Original, independent, thought leadership

What are Publicly Listed Asset Managers Saying about Sustainable Investing During 2020 Earnings Calls?

The Bottom Line:  “ESG is just an absolute necessity for any investment organization to be deeply engaged in,” according to Marty Flanagan, CEO, Invesco Ltd. What asset management companies are saying about sustainable (and ESG) investing?  Based on publicly listed asset management company 1Q/2Q 2020 earnings calls/earnings announcement comments and Q&As.  Coverage across large-to-small cap […]

Sustainable Funds Cash Flows Summary-March 2020

The Bottom Line:  In one of the most volatile months in stock market history, the assets of sustainable funds broke through the $2 trillion level. Sustainable mutual fund and ETF assets exceed $2 trillion for first time at the end of March The month of March has been one of the most volatile in stock […]

Sustainable Funds Reporting Round Up: April 2020

The Bottom Line: Recent sustainable fund annual or semi-annual report filings that disclose performance results and offer commentary on sustainable investment strategies, decisions and outcomes. Note of Explanation:  The commentary appearing in this document represents excerpts taken from selected semi-annual and annual reports recently published by sustainable mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).  The intention […]

Sustainable Funds Monitor: March 2020

The Bottom Line: During one of the most volatile months in stock market history, sustainable funds assets in March 2020 pierced the $2 trillion level.  

Expense Ratio Analysis: Sustainable Equity and Fixed Income Index Tracking ETFs

The Bottom Line:  Conventional passively managed equity and fixed income ETFs are subject to lower expense ratios but attractively priced sustainable ETFs are still available. The first in a series of updated articles focused on the expense ratios of sustainable mutual funds and ETFs:  Index-tracking equity and fixed income ETFs This is the first in […]

Sustainable Funds Cash Flows Summary: February 2020

The Bottom Line: Coronavirus crisis introduces profound challenges that will reverse for a time asset gains by sustainable funds that ended February at $1.87 trillion. A severe market downturn that started at the end of February didn’t prevent the achievement of another new all-time high for sustainable fund assets that gained $4.8 billion The coronavirus […]

SEC Issues Request for Comment on ESG Fund Names

The Bottom Line:  The SEC issued a request for comment on ESG in fund names but efforts to standardize sustainable investing terminology should come first. SEC’s Request for Comment on Fund Names should be preceded by an effort to define and standardize sustainable investing terminology In early March the SEC issued a Request for Comment […]

Research

Research and analysis to keep sustainable investors up to-date on a broad range of topics that include trends and developments in sustainable investing and sustainable finance, regulatory updates, performance results and considerations, investing through index funds and actively managed portfolios, asset allocation updates, expenses, ESG ratings and data, company and product news, green, social and sustainable bonds, green bond funds as well as reporting and disclosure practices, to name just a few.

A continuously updated Funds Directory is also available to investors.  This is intended to become a comprehensive listing of sustainable mutual funds, ETFs and other investment products along with a description of their sustainable investing approaches as set out in fund prospectuses and related regulatory filings.

Getting started

Many questions have surfaced in recent years regarding sustainable and ESG investing.  Here, investors and financial intermediaries will find materials that describe the various approaches to sustainable investing and their implementation.  While sustainable investing approaches vary and they have thus far defied universally accepted definitions, many practitioners agree that they fall into the following broad categories:  Values-based investing, investing via exclusions, impact investing, thematic investments and ESG integration.  In conjunction with each of these approaches, investors may also adopt various issuer engagement procedures and proxy voting practices.  That said, sustainable investing approaches will continue to evolve.

In addition to periodic updates regarding sustainable investing and how this form of investing is evolving, investors and financial intermediaries interested in implementing a sustainable investing approach will also find source materials that cover basic investing themes as well as asset allocation tactics.

Inesting ideas

Thoughts and ideas targeting sustainable investing strategies executed through various registered and non-registered sustainable investment funds and products such as mutual funds, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs), closed-end funds, Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Unit Investment Trusts (UITs). Coverage extends to investment management firms as well as fund groups. 

Independent source for sustainable investment management company research, analysis, opinions and sustainable fund disclosure assessments