Sustainable Investing

financial returns and a positive societal effect

Sustainable Investing describes an investment approach that considers socially responsible factors in the investment process. Proponents of sustainable investing seek to align their core social values with meeting their personal, family, or institutional investment objectives.

Clearstead can provide resources to educate clients about sustainable investing and how to implement policies into their portfolios. We have helped clients comply with their socially responsible mandates for many years, and in recent years have advised clients on the implications of implementing sustainable investing programs. In 2019 Clearstead sponsored a Roundtable discussion with national experts about socially responsible investing. The outcome of this Roundtable was that we added “Principles” as the sixth “P” to consider socially responsible investing in our investment research process.

WE RECOGNIZE THAT CLIENTS JUGGLE DEMANDS FROM MULTIPLE STAKEHOLDERS AS WELL AS THEIR OWN DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS. THAT IS WHY WE CAN ACT AS A RESOURCE TO HELP CLIENTS MEET THEIR SUSTAINABLE INVESTING GOALS.

The Clearstead Sustainable Investing Spectrum

Clearstead has resources to meet each client’s needs. Some clients might be comfortable simply avoiding investments that are incompatible with their missions and goals. Others seek a more active approach, incorporating Market Rate Impact Investing into their strategy by investing in companies that advance their ideals.

Exclusionary Investing

Known  as “socially responsible investing,” this strategy ensures that clients will not own any investments that are incompatible with their organization’s mission and goals. Example: A religious organization not wanting to own any stocks that include nicotine.

Integration Investing

Known as “environmental, social and governance” (ESG) investing, this strategy scores companies based on how they rate from an environmental, social and governance perspective and seeks to influence standards of corporate behavior. Example: A cultural institution wanting to own stock in a particular company if it scores favorably on sustainability.

Thematic Investing

Thematic investing focuses on a particular area within ESG and tilts investments towards stocks within a desired area. Example: investing in ESG equity funds that tilt toward  clean energy or women’s inclusion.

Market Rate Impact Investing

Investing in strategies with direct ESG impacts with the intention of seeking a higher risk, higher rate of market return.  
Example: investing in a private equity fund that directly invests in companies that are advancing on environmental, social or governance causes.

CASE STUDY

Clearstead’s Sustainable Investing platform helps organization incorporate its mission into its portfolio

Clearstead Sustainable Investing Resources

We recognize that clients juggle demands from multiple stakeholders as well as their own day-to-day operations. That is why we can act as a resource to help clients meet their sustainable investing goals.

Education & Goal Alignment

From board members to customers, organizations today must juggle priorities across many different stakeholders. We believe committee education and discussion is key to aligning goals and setting objectives.

 

Rigorous Research

Once clients agree on their current appetite for sustainable investing, our research and investment teams gets to work. With full collaboration with our research team, we apply the same disciplined, institutional approach, to ensure that a client’s sustainable investing goals are integrated into their portfolio.

Actionable Strategy

We can help implement portfolios to integrate each client’s sustainable investing goals and develop a scorecard to help client’s track their progress as they move along the spectrum.

 

Measurable Results

We can conduct an annual audit, showing clients how their funds performed and how those investments were exposed to their risk areas. We can incorporate a client’s socially responsible goals into our research process and quantify the investments to score clients’ portfolios according to these goals, and help measure the impact of these investments on overall performance to help guide future decision-making.

YOUR FUTURE IN FOCUS

At Clearstead, we create integrated, prudent, and custom strategies that bring clarity to you or your organization’s financial future.

Clearstead is an independent financial advisory firm serving wealthy families and leading institutions across the country. As a fiduciary, it provides wealth management services and investment consulting to help clients meet their financial objectives, achieve their aspirations, and build stronger futures.

LEGAL STATEMENT

PRIVACY POLICY

CONTACT US

1100 Superior Avenue East
Suite 700 | Cleveland, Ohio 44114
216-621-1090

FOLLOW US