What Is the Difference between Biblically Responsible Investing & Socially Responsible Investing?

It’s important to point out that Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI) and Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) have more in common than not. BRI and SRI both work to align an investor’s personal beliefs with their investment decisions and place importance on the values/beliefs of the companies their investments support.

But there are also some major differences between the two types of investing. The investment decision making process is guided by personal values and ethics, but their convictions, values, and priorities are often different.

What Is Socially Responsible Investing?

Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) is an investment strategy which seeks to consider financial return and a positive social benefit. Many SRI investors choose companies and funds that promote:

• Environmental Sustainability

• Social Justice/Diversity

• Peace

• Health

• Morality

What Is Biblically Responsible Investing?

Biblically-based SRI is called Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI) or Faith-Based Investing. Biblically Responsible Investing considers the investor’s financial return and aligns their investment decisions with their Christian values. Some of the issues that are typically avoided in BRI funds are:

• Anti-Christian lifestyles such as abortion and pornography

• Addictive behaviors such as alcohol, tobacco, and gambling

• Human rights issues such as religious persecution, terrorism, and political oppression

• Abusive practices toward God’s physical or human creations

Additionally, BRI invests in companies that positively impact their communities, the environment, and society.

The Difference between BRI and SRI

As you can see, both types of investing are focused on investing only in companies that align with the investor’s beliefs. The difference is the core of those beliefs. BRI bases its beliefs on biblical principles and desires to glorify God through investments that reflect those principles. SRI bases its beliefs on human-based ethics and morals. While some investment areas overlap, there are important areas, such as supporting abortion, where they do not.

To learn more about Envoy Financial’s Biblically Responsible Funds, reach out to one of our licensed advisors.

Our future is a matter of heart.

As Envoy continues to grow, serving more churches and ministries across the country and the world, we know planning for a future of service is not easy. It is made even harder when the financial services' industry insists on using green lines and toppling walls to encourage the masses to change the way they look at retirement.

Here is the bottom line: “How to" never motivated anyone to change behavior or revamp priorities.

The only time I've noticed effervescent joy from following a “how-to” is when the assembly instruction is finally deciphered for a child's toy and the toy actually works. Upon reflection, maybe the joy is just the release of adrenaline, or relief, or the amazement of our spouse and in- laws. It is worth noting that such a task takes both heart and perseverance to conquer. It may also be so embarrassing to fail, that literally fighting through to victory is the only legitimate option.

After the discovery, pain, fear, and prayers of the last month because of Judy's calcified heart valves, I feel so much closer to issues of the heart now than I did before the discovery. This heart-rending event almost crushed my heart, while binding our hearts closer together at the same time.

Isn't it strange how pain leads to strength and how matters of the heart changes course our lives?

Change Your Heart. Change Your Retirement.

Can we agree that when our heart, our emotional core, is impacted we chart new courses and learn lessons? At Envoy, we noticed over the years that most people, faith-based or otherwise, don't save for retirement consistently. As leaders of our respective organizations, we do know that not only is this bad for the individual and related family members, it negatively impacts our organization and hurts our ministries. So is there something we can do? Can we change their future and our organizations too? Sure we can!

1. Watch this video of Dan, a lifelong missionary, and hear how Future-Funded Ministry has impacted his life. Leadership suggests forward movement with wisdom and energy! To accelerate this movement it requires an understanding of Future Funded Ministry and then challenging our staff to understand and embrace it too.

2. Download the eBook, Live with Meaning: Understanding the Power of Future-Funded Ministry. Read it yourself, then recommend it to your senior leadership and staff.

Making this heartening and faith-based perspective part of your organization's DNA will impact lives. And isn't that what leaders are called to do?

Have matters of the heart changed your perspective on life? People? Retirement? Join in the conversation by leaving a comment below.

We continue our journey with Trusted Advice Along The Way.
Bruce