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Socially Responsible Investing
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Each day we have a choice on whether our actions reflect our conscience. But it's all too easy to divorce our values from our wallets. How can we 'walk our talk' when it comes to our short and long-term investments?
The origins of what has become known as Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) dates back to biblical times when Judaic law laid down directives to invest ethically. Today, SRI is primarily defined as portfolio decisions motivated by a company's performance in several broad areas, including:
- Environmental Impact
- Tobacco & Alcohol Production
- Weapons Contracting
- International Operations & Human Rights
In addition to negative and positive screening, the true power of SRI is found in its shareholder activism -- a powerful, effective tool that affects corporate policies throughout the world.
And while the popularity of SRI has been phenomenal -- with socially screened portfolios growing from $165 Billion in 1995 to over $3 Trillion in 2011 -- most studies suggest that SRI-screened portfolios have about the same risk-adjusted returns as their unscreened counterparts**. Socially Responsible Investing not only earns competitive returns, but also helps to build a sustainable future and enhance our quality of life through shareholder activism.
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