Ave Maria Separately Managed Accounts (SMA)
These strategies are designed specifically for serious long-term investors who want to practice morally responsible investing (MRI). What is MRI? It entails looking for what we feel are financially sound investments in companies that do not violate core teachings of the Catholic Church.
Solid Investment Performance. Moral Integrity.
We place emphasis on investment performance and moral criteria. That means SMA clients don’t have to sacrifice financial performance potential because of their pro-life and pro-family beliefs.
Every stock and bond we consider must first meet the strict financial criteria set by our experienced team of portfolio managers and analysts at Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc. The Firm was established in 1980, and is a registered investment adviser dedicated to helping our clients reach their investment goals. If a security seems attractively priced to our analysts and portfolio managers, then the company is screened based on the moral criteria.
The distinguished Catholic Advisory Board, guided by the Magisterium of the Church, sets the criteria for screening out companies based on religious principles. They actively seek the advice and counsel of Catholic clergy in making these determinations.
Using a proprietary moral screening process, companies eliminated from investment consideration would, in general, encompass two major categories: first, those involved in the practice of abortion, and second, companies whose policies are judged to be anti-family, such as companies that produce or distribute pornography or whose policies undermine the Sacrament of Marriage.
The Ave Maria Division of Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc. claims compliance with the Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS®). The Ave Maria Division has been firm-wide verified for the May 1, 2001 (inception) through December 31, 2020 time period. The Ave Maria Division became GIPS compliant in February 2009. A copy of the verification report is available on the right toolbar.