How to Vet ESG Fixed-Income Funds Beyond the Green Label A bond fund may have “ESG,” “sustainable” or “green” in its name while taking very different financial risks from another fund with similar language. It may also measure social and environmental outcomes in a different way. When we examine ESG fixed income funds for individuals […]
What the MSCI KLD 400 Social Index Screens Out and Still Owns An investor might request a socially responsible U.S. stock index and assume the label settles which companies qualify. We take a closer look. The MSCI KLD 400 Social Index applies defined environmental, social and governance criteria to U.S. equities, but no benchmark can […]
How to Evaluate Invesco Solar ETF (TAN) for a Values-Based Portfolio A solar investment can appeal to someone who wants cleaner energy in the economy. Yet a solar stock fund may bring concentrated financial risk and questions about the businesses it owns. When we evaluate Invesco Solar ETF (TAN), we start with two separate tests: […]
Common Questions and Answers About Socially Responsible Investing Introduction Ethical Investing is a trend since investors are willing to invest in companies that they do not have to have a bad conscience about. However, there are some important questions that every investor can have about how SRI works, its impact and whether it can provide […]
How to Measure the Impact of Your Socially Responsible Investments Introduction SRI is a form of investment where investors incorporate moral and social values more than the conventional aim of making a profit. However, of all the issues in SRI, it is most difficult to determine the actual effectiveness of such investments. People feel the […]
Building a Sustainable Portfolio: Tips for Long-Term Success in SRI Investing Introduction Sustainable investing has become a priority for many investors looking to align their portfolios with their values. Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) goes beyond financial returns, emphasizing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors that drive ethical and sustainable practices. Building a sustainable portfolio involves […]
Can Personal Loans Be Socially Responsible? A Guide for Borrowers Introduction Personal loans, as much as they are related to repayment, are not easily associated with social responsibility. However borrowing, as it has been pointed out earlier in this paper, can also be aligned to the principles of responsible consumption if borrowing is done intentionally […]
Top SRI Opportunities in the Renewable Energy Sector Introduction SRI could not exist without renewable energy, which has been considered as one of the most important markers of socially responsible business strategies. With increasing global concern on climate change, the need for clean sustainable energy is on the rise. Those investors who hope to diversify […]
Balancing Risk and Return: A Guide to Diversifying with ESG Funds Introduction Managing investment successfully sometimes involves the ability to balance risks and returns to the investment. ESG funds would also present the socially responsible investor with a chance to earn his or her money back while at the same time pursuing something they believe […]
Top 10 Emerging Trends in Socially Responsible Investing for 2025 Introduction SRI is no longer an exotic practice – it is a global trend that is transforming the financial industry. Increasing amounts of attention is being paid to factors such as environmental, social and governance (ESG) and now investors are focused on making ethical, sustainable […]
What Value Oil? Gary Matthews If somebody had told you 15 years ago when oil prices were rising above $150 a barrel that oil producers would be paying storage companies good money to take oil off their hands, what would you have said? For that matter, what would you have said if somebody had told […]
Effortless Gary Matthews Many successful investors who are not professionals seek out a competent financial advisor with whom to work. Together, they work toward the construction and management of a portfolio strategy that will help the investor reach his or her personal goals over time. This accomplished, the conditions have been created so the investor, […]
Market vs. Economy Gary Matthews Much is being made in the news media of the apparent disconnect between the capital markets and the economy. As the pandemic unfolds, unemployment in the U.S. and elsewhere in the developed world has soared to heights not seen since the Great Depression. Corporate earnings are also hemorrhaging as the […]
SRI/ESG Portfolios Outperforming in Pandemic Gary Matthews What happens when your portfolio is built around sustainability and compassion? Such portfolios focus on companies that build their businesses not simply around immediate, short- term profit, but rather with an integrated focus on customer satisfaction and experience, employee training and morale, good relationships in the community, and […]
Giving to Charity in Retirement – Think QCD When the 2917 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act raised the standard deduction for taxpayers to $24,000 for couples ($12,000 for singles), and lowered individual tax rates, an ancillary consequence was to reduce the tax benefits of making charitable donations. Fewer taxpayers were itemizing, which means their donations […]
The Anti-Gun Legacy of SRI The recent shooting incident at a high school in Florida, the latest in a rash of mass killings in the U.S. by a person with a readily available military assault rifle, reinforces my commitments as a financial advisor who specializes in SRI. One of the most important characteristics of socially […]
