OneAscent's Billion-Dollar Milestone: Faith, Finance, and Market Realities

BIRMINGHAM, AL – June 10, 2026

OneAscent Investments, a firm dedicated to values-based investing, announced today that its suite of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) has surpassed $1 billion in assets under management (AUM). This milestone is more than a corporate achievement; it is a potent symbol of a deeper current reshaping the investment landscape, where personal conviction is becoming as critical as financial performance.

Since launching its first ETF in late 2021, the Birmingham-based firm has carved out a significant space in the rapidly growing faith-aligned investment sector. The growth is fueled by what OneAscent President Cole Pearson describes as a hunger for more than just returns. "They want their wealth to mean something," Pearson stated in the announcement. This sentiment captures the essence of a movement that is pushing asset managers to offer products that align with investors' ethical, moral, and spiritual frameworks. The $1 billion figure, spread across five distinct ETFs, suggests this is no longer a fringe concept but a formidable market force.

The Mechanics of Conviction

OneAscent's journey from its first fund launch to a billion-dollar portfolio in under five years is a case study in strategic execution within a niche market. The firm's offerings include funds targeting large-cap core (OALC), international equity (OAIM), emerging markets (OAEM), small and mid-cap (OASC), and core plus bonds (OACP). This suite provides advisors with a comprehensive toolkit for building diversified, values-aligned portfolios.

The engine behind this strategy is the firm's proprietary "OneAscent Elevate Screening Process." This methodology scrutinizes companies to ensure they are, in the firm's words, "providing goods or services that advance the flourishing of society." The process explicitly excludes companies involved in activities that conflict with its faith-based principles, such as certain weapons manufacturing, gambling, and abortion. While rooted in a Christian worldview, the methodology in some funds, like the OACP bond ETF, also integrates Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors, reflecting a complex and layered approach to ethical screening.

However, a values-based mandate immediately raises the question of performance. Can a portfolio constrained by non-financial screens compete with the broader market? Recent data suggests OneAscent is navigating this challenge effectively. Over the past year, several of its funds have posted impressive returns, with the Emerging Markets ETF (OAEM) delivering a remarkable 60% return and the Large Cap Core ETF (OALC) returning over 33%. These figures have undoubtedly fueled the firm's trailing twelve-month asset growth rate of over 53%.

Yet, a critical assessment requires looking beyond short-term gains. Morningstar, a leading investment research firm, currently assigns OneAscent a "Below Average" Parent rating. This rating considers a firm's overall stewardship, including fund costs, manager retention, and long-term risk-adjusted performance. The rating notes that OneAscent's expense ratios are generally in line with industry averages and its three-year success ratio—the percentage of funds that both survived and outperformed their category median—is in the midrange. This suggests that while the firm is holding its own, it has yet to establish a track record of consistent, market-beating performance that would place it in the top tier of asset managers from a purely quantitative perspective.

A Rising Tide of Values-Based Investing

The success of OneAscent is not an isolated phenomenon. It is part of a broader industry trend that has seen assets in various forms of sustainable, responsible, and impact investing swell into the trillions. Within this massive wave, faith-based investing represents a powerful and dedicated tributary. Firms like OneAscent are not just selling a financial product; they are offering participation in a mission.

This is evident in the language used by the firm's leadership. Andy Manton, OneAscent's Chief Equity Strategist, framed the mission as one to "empower advisors to help build the Kingdom." This unabashedly spiritual framing resonates deeply with a specific investor base that seeks to harmonize their financial stewardship with their core beliefs. For this demographic, an investment is not merely a line item on a statement but an expression of their values in the public square.

"The challenge for OneAscent and its peers is proving that their screening process adds alpha, or at least doesn't significantly detract from it," noted one industry analyst. "The $1 billion mark shows they've won the trust battle; now they have to keep winning the performance battle." This dual mandate—to deliver both principle and profit—is the central test for the entire values-based sector.

Navigating a Crowded Field of Conscience

As the market for ethical investing grows, so does the competition. OneAscent operates in a landscape populated by other established faith-based players like Inspire Investing and Timothy Plan, as well as a vast universe of secular ESG funds from behemoths like BlackRock and Vanguard. Differentiation is key to survival and growth.

OneAscent's strategy appears to be a focus on holistic partnership with financial advisors. By offering a broad suite of solutions that includes turnkey models, direct indexing, and target-date funds alongside its ETFs, the firm positions itself as a comprehensive platform for advisors committed to values-aligned planning. This ecosystem approach aims to create stickier relationships than simply offering a standalone product.

The firm's own prospectus acknowledges the inherent trade-off, stating that returns may be lower than if investment decisions were based solely on financial considerations. This transparency is crucial for managing client expectations. The ultimate value proposition is not a guarantee of outperformance, but a promise of alignment.

As OneAscent celebrates this significant milestone, the firm's journey now shifts from proving its appeal to demonstrating its long-term resilience and performance in a market that is increasingly demanding both profit and principle.