actually happen, because “our job is to make sure that the things that you’ve set out to do” actually get done. “One of those things is not just blow money on taxes because we missed a deadline.”
Stewardship That Goes Beyond the Tithe
When we talked about the intersection of faith and finance, Jonathan’s response captured something profound. “Stewardship is the word that we try to help with, especially when we’re talking about Christian business owners,” he said. “God has placed these resources into your hand. Let’s be efficient with them. Let’s make sure every dollar is used in a way that would glorify him.”
This perspective shifts everything. You’re not just trying to keep more money for yourself. You’re asking how to be faithful with what God has entrusted to you. The principle found in Matthew 25:14-30, the parable of the talents, applies directly to how business owners manage their finances. God expects us to steward resources wisely, to multiply what we’ve been given, and to use those resources for Kingdom purposes.
Drew added an important insight about margin and mission: without financial margin, there’s no capacity for mission. This is also one of the core principles of C12 Business Forums. If your personal finances are “right on the edge,” then taking wise risks in your business becomes nearly impossible. But when your household finances are solid, when you have a foundation, you’re free to be more strategic, more generous, and more impactful.
The Bible has much to say about money. Not because God needs it, but because how we handle money reveals what we truly trust. As the apostle Paul wrote in Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” (NIV). This applies to how we earn money, how we save it, how we spend it, and how we give it away.
The Partnership That Works
What struck me most about Jonathan and Drew’s story is their partnership. Partnerships are notoriously difficult. Dave Ramsey famously says, “Partnerships are the only ships that don’t sail.” And yet here are two men who’ve built multiple businesses together, navigated hard seasons, and continue to thrive.
Their secret? Faith and communication. When disagreements arise, and they do even in the best partnerships, having Jesus working in both hearts changes everything. As Jonathan put it, when you can sit across from your partner and say, “Hey man, this was wrong,” and they don’t lose it, that’s the power of shared faith.
The writer of Proverbs understood this: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17, NIV). Good partnerships require honest feedback, accountability, and the humility to say “I’m sorry. I messed up.” Those words should become more natural as we grow in Christ.
Their partnership extends beyond just getting along. They’ve experienced the real challenges of business ownership together. They’ve bootstrapped businesses, faced cash flow crunches, and learned hard lessons. This shared experience allows them to relate to their clients in a way that purely theoretical advisors cannot. When a business owner says, “I’m thinking about this idea,” Drew and Jonathan can respond with wisdom earned through experience: “If you think it’s going to cost X amount, it’ll probably cost double.”
Who Needs This Kind of Help?
Not every business owner is ready for the level of strategic planning Truvize offers. Jonathan was clear about their sweet spot: “When your tax liability is six figures plus, you absolutely need to be taking the time to plan your current and future tax liability.”
At that level, small changes create massive differences. A missed deadline can cost tens of thousands of dollars. An overlooked strategy can mean paying far more than necessary. And it’s not just about the money, it affects your employees, your family, your capacity to give generously and build the Kingdom.
But the principles of proactive planning and faithful stewardship apply to every business owner, regardless of size. The question is always the same: are you being intentional with what God has placed in your hands?
Moving Forward
The conversation with Jonathan and Drew reminded me that financial planning isn’t just about spreadsheets and tax codes. It’s about stewardship. It’s about being faithful with what God has given us so we can do more of what he’s called us to do.
If you’re a business owner tired of reactive financial management, if you feel those questions but never have time to ask them, if you want to be more strategic about taxes and more generous with Kingdom resources, this conversation is worth your time.
Additional Resources
For Deeper Learning on Biblical Stewardship:
- “God and Money: How We Discovered True Riches at Harvard Business School” by John Cortines and Gregory Baumer – A practical exploration of what it means to steward resources faithfully, written by two men who wrestled with these questions at the highest levels of business.
- C12’s Resource on Strategic Financial Planning – C12 offers comprehensive guidance on stewarding business finances wisely. Visit theC12 Resource Library to explore tools for proactive planning.
- “Managing God’s Money: A Biblical Guide” by Randy Alcorn – For those wanting to go deeper into what Scripture teaches about financial stewardship, this book provides a thorough, grace-filled approach to money management.
- National Christian Foundation – A C12 partner organization that helps business owners develop strategic giving plans, including donor-advised funds and other tools for maximizing generosity while minimizing tax liability.
Learn More About Jonathan Lopez and Drew Harris
Jonathan Lopez and Drew Harris are co-owners of Truvize Financial, a financial planning firm in El Paso, Texas, specializing in tax planning and comprehensive financial strategy for business owners. Both men bring firsthand experience as business owners to their advisory work, having founded and operated multiple companies including Glide (an electric scooter sharing company) and Breaking 100. Their unique perspective allows them to relate personally to the challenges their clients face.
Connect with Truvize Financial:
- Website: truvize.com
- Phone: (915) 520-0096
- Address: 11323 Rojas Dr, Ste A3, El Paso, TX 79936
- Email: info@truvize.com
- Facebook: TruvizePlanning
- Twitter: @SMBplanner
You can also hear more from Jonathan and Drew as frequent guests on KELP Radio’s 915 Talk. Visit kelpradio.com to explore the archives.
Listen to the Full Episode
This conversation with Jonathan and Drew is packed with practical wisdom about financial planning, stewardship, and business ownership. We covered their spiritual journeys, the lessons they’ve learned from building businesses, and how they help clients move from reactive to proactive financial management.
If you’re a business owner looking for guidance on being a better steward of the resources God has entrusted to you, this conversation is a great place to start.