Investors look to piety before pie.

Investors who look to their religious or ethical beliefs when deciding where to park their hard-earned money often are dismissed as a fringe group more interested in proselytizing than in price-earnings ratios.

But a new survey suggests that personal faith plays a significant role in the investment decisions of many Americans, and it influences how they pick mutual funds or individual stocks.

"Before giving advice, advisers are generally taught to talk with their clients about their goals and objectives, their time horizon and their risk profile," says Steph