socially responsible investments

A question we are frequently asked is how can I make sure my investments are ethical? People have woken up to the fact that they can make a difference by being more informed and by choosing wisely where they invest their money, however what is ethical to one person might not be to another. It all comes down to personal beliefs and choice.

Increasingly people no longer disassociate themselves from where their money goes or blindly place their hard earned cash into the hands of banks, pension funds or financial advisers in the belief that their influence on the economy is insignificant.  People are becoming much more passionate in their concerns or about specific causes and some business sectors are becoming less viable ethical investment choices.

In turn this raises recognition of socially responsible investments, turning them into sound, long term investment choices. Investment and individual pressure certainly can make long-term changes that can bring something positive to the areas that have been exploited.

Where to start?

The best place to start is to decide what are the most important issues to you and what effect would you like your investments to have, balanced with the financial returns you would like to receive in the future.  Ask yourself are you looking for sustainable investments, socially responsible investments, green investments or impact investments. Ask yourself questions such as do I only want to invest in funds which focus on positive impact investments or am I happy to choose funds which exclude more negative impact investments.

There is also much more public pressure for businesses to behave responsibly, to treat their employees well – (we all saw how wrong P&O Ferries got this recently) and to be considerate to the environment. Those businesses which are run well will be less prone to scandal and likely to be successful and profitable in the longer term.

There is clearly much to consider and we can help you to get a better understanding of what you would like from your investments and to build the right portfolio for your future needs.

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