Investing with a cause has many paths. What began as SRI or Socially Responsible Investing (alcohol, drugs, firearms, etc.) has expanded over time to ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) Investing as a result of the world, in general, wanting to be responsible in taking care of their world. The result? This transition has broadened opportunities and expanded conversations around this investment approach.
Today many people are trying to live their lives in a way that can make a difference — a difference right now as well as a difference for generations to come. You might be one of them. For many people, the concept of sustainability is attractive. So, exactly what is sustainability? The United Nations describes sustainable development as that which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs.
So what if you could invest your assets, achieve the results you need to achieve all that is important to you, and promote sustainability at the same time? It sounds very appealing, but for decades this was very difficult to do. The financial products that were developed were very exclusionary, which can cause significant issues with their performance — and many of these products were much more expensive than a traditional investment approach. This is definitely not true today.
As interest has grown for screened investment products such as ESG or Sustainability, financial markets have evolved and created better and more diverse choices for investors. Today, we believe it is possible to have it all.
At ASI, we have spent a great deal of time and effort researching Sustainable Investing options and opportunities, and we believe that it is achievable to implement a sustainable overlay in one’s investments without paying higher fees or sacrificing the investment performance of the portfolio. To that end, over the last several years, we’ve been assisting our clients who wish to make a difference in implementing sustainable practices into their investment portfolios.
Sustainable Investing is just beginning to get the attention it truly deserves. If you have not taken a look at how you can invest with a cause, now is the perfect time to learn more about how you can do well while doing good.
The principal owner of ASI Wealth Management, Randy Miller helps clients make smart money decisions so they can live the life of their dreams and help others do the same. This year, ASI is celebrating 20 years of serving as trusted advisors to clients in Bend and throughout the Northwest.
