When it comes to your investments, are you looking for a way to have them align with your personal values?
An increasing number of investors, especially women, are taking environmental and social issues into account when they consider where to invest, says Investment Advisor Viola Van de Ruyt with Van de Ruyt Wealth Management, part of National Bank Financial in Sidney.
“It’s seen now as being an investment risk if a company has human rights violations – it can come back to haunt them,” she says.
Such large investment pools as the Canada Pension Plan and major private insurance and pension companies now analyze a company’s corporate governance, as well as environmental and social responsibility, before placing funds into them, she adds.
Your long-term investments can be affected
Whether a company is directly involved in negative activities or indirectly connected, it can mean bad press, which can adversely affect share prices, Van de Ruyt says. As a result, many investors are these days looking to avoid any chance of being affected by such activities. “For some people, it’s about eliminating investment risk, but for others it’s about investing with their conscience.”
Dispelling the myths
If you’re thinking that taking extra measures to ensure corporate responsibility eats into a company’s bottom line, you may be surprised to hear that often the opposite occurs.
“Some people are under the impression that their returns won’t be as good through responsible investing, but that is not necessarily the case,” Van de Ruyt says. “We can present you with options that reduce your risk and also allow you to feel good that you’re making a difference with your investment.”
What are your hot button issues?
You may already be a conscious investor, perhaps making a stand against investing in tobacco, alcohol or firearms. While some people seek funds that strictly avoid such products, others like to take a positive approach, investing in funds that target companies doing a better job of handling pollution or reducing their packaging, for example. National Bank Financial strengthened its commitment to this style of investing by joining the Responsible Investment Association this year as an Associate Member.
Experts can provide you with options
With experience and expertise in the investment world, Van de Ruyt, Senior Investment Associate Annette Quan and the team at National Bank Financial can create an investment or retirement plan that works for you.
To make an appointment to chat about your options for responsible investing, call Viola Van de Ruyt or Annette Quan at 250-657-2220, send an email to viola.vanderuyt@nbc.ca or click on “Contact Us” at the top right at violavanderuyt.ca.
The information contained herein has been prepared by Viola VandeRuyt, an investment advisor at NBF. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of NBF. National Bank Financial - Wealth Management (NBFWM) is a division of National Bank Financial Inc. (NBF), as well as a trademark owned by National Bank of Canada (NBC) that is used under license by NBF. NBF is a member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) and the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF), and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of NBC, a public company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: NA).