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Exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, are rapidly growing in popularity, and for good reason. 

ETFs offer investors an easy, cost-efficient way to diversify their portfolios. But what are they, and what advantages do they offer over other investments? Deirdre Gibson joins us today to talk about ETFs and why you should consider putting some in your portfolio.

Deirdre Gibson is a Senior National Sales Consultant and ETF Specialist for Praxis Investment Management, an underwriter of Faith & Finance. 

Think of an ETF as a basket of investments—stocks, bonds, or even commodities—that trades on an exchange like a stock. Unlike mutual funds, which process trades at the end of the day, ETFs allow you to buy and sell shares throughout the day. This provides investors with more flexibility, especially during volatile market conditions.

ETFs are also more tax-efficient than mutual funds. Mutual fund transactions often trigger taxable events for all shareholders, whereas ETFs, due to their structure, generally limit capital gains taxes.

Like mutual funds, ETFs offer built-in diversification by holding a variety of assets. This helps reduce risk—if one stock in the fund dips, others can offset the loss. It’s also advised to avoid trading ETFs during the first and last 10 minutes of the market day, when prices are more volatile and spreads are wider.

While some ETFs are straightforward, others are complex. For example, oil futures ETFs don’t always track the price of oil as expected, making them riskier for everyday investors. Thankfully, ETF issuers are required to disclose all holdings and strategies on their websites, empowering investors to make informed decisions.

Historically, faith-based investing has centered around mutual funds. But that’s changing. Praxis recently launched two ETFs designed with Christian values at their core:

• PRXG: Praxis Impact Large Cap Growth ETF
• PRXV: Praxis Impact Large Cap Value ETF

These funds reflect biblical principles by screening out companies involved in harmful practices and engaging with others to encourage positive change. One powerful example? Praxis helped Hershey and other chocolate companies address child slavery in their supply chains—an impact made possible through years of collaborative engagement.

For 2025, Praxis is focusing on technological transformation, particularly in the areas of artificial intelligence and quantum computing. It’s vital to have Christians at the table asking not just what is possible, but what kind of future we want to create.

If you're interested in faith-based investing and work with a financial advisor, we encourage you to start a conversation with them. Your advisor wants to help you achieve your goals, and your values are an integral part of that. More advisors today are equipped to offer faith-based investments that don’t compromise on financial performance.

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Today’s culture pushes couples to seek significance in careers, accomplishments and social media — all away from home and your family. Josh and Christi emphasize being “famous at home,” and making your marriage and kids your #1 priority. 

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Want to make a positive, lasting impact? You can, and it’s even easier than you think. Dr Kevin Leman and his daughter, Kristin Leman O’Reilly, will prepare, inspire, and energize you for classroom and life success. In just five days, you’ll learn why students do what they do and how to uniquely motivate them. Join us to discover how to refine education basics, explore best-result strategies, craft an intentional culture to match your goals, and much, much more. With the "Leman Way" discipline and secrets to home partnership, you’ll start and finish the year strong.

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