New Masterclass helps investment professionals engage with faith-based investors

Last week, we wrote about a report from Praxis Investment Management,  Faith-Based Investing: The Conversation Clients Seek, The Value Advisors Can Add (April 2025), which reveals a significant disconnect between what many investors want to discuss and what advisors are addressing; in short, clients are interested in aligning investments with their faith values, but most advisors aren’t talking about it. Perhaps faith-based investors in the FaithInvest network are experiencing this as well, and if so, you may be interested in alerting your investment providers about a new learning opportunity from FaithInvest.

As described in a FaithInvest press release out this week, 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.

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.'

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.'

Learn more about the Bridging the Gap Masterclass, HERE, and feel free to share the page link - or this post - with your investment provider.