Faith-Based Investing Advisory Council

Hi folks, Has anyone successfully implemented MRI/ BRI (Morally Responsible Investing/ Biblically Responsible Investing) within a 401k plan or 403b plan that you advise?  I am guessing it would have to be a recordkeeper that has a pretty broad shelf of investment options for you to design the menu from.  I also assume, as a best practice and to avoid any appearance of religious discrimination as an employer, that you also need to provide a comparable set of 'secular' investments.  For example, if you offered the Timothy Plan Growth Fund, you would also offer an American Funds Growth Fund.  It would be up the plan participant to choose their investments of course.  

On the individual AUM side, I already use or have used Ave Maria Funds, Eventide, Guidestone Funds, Timothy Plan, and a few others.  Just curious if any advisors have been able to make something like this work, and if so what recordkeepers were able to help.  

Thanks,

David

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David A. Nieswiadomy
3010 LBJ Fwy. Ste. 1200
Dallas, TX 75234
(940) 391-7607
david@nieswiadomyplanning.com
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Hi David!

Yes, I use some BRI in my plans, although it is tough to find custodians who will let you use some of the smaller funds out there (Crossmark, Inspire).

I find that recordkeepers who use Mid-Atlantic Trust (they're called something new now, but I can't remember the name) or T.Rowe as custodian will have the widest range of options. NOTE: Since these funds rely on sub-distribution fees and such, any RIA-only platform is not going to be able to use a good portion of the options.

I also heard Ascensus is very friendly to BRI vendors, although their platform is an ounce expensive for smaller plans.

In plans where I use BRI and don't have a fund in a sector that will beat a standardized benchmark, I normally put in two choices, like you mentioned in your example.

In areas where I have a single BRI fund where it will keep pace with a benchmark (Crossmark, Eventide, mostly), I sometimes will use a single choice and just explain that choice to people as I enroll them.

In our area of the world (Bible Belt), most people appreciate the BRI funds, so they are becoming more and more of a default option when I build portfolios for people. But, they're not a fit for everyone, for sure.

Let me know what other questions you may have. Thanks!

Aaron

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AARON WITTEN, AIF, CFP, CKA, CRC
Registered Representative
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER Professional
Certified Kingdom Advisor
Certified Retirement Counselor®
Witten Financial Services, LLC
715 Mill St.
P.O. Box 4039
Leitchfield, KY 42755-4039

(270) 200-1056 -- Office/Fax/Text

aaron@wittenfinancial.com
www.wittenfinancial.com
www.galdaron.com
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