New! Faith-consisting Investing: Challenging the Performance Penalty Myth
Our June FCI Forum on Catholic investing
A quiz for faith-based investors!
Bridging the Gap Masterclass for investment professionals coming this fall
Highlights from our FCI research post series
Newly released FaithInvest report challenges the FCI 'performance penalty myth'
FaithInvest has released a new report: Faith-Consistent Investing: Challenging the Performance Penalty Myth.
This paper examines the significant dilemma faced by faith organisations: while they recognise the moral imperative to align their investments with their beliefs, many hesitate to fully embrace faith-consistent investing (FCI) due to concerns about sacrificing financial returns.
This perceived trade-off between values and performance has created a significant disconnect between institutional missions and investment practices across the faith community. This paper discusses how the alignment of financial investments with religious values can produce competitive returns while promoting positive societal and environmental outcomes.
Drawing on the perspectives of investment professionals at FaithInvest with extensive experience in faith-based and asset management organisations, the paper challenges the common misconception that investing according to faith principles, or values principles more broadly, necessarily results in diminished financial performance.
Instead, it argues that FCI – when thoughtfully implemented – can lead to improved investment outcomes.
As Dave Zellner, Executive Chair of FaithInvest and former Chief Investment Officer at Wespath Benefits and Investments asserts in the report:
‘By taking a holistic, long-term view that considers systemic risks and opportunities, FCI can not only align with investors' values but also potentially enhance long-term financial performance.'
A lively FCI Forum focused on building a new ecosystem for Catholic investing
We had a fascinating and inspiring FCI Forum on Catholic Investing earlier this month, which offered a wide-ranging analysis of what is needed to develop a fit-for-purpose Catholic investing ecosystem, as well as very practical details of how two congregations reflect Catholic Social Teaching in their investment policies.
As expected, with three excellent speakers, the Forum was very well attended with more than 220 people registering to take part. You can view a condensed recording of the Forum by clicking below!
Clockwise from top left: Susie Weldon (moderator) and speakers Petra Vujakovic, Jean-Baptiste de Franssu and John O'Shaughnessy at the June 5 Forum
How much do you know about faith-consistent investing?
We know that navigating the principles and practices of faith-consistent investing (FCI) can be challenging and, to many faith-based organisations, appear daunting due to an array of factors including misperceptions about the performance of faith-based investments and the sometimes-arcane terminology of asset management.
We’ve created a short quiz designed for anyone involved within a faith organisation in overseeing or guiding the stewardship of faith-based assets.
Some of the questions in the quiz may feel quite straightforward; it’s intended to spark reflection, highlight key areas for learning, and help you take meaningful steps toward aligning your investments with your faith values.
A short quiz!
This quiz includes eight questions, with the full list of answers provided after you take the test.
Challenge what you know (or think you know!) about faith-consistent investing and maybe pick up something new along the way!
Bridging the Gap Masterclass goes live in September!
Following feedback from many faith-based asset owners about problems in communication and understanding with their service providers, we've developed a new Masterclass for investment industry professionals.
Entitled Bridging the Gap, it is designed to equip them with the tools and insights needed to engage more effectively with the rapidly expanding trillion-dollar, faith-based investment market.
We are delighted to announce that this course has been accepted by the CFP
Board for Continuing Education credits for CFP® professionals and provides 2.0 CE Credits upon completion.
We are also pleased to be partnering with ValuesAdvisor, which is devoted to helping investors, foundations, and endowments move to impact investing, as co-sponsor of this Masterclass.
Every week, the FaithInvest team posts on issues around faith-consistent investing on our FCI Research Posts page. In case you missed them, here is a selection of recent posts.
