Meet Seth Scott
President & Lead Financial Planner, AAMS®
With over 20 years of experience as a worship leader and ministry servant, Seth Scott brings a deep understanding of pastoral life to his role as founder and lead financial planner at Heartwood Financial Planning. His journey in ministry has given him firsthand insight into the unique challenges and opportunities that church leaders face.
EXPERTISE & CREDENTIALS
Seth brings both professional expertise & practical experience to serving pastoral clients.
SERIES 7, SERIES 63, & SERIES 65 LICENSES
AAMS* DESIGNATION
*Accredited Asset Management Specialist
CTEC* CERTIFIED TAX PREPARER
*California Tax Education Counsel
CURRENTLY PURSUING CKA (CERTIFIED KINGDOM ADVISOR) DESIGNATION
SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE
in pastoral tax regulations, housing allowances, and church retirement plans
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE
from Fresno State, with minors in math & music
✔
CHURCH BOARD MEMBER & WORSHIP LEADER
✔
20+ YEARS IN MINISTRY
✔
EASILY EXPLAINS COMPLEX FINANCIAL TOPICS
✔
CREATES A UNIQUE FINANCIAL CULTURE FOR PASTORS
✔ CHURCH BOARD MEMBER & WORSHIP LEADER ✔ 20+ YEARS IN MINISTRY ✔ EASILY EXPLAINS COMPLEX FINANCIAL TOPICS ✔ CREATES A UNIQUE FINANCIAL CULTURE FOR PASTORS
A JOURNEY OF FAITH
Seth's connection to ministry began in an unexpected way - as a skeptical high school freshman asking tough questions in youth group.
Originally attending church at a friend's invitation, Seth approached Christianity analytically, determined to find its fatal flaw. Instead, after a year of intellectual wrestling and experiencing the power of worship, he found himself drawn to faith through both mind and heart.
His journey in worship ministry began shortly after, when he noticed an unused keyboard on the church stage. Despite still being early in his faith journey, Seth volunteered to play, beginning what would become a decades-long ministry serving alongside pastors. This early experience shaped his understanding of the vital support role he could play in ministry - not as the face of the church, but as someone who could help enable and empower those called to lead.
MINISTRY EXPERIENCE
Seth's dedication to ministry spans more than two decades, during which he has:
SERVED ON HIS LOCAL CHURCH BOARD, GAINING DIRECT EXPERIENCE WITH CHURCH FINANCIAL DECISIONS
DEVELOPED A PASSION FOR HELPING MINISTERS SERVE WITHOUT FINANCIAL BURDEN
PARTNERED CLOSELY WITH PASTORS TO SUPPORT THEIR VISION FOR CONGREGATIONAL SPIRITUAL GROWTH
LED WORSHIP TEAMS FOR OVER 20 YEARS, INCLUDING 13 YEARS AS MUSIC DIRECTOR AT HIS PREVIOUS CHURCH
WITNESSED FIRSTHAND THE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES THAT PASTORS AND THEIR FAMILIES NAVIGATE
BEHIND THE SCENES WITH SETH SCOTT
Family & Personal Life
Seth is a proud husband of 14 years and father to two boys, ages 9 and 6. His family plays a central role in both his life and business philosophy. His wife's management of their household gives him the peace of mind to pour into serving clients, while maintaining his commitment that his family will never "get the short end of the stick" from his business endeavors.
The Scott family enjoys an active lifestyle, including:
Making music together - his oldest son on drums, youngest dancing, and Seth at the piano
Outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and rock climbing
Sharing their love of reading
Creating memories through family adventures and travel
Musical & Creative Background
Seth's musical journey began at age five with classical piano training under the late Helga Medd, who recognized and nurtured his natural ear for music. While classically trained, Seth discovered his gift for improvisation and playing by ear through church worship. He has since expanded his musical abilities to include organ, mandolin, and violin, though he jokes that he merely "pretends to play" any instrument other than piano.
The Path to Financial Planning
Seth's path to founding Heartwood began with a pivotal moment as a new father. When his oldest son was six months old, his pastor delivered a gentle but firm message: "Seth, you're too busy to be a dad." This conversation sparked a journey of transformation, leading Seth to question the traditional career path and seek ways to build meaningful work while maintaining family priorities.
Through divine guidance and mentorship from his mother's long-time financial advisor, John Leonard (now retired), Seth found his calling in financial services. Starting with the acquisition of John's practice, he grew to manage multiple advisory and tax practices. In 2023, he received what he believes was divine inspiration to focus specifically on serving pastors and churches, combining his financial knowledge with his passion for ministry support.
Arts & Community Involvement
Beyond his financial practice, Seth maintains his lifelong connection to the performing arts. His background includes competitive tap dancing, theater performance, and various musical pursuits. These experiences instilled in him a strong work ethic and understanding of how individual effort contributes to collective success - principles he applies to serving his clients.
VISION & PURPOSE
Seth’s mission at Heartwood is deeply rooted in 1 Timothy 5:17-18:
providing financial covering for those who provide spiritual covering.
His years of ministry alongside pastors have shown him how they and their families sacrifice to shepherd their flocks. This experience has shaped his conviction that ministers should be well compensated and financially secure so they can focus fully on their calling.
"I love helping people, I love analyzing and optimizing finances, and I love pastors," Seth says. "This business allows me to combine my decades of ministry experience with financial planning experience to serve God's shepherds. My commitment is to continue honing my knowledge and services to provide the best possible partnership to our clients, so they can focus on their calling with peace of mind."