Sustainable Investing
Where Making Money Meets Making a Difference
Our High Impact Portfolios Strive to Enact Positive Change Without Losing Focus on Performance
Would you be interested in aligning your values with your investment portfolio if you did not have to sacrifice your investment performance objectives? The Wealth Consulting Group of Des Moines uses Sustainable & Responsible Investing to pursue a positive impact on society as well as favorable investment results.
Have you ever looked at the companies you are invested in through your investment accounts and not liked the names of those companies, and felt that you wish you could do something different?
With Sustainable Investing you can aim to align your investments with your social, moral and environmental values. Our Sustainable Investing Portfolios are comprised of stocks, bonds, mutual funds and ETF's that can serve as a cornerstone of a well balanced portfolio. Our Sustainable Investing Portfolios have a dual objective of providing competitive returns while making a positive impact on society and the environment.
What is Sustainable and Socially Responsible Investing?
Sustainable Investing, or Socially Responsible Investing is a strategy that strives to align your personal values with your investments while making a positive social and environmental impact. This can also be done for investment funds of Non-Profit organizations and Foundations to match and support their missions.
Sustainable Investing incorporates ESG analysis. ESG stands for Environmental, Social and Governance.
Why Sustainable Investing?
Preference and Performance. There is a growing base of evidence that suggests companies that are environmentally sustainable, and have positive screens for corporate governance and diversity in executive leadership outperform funds that do not share this focus.1
At The Wealth Consulting Group, we are hearing from our clients that they prefer to invest in companies that are making a positive difference in the world. At The Wealth Consulting Group (WCG), believe our Socially Responsible Investing portfolios support all of these objectives. We help clients set and implement clear goals aligned with their needs, values, and objectives. We strive to be a leader in sustainable and responsible investing in Des Moines and across the nation.
Socially Responsible ESG Performance
"High sustainability companies significantly outperform their counterparts over the long-term, both in terms of stock market and accounting performance."1
1 “The Impact of a Corporate Culture of Sustain-ability on Corporate Behavior and Performance.” Harvard Business School, R. Eccles, I. Ioannou, G. Serafeim, 25 November, 2011/2012
The charts below show ESG indices performance versus the performance of its comparable traditional indices.
Additional Information From Our Investment Research Partners
Global Impact Investing Network
UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals
US SIF: 2016 Impact of Sustainable and Responsible Investment Report
Contact us to get a conversation started.
2 Sustainable Signals: The Individual Investor Perspective, Morgan Stanley Institute for Sustainable Investing, February 2015.
The MSCI KLD 400 Social Index has outperformed the S&P 500 Index by 0.42% annualized from 5/01/90 to 12/31/17. The MSCI EAFE ESG Leaders Index has outperformed the MSCI EAFE Index by 0.41% annualized from 10/01/07 to 12/31/17. The MSCI Emerging Markets ESG Index has outperformed the MSCI Emerging Markets Index by 3.43% annualized from 6/06/13 to 12/31/17. Comparable returns since index inception are shown gross which includes dividend reinvestment without a reduction from tax.
As of 12/31/17, the returns for the MSCI KLD 400 Social Index were: 1 year: 21.61%, 3 year: 10.85%, 5 year: 15.90%, 10 year: 8.71% and Since Inception (05/01/90): 10.55% annualized. The returns for the S&P 500 Index were: 1 year: 21.83%, 3 year: 11.42%, 5 year: 15.80%, 10 year: 8.49% and Since MSCI KLD 400 Social Index Inception (05/01/90): 10.13% annualized. The returns for the MSCI EAFE ESG Leaders Index were: 1 year: 24.02%, 3 year: 8.44%, 5 year: 8.84% and Since Inception (10/01/07): 2.60% annualized. The returns for the MSCI EAFE Index were: 1 year: 25.62%, 3 year: 8.30%, 5 year: 8.39% and Since MSCI EAFE ESG Leaders Inception (10/01/07): 2.19% annualized. The returns for the MSCI Emerging Markets ESG Index were: 1 year: 40.90%, 3 year: 12.19%, and Since Inception (06/06/13): 9.93% annualized. The returns for the MSCI Emerging Markets Index were: 1 year: 37.75%, 3 year: 9.51% and Since MSCI Emerging Markets ESG Inception (06/06/13): 6.50% annualized.
Data as of 12/31/2017.Time period of illustrations vary due to ESG index inception dates prior to comparative indices: MSCI KLD 400 Social 5/1/90; MSCI EAFE ESG 10/1/07; and MSCI Emerging Markets ESG 6/6/13. All MSCI indices include aggregated, multi-source histories prior to acquisition on 9/1/10. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly. There is no assurance that the techniques and strategies discussed are suitable for all investors or will yield positive outcomes. Investing involves risks including possible loss of principal. No strategy assures success or protects against loss. Investing in stock includes numerous specific risks including: the fluctuation of dividend, loss of principal and potential liquidity of the investment in a falling market. Bonds are subject to market and interest rate risk if sold prior to maturity. Bond values will decline as interest rates rise and bonds are subject to availability and change in price. Investing in mutual funds and/or ETFs involves risk, including possible loss of principal. International investing involves special risks such as currency fluctuation and political instability and may not be suitable for all investors. These risks are often heightened for investments in emerging markets.The return on ESG investments may vary versus if the investor made decisions based solely on investment considerations.
WCG Wealth Advisors, The Wealth Consulting Group and LPL Financial are not affiliated with the above named entities.