In the bustling world of investing, a new trend is making waves, and it’s got a bit of a political twist. Enter the anti-woke funds, which aim to cater to conservative investors looking to align their portfolios with their values. But hold on to your hats, folks, because it turns out that these funds might not be all they’re cracked up to be. In fact, they share more than a passing resemblance to those controversial environmental, social, and governance (ESG) funds that were all the rage with the left. Spoiler alert: it seems that chasing ideological purity comes with some hefty price tags.

Let’s take a closer look at one of the most talked-about anti-woke funds, the American Conservative Values ETF. With around 370 holdings, you might expect this fund to be a treasure trove of conservative stocks. But here’s the kicker: many of these so-called conservative picks are also the big shots in the S&P 500. That’s right! The fund’s top holdings read like a list of tech royalty, featuring behemoths like Nvidia, Microsoft, Berkshire Hathaway, and Broadcom. Sound familiar? That’s because these same names top the charts on the S&P 500 as well. So, what makes this ETF stand out? Well, it comes with significantly higher fees, which could sap your returns faster than you can say “capital gains tax.”

Next on the list of anti-woke wonders is the PointBridge America First ETF, known by its catchy ticker, MAGA. But before anyone gets too excited, let’s talk numbers. Over the past three years, this fund has underperformed the S&P 500 by more than 20 percentage points. Ouch! If investing were a race, this fund would be running in the wrong direction while the S&P 500 zooms ahead. These disappointing figures shine a spotlight on a growing category of investments known as principles-based ETFs. The idea is simple: you can plunk down your hard-earned cash in a fund that mirrors your political, religious, or social views. This includes everything from women’s empowerment ETFs to those dedicated to investing according to Islamic principles. A noble concept, but unfortunately, the majority of these funds have underperformed the market over the past year.

So what’s the takeaway for conservative investors? Aligning one’s investments with personal values sounds like a fantastic idea, but it comes at a steep cost. The shiny lure of ideological investing can distract many from the fundamental goal of investing: growing wealth. Higher fees and underperforming funds could undermine the very benefits that investors are seeking. It’s like going on a diet of only organic, gluten-free avocado toast but ending up starving because the taste was just too bland and the price was through the roof.

At the end of the day, it’s crucial for investors to do their homework. Investing based on principles is commendable, but one must weigh the implications of fees and performance alongside their personal beliefs. After all, in the world of investing, when it comes to growing wealth, sometimes it’s best to keep one’s political views on the sideline. So, prospective investors should proceed with caution and remember: just because a fund has a catchy name and a good mission doesn’t mean it’s the golden ticket to financial success. Don’t let ideals lead you astray; after all, a dollar saved is a dollar earned, and that’s a principle worth sticking to!