Burning Shoes

If you’ve been watching the news, you’ve probably witnessed the uproar about Nike and their recent ad campaign featuring Colin Kaepernick.  “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything” is the tagline for the ad. This wording is a reference to the fact that Kaepernick was the first NFL player to take a knee during the national anthem to protest racial injustice in 2017.  The protest was hotly debated on the news, social media and even around the office water cooler.

The ad campaign sparked quite a backlash. The negative reaction has included people taking to social media to voice their anger at Nike - some posts even include people burning their Nike shoes and gear in protest of the Nike commercial and its perceived political statement.  A quick search of the ad on the internet will produce pages upon pages of articles and videos depicting the destruction of Nike products. Even late-night talk show host  Jimmy Kimmel got in on the action by cracking jokes and mocking people who were destroying their Nike gear.

There is a wide range of opinions about the NFL protests and Nike’s ad, but I want to take the conversation in another direction. Have you ever thought about the fact that the very people burning shoes and protesting Nike may, in reality, be fractional owners of the company?  Without even realizing it, they may hold Nike stock through their personal investments or company-sponsored retirement plans. And while it may seem extreme to destroy your Nike gear, would it not seem even more extreme to protest a company in which you are a stakeholder?  As an owner, you would be participating in the profits of a company and boycotting it at the same time. It seems like a ridiculous contradiction. 

Unfortunately, these contradictions exist much more often than we would like to think. But there’s good news! There are services that help you look under the hood of your investments, so to speak, to learn more about the companies that you own.  One of those services is www.eVALUEator.com.  On their website, you can request a free report on a specific stock or fund. It’s easy! Just scroll down to the bottom of the homepage to find the Request Free Report button.  Additionally, as a service to anyone reading this blog, I will happily provide an Impact Analysis of your entire investment portfolio to help you better understand what you own and how to align your investments with your personal values.  

For example, if you were to request the eVALUEator report on Nike you would find that Nike has a history of corporate philanthropy to Planned Parenthood, the single largest provider of elective abortions in the US.  The report would also reveal that Nike is an advocate for LGBTQ activism through sponsorship, philanthropy, and legislative support. I’m not the moral police and it is not the purpose of this blog to tell you that the activities mentioned are right or wrong.  My goal is to help educate investors about what they own and then let them decide if their values align with the companies they are investing in.

Ownership comes with responsibility. And although we often don’t think in these terms, investing is ownership. When you know what you own you can make the best choices - choices that are not only good for your wallet but for your personal values as well. What impact could you make on the world if the two were aligned?

As always I leave you with the question, What’s in your portfolio?

Disclosures:
The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.
The return on BRI or moral/faith-based investments may be lower or higher than if the advisor made decisions based solely on investment considerations.
Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. No strategy assures success or protects against loss.  Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Sean P Weaver, CFP® is a Registered Representative with and, Securities offered through LPL Financial, member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through WWK Wealth Advisors, a registered investment advisor and a separate entity from LPL Financial

About The Author

Sean Weaver is a Financial Advisor at WWK Wealth Advisors. WWK Wealth Advisors provides you with a clear business-like framework for prudent financial decision-making. What you care about most drives everything we do. Your family’s priorities and goals shape the management of your assets and how we embark upon simplifying your financial life. Whether you simply want prudent asset management or financial counsel to work towards having confidence in retiring, leaving a legacy to a favorite charity, or providing for your grandchild’s education, we help provide concise, practical strategies to work towards them. Visit wwkllc.com for more.