Original, independent, thought leadership

Comments in response to the SEC’s proposal for enhanced ESG disclosure practices by funds

The Bottom Line:  The proposal for enhanced ESG disclosures by funds is a step in the right direction but some modifications would strengthen the framework. The following response and recommendations were submitted on August 15, 2022 to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for consideration in response to the SEC’s Enhanced Disclosures by Certain Investment […]

Investors should conduct due diligence even as SEC increases scrutiny of ESG funds

The Bottom Line:  The increased SEC scrutiny of ESG funds will bolster confidence in sustainable investment products but investors should conduct their own due diligence. Introduction and summary On June 10, 2022, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) was conducting a civil investigation of Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM), […]

The INDEX Act, a gain for sustainable investors?

The Bottom Line:  If enacted, the Investor Democracy is Expected (INDEX) Act will potentially give sustainable investors an influential voice by shifting proxy voting power. Summary/Conclusion The concentration of corporate voting power in the hands of a small number of investment advisers who are perceived to be aligned with an ESG agenda is engendering pushback.  […]

FSOC report addresses financial risks due to climate change

The bottom line:  FSOC report acknowledges threat of climate change to financial stability and promulgates recommendations that should be beneficial to asset owners and investors. FSOC report issued last week, which recognizes the emerging threat of climate change, sets out specific recommendations on risk measurement, quantification and disclosures  On October 21st the Financial Stability Oversight […]

SEC Issues ESG Risk Alert

The Bottom Line: The SEC’s Division of Examinations (DE) issued an advisory Risk Alert highlighting observations from recent exams focusing on ESG products and services. Confusion in the Marketplace On April 9th, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Examinations (DE) issued an advisory Risk Alert for the purpose of highlighting observations from recent exams […]

SEC subcommittee introduces preliminary ESG reporting and disclosure recommendations for funds

The Bottom Line: SEC Asset Management Advisory subcommittee introduced preliminary set of potential ESG investment product reporting and disclosure recommendations at December 1, 2020 meeting. SEC subcommittee introduced preliminary set of potential ESG investment product reporting and disclosure recommendations  At the December 1, 2020 SEC meeting the ESG subcommittee of the Asset Management Advisory Committee […]

DOL issues proposal to address ESG investment issues in retirement plans

The Bottom Line: DOL issues proposal to address ESG investment issues in retirement plans that reflects some superficial conclusions and fundamental misunderstanding regarding ESG investing. Department of Labor issues proposal to address ESG investment issues in retirement plans In a new proposal with a 30-day comment period issued by the Department of Labor (DOL) on […]

SEC Investor Advisory Committee Recommends Updating ESG Reporting

The Bottom Line:  Contemplated for close to 50 years, SEC Investor Advisory Committee recommends updating reporting requirements of issuers to include material, decision-useful ESG factors. Recommendation to update reporting requirements to include material, decision-useful ESG factors supported by five reasons is greeted with some degree of skepticism At the May 21, 2020 Investor Advisory Committee […]

Research

Research and analysis to keep sustainable investors up to-date on a broad range of topics that include trends and developments in sustainable investing and sustainable finance, regulatory updates, performance results and considerations, investing through index funds and actively managed portfolios, asset allocation updates, expenses, ESG ratings and data, company and product news, green, social and sustainable bonds, green bond funds as well as reporting and disclosure practices, to name just a few.

A continuously updated Funds Directory is also available to investors.  This is intended to become a comprehensive listing of sustainable mutual funds, ETFs and other investment products along with a description of their sustainable investing approaches as set out in fund prospectuses and related regulatory filings.

Getting started

Many questions have surfaced in recent years regarding sustainable and ESG investing.  Here, investors and financial intermediaries will find materials that describe the various approaches to sustainable investing and their implementation.  While sustainable investing approaches vary and they have thus far defied universally accepted definitions, many practitioners agree that they fall into the following broad categories:  Values-based investing, investing via exclusions, impact investing, thematic investments and ESG integration.  In conjunction with each of these approaches, investors may also adopt various issuer engagement procedures and proxy voting practices.  That said, sustainable investing approaches will continue to evolve.

In addition to periodic updates regarding sustainable investing and how this form of investing is evolving, investors and financial intermediaries interested in implementing a sustainable investing approach will also find source materials that cover basic investing themes as well as asset allocation tactics.

Inesting ideas

Thoughts and ideas targeting sustainable investing strategies executed through various registered and non-registered sustainable investment funds and products such as mutual funds, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs), closed-end funds, Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Unit Investment Trusts (UITs). Coverage extends to investment management firms as well as fund groups. 

Independent source for sustainable investment management company research, analysis, opinions and sustainable fund disclosure assessments