"Before" is the when concerning our election. "Before the foundation of the world" - it means that we were chosen (elect) far before we ever existed, and even further before we were saved. Obviously "in Christ" is the setting, since no one is saved out of Christ. Therefore, election of individuals came before salvation.
Where does it state that we were chosen before we existed? Ephesians 1:4 says that the choosing of us “in him” (Christ) took place before the foundation of the world. You nor any one else was in Christ before you were born into the world or born again. You were not chosen or predestined to anything until you were saved. This did not happen before the foundation of the world. I was saved and in Christ in March, 1972. That was well after the foundation of the world.

Before the foundation of the world is when God decreed that those in Christ would be the elect and predestined and everything else that was for those that are in Christ Jesus. You were not in Christ until you were saved. The election of individuals came AFTER salvation.

Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
Ephesians 1:2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.



Election is not the means of salvation. I agree with you here. Faith, regeneration, the Holy Spirit, redemption in Christ, the new covenant, etc., etc. as a complete package of salvation coming to individuals as a free gift from God - this is the means of the salvation of individuals. It is briefly laid out from God's view and God's monergistic work in Rom. 8:28-31.
Even in your statement, “in Christ” is the key.