(NY Times – 1/31/18) The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (C.D.C.) resigned because of her troubling financial investment in tobacco and health care companies that posed potential conflicts of interest. Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald had controversial investments in health care and drug companies in addition to financial interests in several major tobacco companies. Dr. Tom Frieden, her predecessor at the C.D.C., suggested that the investments causing concern were done by a portfolio manager without her knowledge. At any rate, the trading patterns violated ethical norms for government officials and also raised questions about her values as a public health authority.
How carefully do you review the myriad of investments in your portfolio to be certain they are aligned with your values? Can you trust your financial advisor to work in your best interests?
The growing impact investment movement enables investors to choose funds whose social, environmental, and financial goals match their own. Impact investments* can be made in both emerging and developed markets, and target a range of returns from below market to market rate, depending on investors’ strategic goals.
I believe investors are drowning in information regarding social investments, but starving for direction, knowledge and clarity in opportunities and choices. At Olson Wealth Group, we are dedicated to sourcing impact investments that grow in sync with your values.
We’ve created a social impact investment model that includes many checks and balances along with a dedicated team that watches the details and provides transparent client communication.
- We assist in best practices on governance by creating and adhering to an investment policy statement (IPS). The IPS outlines the distinct guiding principles and purpose of the portfolio – objectives, risk tolerance, types of acceptable investments, time horizon and expected return objectives. We turn a critical eye toward Environmental Social Governance (ESG) investments to ensure that client investments align with their values.
- We apply the GIIN Impact Measurement and Management Model (IMM) to provide critical infrastructure for integrating impact considerations into investment management. Using the IRIS catalog of generally accepted performance metrics, we measure and manage social, environmental, and financial performance and evaluate deals.
- We work with a variety of resources to align impact goals and expectations to credible, evidence-backed investment strategies. With stronger governance, ESG returns are more competitive and could outperform traditional investments. (2) We call this Double Impact; when your social impact investments give a financial return as well as a “real life” return that really matters.
Together, we can explore using wealth to further the values and people you cherish. Please call us if you have questions about creating a social impact legacy.
Olson Wealth Group is a full-service wealth management firm that leverage capital in all forms to support investors who wish to align their values with their investments to solve complex social and environmental problems. Specializing in hands-on experience and high-level oversight for smaller ($2-20M) family foundations, we provide training and guidance in fiduciary responsibility including cost management, asset class selection, and performance/allocation measurement.
Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC. Registered states include: AR, AZ, CA, CO, FL,GA, IA, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, SC, SD, TX, VA, WA, WI, WY. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly.
*The return may be lower than if the adviser made decisions based solely on investment considerations.
(2) https://dash.harvard.edu/handle/1/14369106 : Corporate Sustainability: First Evidence on Materiality.