When an unfamiliar name pops up as a top performer, we’ll often take a closer look. It turns out that the fund in question, Aspiration Redwood (symbol REDWX), features a couple of investor-friendly benefits. Despite a tiny asset base of $16 million, the fund’s annual expense ratio is just 0.50%. And it requires just $100 to start.
Aspiration CEO Andrei Cherny says his firm is seeking to bring socially responsible investing to a wider audience. This power-to-the-people attitude explains the bite-size minimum, but what about the low fees? The fund’s costs are substantially greater than 0.50%, but for now Aspiration is capping the fees it charges shareholders at that level.
Bruno Bertocci and Thomas Digenan, of UBS Asset Management, run Redwood. To be considered, a firm must score high marks among its peers for its environmental, social and governance practices (one thing the fund looks for is diverse leadership). For the most part, the fund won’t invest in companies involved in fossil fuels, nor those in other blemished sectors, such as tobacco, alcohol and firearms. Beyond that, the managers seek firms with competitive advantages, talented executives and cheap share prices. The fund held 26 stocks at last word, with consumer-goods firm Newell Brands, drugmaker Eli Lilly and insurer Allstate holding the top slots.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
-
UBS Global's Solita Marcelli: It's a Green Light for U.S. Stocks in 2025A strong economy, rate cuts and continued AI spending should support stocks in the new year, says UBS Global's chief investment officer, Americas.
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Rise Ahead of FedBank headlines dominated another choppy day of trading on Wall Street.
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Struggle on Credit Suisse, First Republic Bank ConcernsChaos in the financial sector stole the spotlight from this morning's inflation and retail sales updates.
-
The 5 Best Actively Managed Fidelity Funds to Buy Nowmutual funds In a stock picker's market, it's sometimes best to leave the driving to the pros. These Fidelity funds provide investors solid active management at low costs.
-
The 12 Best Bear Market ETFs to Buy NowETFs Investors who are fearful about the more uncertainty in the new year can find plenty of protection among these bear market ETFs.
-
Don't Give Up on the Eurozonemutual funds As Europe’s economy (and stock markets) wobble, Janus Henderson European Focus Fund (HFETX) keeps its footing with a focus on large Europe-based multinationals.
-
Inflation Reduction Act a Blessing in Disguise for Drug Stocks?investing Coming limits on drug pricing may not be bad news for drug makers after all.
-
Vanguard Global ESG Select Stock Profits from ESG Leadersmutual funds Vanguard Global ESG Select Stock (VEIGX) favors firms with high standards for their businesses.
