On the latest episode of the Investing with Integrity podcast, I had the honor of sitting down with Dexter Lyons, senior portfolio manager of the Issachar Fund. With over 34 years of tactical risk management experience, Dexter shares his journey from diesel mechanic to faith-driven money manager, blending his passion for investing with his commitment to honoring God.

Here's what you'll learn in this inspiring conversation:

• How Dexter transitioned to Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI) and the blessings and challenges along the way.
• His unique perspective on honoring God through financial stewardship.
• Why CAN SLIM and faith-based investing make the perfect partnership.
• The transformative power of listening to the Holy Spirit in your career and decisions.

Whether you're an investor, a financial professional, or simply curious about aligning your faith with your finances, this episode will leave you inspired and encouraged.

Let us know your thoughts and favorite takeaways in the comments!

Issachar Website: www.issacharfund.com

Dexter's number: 337-983-0676

In this episode of the Investing with Integrity podcast, host Jeff Talarico interviews Robert Netzly, CEO and founder of Inspire Investing. They discuss Robert's journey into the financial services industry, the concept of biblically responsible investing, and the suite of faith-based ETFs offered by Inspire. Robert emphasizes the importance of aligning investments with Christian values, addressing concerns about financial performance, and the role of shareholder activism in influencing corporate behavior. The conversation concludes with insights on the future of faith-based investing and encouragement for listeners to examine their own investment portfolios.

Key Takeaways

Inspire Investing aims to empower Christian investors through biblically responsible investing.

Robert Netzly's journey into finance was unconventional, transitioning from youth ministry to investment.

Biblically responsible investing seeks to glorify God through financial decisions.

Inspires ETFs are designed to be low-cost and aligned with Christian values.

Fee compression is a significant topic in faith-based investing, making it more accessible.

Investors should be willing to make sacrifices for their values, even if it means lower returns.

Shareholder activism can influence corporate policies and promote biblical values.

The faith-based investing movement is growing, with more products and awareness emerging.

Advisors who ignore faith-based investing may lose clients to those who embrace it.

Investors are encouraged to examine their portfolios for alignment with their values.

In this episode of the Investing with Integrity podcast, host Jeff Talarico speaks with Rusty Roberts and Sean Murphy, founders of Psalms Path Consulting. They discuss their unique approach to business coaching that integrates biblical principles with practical strategies for success. The conversation covers their personal journeys of transformation, the importance of living out one's faith in the workplace, and the challenges of merging spirituality with entrepreneurship. They emphasize the significance of scripture in guiding business decisions and the concept of righteous desires as part of God's plan for individuals. Additionally, they introduce their community initiatives and free training resources aimed at helping others grow spiritually and professionally.

Key Takeaways

Rusty and Sean emphasize the integration of faith and business.

Personal transformation is key to achieving success.

Living out faith in the workplace can inspire others.

Scripture provides guidance for business decisions.

Righteous desires align with God's plans for individuals.

Community support is essential for growth.

Freedom in Christ leads to peace of mind.

Challenges in merging faith and business are common.

Execution of ideas is crucial for success.

The importance of being doers of the word, not just hearers.

Find out more at www.PsalmsPath.com

Steve Nelson, Chairman of Faith Investor Services, discusses the concept of biblically responsible investing and the mission of Faith Investor Services. He emphasizes the importance of integrating faith and finance, and how investing with integrity can have a positive impact on society. Nelson also shares his passion for the St. John's Bible, a hand-illuminated Bible that celebrates the word of God through art. He envisions the faith-based investing industry growing and making a transformative impact in the coming years.

Information on the Saint Johns Bible can be found by clicking HERE:

Do you think some things are better the second time around?

Hint: I do!

With all the recent excitement happening with Faith Driven

Entrepreneur, Faith Driven Investor and Henry Kaestner’s world travels. I felt a replay of his incredible interview was due.

