ESG Investing: You Can Align Your Investments with Your Values, But Should You?

When it comes to growing your money, sometimes what you do or do not invest in matters as much as how well your investment performs. It’s not just about risk, it’s about personal values. In this modern era, we have the unique opportunity to not only feel good about our portfolio returns, but also what we invested in and how we achieved those returns. That is precisely why sustainable investing is gaining popularity as investors increasingly seek to align their investments with their personal values and seek to work with financial professionals who not only understand them as an investor, but also as a value-driven individual.

One way to accomplish this goal is to use an investment approach that focuses on environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria. An ESG lens considers issues such as climate change, pollution control, gender equality and diversity, human rights or corporate board composition. ESG-aware investing pursues opportunities by managing risks associated with corporate actions, policies and trends related to things like sustainable business, environmental impact, societal and community contributions, DI&E (diversity, inclusion and equity practices) practices and the demonstration of sound corporate governance.

Since the 1960s, sustainable investment strategies have shifted from an exclusionary approach to an inclusionary one. Over time, this shift has broadened the supply of investment offerings to meet growing investor demand. Interest in sustainable investing accelerated significantly in the 2000s. According to a recent McKinsey & Company study (opens in new tab), assets in these types of investments grew by an estimated 38% from 2016 to 2018 in the U.S., rising from $8.7 trillion in 2016 to $12 trillion in 2018. Globally, sustainable investments total $23 trillion, which represents 26% of all professionally managed assets.

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Debunking 2 Myths about ESG Investing

A common misconception is that sustainable investing — including ESG-driven strategies — imposes hurdles on performance. After all, aren’t most companies more motivated by profits than they are values? You might be surprised to find out reality is quite the contrary. Thankfully, you do not need to throw ethics and values out the window to achieve good returns. Studies (opens in new tab) of longer-term historical performance suggest that ESG strategies have performed similarly to comparable traditional investments on an absolute basis and a risk-adjusted basis. Remember, though, sustainable investment strategies do come with risks, like any investment.

Another misconception is that demand is being driven mainly by younger investors. Yet, research suggests that investors across generations are interested in sustainable investing. While Millennials are apt to discuss sustainable investing with their financial advisers, other generations have expressed interest as well. A 2020 Wells Fargo/Gallup survey (opens in new tab) found that 82% of surveyed investors showed interest in choosing investments based on the environment, human rights, diversity, and other social issues — if those investments provided returns similar to the market average.

One interesting case in point: Thompson Reuters, under the corporate brand Refinitiv, created an index (opens in new tab) to transparently and objectively measure the relative performance of companies against factors that define diverse and inclusive workplaces. The index ranks more than 7,000 companies globally and identifies the top 100 publicly traded companies with the most diverse and inclusive workplaces, as measured by 24 metrics across four key pillars: diversity, inclusion, people development and news and controversies. Not only have these companies scored well, but the index has outperformed the Thompson Reuters Global Total Return benchmark, demonstrating that diversity and inclusion can also lead to profitability. Perhaps values really can drive growth!

A Growing Investment Sector

Industry professionals predict that sustainable investment choices for investors will continue to expand. In fact, some analysts predict that ESG factors could become a normal consideration of most investment strategies, particularly those intended for younger investors who tend to expect greater transparency from their investments. In fact, it may surprise you to know that today, sustainable investing (opens in new tab) accounts for about $1 out of every $3 under professional management in the U.S.

If you are new to socially responsible investing, a good idea is to seek an adviser with expertise in SRI and ESG investing. While most advisers remain investment agnostic, acknowledging that either an S&P 500 index fund or a socially responsible green fund can accomplish your objectives if that is what fits best, some practitioners have chosen to specialize more in this area. Advisers helping consumers interested in values investing may perform rigorous invest selection and screening processes that not only support optimal performance but also measure the societal and environmental impact of the firms themselves.

Find an adviser who is confident about utilizing traditional vehicles, but passionate about finding unconventional ways to accomplish your goals, especially if doing so better aligns with your personal beliefs. The right adviser’s role should be simple: to understand not just where you want to go, but who you are and what values you have so that he/she can examine all the appropriate options that can fit and empower you to move forward.