Making Money host Charles Payne examines the tumultuous stock market as external factors test investors faith.
A faith-based investment firm partnered with S&P Dow Jones Indices to create a new index and exchange traded fund (ETF) that will cater to evangelical Christian investors.
Bountiful Financial and S&P Dow Jones collaborated to create the S&P 500 Christian Values Screened Index, which the firms announced as the first in a suite of indices tailored for evangelical Christian investors.
“We are proud to empower Christian investors around the world to live with greater integrity by aligning their investments with their values,” said David Friedman, head of Christian investment solutions at Bountiful Financial. “The launch of this flagship Index in collaboration with S&P DJI underscores our commitment to democratizing faith-driven investing.”
The new Christian values index fund will screen out companies based on their involvement in activities like abortion, stem cell research, adult entertainment, predatory lending, recreational cannabis, gambling, tobacco and violent video games.
IRS CLEARS WAY FOR CHURCHES TO ENDORSE POLITICAL CANDIDATES
The evangelical Christian values index rules out S&P 500 companies that engage in certain activities out of sync with the faith. (Baltimore Sun/Contributor / Getty Images)
Once the index excludes companies that are ineligible on those grounds, sector adjustments are made to keep the index aligned with the broader S&P 500 to reduce tracking error.
The investment firm is planning to launch ETFs and other financial products that track the S&P 500 Christian Values Screened Index later this year.
Bountiful Financial CEO Reid Steadman said the new index is the “product of a year of thoughtful collaboration with S&P DJI,” adding that, “In a world where values matter more than ever, Christian investors deserve tools that support both their financial and spiritual goals.”
POPE FRANCIS’ VIEWS ON BUSINESS, THE ECONOMY THROUGH THE YEARS
Bountiful Financial and S&P Dow Jones Indices plan to launch ETFs and other products based on the evangelical Christian values index later this year. ( / Fox News)
Bountiful Financial has previously created several thematic index funds, including indexes oriented around the values of the Roman Catholic and Latter-Day Saints faiths.
Cameron Drinkwater, chief product officer at S&P Dow Jones Indices, said that the firm “is pleased to collaborate with Bountiful Financial to expand our faith-based indiceswhich are designed for market participants seeking tools to align their religious beliefs with their investing strategies.”
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
“The S&P 500 Christian Values Screened Index joins our market-leading faith-based benchmark suite, highlighting S&P DJI’s ongoing commitment to this space,” Drinkwater added.
H1: New S&P 500 Christian Values Index Launches for Faith-Driven Investors
A new financial instrument is bridging the gap between faith and finance, offering evangelical Christian investors a way to grow their wealth without compromising their beliefs.
H2: A Landmark Collaboration for Faith-Based Investing
In a significant move for the values-based investing space, Bountiful Financial has partnered with S&P Dow Jones Indices to create the S&P 500 Christian Values Screened Index. Announced as the first in a planned suite of indices, this collaboration aims to provide a tailored investment tool for the evangelical Christian community.
H2: How the Christian Values Index Works
The new index applies a specific screening process to the companies listed on the S&P 500. It systematically excludes firms involved in activities that conflict with core evangelical values.
Key exclusions include companies associated with:
- Abortion
- Stem cell research
- Adult entertainment
- Predatory lending
- Recreational cannabis
- Gambling
- Tobacco
- Violent video games
After these screenings, sector adjustments are made to ensure the index remains closely aligned with the broader S&P 500, a crucial step to minimize tracking error and maintain financial performance expectations.
H2: ETFs and Financial Products Coming Soon
This new index won’t just be a benchmark on paper. Bountiful Financial has announced plans to launch Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and other financial products that track the index. These products are slated to become available to investors later this year.
H2: Empowering Investors to Align Money and Morals
Executives from both firms highlighted the growing demand for investments that reflect personal convictions.
David Friedman, Head of Christian Investment Solutions at Bountiful Financial, stated, “We are proud to empower Christian investors around the world to live with greater integrity by aligning their investments with their values.”
Reid Steadman, CEO of Bountiful Financial, called the index the “product of a year of thoughtful collaboration,” adding, “In a world where values matter more than ever, Christian investors deserve tools that support both their financial and spiritual goals.”
H2: Part of a Growing Faith-Based Investing Trend
This initiative is not happening in a vacuum. It represents the rapid expansion of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and values-based investing. Bountiful Financial has previously developed similar thematic indices for Roman Catholic and Latter-Day Saints investors.
Cameron Drinkwater, Chief Product Officer at S&P Dow Jones Indices, noted the firm’s “ongoing commitment to this space,” confirming that the new index joins their existing “market-leading faith-based benchmark suite.”
H3: Stay Informed on Pacific Business and Finance
As global financial trends continue to influence our local markets, Pacific Daily News is your trusted source for making sense of it all. We provide in-depth, localized coverage of business developments that matter to you, your family, and your investments. Stay ahead of the curve with our dedicated reporting on how worldwide news impacts the Pacific community.
Source: Original Report | For more breaking news, visit Pacific Daily News