From Wall Street to Kingdom Impact: Renee Ricco's Journey of Faith and Servant Leadership

Renee Ricco, a seasoned professional in the Wall Street environment, exemplifies a powerful blend of financial acumen and unwavering faith. As the Chief Media and Economic Contributor for Elevatus Wealth Management, Renee's journey is a testament to living out one's calling with determination, servant leadership, and a deep trust in the Lord.

Her career began on the trading floor at Chase, eventually leading her to become an institutional trader. Later, she joined her father's practice, becoming a financial advisor focused on a holistic approach to wealth management. Throughout her journey, Renee maintained a quiet devotion, keeping a small devotional book with scriptures for business people hidden in her desk. This early practice foreshadowed a deeper integration of her faith into her professional life.

Integrating Faith in the Marketplace

For Renee, living out her faith in the demanding world of finance begins with a disciplined morning practice of scripture and prayer. This daily centering allows her to navigate the challenges of the day with a kingdom perspective. She strives to bring her best to every task, large or small, and to offer encouragement and advice to her colleagues, often sharing biblical principles without explicitly stating their origin. Her approach is rooted in servant leadership, recognizing that true influence comes from stewarding knowledge with grace and humility, rather than lording it over others. This commitment to excellence and collaborative problem-solving defines her professional ethos.

Faith-Guided Decisions: Protecting the Vulnerable

One of the most profound ways Renee's faith has guided her decisions is in her commitment to caring for widows and orphans. Inspired by biblical commands in Isaiah 1:17 and Psalm 82:3, she felt a strong calling to protect the most vulnerable, especially in financial matters. This often meant addressing difficult situations head-on, even when it involved confronting family members attempting to take advantage of their elders. Her 'mama bear' instinct, coupled with a compassionate heart, led her to go the extra mile, providing not only financial guidance but also emotional support and a sounding board for those navigating loss or new inheritances.

She draws a powerful parallel between her role as a financial advisor and her personal experience with a back surgery. Battling fear and negative reports, she sought five surgeons before finding a servant leader team that not only healed her back but also alleviated her fear. This experience reinforced her understanding of the vulnerability clients feel when discussing their finances, emphasizing the need for compassionate, protective, and trustworthy guidance.

Leveraging Talents for Kingdom Impact

Renee believes in aligning herself with like-minded people and organizations, using her gift of discernment to identify those who share her values. She humbly acknowledges that God is her ultimate source and strives to be a good steward of all she has been given. This includes honoring the Lord with tithes and offerings and investing in high-impact kingdom work that aligns with true biblical values, both in word and deed.

Her journey has taught her the importance of submission to a higher power, recognizing that true independence comes from listening to God's guidance. This perspective allows her to embrace challenges, viewing them as opportunities for growth and developing grit. She advises seeking out mentors, learning from those smarter than oneself, and asking for help when needed, all while maintaining a gentle-tempered alpha personality.

Advice to Her Younger Self: Embrace Challenges and Seek Wisdom

If Renee could speak to her 21-year-old self, she would emphasize the transformative power of challenges. She would encourage embracing them, learning from them, and developing a level of grit essential for navigating demanding environments like Wall Street. Her advice would include:

• Don't be afraid of challenges; embrace them. They are opportunities to level up and grow.

• Hang around people smarter than yourself. Be humble and open to learning.

• Ask for help and use discernment. Not everyone will have your best interests at heart, but God will send the right people.

• Contain your emotions and know that something worth having is worth the work. Work is a gift, and embracing your gifts will lead to fulfillment.

Closing Thoughts: Vertical Perspective and Countercultural Living

Renee encourages Christian business leaders to maintain a vertical perspective, remembering who they serve and allowing that to guide their interactions with clients. Staying true to a biblical worldview, especially amidst confusion and chaos, means quieting the mind and seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit. She recommends the Book of Proverbs for practical life advice and emphasizes the importance of being willing to do 'missionary work' by sharing knowledge and wisdom generously, even without immediate financial gain. She believes that working in the best interest of clients, God's way, will ultimately lead to prosperity, aligning with the spiritual law of reaping what you sow.

Finally, Renee stresses the importance of keeping skills sharp, staying relevant, and discerning truth from error in a world inundated with information. She advocates for living counterculturally, not bending the knee to godless systems, but knowing how to navigate them. She asserts that there should be no guilt in being successful and earning a good living, as wealth belongs in the hands of God's people to be a distribution center for the Kingdom.

Renee Ricco's life and career are a powerful testament to the transformative impact of integrating faith, determination, and servant leadership in every aspect of life, ultimately contributing to a greater Kingdom impact.