Unlike traditional “Socially Conscientious” investing, ESG investing is designed to reward companies in any industry (with some small exceptions) that is trying to improve in the ESG areas by giving them access to these investment dollars. According to the 2018 Global Sustainable Investment Review report by the Global Sustainable Investment Alliance, as of 2018 that amounted to more than 25% of all the managed investment dollars in the United States, totaling more than $12 Trillion dollars. Companies that are not improving their carbon footprint, offering reasonable family leave policies and insuring a diverse, independent board of directors may not access these dollars no matter how good their quarterly earnings may be.

Most of these investment dollars are from Foundations, Pension Plans and Endowments with ESG mandates. At this level change is already being forced on our corporate citizens, but to truly have an unavoidable impact the average retail investor must start aligning their values with their money. ESG investing may allow you to do well, while doing some good. Allow us to help in that endeavor.

Investments are subject to risk, including the loss of principal. Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria is based on a set of nonfinancial principles in addition to financial principles used to evaluate potential investments. The incorporation of nonfinancial principles (i.e., ESG) can factor heavily into the security selection process. The investment's ESG focus may limit investment options available to the investor. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.