Many people unknowingly invest in companies whose products or practices conflict with their personal values. Values-based investing allows us to simply identify what you value most and align your investments to match.

Investing has become commoditized and distant, divorced from its true purpose -supplying capital to great businesses. Most investors try to profit from “the market” rather than from the productive and intrinsic value of the underlying companies. When you invest, you become a shareholder or owner. As an owner, it is essential to know how the companies you’re invested in make money. There are some companies that you’d be proud to own because they fill a need and bless humanity. On the other hand, there are companies you would never want to invest in because they make money from products or services that do not align with your deepest core values.

What is Necessary For a Good Investment?

The first requirement for a good investment is that the company should FILL A NEED in society or the marketplace. This creates demand for the company’s products and services and allows the company to achieve a SUSTAINABLE PROFIT. As an investor, you are looking for a POSITIVE RETURN. You want to get your money back and earn a return on your investment. The final requirement is that when the company can identify and meet a need, it should BLESS MANKIND. Think about all of the ways that you interact with businesses every day- the technology company that made your alarm clock, the farmers who provided ingredients for your break­fast, and the engineers who designed and built the car you drove today. The institution of business has a unique ability to meet needs, create value, and positively impact the world.

Live Aligned