“Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7
Dear Kingdom Builders,
FIFA has been ranking teams since 1992. Since that time, the #1 ranked team has NEVER won the World Cup while carrying that ranking! Zero for eight.
Most would assume that the #1 team SHOULD be the presumed favorite. Higher seeding. More fanfare. Presumably more talent. But no trophy!
This lack of predictability is remarkably present in investing too. Only 15% of hedge funds beat the S&P 500 index returns meaning that even some of the most sophisticated investors on Wall Street consistently struggle to outperform a simple index. “Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.”
So how do successful investors make decisions with so much uncertainty?
In uncertainty, the Christian posture isn’t denial or fear. It’s prudence: the steady practice of using reason, seeking wise counsel, reading the signs of the times, and then entrusting the outcome to God.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.” (Prov. 3:5-6)
This isn’t a call to abandon analysis. It’s an invitation to complete it, to bring your full mind to a decision and then release your grip on the result.
That’s why this week’s interview with Itamar Novick was so uniquely intriguing to me. Itamar has helped generate more than $20 billion in enterprise value over his career. But what got to me was how he got there.
Again and again, he made decisions that looked irrational to the people around him. His own firm passed on Life360 along with all of the other VC firms in 2010. He listened to what consumers were actually doing and trusted what he observed. He committed everything he had, even borrowing money, to become a co-founder when nobody else would even invest.
That's prudence in action. It's not recklessness. It's certainly not blind optimism. It's what faith and reason can look like working together in practice. Disciplined enough to do the homework. Humble enough to seek good counsel. And courageous enough to act before the consensus arrives. There’s still risk. But mitigated with reason.
So I’d strongly recommend giving the interview a listen. Also, to all who are celebrating, Happy Father’s Day. And don’t forget, unless they’re already eliminated, there’s always hope for your team in the World Cup!
Have a blessed week!
Matt
For informational purposes only. This content does not constitute investment, tax, or legal advice, nor a recommendation to buy or sell any security.
In this week's conversation with venture capitalist and Life360 co-founder, Itamar Novick, we discuss:
How he found opportunities others missed, including Life360.
Why he believes conviction and risk are inseparable for investors, founders, and leaders.
What growing up in Israel taught him about uncertainty, resilience, and decision-making.
Why he intentionally built Recursive Ventures as a solo GP and the advantages it creates for founders.
How AI is transforming society, why job displacement is real, and what humans must do to adapt.
ICYMI: Christian Investing & Related News
A former Chicago-area minister has been charged with allegedly defrauding church members out of more than $2 million by promoting what prosecutors describe as a fraudulent cryptocurrency investment scheme and then using investor funds for personal expenses.
For the first time, Catholic investors can measure their portfolios against Vatican-endorsed investment benchmarks built around Catholic ethical principles. The new indices provide a clearer standard for aligning capital with Church teaching by screening out activities that conflict with human dignity, the sanctity of life, and the common good.
For informational purposes only. This content does not constitute investment, tax, or legal advice, nor a recommendation to buy or sell any security.
30-Second Investment Terms and Strategies
Variant Perception
Variant Perception is an investment insight that differs from the consensus view and is ultimately proven correct. In simple terms, it's seeing something that most investors either miss or misunderstand.
What it is: A conclusion about an investment that meaningfully differs from what the majority of investors believe. The key is not merely being different, but being right.
Purpose: To identify opportunities before they become obvious. Once everyone agrees on an opportunity, much of the upside has often already been captured.
Where it's used: Most commonly associated with venture capital, hedge funds, and public market investing, where investors are constantly searching for insights that the broader market has not yet recognized.
Why it matters: Exceptional returns rarely come from knowing what everyone else knows. They come from recognizing something others overlook. The challenge is that variant perceptions often feel uncomfortable because they require acting before consensus arrives.
For informational purposes only. This content does not constitute investment, tax, or legal advice, nor a recommendation to buy or sell any security.
DISCLAIMER: This material is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal, tax, or other professional advice, nor is it an offer or solicitation to purchase or sell any security. “ChristianAlts” is a media publication operated by HoneyHive Capital Partners LLC. HoneyHive Capital Partners LLC is not a broker-dealer, investment adviser, or funding portal and does not offer or sell securities. The author is a registered representative and investment adviser representative operating through separate, regulated entities, including Execlitrax LLC (d.b.a. HoneyHive Capital), which conducts investment banking and securities-related activities under the supervision of Finalis Securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. This publication is not issued on behalf of, or supervised by, Finalis Securities LLC or any affiliated broker-dealer. Any securities-related services or transactions are conducted only through the appropriate regulated entities and are offered solely by means of formal offering documents, including, where applicable, a confidential offering memorandum, and in accordance with federal and state securities laws. The views expressed herein are solely those of the author and are based on internal research, opinions, and publicly available information that has not been independently verified. No representation or warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of the information. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that may cause actual results to differ materially.
