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INSIDE
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Building a Legacy of Love
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Ensure Your Assets Are Distributed Wisely Meet Elizabeth Smith — Crafting Legacies, One Estate Plan at a Time Why Estate Planning Is Essential for Minor Children St. Paddy’s Irish Soda Bread
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The Ins and Outs of ESG Investment
ESG: The Present and Future of Ethical Investment
Investment and ethics can sometimes be at odds with one another. Historically, investors haven’t prioritized the moral implications of giving money to companies with dubious business practices. Today, some people hesitate to invest in companies that compromise their values, but with ESG, they can have a clear conscience. Environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) is a new investment approach that gives investors a real voice. What does ESG mean? E is the environmental category and refers to companies following sustainable business practices or creating products that combat climate change, deforestation, and other environmental concerns. S is for social, which emphasizes human rights and community relationships — for example, fair trade certification, which warrants that producers of a product are fairly compensated for their work. This would
be absolutely necessary for investors in social-oriented organizations. G gives investors a standard for corporate governance to ensure companies have equitable compensation for employees. Who determines what companies are ESG-conscious? Research firms like Bloomberg compile stats on a wide variety of companies to ensure investors know where they’re putting their money. Researchers look at annual reports, company structure, and other factors to determine ESG scores. They use a 1–100 scale; the higher the number, the better their ESG ranking.
Some prefer to put their money in ESG mutual funds. Experienced brokers and managers invest for you, picking organizations that show promise in growth and ethical impact. Some focus on specific parts of ESG, especially environmental investment.
ESG is about Investing in your values.
ESG investment is a revolution in ethical investing, streamlining the process to help ethically conscious companies. But it’s not an accident: A network of research firms, funds, and brokerages work to support this new method of ethical investing. You shouldn’t have to sell your soul to make money on your investments. The bottom line is to be smart about your investments. Do your homework before making any investment decisions so you can earn the best returns in a way most compatible with your values and financial goals.
How do I invest in ESG? There are several methods to
find and invest in ESG-conscious companies. Financial advisors specializing in ethical investing can
lead you in the right direction, showing you companies with solid returns while following
sustainable business practices.
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