When Your Money Doesn't Match Your Values

Biblically responsible investing, often shortened to BRI, is an approach that applies scriptural values to portfolio construction. It uses screens to avoid companies whose primary business activities conflict with biblical convictions, and in some cases favors companies whose work supports human flourishing. The goal is alignment between what you believe and what you own.

BRI and ESG both apply values-based screens, but they start from different places. ESG frameworks generally weigh environmental, social, and governance factors defined by industry standards or index providers. BRI screens start from scripture and historic Christian moral teaching. The two approaches overlap in some areas and diverge meaningfully in others, particularly around life and family issues.

Common exclusionary screens address companies with significant revenue tied to abortion, pornography, gambling, alcohol, tobacco, predatory lending, and human rights abuses including trafficking and forced labor. Screening methodology varies by fund manager. Not every BRI fund uses identical criteria, which is why reviewing a fund’s stated screening policy matters.

Not necessarily, though it is an honest question worth examining. Screening reduces the number of available holdings, which can cause a BRI portfolio to perform differently from a broad market index in any given period, sometimes better and sometimes worse. Screened funds also tend to carry higher internal expenses than index alternatives. Past performance does not guarantee future results, and no screening approach assures success or protects against loss.

No. Giving directs money outward toward kingdom work. BRI concerns how your remaining assets are invested while they are still in your name. The two are complementary rather than interchangeable. Many families practice generous giving and still want their invested dollars to reflect the same convictions.

Yes, in most cases. Biblically responsible funds can generally be held in IRAs, Roth IRAs, rollover accounts from a prior employer plan, taxable brokerage accounts, and many advisory accounts. Availability inside an active employer plan depends on the investment menu your employer or plan sponsor selects.

I help you understand and choose which funds will actually reflect your values. We can read the fund’s published screening methodology and then look at the actual holdings together. Ask how often screens are applied, what revenue threshold triggers exclusion, whether the manager engages with company leadership, and who defines the criteria. A fund that cannot clearly answer those questions deserves scrutiny.