Biblically Informed Investing in Canada
A Practical Guide for Faith-Driven Investors
Biblically informed investing aligns your financial capital with Scripture's narrative, values, and ethics. For the Canadian Christian, this means relating to your investment portfolio as a delegated territory of stewardship.
Capstone Asset Management, a Canadian-domiciled fund manager, has developed an approach that brings Christian values and the market together for both individual investors and faith-based organizations in Canada.
This guide is designed to help Canadian Christians understand what biblically informed investing looks like in practice and how to discern whether any investment solution, including ours, is aligned with their convictions.
What Is Biblically Informed Investing?
Biblically informed investing begins with the conviction that the resources we manage belong to God, and how we deploy them matters. To do that, we look to Scripture, which speaks directly to how we are to relate to capital and the productive management of it with integrity.
Our approach is grounded in a scriptural framework of stewardship:
- Ownership Belongs to God: We are temporary managers of His resources (Psalm 24:1).
- The Mandate for Productivity: Like the servants in the Parable of the Talents, we are called to put capital to work for the flourishing of others (Matthew 25).
- The Standard of Integrity: Our portfolios should reflect the "gathering of money little by little" through honest, durable business models rather than speculative gain (Proverbs 13:11).
How are Biblically Informed Investing and ESG different?
"Environmental, Social, and Governance" (ESG) investing has gained popularity, but biblically informed investing is distinct, starting with its foundation. ESG typically reflects a shifting set of secular social priorities. Biblically informed investing is rooted in the unchanging moral architecture of Scripture. Our goal, then, becomes to seek genuine partnerships with companies that align with God's design for human flourishing.
Why a Canadian Approach Matters
Historically, Canadian Christians have been underserved by the investment industry, often directed toward U.S.-based products or generic values-based funds that lack a clear biblical foundation.
Capstone Biblically Informed Funds
- Registered account eligibility: The Capstone Biblically Informed Canadian Equity and U.S. Equity Funds are built for Canadian RRSPs, TFSAs, and RESPs.
- Tax awareness: The Capstone Biblically Informed Canadian Equity Fund prioritizes Canadian dividend income, a tax-aware structure that is often unavailable through foreign-domiciled products.
- Institutional fit: Capstone provides a home for Canadian churches, foundations, and denominational plans that require CAD-denominated solutions and an understanding of the Canadian regulatory environment.
How Capstone's Biblically Informed Approach Works
Our process is built on the conviction that Christian values and sound investment management belong together. The same disciplined approach guides the Capstone Canadian Equity Income Strategy, the Capstone Biblically Informed Canadian Equity Fund, and the Capstone Biblically Informed U.S Equity Fund.
Four Guiding Principles
We evaluate every company we consider through four guiding principles:
Valuing Human Life
We avoid companies involved in activities that devalue or exploit life.
Stewarding Creation Responsibly
We seek companies that treat the natural world as a resource to be managed with care.
Encouraging Human Flourishing
We prefer businesses that provide life-giving products, fair labour practices, and community support.
Applying Biblical Wisdom
We look for transparent governance, humble leadership, and sound financial management.
Biblically Informed Guidance from Research to Portfolio
A dedicated Capstone analyst conducts ongoing biblical research on every company considered for the portfolio. Brightlight Impact, an independent third-party resource, performs its own analysis alongside Capstone's to provide additional support to the decision-making process.
Research is then submitted to the Biblically Informed Overlay (BIO) Committee for review and approval before any company is included. The BIO Committee is composed of four members with more than 100 years of combined investment experience, including one independent member who is external to Capstone. The committee reviews and votes on all selections.
The research process identifies companies whose core activities conflict with Christian values, including involvement in:
- Predatory lending
- Gaming
- Weapons manufacturing
- Excessive political and social activism
- Alcohol/cannabis/tobacco
- Human rights violations
- Adult entertainment
- Abortion
Capstone Biblically Informed Canadian Equity Fund
This fund focuses on high-quality, dividend-paying Canadian companies, seeking long-term growth and tax-aware income within a biblical framework. It is available as both a mutual fund and an ETF series (TSX:BIVC) on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
Capstone Biblically Informed U.S. Equity Fund
This fund gives Canadian investors exposure to U.S. companies aligned with biblical principles. It is CAD-denominated to simplify reporting and planning for Canadian residents, and is available as both a mutual fund and an ETF series (TSX:BIVU).
All series of both funds are eligible for registered and non-registered accounts.
The Capstone Canadian Equity Income Strategy uses the same asset allocation approved in the Capstone Biblically Informed Canadian Equity Fund. It is available to clients requiring Separately Managed Accounts.
How Do You Get Started with Biblically Informed Investing?
Getting started begins with clarity. Before making any changes to a portfolio, take time to define which biblical principles matter most for your family, church, or ministry. From there, work with an advisor to understand where your capital is currently at work to get an honest picture of where alignment may be missing. Your advisor can walk you through whether and how to transition core equity holdings into solutions such as the Capstone Biblically Informed Canadian Equity and U.S. Equity Funds.
Frequently Asked Questions
No investment approach can guarantee performance, but biblically informed investing is built to combine conviction with disciplined portfolio management. Capstone’s process still focuses on quality companies, sound financial management, and long-term investment fundamentals.
Yes. All series of the Capstone Biblically Informed Canadian Equity Fund and Capstone Biblically Informed U.S. Equity Fund are eligible for registered and non-registered accounts, including RRSPs and TFSAs.
ESG investing typically reflects a shifting set of secular environmental, social, and governance priorities. Biblically informed investing begins with Scripture and evaluates companies through a Christian framework of stewardship, integrity, human life, and human flourishing.
Yes. Capstone’s biblically informed funds are designed for Canadian investors, including individuals, churches, charities, foundations, and faith-based organizations seeking CAD-denominated investment solutions aligned with Christian values.
Important Legal Disclosures:
Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees, and expenses may be associated with investments in mutual funds and exchange-traded funds. Please read the prospectus before investing. Mutual funds and ETFs are not guaranteed; their values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated. The simplified prospectus, fund facts, and ETF facts are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca or consult with a registered investment dealer or advisor.