In the fast evolving landscape of finance, ethical investment stands out as a beacon of hope. As we venture toward the end of 2023, we have witnessed a notable surge in ethical investment, setting the stage for a compelling narrative of growth and transformation.
The last 12 to 18 months has seen an enormous shift in the sustainability approach and attitudes of investors, asset managers and advisers.
The impact investment market is undergoing rapid growth. In Australia in 2018, total assets under management using an impact and community investment strategy increased by 72.5% (Responsible Investment Benchmark Report 2019 Australia - pdf). (If you missed Part 1 of this article - you can find it here) There is notable and unsurprising interest from the … Continue reading Impact: It Doesn’t Matter How You Get Here, It’s What You Do Once You Arrive (Part 2)
I'm fascinated by the journey people have taken to arrive at impact. Some have dedicated their lives to the service of others in not for profits, philanthropy or the community sector. Others have come from completely different backgrounds - engineering, food, physiotherapy. While the concept of "impact investment" has been around a long time, the term … Continue reading Impact: It Doesn’t Matter How You Get Here, It’s What You Do Once You Arrive (Part 1)
What are the main issues of concern for Australians wanting to invest responsibly? In order to assist investors, the Responsible Investment Association of Australasia (RIAA) has made it easy to search and compare products. The Responsible Returns Investment tool allows searches across superannuation, banking and investment. The products that are included have all achieved certification … Continue reading What Are the Key Issues for Responsible Investors?
A few years ago I was feeling conflicted. I was doing Dry July to raise money for cancer support services at the local hospital. At the same time, I knew my International Shares fund had exposure to the world's biggest tobacco companies. I was raising money to help deal with a massive health issue while … Continue reading Building a Portfolio to Be Proud Of
One-third of consumers choose to buy from brands they believe are doing social or environmental good. This report from Unilever shows that increasingly people care about the impact on the planet that results from the products they buy. A recent Lowy Institute survey revealed 59% of respondents believe climate change is a "serious and pressing problem". In … Continue reading The Disconnect between Values and Investments
Jed Emerson is an internationally recognised thought leader in impact investing and the originator of the concept of Blended Value. "I coined the term Blended Value to reflect what I felt was the reality that value was whole and that what all of us were bumping up against was a bifurcated world which asked us … Continue reading What is the Purpose of Capital?
Responsible investment is a process that takes into account environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues into the investment process¹. The PRI (Principles for Responsible Investment) lists the following factors² behind the growing momentum in responsible investing: recognition in the financial community that ESG factors play a material role in determining risk and return; understanding that … Continue reading Why Invest Responsibly?
The new series of War on Waste kicks off on the ABC tonight at 8.30pm. It's fair to say Series One last year was an eye opener for every day Aussies. Seeing just how much food, clothing and household stuff goes to landfill was pretty shocking. Good little consumers, we have become! But have we … Continue reading The War on Waste – Good for the Environment and Your Wallet
Investors are realising they can do good with their capital without having to sacrifice the financial return. And fund managers and institutions are responding with new products to cater for a significant increase in demand. The Benchmarking Impact Report 2018 has just been published by the Responsible Investment Association Australasia. It provides an in depth analysis … Continue reading Impact Investment Market Quadruples in 4 Years
Two recent retirement studies provide some useful data to contemplate when thinking about your retirement. How do spending patterns change over the course of retirement? One of the biggest fears for a retiree is running out of money. And that fear impacts spending. New research from Milliman graphs the income/expense patterns of low, middle and … Continue reading Latest Retirement Research
