Our Investment Approach
Investment Management Solutions
At Ascension Investment Management, we empower faith-based investors to pursue competitive,
risk-conscious returns while considering their core values.
Whether your objectives emphasize growth, stability, or targeted impact, we offer partnership, customization, and investment oversight to help you advance your mission with confidence. Our strategies blend disciplined risk management, robust due diligence, and a strong commitment to transparency.
Clients can allocate to a single strategy or construct a diversified portfolio, benefiting from our careful manager selection, periodic rebalancing, comprehensive risk oversight, and transparent reporting, providing professional stewardship while easing operational demands.
We deeply respect and value the essential role consultants play in guiding investment decisions. We recognize that applying socially responsible investment guidelines to certain strategies can be complex, and access may be limited with considerable fees. We leverage our assets under management to negotiate for institutional pricing, develop diversified strategies, and apply a rigorous socially responsible investment policy that informs our investment process. Our platform is designed so the strategies we offer can be accessed on an à la carte basis, complementing existing portfolios and consultant-led solutions.
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Investment Management Solutions
Our clients seek to meet or exceed market returns while adhering to their values. That's why we work to ensure our investment management solutions allow clients to tailor their portfolios for their unique mission and goals. We also seek to alleviate execution and administrative burdens so those we serve can focus on the big picture.
Our flexible investment platform enables clients to build customized portfolios by selecting from a curated suite of investment strategies (including traditional, alternative, and private) that are thoughtfully designed around specific asset classes to meet distinct objectives. This approach supports dynamic capital allocation informed by market insights and risk assessments, all grounded by the application of socially responsible investment (SRI) guidelines shaped by Catholic social teaching.
- We apply a Catholic values-based SRI policy to all of our investment solutions.
- Our strategies span traditional, alternative, and private investments.
- Clients can choose to allocate to any of the strategies we offer.
- We measure and manage portfolio risk, create customized reports, and provide operational support.
A Variety of Investment Strategies to Build a Customized Portfolio
Traditional Strategies
Long-Only U.S. Equity
Long-Only International Equity
Long-Only Emerging Markets Equity
Core Fixed Income
Inflation Protection Financial Instruments
Impact Fixed Income
Cash Plus
Cash Equivalents
Alternative Strategies
Absolute Return Hedge Funds
Hedged Equity
Liquid Real Assets
Opportunistic Credit
Private Strategies
Private Equity
Private Credit
Private Real Assets
Impact Investment
Strategy Construction
Strategy construction typically involves multiple considerations.
Investment Services
At Ascension Investment Management, we tailor our services to meet our client's specific needs. These include:
- Assistance in the formation of an Investment Policy Statement ("IPS"), including determining investment goals and objectives, risk tolerance guidelines, and other policies specifically tailored to the client.
- Advice on a strategic asset allocation tailored to the client's objectives and tactical allocation shifts within ranges set by the Investment Policy Statement.
- Manager sourcing, due diligence, selection and oversight, rebalancing of portfolios, and ongoing, periodic monitoring.
- Portfolio risk management aimed at identifying and avoiding undesirable concentrations and exposures within the portfolio.
- Administrative support including, but not limited to, cash management, manager documentation, assistance with accounting disclosures, and audit documentation.
- Monthly and quarterly risk and performance reporting.
- Participation in Investment Committee or Board meetings to discuss market trends and portfolio performance.
- Collaboration with consultants, providing transparency, operational support, and disciplined execution that complement consultant-led strategies.
Our Investment Process
The AIM investment process is structured to provide investors and consultants with the resources, insights, and service needed to address their goals.
It begins with our collaborative sourcing team , which actively engages with investment managers and the full AIM investment team to identify and prioritize opportunities. This team confirms critical investment qualifications, such as SRI alignment, manager strategy and track record, risk/return profile, and fund size and suitability.
Next, a focused deal team conducts thorough qualitative and quantitative due diligence, reviewing available investment materials to ensure the investment is a fit for the targeted investment objectives.
Finally, our internal Investment Committee formally evaluates the opportunity. The Deal Team presents their recommendation, resolves outstanding issues, and completes operational, legal, and background reviews. The Committee then assesses the manager's ability to execute the strategy, culminating in a formal recommendation and final decision by the Chief Investment Officer.
