Faith Driven Investor

In this timely market analysis, Crossmark Global Investments' Bob Doll joins Richard Cunningham and John Coleman to dissect the dramatic market correction of Q1 2025 and the economic uncertainty driving it.

Key Topics Covered:

• The fifth fastest market correction since WWII and what caused it
• Trump administration's economic strategy: taking pain upfront for potential gains later
• Tariffs as revenue generators vs. inflation drivers
• Rising recession probability (now 35-40%) amid continued uncertainty
• The "Magnificent 7" tech stocks' slowing cash flow and what it means for portfolios
• Geopolitical outlook for Russia/Ukraine, Middle East tensions, and China's vulnerabilities
• What could restore market confidence in coming months
• Future of M&A activity and IPO markets amid regulatory changes
• Faith-driven investing insights and the need for patience in volatile times

Bob shares his current recession probability assessment and what economic indicators he's watching closely. The discussion explores how the administration's aggressive early moves—particularly around tariffs and budget cutting—are creating short-term market turbulence but could potentially lead to economic benefits if properly executed.

The conversation concludes with personal reflections on patience, humility, and maintaining proper perspective as faith-driven investors during uncertain economic times.

Recorded on April 1, 2025

In this episode of the Faith Driven Investor podcast, hosts Richard Cunningham and Luke Roush welcome Chris Morris and John Farris, founders of LandFund Partners, to discuss their journey from a college classroom to managing 50,000 acres of farmland in the Mid-South.

Episode Highlights:

• The divine intervention that brought John and Chris together at Center College in Kentucky
• How a single idea to buy 100 acres evolved into a strategy for acquiring thousands of acres
• Why the Mississippi alluvial aquifer makes the Mid-South an attractive region for farmland investment
• The price convergence thesis between Mid-South and Midwest farmland (currently 8,000 vs 15,000 per acre)
• How LandFund Partners differentiates itself through regenerative farming practices on 100% of their properties
• The implementation of cover crops and no-till farming to restore soil health
• The three-year timeframe to see results from regenerative practices in the Mid-South
• How building regional "pods" of farmland creates greater value than the sum of individual parcels
• The importance of being good stewards of both the land and community relationships
• Farmland as an inflation hedge and "gold with a coupon" that generates consistent cash flow
• The long-term appreciation potential of farmland (5.2% annually since WWII, 6.2% in their region)

Connect with LandFund Partners: Visit landfundpartners.com to learn more about their farmland investment strategy and regenerative approach to agriculture.

In this March "Marks on the Markets" episode, hosts Richard Cunningham and Luke Roush welcome Kingdom Advisors CEO Rob West to discuss the transformative impact of the recent Kingdom Advisors Annual Conference in Orlando.

Key Points:

About Kingdom Advisors:

• Founded in 2003 by Ron Blue and Larry Burkett to help Christians plan and manage finances with biblical principles
• Serves as the gathering place for the Christian financial industry
• Offers the Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) designation - the only designation for biblically-wise financial advice accepted by most major Wall Street firms
• Conference grew 40% in past two years to 2,700 attendees, significantly outpacing industry norms

Industry Trends:

• Financial advice evolving from product-driven to values-driven approaches
• Christian investors increasingly want their faith reflected in every domain of life, including money decisions
• Major financial firms recognize that connecting with clients at a values level creates better outcomes for everyone
• Industry acceptance of faith-based investing products and communities growing rapidly

Market Opportunity:

• Approximately 350,000 client-facing financial planners in the US
• Estimated 90,000 practicing Christians in the field (26%)
• Kingdom Advisors currently serves about 4,000 members with 1,700 having earned the CKA designation
• Christians hold an estimated $20+ trillion in investable assets

Next Generation Focus:

• 250 undergraduate students from 25 universities attended the conference
• Eight universities now offer CKA alongside CFP (Certified Financial Planner) programs
• With 38% of financial advisors retiring in next decade (average age 55), demand for next-gen advisors is high
• Students now graduating ready to enter the industry with faith-aligned perspectives from day one

Evolution of Faith-Based Investing:

• Moving beyond just "avoiding" certain investments to "embracing" impact investments
• Growing focus on deploying capital to solve problems and create positive change
• Increased emphasis on engagement through proxy votes and shareholder resolutions
• Next generation of inheritors viewing wealth differently, prioritizing impact alongside returns

Market Commentary:

• Despite current market volatility and uncertainty, biblical principles of economics and wealth creation provide stability
• Return to more normalized cost of capital (8-12% interest rates) reflects historical norms after decades of artificially low rates
• Faith-driven investors can find peace by anchoring to timeless truths rather than timely market fluctuations

Closing Wisdom:

• From Ecclesiastes 7:12: "Wisdom is a shelter, as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: wisdom preserves those who have it."
• True wisdom is not just intellectual mastery or best practices—it's knowing Christ personally

Featured Guest:

• Rob West, CEO of Kingdom Advisors and host of the nationally syndicated Faith and Finance radio program

Resources Mentioned:

• Kingdom Advisors Annual Conference "Redeeming Money"
• Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) designation
• Faith and Finance radio program (faithfi.com)

In this episode of Faith Driven Investor, we dive deep with Brett Hagler, founder and CEO of New Story, a groundbreaking organization that's reimagining solutions to the global housing crisis. Brett shares his remarkable journey from a successful tech entrepreneur to launching New Story, which has become a pioneer in innovative housing solutions, including their revolutionary work with 3D-printed homes.

The conversation explores how New Story is leveraging technology and entrepreneurial thinking to create sustainable housing solutions in developing nations. Brett discusses the challenges and opportunities of operating at the intersection of faith, innovation, and social impact, while sharing powerful stories of lives transformed through their work.

Key topics include:

• The genesis of New Story and Brett's calling to tackle the global housing crisis
• How faith informs New Story's approach to innovation and community development
• The role of technology in creating scalable housing solutions
• Building sustainable funding models that combine philanthropy with innovation
• Lessons learned from working in developing nations
• The importance of dignity and community in housing solutions
• How faith-driven investors can participate in transformative housing initiatives

This episode offers valuable insights for investors, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in how faith-driven innovation can create lasting social impact while building God's kingdom through practical solutions to real-world challenges.

Join Richard Cunningham and John Coleman as they unpack all the excitement and insights from the 2025 Global Faith Driven Investor conference. Fresh off the gathering, they share how faith-driven investors are making an incredible impact across every corner of the investment world while pursuing excellence in all they do.

Richard and John walk through the amazing transformation happening in public markets, where Christians are moving beyond just avoiding harmful companies to actively engaging and building positive cultures. They share their enthusiasm for what's happening in faith-driven entertainment, including the much-anticipated House of David, and discuss how Christians are reclaiming their legacy of cultural excellence. You'll hear about exciting innovations in real estate investment through Apartment Life's powerful ministry model, and learn how venture capital firms like Eagle Venture Fund are tackling human trafficking head-on.

The conversation wraps up with John sharing his perspective on today's market dynamics, from groundbreaking AI developments to major policy shifts shaping 2025. Throughout their discussion, Richard and John highlight an inspiring truth: Christians can achieve remarkable success not despite their biblical values, but because of them.