Each of us invests for different reasons, but at the core, it is to provide a level of security for the future. Security knowing that our daughter can attend her first choice college. Security knowing that we can put food on the table when in retirement or in difficult times. Investing allows us the security of knowing we can be there for others in times of need. 

Just as our investments may give us a level of secular security, our philanthropy provides security to our communities and organizations around the world. As we enter this time of uncertainty, our security comes into question. The security we seek today is different; it is our health and the health of our family. 

During this time of uncertainty our philanthropy and investments take a back seat while we focus on the essentials of life. We prepare our homes, not with “daily bread”, but food to last weeks as our faith of a bright and colorful spring is blinded by the grim dark of winter. We hunker down in our homes awaiting the day COVID-19 passes, just as the disciples awaited the return of Jesus. As Catholics we believe “He will come again”, just as we know that this too shall pass.

Catholic teaching speaks of subsidiarity and solidarity. Subsidiarity relates to decisions we make today to protect our health and that of our family, while solidarity is knowing that we are in this together. Subsidiarity relates to not losing sight of our investment goals, while solidarity relates to not losing sight of how we are fighting this invisible enemy together. 

This is not a time to derail investment plans, nor is it a time to forget about a community in need. Decisions made today will have a lasting effect on your security and the security of our community for years to come. With a well-defined financial plan a family will not lose sight of this goal, because a well-defined plan accounts for times of uncertainty like the one in which we are currently living.

“This is not a time to derail investment plans, nor is it a time to forget about a community in need. Decisions made today will have a lasting effect on your security and the security of our community for years to come”

Behavioral Finance studies point out that people tend to put too much emphasis on things we cannot control and little emphasis on things we can. We lack control over the extreme behavior of the stock market, but we can control our own response, and be present to what the world will offer today, grounded in the joy of our faith. We can plant seeds for the future needs of our families (through investments) while continuing to provide security to those in need within our community (through philanthropy). Having the ability to plant seeds while providing security to those in need begins with a well-defined financial plan and an investment strategy mindset. 

We are all called to be stewards of the gifts with which God has entrusted us. With monetary gifts, stewardship involves having a plan, purpose and goal. Just as we know “He will come again”, we remember in the bleak of winter that planting seeds in the spring will bring a bountiful harvest in the fall.

“Having the ability to plant seeds while providing security to those in need begins with a well-defined financial plan and an investment strategy mindset.”

Let us joyfully reflect on the seeds we have planted.

Contact the Catholic Foundation of Michigan team to discern how to begin planting seeds for the future. 

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