Faith Driven Investing is when investors consider their personal faith and values in determining which companies they want to invest in. This goes beyond a company’s balance sheet, profit and loss statement, and debt ratios, and takes into consideration non-financial factors.

The overarching objective is summed up in two faith-based principles:

1. To love your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18; Mark 12:31; Romans 13:9)
2. Care for the least of these (Isaiah 1:17; Matthew 25:40,45; James 1:27)

Investing is not primarily about the opportunity to experience prosperity. We aspire to use our resources in ways that are beautiful, transformational, and contribute to God’s Kingdom on earth. The goal is to infuse investment decision making with a sense of purpose, mission, and calling. Where we invest matters.

“Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God”

– 1 Corinthians 10:31

“Do No Harm”

The Avoid screen is all about minimizing harm in the world. There are different filters used to screen out certain stocks in a fund. However, we see a common effort among faith-based investments to avoid companies that gain value from or profit off the backs of the “least of these” (often represented in the Bible as widows and orphans). 

For example, the funds screen out stocks that profit from the manufacturing or promotion of abortion, adult entertainment, tobacco, alcohol, gambling, child labor, and other industries that cause harm to those that utilize their products and services.

“Do Good”

Positive investment screens focus on building up the community through investments and a focus on the disadvantaged. This is the most direct example of taking a charitable approach and incorporating it into your overall investment portfolio.

Think of a physician’s oath to “do no harm.” The Hippocratic oath is fundamental to the practice of medicine. However, a physician doesn’t just stop there. The ultimate goal of medicine is to heal the patient. Likewise, we should not merely seek to avoid companies doing harm, but focus on companies that heal and make the world a better place.

“Promote Change”

Shareholder advocacy is implemented through corporate engagement, proxy voting and shareholder proposals. This is an additional layer in how investors can integrate their values into the investment process. It gets straight to where the greatest impact can occur – the very companies themselves. 

Shareholder advocacy leverages the power of stock ownership in publicly-traded companies to promote change from within. As companies hear about the values of their faith-based shareholders, significant change can occur from within the culture of the organization.

*FDI advisory portfolio models are offered through Generational Portfolio Design, LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor.  Generational Portfolio Design, LLC is not affiliated with Geneos Wealth Management, Inc.

On our Axiom platform we utilize a blend of Eventide Funds, Crossmark Global Investments Funds, Inspire ETFs, SMEAD Capital, Praxis Mutual Funds, and Timothy Plan Funds for the stock allocation. For the bond allocation we use Eventide Funds, CCM Community Capital funds, and Guidestone Mutual Funds. 

This provides a diverse group of fund managers, in order to potentially reduce management risk and take advantage of various investment strategies. We lean on funds with a steady track record and monitor many others for consideration in the future.

Each company has different approaches to Avoid, Embrace, Engage. Our focus is primarily on fund companies that emphasize the Embrace component of FDI. It’s our desire that the investments are not just avoiding, but seek to love our neighbor and care for the least of these.

Investing and investment strategies involve risk including the possible loss of principal. There is no assurance that an investment strategy will be achieved.  Implementing any investment strategy may result in a different level of performance than otherwise would have been achieved in the absence of the strategy. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

Mutual funds and EFTs are sold by prospectus. The prospectus contains important information about the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the funds and ETFs. Investors should carefully consider this information before investing. The prospectus can be obtained from your financial adviser and should be read carefully before investing.

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