Green Dollars
Quintin Rayer discusses ethical and sustainable investing, and how they can enable trustees to meet their fiduciary responsibilities.
Ethical investment can be seen as ‘nice to have’ but non-essential. However, it is of fundamental importance, as is the more recent concept of ‘sustainable’ investment. Several approaches are outlined, moving beyond common assumptions that either ethical or sustainable investment only involves avoiding investment in companies carrying out unacceptable activities.
In practice, ethical investors can benefit from an awareness of different approaches. Understanding different ethical investing approaches helps guide clients towards solutions fitting their requirements. Charities, in particular, are likely to appreciate guidance on different areas and investment approaches.
A better appreciation of ethical investment approaches helps support clients and, in the process, means trustees can make an active contribution to fulfilling their fiduciary duties.
STEP is the global professional association for practitioners who specialise in family inheritance and succession planning. STEP works to improve public understanding of the issues families face in this area and promotes education and high professional standards among its members. STEP members help families plan for their futures, from drafting a will to advising on issues concerning international families, protection of the vulnerable, family businesses and philanthropic giving. Full STEP members, known as TEPs, are internationally recognised as experts in their field, with proven qualifications and experience.
Q G Rayer (2017), Green Dollars, STEP (Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners) Journal, volume 25, issue 8, pps52-53, October 2017.
