THE WORLD IS CHANGING RAPIDLY AND THE IDEA THAT WE CAN KEEP OUR DAY TO DAY ACTIVITIES AND DECISIONS SEPARATE FROM OUR SOCIAL CONSCIENCE NO LONGER HOLDS SWAY.
More people are determined to lead environmentally and socially positive lives and one of the most fundamental day to day activities in our lives is how we choose to invest our superannuation and other savings.
The important thing is to have a plan for your finances that reflects what is right for you, your financial needs into the future, and asks how environmental, social and governance issues are being managed in your investments.
As the peak body for the responsible investment community in Australia and New Zealand, RIAA is a great place to begin looking for financial advisers, asset managers, asset owners (super funds) and community banks that offer a responsible investment solution.
DIFFERENT APPROACHES
There are a number of different approaches used separately or in combination to develop a responsible investment portfolio. The most common include negative or positive screening, analysing the environmental, social and governance performance of all companies and building that into financial analysis, investing in the best companies in each sector or investing in a particular theme such as renewable energy or sustainable forestry.
DIFFERENT PRODUCTS
There has been huge growth in the number of responsible investment products on offer in recent years with over 100 products now available in Australia and New Zealand. These range from superannuation, to green property, fixed income, renewable energy, or community investment funds, to savings accounts and loans with a responsible investment bank or building society.
GET THE RIGHT ADVICE
Whoever manages your money, whether it’s your financial adviser, your bank, or your super fund, they should be able to tell you how they manage environmental, social and governance factors with your investments. And if that information isn’t included in their brochures or on their website, the best thing to do is ask. These issues are not just a reflection of your personal values, but increasingly they play a major part in the risk and return on your investments. And believe it or not, your question can make a difference and encourage action within the organisations you already deal with.
FIND CERTIFIED PRODUCTS AND ADVISERS
With over 100 different responsible investment products and an increasing number of financial advisers who offer this specialised advice how can you select the one that is right for you?
RIAA’s Certification Program is the first of its type in the world. It is designed to help you compare RI products and providers so you can make informed choices.
