New Masterclass helps investment professionals engage the trillion-dollar faith-based market
- Susie Weldon
- Jul 20
- 4 min read
Press release: Faith-based investors globally control trillions in assets, yet most investment professionals are missing opportunities to serve this rapidly growing market due to communication barriers and misunderstanding of client values.
The faith-driven investment market is expanding rapidly, with faith-based asset owners described collectively as 'the third-largest economic power on Earth'. Yet many investment professionals, including financial advisors and asset managers, struggle to engage with faith-based investors.
This can result in difficulties translating values-based mandates into actionable investment opportunities, and in retaining faith-based clients. Now a new Masterclass from international non-profit FaithInvest aims to bridge that divide.
The Bridging the Gap Masterclass launches in September and aims to equip investment professionals with tools, insights and strategies needed to engage effectively with this sector.
Approved by the CFP® Board
This is the first faith-based investing class to include the perspective of all major faiths. It has been approved by the CFP® Board for 2.0 Continuing Education credits.
To deliver it, we've gathered a truly impressive faculty, including:
Mark Bateman, Managing Director/Director of ESG/SRI Research, Aperio (part of Blackrock), who created Aperio’s approach to customising values-aligned portfolios and has over 30 years in the ESG industry.
Mike Even, FaithInvest Trustee with more than 35 years' experience in the investment industry. As global CIO for Citigroup Asset Management, he oversaw investment teams managing $500B in client assets.
Katie McCloskey, Vice President of Social Responsibility for Mercy Investment Services, the investment ministry of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, who has extensive experience working with faith-based organisations.
Dave Zellner, FaithInvest Executive Chair, who was Chief Investment Officer for more than 27 years at Wespath Benefits & Investments, where he steered the management of more than US$25B in assets for the United Methodist Church.
Mark Bateman Mike Even Katie McCloskey Dave Zellner
The Masterclass comes in response to feedback from faith-based asset owners who say the investment industry often fails to understand the unique needs of faith-driven clients, says FaithInvest Executive Chair Dave Zellner.
'There’s a perception that 'the religious sector and the investment industry speak entirely different languages', says Zellner. 'This divide hinders the potential for collaboration, with both sides struggling to translate religious beliefs into actionable investment strategies, which in turn risks undermining client loyalty.'
'A significant disconnect'
New research by Praxis Investment Management reveals a significant disconnect between what many investors want to discuss and what advisors are addressing. The report, Faith-Based Investing: The Conversation Clients Seek, The Value Advisors Can Add (April 2025), found 75% of investors are interested in discussing faith-based investing, but only about 9% of financial advisors are willing to bring it up proactively.
Faith-based investing is changing
In addition, the faith-consistent investing landscape is moving beyond its traditional focus on exclusions to more active portfolio management, says Zellner.
'Today's faith-based investors expect transformative impact with their investments, aligning their portfolios with their faith values, often prioritising the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and addressing systemic risks,' he adds. 'Yet all too often, faith-based asset owners tell us of gaps in understanding, communication and experience. Our goal is to bridge that divide.'
Practicalities
The Masterclass is delivered in a two-hour, interactive online seminar, the first of which are scheduled for Tuesday September 9 and Tuesday September 23
Cost: £500 per person
20% discount for professionals from the same organisation registering for the Masterclass. Minimum of three participants: email training@faithinvest.org
Eligible for 2.0 CE credits from the CFP® Board upon completion
The Masterclass will cover:
Faith-based investor priorities: What motivates faith-driven investors?
Diverse faith traditions: Differences in attitudes to investing across religious groups
Practical engagement skills: How to communicate effectively with faith-based clients and translate values into investment decisions
Case studies and real-world applications: Successful examples of faith-consistent investment approaches
Participants will learn how to develop values-aligned portfolios; capitalise on faith-based referral networks; and avoid common mistakes that lose faith-based clients.
This Masterclass is suitable for anyone interested in values-based finance, who wants to add faith-aligned investing to their expertise, particularly:
Investment advisors and portfolio managers looking to expand their client base.
Financial planners and relationship managers engaging with faith-based clients.
Investment analysts seeking insights into the faith ethical investing landscape
Business development teams within financial firms looking to create faith-aligned investment solutions.
More information: www.faithinvest.org/bridging-the-gap or email training@faithinvest.org
Notes for editor
FaithInvest is an international, not-for-profit network serving religious groups and faith-based investors. We were founded in 2019 to help faith groups to invest in line with their values. We support the rapidly growing movement of faiths and faith-based asset owners actively using their investments to create a better world – for people and planet. We do not provide investment advice or make investment decisions for faith groups. www.faithinvest.org
We are delighted to be partnering with ValuesAdvisor, as co-sponsor of this Masterclass. ValuesAdvisor is a nonprofit that provides a platform enabling organisations to find financial advisors specialising in values-aligned investing.
Faith groups have been described as 'the third-largest economic power on Earth' by UNEP's Iyad Abumoghli, director of the Faith for Earth Initiative of the United Nations Environment Programme.
