• Decrease font size
  • Reset font size to default
  • Increase font size

Main Menu

Articles

Newsletter


Receive HTML?

Information

Home Home and Family Family Investing in the Environment
Investing in the Environment PDF Print E-mail
Written by Earth News Media   
For many years, money that was used for good will was called charity and money used to make more money was called investing. Not anymore.
by EarthNewsMedia


For many years, money that was used for good will was called charity and money used to make more money was called investing. Not anymore.

Today, the two concepts are forming into a financial arena called socially responsible investing. Both investors and mutual fund companies are implementing this new idea and discovering that they can be profitable and at the same time do some good for the environment and society.

"Socially responsible investing means you don't have to compromise your own personal beliefs to make money on Wall Street -- whatever those beliefs are," said Bob Guthrie, an investment broker with A.G. Edwards in Burlington, Vt.

The idea of selectively choosing stocks for social reasons dates back to the early 1900s, Guthrie said, when church members banded together and refused to invest in tobacco or alcohol companies. The trend continued with investors dodging corporations involved in the Vietnam War, he added, and most recently revolved around companies investing in South Africa.

But growth in this form of selective investing has skyrocketed during the past couple of years as more and more individuals and corporations have moved social and environmental consciousness into the mainstream of their investments. And this impact is being felt worldwide.

With help from stockholders, says Rob Kruger, vice president of portfolio management at Progressive Asset Management, business practices concerning the environment are beginning to change, While the issues may differ, he said companies are realizing they will suffer the consequences if they aren't viewed as being socially responsible.

"As this investing community continues to grow, a lot of proposals are being put forward by investors at annual shareholder meetings," Kruger said. "A whole variety of issues and activities is now being addressed."

As part of its operation, Progressive Asset Management conducts research for socially responsible and eco-friendly mutual funds. The firm screens companies for environmental problems or nuclear involvement... whatever social issues their clients want investigated.

"As the clock ticks, companies are becoming more and more cooperative with us," Kruger said. "A lot of them are now very anxious to talk about these social and environmental issues."

Guthrie agrees that business practices are changing and says American corporations are aware of stockholders who are concerned with the environment.

"Make sure your hard-earned capital is not invested in companies with little concern for the environment," he advises. "Keep these things in mind when you invest and corporations will, too.

About Author:

Earth News Media is a leader in the area of environmental news and information. Earth News was launched in 1991 as an international news service. Its efforts have led to a syndicated environmental blog and news column being published worldwide. You can get a unique content version of this article from the Uber Article Directory.

Kindly provided by 4Girls.dk You are welcome to use this article on your own website, if you include this link.
 
Members : 2569
Content : 3681
Web Links : 3
Content View Hits : 540935