"Investing Catholic"

Travels from: Ft. Worth, TX
Sam Saladino, a knight from Council 6269 in Arlington, is living a radical act of faith. 

It all began in 2005 when he sold his successful financial services business and started an independent investment management company with a fellow Catholic and friend.  They went through all kinds of ideas about what they wanted their business to be but had no clear direction, only that they wanted their Catholic faith to be a part of their business. 

For Sam, that was a leap of faith.  He grew up Catholic and his wife, Cara, is a convert.  However, as he says, “I went to church but my faith was a Sunday thing.  When Monday started, I went back to the grind and the next thing I knew, it was Sunday again.  But for some reason, I felt called to try to discern God’s will in this business venture.  Because of that, I thought that I was in for an easy time, after all, God conquers all.” 

Things didn’t go according to plan; for every door that opened, another closed.  Clients didn’t come and desperation started to set in and they became more confused than ever about what God was calling them to do.

In the middle of 2005, Sam found out that he had to have open heart surgery.  It was an emergency and completely unexpected.  He felt like the world was against him and the decisions he had made.  Then something changed, “As I was heading into surgery and looked at my wife and daughter, thinking that I might die, I felt a presence and began to pray the Hail Mary.  I said it over and over again.  I went to sleep mid sentence and woke up finishing the sentence.  I felt the Holy Mother’s presence.”

What had changed for Sam is that he realized that God’s path is not necessarily easy, but is rewarding. 

Soon after, the clarity they had been seeking came in the form of an idea to launch a Catholic mutual fund that they would call Epiphany Funds.  While others exist, this one would be different – not only would their investment decisions be made based on the social justice teachings of the Catholic Church, but they would be active shareholders in an effort to influence companies to be better corporate citizens. 

Mutual fund success depends on assets in the fund and they have been slow to grow.  Momentum is building but faith is required every day for Sam.

Remembering a story from a local priest about Pope John Paul II helps Sam when his faith waivers.  American Bishops were telling the pope about the many problems in American society.  When they finished, Pope John Paul said, “Is it true that Catholics are one of the biggest population groups in America?”  When they nodded yes, he replied, “then go change society.”

One of the reasons Sam enjoys his membership in the Knights of Columbus is the affirmation he feels from fellow knights about his quest to make a difference.  “All knights are called to be positive examples in society by how we live our lives.  Epiphany Funds is just trying to build on that by impacting corporations as well.” 

Sam doesn’t know where this radical act of faith will take him but he is sure that it won’t be easy but that the rewards will be great.