For many people, investing is a game of strategy. You try to outsmart the market, buy low, sell high, and so on.
But what if you also want to use your investments to support a cause? Do you have to sacrifice one for the other? Not necessarily. Thanks to the growing number of socially conscious investors and ethical funds, you can use your portfolio as a force for good.
Whether you’re just starting or looking for something new, this guide will help you in choosing an ethical fund.
What is an Ethical Fund?
An ethical fund is an investment fund managed according to its purpose and the principles of ethics. It aims to provide a positive investment return while being mindful of ethical issues.
The most common ethical issues include avoiding corporate social responsibility (CSR) conflicts and avoiding investing in companies that violate human rights. People choose to invest in ethical funds because they believe they can make a difference while also getting returns on their investments.
Why Should You Care About Choosing An Ethical Fund?
If you’re passionate about a cause, you want to do everything you can to support it. Investing is one of the best ways to give back and help get your financial house.
It’s one way to diversify your portfolio, which is crucial to protect your money from market risk. Investing ethically can help balance out any risk that might come from other parts of your portfolio. Investing ethically can boost your returns even more by making smart choices about where your money goes.
Choosing An Ethical Fund: How Do You Invest Ethically?
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Know What’s Ethical To You.
Ethical investing is a journey that requires commitment and patience. It’s about making conscious choices that align with your values and beliefs. Start by asking yourself whether there are any industries or issues that you want to avoid investing in, and if so, why? This will help you find the investment options most closely aligned with your values.
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Research
Before investing in anything, it’s essential to look into it thoroughly. To understand a company’s commitment to its ethical practices, look at whether and how those policies have been implemented.
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Diversify
Diversification is one of the best ways to reduce risk and increase returns, especially regarding stock investing. Diversifying across asset classes reduces volatility and increases long-term returns by spreading the risk over several types of investments in different industries, sectors or countries.
What Are The Different Types Of Ethical Investing?
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Environmental, Social And Governance (ESG) Investing
Ethical fund managers assess a company’s performance on social, environmental and governance issues when using this strategy. For instance, a company with an ongoing project that benefits the community or enacts gender equality standards—both excellent social efforts—will be given high marks by clients.
In assessing a company’s environmental impact, fund managers consider such questions as: How much energy is used in making its products? Are their operations environmentally friendly?
Governance practices are categorized as either good or poor in terms of the transparency and responsiveness they provide to shareholders.
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Green Investing Or Sustainable Investing
Green investing is socially responsible investing that promotes environmentally friendly business practices and conserves natural resources.
Green investing encompasses a range of activities, including protecting natural resources and producing renewable energy sources, conserving the environment by reducing pollution or waste production, or undertaking other environmentally conscious business practices.
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Impact Investing
Impact investing is an investment portfolio seeking to achieve positive social change through financial returns. Impact investors typically seek out companies with strong reputations in areas like education and healthcare, manufacturing, energy efficiency or renewable energy production.
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Socially Responsible Investing (SRI)
Socially responsible investing avoids investing in companies involved in activities seen as harmful to the world or their customers.
To avoid investing in stocks that could have a detrimental effect on their clients’ portfolios, many ethical fund managers use negative screening to spot companies whose activities are considered unethical or immoral. These “sin stocks” include tobacco and firearms manufacturers and those with low labor standards or poor environmental track records.
Summary
As you might have realized, there are many options out there in choosing an ethical fund to invest in. It may be overwhelming to consider criteria and strategies at first, but it will be worth it when you support your favorite cause with your hard-earned money. Getting involved can be one of the best ways to ensure you leave a positive impact on this world, and making conscious investment decisions is the first step.
