Author Archives: Paul Ellis

Investment portfolios incorporating environmental, social and governance (ESG) sustainability metrics continue to increase market share in the U.S. As of December 2015 they accounted for over 20% of professionally managed assets, or $8.7 trillion. (1) 

Instead of worrying about what a Trump presidency will do to this country or what it says about America, let’s consider appropriate ways to respond through capital markets intervention. The wave of investor capital flowing into portfolios that incorporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) metrics continues to grow at an unprecedented rate.

Supplying diesel fuel energy to the front lines of U.S. Military operations can cost as much as $400 per gallon. It’s also one of the most dangerous assignments for military personnel. That’s two good  reasons why all military bases will eventually become microgrids.

What’s the first thing Millennials will do when they inherit their portion of the $30 trillion wealth transfer from Baby Boomers? Change advisors. That’s right. Investment industry research shows that Millennials plan to find advisors who understand them better and meet their needs more effectively than the advisors who have been working with their parents […]

Written by Dr Carrie Giunta, @CarrieGiunta. Dr. Giunta is a freelance writer and visiting research fellow at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London. She has published articles about conflict minerals in Telesur and Pambazuka. Advisors may well be aware of the banking industry provisions that came into effect with the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010. […]

I believe the big reinsurance companies will continue to lead the way for all capital markets participants in dealing with climate risk.

Why talk to clients about ESG investing? First, mainstream firms like BlackRock and Columbia Asset Management are launching proprietary investment portfolios to provide existing clients with ESG investment choices.

(1) Electric utility business models that favor energy efficiency and decentralized distributed energy over centralized power plants; (2) Stock exchange listing requirements that include disclosure of plans for measuring sustainability risks; and (3) Green Bonds.*

In August, Yale University’s Chief Investment Officer sent a letter asking every asset manager Yale engages to “. . . assess the greenhouse gas footprint of prospective investments, the direct costs of the consequences of climate change on expected returns, and the costs of policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions on expected returns.”*

An advisor client of mine is on a mission! She purchased another advisor’s practice one year ago and has been converting a portion of each client’s portfolio from that practice to Sustainable Investing strategies as she meets with them.