In recent conversations with a few new friends, the topic of faith-based investing came up—something I was loosely familiar with through terms like Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI) and Socially Responsible Investing (SRI). But it wasn’t until I joined Harvest Point® that I encountered clear, compelling arguments for aligning investment strategy with Christian values.
Up to that point, values-based investing had been more of a hopeful idea than a personal conviction. I hadn’t taken action. Why? I was concerned about performance—specifically, the common narrative that faith-based portfolios tend to underperform. We’ll unpack why that narrative falls short in a future post. But here’s the more important point: I was wrong to place performance above my faith.
Imagine a faithful Christian investor using a Total Stock Market passive index strategy, trusting in long-term market growth. They check their portfolio and are pleased to see a 10% gain for the year. Now imagine that of the 1,000 companies they’re invested in through the index, 998 posted no return. The entire gain came from just two companies—one that profits from pornography, and another deeply tied to abortion services. In that light, does performance still take precedence? Is this a market they want to profit from? Proverbs 16:8 is clear: “Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.”
Whether we think about it or not, our investments reflect our values. I’m not here to hit anyone over the head with a “morality stick,” but as Christians, we aren’t called to blindly maximize returns. We’re called to stewardship—to use the whole of our faith, intellect, and will to make decisions that reflect the Gospel and the teachings of Christ and His Church.
In the Information Age, we can no longer plead ignorance about where our money is invested. We are accountable for how we steward God’s resources—even the ones quietly growing in retirement accounts.
My hope is that, like me, you’ll come to see that filtering our finances through our faith isn’t just a nice idea—it’s essential.
If this reflection has prompted you to think differently about your own investment approach, we’d love to help you explore how faith and finance can align in your life. If you are not currently working with an advisor, get in touch with our team by filling out our Discovery Questionnaire to schedule a 30-minute introductory call. We would love to discuss your legacy, values, and goals to determine if Harvest Point® would be a good fit to help you accomplish them.
Disclosure: The opinions expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the views of LPL Financial.