Listen in as Henry talks all about why this “Faith Driven

Movement” is so successful.

In this episode, Jeff addresses questions about biblically responsible investing (BRI). He defines BRI as investing aimed at honoring and magnifying God and explains that it involves filtering out companies involved in immoral activities and supporting companies that contribute to human well-being. Talarico emphasizes the importance of BRI for believers, as it aligns with the teachings of Jesus and allows for a holistic lifestyle where faith permeates every aspect of existence. He also discusses the performance of BRI, the difference between owning a company and owning a product, and the misconception that BRI encourages discrimination.

Takeaways

Biblically responsible investing (BRI) is investing aimed at honoring and magnifying God by filtering out companies involved in immoral activities and supporting companies that contribute to human well-being.

BRI is important for believers as it aligns with the teachings of Jesus and allows for a holistic lifestyle where faith permeates every aspect of existence.

Research suggests that adopting values-based investment approaches like BRI can positively influence investment performance.

Owning a company as a shareholder comes with responsibility for the company's actions, while owning a product does not.

BRI does not encourage discrimination, but rather seeks to avoid supporting companies that engage in activism and disregard the beliefs of employees and shareholders.

Caleb Callahan, President of Valmark Financial Group, discusses his journey in the financial services industry and the importance of biblically responsible investing. He shares how he got started in finance and the role of stewardship in managing money.

Caleb also talks about the Valmark Global Gift Fund, a donor-advised fund that donates 10% of the company's profits to charities and ministries. He emphasizes the importance of generosity and being led by the Holy Spirit in financial decisions. Caleb addresses the misconception that biblically responsible investing leads to lower performance and highlights the need to prioritize values over financial returns. Caleb Callahan discusses the importance of aligning work with the Kingdom mandate and how doing things God's way can lead to success in business. He emphasizes the need to prioritize wisdom, integrity, and morals over profit in the financial services industry.

Caleb also highlights the significance of living out one's faith in the workplace and the impact it can have on others. He encourages the recruitment and engagement of young people, particularly those who love Jesus, into the financial services profession.

Takeaways

Stewardship is about managing money for the King and seeking His guidance on how to use it.

Biblically responsible investing involves aligning investments with Kingdom principles and

considering the impact on God's kingdom.

Generosity and giving are essential aspects of stewardship and should be prioritized in financial decisions.

The Valmark Global Gift Fund donates 10% of the company's profits to charities and ministries, supporting widows, orphans, Christian education, evangelism, and more.

Biblically responsible investing does not necessarily lead to lower performance, and there is empirical data to support this.

The focus should not solely be on financial returns but on aligning investments with values and principles.

Being led by the Holy Spirit and seeking God's guidance in financial decisions is crucial.

The impact of biblically responsible investing can have a ripple effect, positively influencing lives beyond the initial donation. Aligning work with the Kingdom mandate can lead to success in business.

Prioritize wisdom, integrity, and morals over profit in the financial services industry.

Living out one's faith in the workplace can have a positive impact on others.

Recruiting and engaging young people, especially those who love Jesus, into the financial services profession is important.

Summary

In this episode of the Investing with Integrity Podcast, host Jeff Talarico interviews Lauren Graham, a published author and financial advisor specializing in faith-based investing. They discuss Loran's journey in the financial services industry, the three-story house analogy for faith-based investing, the importance of stewardship, and the challenges and opportunities in the market. Lauren shares his insights on performance, the fear of embracing faith-based investing, and the future of the industry.

Takeaways

Faith-based investing is an act of worship and an opportunity to honor God in all areas of life, including finances.

Investing should be guided by biblical values and principles, focusing on relationships, outflows (spending and giving), and inflows (earning and investing).

Performance is important in investing, but it should be viewed in the context of long-term goals and the stewardship of God's resources.

There is a growing demand for faith-based advisors, and younger generations are more open to embracing faith-based investing from the start of their careers.

