About Sound Mind Investing

The foundation of every successful investment program begins with a clear understanding of one's motivation: "What is my purpose in investing?" For the Christian, the answer is two-fold: (1) to provide financially for the needs of your household, and (2) to increase your assets in order to serve God more fully. Sound Mind Investing exists to help you do both.

In October 1989, I was having lunch with long-time friend Larry Burkett and his ministry associate in charge of counseling activities, Steve Humphrey. As we discussed the financial challenges facing the average Christian family, they commented that a newsletter was needed. Larry thought of it as "a kind of Consumer's Report for Christians in the area of finances." It would help families make the varied and often complex investment decisions they face, as well as continually attempt to help its readers "renew their minds" with God's principles.

My initial response was "You're right. Too bad nobody's doing anything like that!" It certainly didn't occur to me that I should undertake the task — after all, I was an investment adviser. I had founded my own investment management firm a decade earlier, and was fortunate to see our average client account return 25.5% annually during our first five years of operations. Our firm's track record was good enough to be rated among the top 5% of investment advisors nationwide. I was an expert in mutual fund investing, not a writer or publisher. But the Lord seemed to keep bringing me back to the need.

The number of investment services and products being offered today is mind-numbing in their variety. The tendency is to feel overwhelmed. You're forced to deal with questions like: Whose claims can I believe? Are mutual funds for me, and if so, which ones? What is the best savings account? How risky is that investment, and can I afford to take the risk? Where will I get the money for college for the kids? Will I have enough for retirement? And on, and on.

I saw the need for an experienced source of information, written in an easy-to-understand "user-friendly" way, to guide Christians through the investment process step-by-step toward building their own fully diversified portfolios. The SMI newsletter is my attempt to create such a source — delivered right into the homes of 12,000 Christian families each month, to instruct and counsel them from a Biblical perspective.

The Sound Mind Investing Mission Statement:

Sound Mind Investing exists to help individuals understand and apply Biblically-based principles for making spending and investing decisions in order that:

1. their future financial security would be strengthened, and
2. their giving to worldwide missionary efforts for the cause of Christ would accelerate.

In other words, we want to help you have more so you can give more.

Austin Pryor has three decades of experience advising investors, and is the founder of the Sound Mind Investing newsletter and website. Austin lives in Louisville, Kentucky, with Susie, his wife of 44 years. Two of his sons, Andrew and Matthew, work with him at Sound Mind Investing. A third son, Tre, is a realtor in the area.