Bridging the Gap: New masterclass on engaging the trillion-dollar faith investment market

The faith-driven investment market is expanding rapidly, with faith-based asset owners managing trillions of dollars of investments globally. They have been described collectively as 'the third-largest economic power on Earth' (1). Yet many investment professionals struggle to understand and engage with faith-based investors effectively.

Now international non-profit FaithInvest has launched a masterclass aimed at equipping investment industry professionals with the tools, insights and strategies they need to engage meaningfully with this fast growing sector.

FaithInvest Executive Chair Dave Zellner says the masterclass comes in response to feedback from faith-based asset owners (FBAOs) who tell FaithInvest that the investment industry often fails to understand the unique needs of faith-driven clients.

'There’s a perception that the religious sector and the investment industry speak entirely different languages,' he said. 'This divide hinders the potential for collaboration, with both sides struggling to translate religious beliefs into actionable investment strategies.'

Dave Zellner (right), who managed more than US$26 billion in faith-owned assets during 27 years as CIO of Wespath Benefits and Investments, said the faith-consistent investing (FCI) landscape is changing, moving beyond its traditional focus on exclusions to more active portfolio management.

'Today's faith-based investors expect transformative impact with their investments, aligning their portfolios with their faith values, often prioritising the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and addressing systemic risks,' he said.

'To meet this demand, financial professionals must build trust, deepen their understanding of faith values, and develop tailored investment solutions. Yet all too often, faith-based asset owners tell us of gaps in understanding, communication and experience. Our goal is to bridge that divide.'

Practicalities

The masterclass will be delivered in a two-hour interactive online seminar, and includes testimony from industry professionals and faith-based asset owners plus time for discussion. We had planned to deliver the first masterclasses in May but due to current market turbulence and uncertainty, we have decided to reschedule the launch until later this year.

Register your interest to be notified when the dates are announced – and to be able to capitalise on our early bird offer of £350 on the normal cost of £500 per person.

The masterclass will cover:

Faith-based investor priorities – What motivates faith-driven investors and how they approach ethical investing
Understanding diverse faith traditions – Recognising the differences in investment attitudes across religious groups
Practical engagement skills – Learning how to communicate effectively with faith-based clients and translate values into investment decisions
Case studies and real-world applications – Exploring successful examples of faith-consistent investment approaches

As well as gaining greater knowledge of the faith investment sector, the masterclass will enable participants to develop strategies to better serve faith-based investors and understand their unique priorities, enabling participants to better position themselves as a trusted advisor.

Who will benefit?

FaithInvest's two-hour interactive online masterclass is valuable for anyone interested in values-based finance who wants to integrate faith-aligned investing into their expertise. In particular, it would be useful for:

Investment advisors and portfolio managers looking to expand their client base
Financial planners and relationship managers engaging with faith-based clients
Investment analysts seeking insights into the ethical investing landscape
Business development teams within financial firms looking to create faith-aligned investment solutions

More information: Faithinvest.org/bridging-the-gap-masterclass

Notes for editor

FaithInvest is an international, not-for-profit network serving religious groups and faith-based investors. We were founded in 2019 to help faith groups to invest in line with their values. We support the rapidly growing movement of faiths and faith-based asset owners actively using their investments to create a better world – for people and planet. We do not provide investment advice or make investment decisions for faith groups.

1) Faith groups have been described as 'the third-largest economic power on Earth' by UNEP's Iyad Abumoghli, director of the Faith for Earth Initiative of the United Nations Environment Programme.