Our History

Envoy Financial exists today because two people responded to God prompting them to launch a financial services company to serve the financial stewardship needs of Christians serving the Kingdom here in the United States and around the world.

In the 1980’s, Bruce Bruinsma and Bethany Palmer were financial advisors when God began revealing to them the need for pastors and ministry employees to receive sound financial counsel and better prepare for the day the paycheck stops, but the call to ministry remains.

In 1986, Bruce met with a couple planning their return from the mission field to determine what they would have to live on and despite their assurance from the mission organization that “they would be taken care of in retirement,” they were going to receive $390 per month plus $450 from Social Security. The missionaries and Bruce were both shocked and dismayed by the amount. Bruce knew that this situation was wrong and was compelled to prevent it from happening again.

For the next three years, Bruce worked to assist missionaries and other investors with retirement and investment help but he discovered few solutions to delivering the help they so desperately needed. On a trip to Mali and Timbuktu, where Bruce was assisting missionaries with financial planning, he realized that God wanted him to help His workers with their money and stewardship.

In 1991, Bethany spoke at a conference about retirement planning and had 200 pastors respond with the need for counsel. They were located across the country, but Bethany felt compelled to provide advice and counsel to the men and women leading churches and ministries. Working over the phone and sending information via fax, she was able to provide the service they needed. Provide these services in a manner different from the traditional model of face-to-face investment counsel, was a key revelation that would define Envoy Financial in the years to come.

In 1993, Bruce and Bethany designed and developed the systems to support a business model of providing financial counsel and advice from one central location to clients, regardless of their location.

In 1997, a mutual benefit non-profit corporation was established and Christian Retirement Coalition (CRC) was born. The mission of CRC was to help faith-based organizations and their employees in the areas of financial stewardship and retirement plans.

In 2004, CRC changed its name to Envoy Financial to better reflect the greater services provided to ministries. The name Envoy was selected for its meaning: “trusted messenger” and taken from Proverbs 13:17: “A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy brings healing”. Our slogan “Trusted Advice Along The Way” reflects the heart and passion of the company and its employees to provide trusted advice to Kingdom workers as they work today and prepare for the days of ministry to come.

In 2011, Envoy Financial took a major step forward to meet the new regulatory requirements, adding Third Party Administration and Recordkeeping services, becoming a Broker Dealer and Registered Investment Advisor, establishing separate companies for each functional area. With all the changes on the retirement plan landscape - both for plan sponsors and their employees - Envoy is now poised to deliver the high impact retirement plans desired by Plan Sponsors and Participants alike.

Today, Envoy Financial stretches to fulfill the vision first imparted to Bruce, Bethany, and now to a growing staff of dedicated employees. Refining and expanding how the vision is to be fulfilled is the ongoing work of the ministry. The majority of Envoy’s staff are headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado. There, Bethany Palmer serves as President, and Bruce Bruinsma as CEO.

Key Turning Points:

Seeing the need for biblically-based financial stewardship counseling
Realizing that the need can be met via phone, the Internet, email and fax
Understanding that “retirement” is not only a reward for past service, but a stepping-stone to future ministry
Tailoring a service plan for the different categories of people we serve: e.g., Head of the Organization, Board Members, Payroll Administrator, Decision Maker and the employees
Industry changes, IRS legislation, and DOL regulatory changes prompt the creation of separate companies, including a Broker Dealer to deliver retirement plans that are high-impact, compliant, and easy to manage

For more information on how we can serve your organization, contact us at (888) 879-1376, ext. 209, or by email . We look forward to serving you.

Envoy Financial
Trusted Advice Along The Way

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	Leadership Organized To Serve You Our History Careers Doctrinal Statement Our History Envoy Financial exists today because two people responded to God prompting them to launch a financial services company to serve the financial stewardship needs of Christians serving the Kingdom here in the United States and around the world. In the 1980’s, Bruce Bruinsma and Bethany Palmer were financial advisors when God began revealing to them the need for pastors and ministry employees to receive sound financial counsel and better prepare for the day the paycheck stops, but the call to ministry remains. In 1986, Bruce met with a couple planning their return from the mission field to determine what they would have to live on and despite their assurance from the mission organization that “they would be taken care of in retirement,” they were going to receive $390 per month plus $450 from Social Security. The missionaries and Bruce were both shocked and dismayed by the amount. Bruce knew that this situation was wrong and was compelled to prevent it from happening again. For the next three years, Bruce worked to assist missionaries and other investors with retirement and investment help but he discovered few solutions to delivering the help they so desperately needed. On a trip to Mali and Timbuktu, where Bruce was assisting missionaries with financial planning, he realized that God wanted him to help His workers with their money and stewardship. In 1991, Bethany spoke at a conference about retirement planning and had 200 pastors respond with the need for counsel. They were located across the country, but Bethany felt compelled to provide advice and counsel to the men and women leading churches and ministries. Working over the phone and sending information via fax, she was able to provide the service they needed. Provide these services in a manner different from the traditional model of face-to-face investment counsel, was a key revelation that would define Envoy Financial in the years to come. In 1993, Bruce and Bethany designed and developed the systems to support a business model of providing financial counsel and advice from one central location to clients, regardless of their location. In 1997, a mutual benefit non-profit corporation was established and Christian Retirement Coalition (CRC) was born. The mission of CRC was to help faith-based organizations and their employees in the areas of financial stewardship and retirement plans. In 2004, CRC changed its name to Envoy Financial to better reflect the greater services provided to ministries. The name Envoy was selected for its meaning: “trusted messenger” and taken from Proverbs 13:17: “A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy brings healing”. Our slogan “Trusted Advice Along The Way” reflects the heart and passion of the company and its employees to provide trusted advice to Kingdom workers as they work today and prepare for the days of ministry to come. In 2011, Envoy Financial took a major step forward to meet the new regulatory requirements, adding Third Party Administration and Recordkeeping services, becoming a Broker Dealer and Registered Investment Advisor, establishing separate companies for each functional area. With all the changes on the retirement plan landscape - both for plan sponsors and their employees - Envoy is now poised to deliver the high impact retirement plans desired by Plan Sponsors and Participants alike. Today, Envoy Financial stretches to fulfill the vision first imparted to Bruce, Bethany, and now to a growing staff of dedicated employees. Refining and expanding how the vision is to be fulfilled is the ongoing work of the ministry. The majority of Envoy’s staff are headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado. There, Bethany Palmer serves as President, and Bruce Bruinsma as CEO. Key Turning Points: Seeing the need for biblically-based financial stewardship counseling Realizing that the need can be met via phone, the Internet, email and fax Understanding that “retirement” is not only a reward for past service, but a stepping-stone to future ministry Tailoring a service plan for the different categories of people we serve: e.g., Head of the Organization, Board Members, Payroll Administrator, Decision Maker and the employees Industry changes, IRS legislation, and DOL regulatory changes prompt the creation of separate companies, including a Broker Dealer to deliver retirement plans that are high-impact, compliant, and easy to manage For more information on how we can serve your organization, contact us at (888) 879-1376, ext. 209, or by email . We look forward to serving you. Envoy Financial Trusted Advice Along The Way
©2012 Envoy Financial 8415 Explorer Drive, Suite 115 Colorado Springs, CO 80920 Phone: (888) 879-1376 Fax: (719) 268-2716 Securities offered through Envoy Securities, LLC., Broker Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Envoy Advisory, Inc., Registered Investment Advisor. Careers Site Map Privacy Policy Terms of Service