When it comes to investing ethically we, quite literally, wrote the book, publishing the UK’s first guide to ethical investments in 1988 and being the first company to include ethical screening questions in our client fact-finding process. We’ve been at the forefront of the movement for over 30 years now, being founding members of the UK Sustainable Investment & Finance Association (UKSIF) and the Ethical Investment Association (EIA) as well as being one of the first subscribers to the Ethical Investment Research Service (EIRIS). Our expertise is sought by both individuals and other financial service professionals.
Ethical or Socially Responsible Investments provide a positive way for individuals to match their ideals and principles with their financial needs, typically by adopting an ethical screening process within their financial planning strategy. This process involves evaluating financial services providers and their investments in accordance with a specific set of ethical criteria.
By investing in businesses that adopt ethical practices, you will actually be helping these companies to continue their good work. Similar logic applies to avoiding companies whose activities you find objectionable. Shareholder power within companies is enormous and many ethical fund managers now use their collective voting power to influence company policy on environmental and social issues. Helping you make sense of the range of ethical investment options is part of our Private Client Service.
Ethical screening criteria vary widely between individuals, necessitating a bespoke approach to each portfolio, giving consideration to the personal views and concerns of each client. Typically criteria are split between negative and positive:
Negative Criteria – to be avoided:
· Armaments / Nuclear Weapons · Repressive Regimes
· Animal Exploitation · Gambling · Political Power
· Nuclear Power · Banks & Third World Debt · Pornography
· Tobacco or Alcohol Production · Offensive Advertising
Positive criteria – to be encouraged:
· Pollution control · Protection of the environment
· Conservation and recycling · Social housing · Provision of education
· High employee welfare standards · Equal opportunities
· Charitable giving · Community involvement
This list is not exhaustive, but having established your view on each subject area we then seek to select investment holdings that are reflective of your concerns. It's all part of our Private Client Service.
Formed in 1998 the EIA is committed to developing green and ethical investment in the UK and to share ideas about incorporating green and ethical investment into the financial advice process.
Formed in 1991, UKSIF's aim is to promote responsible investment and other forms of finance that support sustainable economic development, enhance quality of life and safeguard the environment.
For over 30 years EIRIS has been a leading global provider of independent investment research covering environmental, social and governance issues.
The Living Wage Foundation exists to promote take up of a national "living" wage and help lift the poorest out of poverty. Kingswood are pround to be recognised as a Living Wage employer.