Investing in companies that align with biblical values can have a positive impact on the economy and society as a whole.

The market is unpredictable, but historical data shows that it has consistently grown over time, and faith-based investing can be a part of that growth.

Get Loran's Book "Investing with Integrity" here: https://www.amazon.com/Investing-Integrity-Expanded-Loran-Graham/dp/0692177078

Summary

Stephen Kump, the founder of Charity Vest, aims to shape the world to be more generous by providing everyone with a donor-advised fund or a charitable giving account. He has a background in consulting and philanthropy advising, where he helped major donors be more strategic with their giving.

Stephen noticed the issues and limitations with existing donor-advised funds and felt convicted to build new technology to solve these problems. His mission is to catalyze generosity and enable the millennial and Gen Z generations to give a trillion dollars away through their technology. In this conversation, Stephen discusses his experience as a philanthropy advisor and the importance of generosity. He highlights the character and values of high-net-worth individuals who actively give away a significant portion of their wealth. Stephen also talks about the launch of Charity Vest for Advisors, a white-labeled donor advised fund program that enables wealth advisors to support their clients in strategic giving. He emphasizes the need for advisors to have conversations about generosity and stewardship with their clients.

Stephen shares his admiration for CS Lewis and St. Augustine and expresses his desire to have conversations with them. He also mentions his interest in discussing faith-driven startups with Paul Graham, the founder of Y Combinator.

Takeaways

Charity Vest is a technology company that aims to catalyze generosity by providing donor-advised funds to everyone.

Stephen has a background in consulting and philanthropy advising, where he helped major donors be more strategic with their giving.

Existing donor-advised funds have issues and limitations, and Stephen felt convicted to build new technology to solve these problems.

Charity Vest's mission is to catalyze generosity and enable the millennial and Gen Z generations to give a trillion dollars away through their technology. High net worth individuals who actively give away a significant portion of their wealth possess certain character traits and values.

Charity Vest for Advisors is a white-labeled donor advised fund program that enables wealth advisors to support their clients in strategic giving.

Advisors should have conversations with their clients about generosity and stewardship.

The bunching strategy, which involves stacking multiple years of giving into one tax year through a donor advised fund, can help clients maximize their tax deductions.

Summary In this conversation, Jeff Hybiak shares his personal journey from being an introverted accountant to becoming a co-owner of an investment advisory firm. He discusses the importance of being true to oneself and finding a career that aligns with one's interests and strengths. Jeff also talks about the founding of Cornerstone Portfolios, a biblically responsible investment strategy that screens out companies involved in activities such as abortion, pornography, gambling, tobacco, and alcohol. He emphasizes the need for Christians to not only avoid profiting from objectionable activities but also support companies that demonstrate Christian values and contribute positively to their communities. Jeff discusses the importance of aligning investments with personal values and integrating faith into the financial planning industry. He emphasizes the need for Christians to openly talk about their faith and use their platform to spread love and share their beliefs. Jeff also highlights the significance of focusing on core values, relationships, and making a positive impact on others. He expresses his passion for educating young people about financial literacy and hopes to see a network of Christian financial advisors who can guide and support individuals in their financial journey.

Takeaways

• Being true to oneself and pursuing a career that aligns with one's interests and strengths is important for personal fulfillment.
• Cornerstone Portfolios is a biblically responsible investment strategy that screens out companies involved in objectionable activities.
• It is important for Christians to not only avoid profiting from objectionable activities but also support companies that demonstrate Christian values and contribute positively to their communities.
• Investors should be aware of the companies they own, even in index funds, as they may still be profiting from activities that go against their values.
• Investments should align with personal values and beliefs.
• Christians should openly talk about their faith and use their platform to spread love and share their beliefs.
• Focus on core values, relationships, and making a positive impact on others.
• Educate young people about financial literacy and guide them in their financial journey.

Jeff's TikTok Channel: The Finance Nerd