Faith Driven Investor

Most tech headlines in recent months involve stories of layoffs and massive shifts. So what’s going on?In this episode of Marks on the Markets, Jake Thomsen, and Ben Hames join host John Coleman to discuss the changes they see in the industry and what investors should consider as they start the new year.The trio also debates about Elon Musk, the Metaverse, and whether or not Web 3.0 will live up to its hype. Someone even gets called a communist. It’s a jam-packed episode to kick off the new year. Make sure you follow the show on your favorite streaming service so you never miss another episode.

Phil Clemens spent 52 years on the payroll of the Clemens Food Group, a sixth-generation family-owned business providing quality pork products to the U.S. The business is now the 5th largest producer of pork in the U.S. with annual sales in excess of $1 billion. As the former chairman of the Clemens Family Corporation, Phil spent 14 years developing a succession plan for when he retired. Phil joins the Faith Driven Investor Podcast today to talk about the importance of legacy and how a family business can successfully and effectively be passed to the next generation.Want to dig into more content with other like-minded investors? We created the Faith Driven Investor Foundation Video Series for you to discover how you can bring glory to God through your investments. Groups start in January 2023. Join one at https://www.faithdriveninvestor.org/foundation-series.

Most investors often start with how to maximize returns and minimize risk. Don Simmons, CFP Professional and Founder and CEO of Simmons Capital Group, believes that Faith Driven Investors should seek to optimize beneficial outcomes instead. As a CFP Professional with a degree in counseling and post graduate training as a portfolio asset allocation specialist, Don fuses professional portfolio strategy with investor psychology and behavior. Don joins our podcast to talk about his recently released book “The Steward Investor: Investing God's Resources for Eternal Impact.” Don shares that as Christians, we need to be on the forefront of planting business in economically difficult areas where issues like unemployment and human trafficking prevent human flourishing. Listen in as Don pushes the envelope on the role of Christians as stewards of God’s resources.To learn more about The Steward Investor, missional investing, and news about Don’s speaking, sign up for his newsletter at https://thestewardinvestor.com/

FTX has fallen, taking the ‘King of Crypto’ with him. Breaux Walker, Fintech Crypto Investment Banker, and Jake Thomsen, Partner at Sovereign's Capital join the podcast to talk about what the fall of the FTX empire means for the world of cryptocurrencies. Breaux and Jake dive into risk, regulation, venture capitalists, and tokenomics in this timely episode. They also tackle questions like: how can Faith Driven Investors think about crypto? What are global problems that blockchain technology is uniquely positioned to address? And what does it look like to be a person who seeks to love and serve in a place that has been defined by greed, and naivete?Tune in to hear more, and don’t forget to subscribe for more insight from Christian investors.Faith Driven Investor is dedicated to helping Christ-following investors, fund managers, and financial advisors proactively look for ways to use capital to impact the world for God’s glory. Get connected to other like like-minded investors at faithdriveninvestor.org

“Dad, when are you going to get a real job?” Investors might find it hard to explain their careers to their kids, but that’s not the case in the Harris household. There, faith driven investing runs in the family. Britt is currently the President, CEO, and CIO at UTIMCO, the largest public endowment in America, and his son, Matt, previously served as Vice President of the Blackstone Group and is now on the investment team at Draper Associates. In this episode, we talk to both of them about being part of a family with shared faith and passion to impact culture through investments. Listen in as Matt and Britt discuss their intergenerational perspectives on the state of the market, ESG investment, and being a saint in the boardroom.

Jesus preached that his gospel message was good news to the poor. Yet investing seems to be mostly good news for the rich. In this talk from the 2022 Faith Driven Investor Conference, Dr. Kuruvilla proposes that investing, when done strategically, can partly fulfill the call to serve the global poor, using real-life case studies to highlight the redemptive potential of money that is deployed collaboratively and biblically. 

Treasurer Allison Ball is currently serving her second term as Kentucky State Treasurer—she earned the most votes of any candidate running for statewide office in the 2015 and 2019 elections. When first elected, Treasurer Ball was the youngest female statewide elected official in the U.S. Since taking office, she has returned a record $146 million of unclaimed property, more than any State Treasurer in Kentucky history in a single term. Treasurer Ball is a fierce watchdog for Kentucky taxpayer dollars and is responsible for launching Kentucky's transparency website showing how the state government spends its money. On today’s episode of the Faith Driven Investor Podcast, we talk to Treasurer Ball about living out her faith in public office and how God uses her platform to bring about change and reform.

Today on the podcast, we are joined by Henry Kaestner, co-founder of Sovereign’s Capital and Faith Driven Investor, and Ron Blue, founder and president of Ronald Blue Co. Our conversation focuses on the recently released book “Faith Driven Investing: Every Investment Has an Impact. What’s Yours?” This global movement is all about investing in human flourishing and driving capital into initiatives that stand for something significant. Put the collective words in the palm of your hands. If you haven’t downloaded the book yet, click here. Get a free copy if you’re one of the first 200 to register now for a Faith Driven Investor Foundation Group launching in January 2023. 

