Sustainable Portfolios
Competitive Performance. Creating Positive Change.
Sustainable Portfolio Goals
Competitive Performance
We believe that a sustainable investment approach can be implemented while maintaining competitive investment returns.
Create Positive Change with Financial Assets
We endeavor to help clients attain their financial goals while also positively impacting the world with their financial assets.
How are Portfolios Sustainable?
Avoid Investing in Companies Lagging in Sustainability
Investment funds in these portfolios typically evaluate each company that is held based on its environmental, social, and corporate governance record, seeking to avoid investing in companies that lag behind their peers and to the extent possible, emphasizing companies with thoughtful corporate behavior in areas such as environmental impact, employee treatment and board governance.
Exclude Harmful Industries
The funds used typically completely exclude companies that are involved in potentially harmful businesses such as fossil fuels, weapon production or tobacco.
Is the Investment Approach Different than Our Regular Portfolios?
A Consistent Investment Approach
Our investment approach in our Sustainable Portfolios is consistent with our regular portfolios - diversified, low cost, mindful of valuations and research driven.
Benefiting from Recent Investing Advances
In recent years, compelling investment options have been introduced that utilize sustainable criteria while also charging low fees. This has allowed us to manage portfolios in a very similar manner as our regular portfolios.
How Do Portfolios Create Change?
Direct Dialogue with Companies
Funds used in our Sustainable Portfolios may actively campaign for improved company behavior, working with company executives to change company policies. Additionally, funds may join coalitions of other sustainably-minded investors to push for the passage of sustainable shareholder proposals.
Measurably Lower Environmental Impact
Many of the funds used in our Sustainable Portfolios intentionally hold companies that produce less carbon emissions, less toxic waste, and less water waste than those held in the overall stock market.
Creating Growing Awareness of Sustainability
The amount of companies that report on sustainability and diversity has grown significantly in recent years. We believe investors publicizing that these issues are important to them pushes companies to invest more time and effort in addressing sustainability concerns.
What Are Examples of Sustainability Factors Addressed?
Environmental Factors
Climate Impact, Emissions and Waste, Deforestation, Water Use
Social Factors
Workforce Treatment, Product Safety, Community Impact, Human Rights
Governance Factors
Board Diversity, Executive Compensation, Accounting & Transparency, Ethical Standards
What If the Approach to Sustainability Does Not Fully Overlap with My Personal Beliefs?
Additional Customization
We are able to offer additional levels of customization for investors concerned about a particular issue and would be happy to discuss this with you if desired.
Limitations
Sustainable and “ESG” (environmental, social, and governance) investing is qualitative and subjective by nature, and there is no guarantee that the factors and approach utilized by us or any of the fund’s selected will reflect the opinions of any particular investor. We encourage you to discuss any specific concerns regarding this with us before investing in Sustainable Portfolios.
