Benjamin BaileyEvery podcast appearance, updated as new ones drop

Diversification is a key part of wise investing, and for many portfolios, that means looking beyond U.S. markets. But Christian investors may wonder whether they can pursue international opportunities while still aligning their investments with biblical convictions. Benjamin Bailey, Vice President of Investments at Praxis Investment Management , says the answer is yes. Faith-based investing can extend across a portfolio—including its international holdings. What Is Faith-Based Investing? Faith-based investing begins with the belief that financial decisions can be informed by faith. Rather than viewing investment returns as the only consideration, this approach seeks to balance two priorities: putting financial resources to productive use while also considering the impact investments may have on individuals, communities, and God’s creation. For Christian investors, that means asking not only, “How might this investment perform?” but also, “What am I supporting with the resources God has entrusted to me?” Interest in this approach continues to grow. Bailey points to estimates suggesting that Christian households collectively hold trillions of dollars in investments, creating significant opportunity for believers who want their portfolios to reflect their convictions. Why Invest Internationally? International investments can play an important role in a well-diversified portfolio. Different countries and regions do not always experience the same economic conditions or market cycles at the same time. Investing across global markets can therefore give investors exposure to companies, industries, and opportunities they might not encounter through U.S. investments alone. That principle applies to faith-based investors as well. If an investor wants biblical values reflected throughout a portfolio, those considerations should not necessarily stop with domestic holdings. Until recently, however, Christian investors have had fewer faith-based choices in the international marketplace. “People want choices, and people want options,” Bailey says. The Challenges of Faith-Based Investing Overseas Applying faith-based investment criteria internationally can be more complicated than doing so in the United States. Investors need reliable information about companies around the world, including their business activities and practices. Cultural differences, regulatory environments, and varying levels of corporate disclosure can make that research more difficult. That is why investment managers often rely on global research organizations with experience evaluating companies across countries and industries. There is another challenge as well: certain markets may contain a higher concentration of companies involved in business activities that conflict with an investor’s faith-based guidelines. Depending on the screening approach being used, that can limit the available investment universe. These challenges make careful research and a clearly defined investment process especially important. Expanding Faith-Based Choices With PRXI Praxis recently expanded its international offerings with the launch of PRXI , a faith-based international exchange-traded fund. The new ETF is designed to address an area where investors have historically had relatively few faith-based options. Praxis has been investing

Diversification is a key part of wise investing, and for many portfolios, that means looking beyond U.S. markets. But Christian investors may wonder whether they can pursue international opportunities while still aligning their investments with biblical convictions. Benjamin Bailey, Vice President of Investments at Praxis Investment Management , says the answer is yes. Faith-based investing can extend across a portfolio—including its international holdings. What Is Faith-Based Investing? Faith-based investing begins with the belief that financial decisions can be informed by faith. Rather than viewing investment returns as the only consideration, this approach seeks to balance two priorities: putting financial resources to productive use while also considering the impact investments may have on individuals, communities, and God’s creation. For Christian investors, that means asking not only, “How might this investment perform?” but also, “What am I supporting with the resources God has entrusted to me?” Interest in this approach continues to grow. Bailey points to estimates suggesting that Christian households collectively hold trillions of dollars in investments, creating significant opportunity for believers who want their portfolios to reflect their convictions. Why Invest Internationally? International investments can play an important role in a well-diversified portfolio. Different countries and regions do not always experience the same economic conditions or market cycles at the same time. Investing across global markets can therefore give investors exposure to companies, industries, and opportunities they might not encounter through U.S. investments alone. That principle applies to faith-based investors as well. If an investor wants biblical values reflected throughout a portfolio, those considerations should not necessarily stop with domestic holdings. Until recently, however, Christian investors have had fewer faith-based choices in the international marketplace. “People want choices, and people want options,” Bailey says. The Challenges of Faith-Based Investing Overseas Applying faith-based investment criteria internationally can be more complicated than doing so in the United States. Investors need reliable information about companies around the world, including their business activities and practices. Cultural differences, regulatory environments, and varying levels of corporate disclosure can make that research more difficult. That is why investment managers often rely on global research organizations with experience evaluating companies across countries and industries. There is another challenge as well: certain markets may contain a higher concentration of companies involved in business activities that conflict with an investor’s faith-based guidelines. Depending on the screening approach being used, that can limit the available investment universe. These challenges make careful research and a clearly defined investment process especially important. Expanding Faith-Based Choices With PRXI Praxis recently expanded its international offerings with the launch of PRXI , a faith-based international exchange-traded fund. The new ETF is designed to address an area where investors have historically had relatively few faith-based options. Praxis has been investing

Bonds are considered safe investments but also a bit boring. Is that true, though? In the investing world, all the drama, for good or ill, is in the stock market. It’s up, it’s down, you get the picture. However, bonds also have an interesting story, and Benjamin Bailey is here to tell us about it. Benjamin Bailey is Vice President of Investments and Senior Fixed Income Manager at Praxis Mutual Funds , an underwriter of Faith & Finance . Introduction to Bonds and Stocks Bonds play a unique role in building a well-rounded investment portfolio compared to stocks. Stocks represent ownership in a company—owning a small piece of a business like Verizon or Lowe's. Investors typically buy stocks hoping for price appreciation, aiming to sell them for more than they paid. Bonds, however, function differently. When a large company needs significant funding, they may issue bonds to raise capital, allowing investors to “lend” the company money. In return, bondholders receive interest payments (often bi-annually) and get their initial investment back when the bond matures. Bonds may not offer the same potential for big gains as stocks, but they tend to provide more stability. Why Bonds Belong in a Diversified Portfolio Bonds are often recommended as part of a diversified portfolio, especially as investors approach the time when they’ll need to withdraw funds. If you’re using a portfolio to fund your retirement or a significant life expense like college tuition, bonds help protect against sudden stock market dips. With time to weather market fluctuations, younger investors may not need as much exposure to bonds. Still, bonds add stability, allowing investors to rebalance effectively if stocks fall sharply. Individual Bonds vs. Bond Funds Investors can choose between individual bonds and bond funds. While individual bonds can be appealing for their specific returns, they’re less liquid, meaning buying and selling them is harder. Bond funds offer better liquidity and diversification, often containing hundreds of individual bonds. This way, if one bond in a fund doesn’t perform well, it impacts only a small fraction of the portfolio, unlike holding a larger portion in individual bonds. High Yield Bonds: The Balance of Risk and Reward High-yield bonds offer higher potential returns than regular bonds but come with higher risk. While they’re generally safer than stocks, they’re riskier than average bonds. High-yield bonds can increase returns but should be balanced to avoid excessive risk in your bond allocation. Interest rates heavily impact bond performance. Bonds faced challenges during periods of rising interest rates. However, with higher starting yields now available, bond investments may provide better protection against downside risks moving forward. When considering bonds' role in your portfolio, it's helpful to focus on future potential rather than past performance. Faith-Based Investing and Impact Bonds An exciting development in the bond market is faith-based investing, where investments align with personal values. Faith-based bond funds screen out companies involved in industries like alcohol, tobacco, and gambling, allowing investors to support ethical practices. Praxis Mutual Funds , for example, offers “impact bonds” that fund positive social projects, such as social bonds issued by the African Development Bank to support initiatives like Power Africa. A bond portfolio can balance traditional bonds with impact bonds, allowing for both financial returns and social benefits. At Praxis, about 35