Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube
News / Updates:
🤝 We host a lot of events. This July, we have a meetup in Dallas on the 18th, breakfast in Wisconsin on the 25th, and another meetup in Nashville on the 28th. Check out our events here.
⭐ Learn how we, as business owners, can save America and help build the next 250 Years and beyond on our last week’s special episode for the 250th 4th of July Celebration.
🖤 Know how to turn your heartbreak into breakthroughs. Check out last week’s episode of CF with Taylor O’Brien, founder and CEO of Candid Dating.
🤖 We recently launched a bot to help you learn from ALL the content we’ve produced. Join the Guild today to gain access.
NEW SPONSOR ALERT!
Our Father Constructors & Associates is your partner for any construction project.
If you want to ensure your church, school, monastery (etc) project is done well, on budget (or under budget), and ultimately, that it serves the Church for generations — reach out to Cristian and his team. Go to OurFather.US to learn more. Tell them that we sent you!
PS: Cristian is a close friend of mine who I’d entrust my family to. I’ve known him for several years and he is the kind of guy who is very driven to ensure that God is served and the kingdom of God grows. I’d trust him with my life.
In Today’s Issue:
Intro to the Guest and Topic — Chris McMahon, Faith and Finance Synthesizer
Core Takeaway: Just do Things
Episode References
Select Quotes
Key Moments
First time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe.
Today’s Topic & Guest:
Chris McMahon | Aquinas Wealth Advisors
Today we are speaking with Chris McMahon, the founder of Aquinas Wealth Advisors. I first encountered Chris back when I was living in New York City at a YCP event where he was on a panel. I just remember thinking that this guy had such a strong personality — very gregarious, frank, and possessing a really awesome attitude. I’m very glad we could finally have him on the podcast.
Chris has a wide range of topics he can cover, but we decided to narrow it down and focus on two core themes. First, how can we really align our finances with our faith? This is something a lot of people don’t consider. Specifically, the way I word it is: how do we not ROI-max? Second, Chris has a ton of amazing stories, and I made sure to ask him to share a few because they are just a lot of fun.
You’re going to enjoy this conversation, I’m sure of it.
Join the Catholic Founders Guild Today
Get access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory.
Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining.
With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time.
Core Lesson:
Just Do Things!
Chris shared numerous stories in today’s short conversation of him taking action. Meeting a girl who had been away from her faith, calling a nun and putting her in touch to go with her to confession. Giving the rosary to the girl named Guadalupe, and that opening her to her faith more because she spoke with her abuela.
These are amazing things that happened all because he simply noticed, asked (forwardly), and took action.
How often could we be doing this? How often could we be just doing things?
Most importantly, how many people could have come back to their faith if we ‘just did things?’
One more example: right after our recording, Chris called two different people to introduce us and connect us. It’s things like this that we all need to be doing more as Catholics. To help each other out.
That’s your sign! Just do things!
God Bless & Happy Building!
~Silas Mähner
Hire Catholic Overseas Talent
In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses.
Often, they’re treated as second-class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss.
So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon).
With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward.
How it works: Pay a $500 finder’s fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days.
To get started, reach out to catholicfounders@gmail.com with what you’re looking for, and we’ll get started.
Key Episode References:
Organizations & Ministries
Businesses & Tools
People & Saints
Select Quotes:
“And if people say I’m depressed, I don’t know what’s going on. I don’t know who I am. I say, shut up and go give somebody a sandwich.” - Chris McMahon
“It frustrates me greatly when people overintellectualize Catholicism, or they weaponize Catholicism.” - Chris McMahon
“The decision I made, I started asking myself probably later than I’d like, is how my wife would perceive the decision I’m making.” - Chris McMahon
“If you didn't accept abortion, if you didn't accept pornography, you didn't, if you didn't accept really radical ideology around gender identity, you were thought to be, you know, evil, which isn't that so interesting? As people of faith we we went from being the people that were relied upon for charity to being the people who are thought of as evil.” - Chris McMahon
“I think it's the evil one, certainly... forty percent of the Catholic institutions we work with own this thing. And they don't even know they own it because it's inside of an ETF. Well, guess what? We're gonna pull the back curtain back, and all of us together pull that curtain back, and we're gonna ch radically transform the world.” - Chris McMahon
“The action component is always important. You can't just sit around and talk about how we're gonna make the world a better place. You have to go act on it, right? Our faith is a faith of action...” - Silas Mähner
“It’s better not to wait to have anything, right? It’s better to grow up together in my opinion.” - Chris McMahon
“And here we are six years later, and our friends have rallied around us... Everyone's looking for an opportunity to jump in the pool. They're afraid. And if we just jump in first, they'll jump in with us.” - Chris McMahon
Key Moments: (outline)
(03:05) - Welcome Chris McMahon: Chris gives his background as a veteran finance guy, family man, and founder of Aquinas Wealth Advisors.
(07:42) - The Power of a Rosary: Chris shares an inspiring story about the CEO of Howard Hanna Real Estate and the profound impact of a simple rosary gift.
(09:12) - Encountering Guadalupe in New York: A providential interaction with a hotel clerk named Guadalupe leads to a deeper faith connection.
(11:25) - Pulling Back the Surface in Media: Chris discusses a powerful moment at a TV studio where a simple question helped guide a grieving producer back to the Church.
(13:42) - Befriending Priests: Chris challenges Catholic business leaders to actively support and build personal community with local priests.
(16:50) - Aligning Faith and Finance: A deep dive into how corporate activism shifted away from Christian values and how the Faith and Finance Score tool provides transparency.
(23:44) - Moving Past ROI Maxing: Exploring the dangers of short-term cost-cutting and shifting focus toward long-term stewardship.
(30:11) - Radical Stories of Grace: Chris details the conversion story of Fr. Corwin Low, O.P., from Microsoft pioneer to Dominican priest.
(33:06) - Managing Excess Income: A conversation on using business profitability for transformational philanthropy rather than material accumulation.
(37:03) - The “Sustainability” Myth: Chris and Silas call out the cowardice of over-analyzing “scalability” instead of taking direct Christian action.
(38:30) - Gen Z and the Future of the Church: Why the younger generation is rejecting cultural hypocrisy and packing out traditional churches.
(43:13) - Mentorship and Marriage Advice: Chris explains why young professionals should stop waiting for perfect financial security to marry and start families.
(46:39) - Sister Mary Casey and the “Why Not?” Mindset: A humorous and touching story about the Sisters of Life that exemplifies acting boldly.
(48:37) - Call to Action and Outro: Chris shares where to find his book and tools at AquinasWealth.com, and Silas leaves the audience with a final reflection on stewardship.
Hire Catholic Overseas Talent
In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses.
Often, they’re treated as second-class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss.
So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon).
With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward.
How it works: Pay a $500 finder’s fee when the candidate starts, and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days.
To get started, reach out to catholicfounders@gmail.com with what you’re looking for, and we’ll get started.
