Ethical Investing

“Would you like any social, ethical or environmental issues to be taken into account when being advised on your investment strategy?”

Since the first ethical fund was launched in the UK in 1984, an increasing number of people have been expressing concern over the activities of the companies in which their money is invested.

Ethical or socially responsible investment allows individuals, companies and charities to invest in a socially responsible way, without compromising their beliefs and principles. Most investment wrappers (ISAs, pensions etc) will allow you to choose a fund that suits your beliefs, so that you can make a positive statement with your money. The careful selection processes involved in ethical investment can help to identify companies that have the potential to do well, both socially and financially. An ethical fund manager will judge stocks on both their positive and negative attributes, examples of which are shown below:

Positives

Negatives

A good safety record Nuclear power/fuel

Environmental protection Trading in arms

Openness about activities Repressive regimes

Pollution control Tobacco or alcohol promotion

Energy conservation & recycling Animal testing and exploitation

Production of recycling equipment Third World debt/exploitation

Equal Opportunities Policy Gambling

Latest fund performance statistics prove that you do not have to sacrifice investment performance when you invest ethically.

No need to compromise on performance - top performing fund in 2006 (of over 300 in UK all companies sector) was an ethically screened fund.

Please contact us if you are interested in ethical investing. We will be very happy to accommodate such investments within your Financial Plan.
E-mail: graham.prest@prestfinancial.co.uk

We have complied a introductory library of useful ethical investment resources below. Please take a look at your convenience:

Ethical Investment Association code of conduct
Prest Financial Services is a Member

Your money your choice - Ethical Investment guide

What is Ethical Investing?

Waste Management leaflet

Green Gauge bulletin

Sustainable Living leaflet

Investing for Green

Green Transport

European Social Investment forum (EUROSIF)

Ethical Bond

Environmental Services