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HARPER FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC |
Morally Responsible Investing for the Individual Christian
When someone dislikes a company, they can boycott its products with the expectation that reduced profits will influence the company to change its policy. Boycotts can be effective, but it is counter productive to boycott a company then support it with investment dollars! Investors may unknowingly be helping the expansion of evil industries through insurance companies and companies owned in stocks, mutual funds and variable annuities.
Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) started when religious leaders began to create an awareness of individual investors that they were unknowingly capitalizing and subsidizing companies that produced alcohol and tobacco products. SRI was a method to counter the growth of these industries.
A great idea caught on and today numerous special interest groups, some of them quite radical and morally objectionable, are using SRI. The concept of SRI has been twisted and is being used to aid in the corruption of our culture with abortion and the destruction of the family unit.
Today, a new vision of SRI is used to help investors from unknowingly subsidizing offensive causes. With Morally Responsible Investing (MRI) investors can make a difference. This is accomplished by demanding moral, cultural and social accountability in the companies who profit at the expense of our society.
For individual and institutional investors, with ethical concerns, strong moral convictions and a desire for good stewardship over all that God has generously provided, investments need to be subject to standards of moral responsibility. In this way, the investor gives witness to his or her moral convictions and sets proper example for others to do likewise. It sends the message that - morality matters!
Our corporations need oversight. When shareholders fail to oversee, vote and submit responsible shareholder resolutions, then corporate chieftains are free to pursue agendas of greed. When you own stocks of companies within a mutual fund the fund is voting your shares. Are they voting in your best interest or that of company management? Most mutual fund companies are secular and vote shares for their investors with no regard to moral tendencies. On the other hand if you own "Morally Responsible “mutual funds you are entrusting your votes to a fund that lines up with your moral compass.
A number of "Morally Responsible" investment opportunities are available today with mutual funds. These funds have varying degrees of tolerance and investment guidelines that screen out ownership of companies that cultivate abortion, pornography, anti-family entertainment, non-married lifestyles, alcohol, tobacco and gambling agendas. The efforts of these fund companies are to be applauded but most hold offensive companies in their portfolios. There are a few mutual fund families that perform well (yes there are plenty of good companies that pass the screens) and apply the moral screens for companies involved in practices contrary to Judeo-Christian principles.
So now the choice is yours. Are you exercising proper stewardship by, unwitting, investing in companies that promote abortion and other social ills? Find out with Free Fund Screening / Values Reports! Click Here
To view or download a booklet titled "Morally Responsible Investing"
P.J Harper,RIA, CSA, Member of the Society of Certified Senior Advisors, Member of the National Association of Christian Financial Consultants, Phone 734-428-0324
For Further Details Contact
P.J. Harper,RIA, CSA
Harper Financial Services, LLC
Manchester, MI 48158
Tel. 734-428-0324
pj.harper@harper-enterprises.com