On an Island with who?

I was recently interviewed for Blue & Green Tomorrow Magazine on my approach to ethical investing.

You can read the whole interview here:
http://www.blueandgreentomorrow.com/features/2011/12/9/green-by-name-green-by-nature-helping-people-do-what-they-ca.html

As well as a few facts about Putney, where the office is located, the interview also asked that old favourite about who I'd like to be stranded on a desert island with.

Rather than give a fascinating insight into my psychological make-up, as the interviewer hoped, I gave a practical and logical answer, hopefully in keeping with my approach to ethical investing.
(Or was that a fascinating insight into my psychological make-up?)

Who was it? Have a read and find out...

UK Sustainable Investment 20th Anniversary

The Invitation

Last week I attended the 20th Anniversary reception at The House of Lords for UKSIF, originally named the UK Social Investment Forum, now known as the Sustainable Investment and Finance Association.

Membership consists of 70+ Financial Institutions, 60+ social finance and other institutions and 50 pension funds and foundations.

I am one of just over 50 financial advisers that are members.

UKSIF supports the UK finance sector to lead the world in advancing sustainable investment through financial services.

According to their latest data (*all noted in the anniversary publication ‘Taking Responsibility: Achieving Resilience’) nearly £940 billion in assets is managed responsibly in the UK. Arguably then, responsible investment has moved from the margins to the mainstream. This view is supported by further research showing over 50% of adults would be interested in using their investments to both make money and make a difference.



 GREEN FINANCIAL

Green by name and Green by nature - I offer a service whereby I manage, monitor and assist clients with ‘green’ portfolios. Probably the biggest difference I bring compared to many advisers is my mantra of doing ‘what I can, where I can’.

This means I do recycle where possible, I do buy fairtrade or organic when available, I do switch electrical appliances off at night etc – but I don’t wear 100% hemp clothes or live life without plastic! I bring that ethos to investing for clients, using ethical, socially responsible or green funds where possible but not insisting 100% of the portfolio has to be ‘green’ at all times (although it can be if you want it to be)

WORTH THE EXTRA?

And just like food shopping or utilities, my ‘green’ service does cost a little more, as it means a little more work needs to go in, but it is up to you, the end user, whether you wish to pay a little more for the green (or ethical or fairtrade – call it what you will) investment service.

EQUAL PERFORMANCE?

As I write in my latest client magazine there is no evidence to support the myth that investing in a socially responsible manner means lower performance. That is just not true.

see http://www.iangreen.com/ - digital magazines for Jul/Aug2011 issue

As with all investments there are both challenges and opportunity that will filter through to affect eventual returns.

NEIW

If you’d like to discuss Green Investing please do get in touch.

Look out for National Ethical Investment Week later in the year, 16-22 October 2011. I’ve been supporting this initiative since it was launched four years ago.

Meanwhile, here are a couple of pictures from the reception at The House of Lords.

Lord Deben (John Gummer) addressing the reception

The famous terrace



Make Money AND Make a Difference

"Make Money AND Make a Difference"

is the theme for this year's National Ethical Investment Week, scheduled for November 7th to 13th 2010

This will be the third NEIW and the third time that I have supported it. In a previous blog I posted much the same sentiment as the theme for this year, that it is possible to be mostly or partly green (or ethical or socially responsible - take your pick of the actual word) without having to be fully green and that choosing this type of investment does not mean sacrificing performance.

As with all investment funds there are some good and some bad performers. There may even be more of a case these days for mainstream companies performing better if they are green.

In preparation for the week I participated in a teleconference today with many other members of the UK Sustainable Investment & Finance Organisation (UKSIF) . It was hosted by Penny Shepherd MBE, chief executive of UKSIF. I learned of many of the activities planned and have already provided my web designers with html script to update my website with info on the event!

As an IFA, I am almost constantly updating my knowledge on various matters. Part of my professional obligation is to update and record my CPD (Continuous Professional Development). So once again, I took the UKSIF online course and exam and I am delighted to say I once again passed with flying colours. I proudly display my certificate below :-)

No doubt I will blog again with regard to the week, especially as the event nears but for now, if you are interested in finding out more have a look at: www.neiw.org or see if you can spot my logo amongst the supporters at www.neiw.org/neiw2010/supporters

And feel free to test my knowledge with your ethical investment questions!

Green by Name

I was recently honoured to be invited to the House of Commons by UKSIF - The UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association. The event was to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the regulatory requirement for UK pensions to disclose their investment content particularly with regard to responsible investing.

Meeting Stephen Timms MP

My invitation was because of my membership of UKSIF and the Ethical Investment Association.
Whilst the subject matter may seem, to the outside observer, shall we say dry? it has been of great importance. And with issues such as the BP oil spill in the news, 'responsible' corporate investing is a hot topic. I have long been an advocate of 'Green' investing, whether known as ethical, socially responsible or any other label. This has included publicising the National Ethical Investment Week each year.

Over the last few years I have noted a far greater number of clients who want to invest 'responsibly'. But perhaps the biggest change has been those people, who like me, just want to do their bit where possible.

So what this is NOT, is completely changing your whole investment approach to be entirely 'Green'.

What it IS, is investing in opportunities that make sense financially but also socially.

I liken it to doing the regular supermarket shop, whereby many of us buy fairtrade or organic where possible/feasible/appropriate but we also have the understanding that it is nigh on impossible to be completely green at all times.

And so it can be with investing. Having a selection of socially responsible funds within your portfolio but not overly worrying about every last penny being 'green'.

That is not to say it can't be done - of course it can. There will always be people who won't buy anything that comes wrapped in plastic or only wear clothes made from hemp - the 'treehuggers of tabloid fame'!

But for 'the rest of us', I will continue to provide a shade of 'Green' investment advice with quality, socially responsible investments where possible as part of sensible, overall, day to day, financial planning.