I did a story for CBN News back in June about the possibility of sanctions against the Iranian regime, and how shutting off imports of refined gas to Iran could have major repercussions for Ahmadenijad and the mullahs. In researching for the piece, I learned that four of the five companies supplying Iran with these vital shipments of refined gas were European. I wondered why the U.S. didn't just cut these compaines off and refuse to do business with them until they severed ties with Iran.
Mark Langerman had a similar thought. Only he's turned his thoughts into action. Langerman, an Arizona-based financial planner, is spearheading what he hopes is a growing trend: terror-free investments. His new financial management firm, Empowerment Financial Group, helps clients avoid investing in companies that do business with state sponsors of terrorism like Iran, Syria, North Korea and Sudan.
'We believe that we have a tangible solution to help people fight the economic war on terror," says Langerman, who launched the company along with partner Paul Seidman. "This is a bottom-up, grassroots movement."
Langerman says some 586 companies do business with state sponsors of terrorism, including 21 of them in the U.S. He adds that If these companies had their access to the U.S. financial market--the world's largest--cut off, the impact would be devastating enough that they would be forced to reconsider their business dealings with America's enemies.
Langerman hopes this terror-free investing initiative will catch on like other recent movements, including divestment from South Africa over apartheid and the "green" push for tougher enviornmental regulations.
"20 years ago, you would have been hard-pressed to find companies with environmental regulations--now it's the norm," he says. "We hope the same thing can happen, over time, with terror free investing."
The portfolios of EFG clients are screened and certified terror-free by an independent research provider on a quarterly basis. The comany is working towards establishing a mutual fund that is terror-free.
"By starting this firm, I decided to put my money where my mouth is," says Langeman. "Every American can make a difference in the economic war on terror."
So what are you waiting for?