Blue Trust Launches Innovative Faith-Based Private Investing Platform

In a significant development for faith-based investing, Blue Trust has announced the creation of a new private investing platform designed to align financial goals with religious values. The Atlanta-based wealth management firm, which oversees $59 billion in assets for over 10,000 clients, has partnered with Vident Asset Management, Brightlight, and Mammoth Technology to bring this innovative solution to market.

This first-of-its-kind platform aims to revolutionize private investing by offering a comprehensive, faith-driven approach. It provides Blue Trust advisors and clients with specialized due diligence and cutting-edge technology, enabling them to access investment opportunities that resonate with their spiritual beliefs while pursuing financial objectives.

The platform's unique selling point is its integration of faith-based principles into the investment process. Brightlight, known for its ethical evaluation processes, will conduct due diligence on each private fund, ensuring that all investment opportunities meet rigorous impact-driven criteria. This approach adds an extra layer of trust and integrity to the platform, making it a compelling choice for advisors and clients seeking to align their investments with their values.

Mammoth Technology's involvement brings state-of-the-art technology to the platform, facilitating seamless workflows and enhanced user experiences. The platform's flexibility allows for a variety of funds to be offered through a unified experience, while keeping costs low for end investors and optimizing processes for advisory firms managing the investments.

The implications of this platform extend beyond Blue Trust's client base. Designed for use by registered investment advisors (RIAs) and broker-dealers, it provides access to a carefully curated catalog of private funds that have undergone thorough due diligence. This approach ensures that advisors remain central to transactions throughout the investment lifecycle, potentially strengthening client relationships and enhancing service delivery across the industry.

What sets this platform apart from other alternative investing solutions is its ability to work with a wide range of fund managers while creating a standardized, white-labeled process for advisors and their clients. This approach not only reduces costs for end investors but also allows advisors to scale their onboarding process, reducing errors and building trust with clients.

The platform's flexibility in investment structures is another key feature. It offers processes for private fund limited partner engagement and can work with financial advisors and emerging fund managers to create special purpose vehicles that pool client assets. This adaptability allows advisors to tailor investment structures to meet specific client needs, further enhancing the platform's appeal and usability.

Brian McClard, Chief Investment Officer of Blue Trust, emphasized the platform's significance: "We are thrilled with this relationship, which empowers our advisors to better serve our clients that desire to more fully integrate their faith with their finances. This collaboration will enhance our ability to deliver exceptional investment opportunities with best-in-class service."

The launch of this faith-based private investing platform represents a significant step forward in the integration of personal values with financial decision-making. It has the potential to reshape the landscape of faith-based investing, offering a model that could be replicated or adapted by other firms seeking to serve clients with strong religious or ethical convictions. As the demand for values-aligned investing continues to grow, innovations like this platform may play an increasingly important role in the future of financial services.