While it’s impossible to fully calculate the impact that COVID-19 has had on most aspects of our lives in the past year and a half, it has also, perhaps not surprisingly, fundamentally changed the way we invest. Trends indicate that 75% of most institutional investors in the world now include portfolios with some kind of ESG and expect those to outperform the ones that do not include ESG. On a local level, having a social conscience is also becoming a priority for wealth and investment management firms in Ontario. As we continue to see actual, empirical ways our economies are connected, it is becoming essential for financial leaders to make their portfolios include ethically socially responsible investments.
Statistics about the ESG Trends
Over the past year in Canada, our belief in portfolios that demonstrate some kind of ESG criteria has risen to 97.5% from 90% the year prior — we have outpaced the previous frontrunner, Europe, by more than a percentage point. That means that almost all Canadian investment management services expect their investments not only to have a social impact mandate but to show how that mandate has affected positive change. These will, of course, vary from investment to investment but may include items like proper labor practices, climate change initiatives, and anti-corruption.
This heightened interest in ESG has far-reaching implications. For example, 44% of investors favor minority hiring targets for corporate boards, almost twice as much as those who oppose hiring targets. Since the pandemic began, institutional investment management services have reported a marked increase from their clients, requesting to verify the records on such issues as worker safety, health codes, and social culture.
Interpreting This Trend
As an elite team of professional money managers, we believe both things can be true: that we can make our wealth increase exponentially by an integrated approach to our investment profiles, and we can do so without jeopardizing our values. That is why we act as fiduciaries on behalf of our institutional and personal clients and adhere to the highest ethical and professional standards set out by the Canadian Financial Association (CFA). We are a privately owned portfolio management firm run by its majority shareholders, a fact we believe underwrites our strategy of doing the best for our clients, the world, and ourselves.
How We Are Different
This personalized approach means that we are constantly researching new trends in the financial landscape. We have a detailed understanding of each clients’ investment strategies and, with our decades of combined experience, can help them plan on how to expand their assets through the latest, proven opportunities. We pride ourselves on being responsive and available to our clients through either email or phone. We invest directly in stocks and offer pre-designed investment plans so prospective clients can see the work we do. We are also more than happy to customize one for you specifically.
As one of the top boutique investment management firms in Ontario, we are discreet, dedicated to our clients, and provide expert guidance. We will work with you to understand your institution’s specific financial needs and help you achieve those goals. Our clients have always been our primary focus, and if we can be of assistance to you, we look forward to hearing from you.
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