Intel CEO, Pat Gelsinger, has been a leader in the Faith and Work movement for decades. In this interview from the 2022 Faith Driven Investor Conference, Pat talks about some of the most important lessons he’s learned as he’s sought to bring his whole self into the workplace over the years. He also gives insight into how leaders can balance their work and family life, empower their communities, and love their employees, partners, and coworkers who come to work with different faith backgrounds. Let’s listen in. 

John Cortines had a plan to become a millionaire by age 30 and retire by age 40. He had all the spreadsheets and the “Big Oil” job to prove it. But while pursuing his MBA at Harvard Business School, John took the class “God and Money,” where he ended up writing a term paper that became a book—and it changed his life forever. He began studying God’s Word to answer the question “How much do we need to give?” John ended his exploration with the question flipped to “How much do we really need to keep?” In this Faith Driven Entrepreneur Podcast episode, we talk to John about the book that he co-authored, entitled, ‘God and Money: How We Discovered True Riches at Harvard Business School.’ Listen in as John shares practical tools for how Christ-following business leaders can give biblically and responsibly. 

If you joined us for the Faith Driven Entrepreneur conference, you’re in for a treat. This is the full interview with Strive Masiyiwa, Founder and Executive Chairman of the Econet, and one of Africa’s most respected business leaders. In this episode, Strive speaks about Africa’s role within the global marketplace. He also shares how faith has empowered him to operate in the world without fear and how other entrepreneurs can go bravely into the spheres God called them. If you weren’t there for the live event, you can still access the conference recordings here. Check out more from Faith Driven Entrepreneur Africa at africa.faithdrivenentrepreneur.org.

In the US, public equity markets are in decline while interest rates and inflation are on the rise. In the UK a major tax announcement rocked the overseas markets. Are we headed for a worldwide recession? We discuss what it takes for investors to face the storm head-on and remain positive in the midst of it all. Joining the conversation are Justin Speer, Principal and Senior Analyst on the Public Equities team at Sovereign’s Capital, as well as Brian McClard, Head of Investments at Ronald Blue Trust, and Benjamin Bailey, Vice President of Investments and a Senior Fixed Income Investment Manager for Praxis Mutual Funds and Everence Financial. This is Marks on the Markets.

Phil Cunningham is a leader in Africa’s entertainment industry, but it didn’t start out that way. Phil grew up in rural Zimbabwe where he started a small agricultural business to make money as a young man. He didn’t see his first film until he was 14, but when he did, it changed his life forever. He immediately saw the power of storytelling, particularly through animation. Phil talks about the power of media and its unique ability to shape the narrative of culture.

Craig Detweiler writes about culture, theology, and technology. He also writes screenplays and produces films such as “Extreme Days,” “Remand,” and “Purple State of Mind” to his credit. Ben Howard serves as CEO for the company which spans feature films, TV, and publishing. Today, Craig and Ben discuss the intersection of business, culture, and media. What role do we have to play as investors who want to impact the world for God’s glory?

Once a month, we take a look back at what God is doing in the world of Faith Driven Investing and the global markets. We also spend time looking at current trends and outlooks with great interest and discernment in hopes to identify God’s redemptive work in the world. Public markets are down...what's happening in private markets? Ben Erskine, managing partner at Callis Capital, and Matt Harris, on the investment team at Draper Associates, join us for a look at market activity from August 2022. This is Marks on the Markets.

Michael Eisenberg is a General Partner at Aleph, an equal partnership and early stage venture capital fund that has invested in more than 50 companies and has $850M under management. Michael is also an avid writer. Since 2006, he has been writing the blog “Six Kids and a Full Time Job” on topics ranging from politics to technology, Judaism and macroeconomics. We’re excited to have Michael on the Faith Driven Investor Podcast to talk to him about how he balances investing, writing, and life as a husband and father of eight.

Ronald Blue Trust advisors apply biblical wisdom and technical expertise to help the clients they serve make wise financial decisions when it comes to money, family, and generations. On this episode of the Faith Driven Investor Podcast, we talk with Scott Calhoun, Skip Perkins, and Kyle Kutz about the benefits of a family office and the  importance of finding balance in life, investing in the next generation, and leaving a godly legacy.

David Wills is revolutionizing charitable giving by leveraging the power of investment and donor advised funds. He has spent his career helping donors navigate the legal world of giving and now serves as President Emeritus of the National Christian Foundation. In this episode of the Faith Driven Investor Podcast, David discusses the changing landscape of charitable giving and what it means to use your capital and influence for God’s Kingdom. 

Keren Pybus is the Co-founder of Ethical Apparel Africa, an impact-driven company based in Ghana and Benin. Ethical Apparel Africa was founded based on the core belief that all manufacturing can and should be done ethically. And they work with international brands who are interested in growing a manufacturing base in Africa with a positive social and environmental impact. Keren joins us on the Faith Driven investor Podcast to discuss the importance of leading a company that is committed to more than just looking good.

Once a month, we take a look back at what God is doing in the world of Faith Driven Investing and the global markets. We also spend time looking at current trends and outlooks with great interest and discernment in hopes to identify God’s redemptive work in the world. Bob Doll, Chief Investment Officer at Crossmark Global, and David Spika, who leads the GuideStone Investments Line of Business, have both served as guests and contributors to media outlets such as CNBC, Bloomberg TV, Moneywise, and Fox Business News. They join us for a look at market activity from July 2022. This is Marks on the Markets.