What's In Your Investment Portfolio?
Tax Time Is An Excellent Time to Take Stock and Make Your Money Match Your Values
Mar 20, 2019, 08:32 ET
BOSTON, March 20, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- April 15 is approaching fast, which means many Americans have their financial information close at hand. People with investment assets or 401Ks will be more organized and familiar with their money at this time of year and know whether they had financial gains or losses. But have we considered other measures of the success and failure of our investment portfolios? Would any of the companies or vehicles we're invested in shock or upset us, or clash with our value systems?
Impact investing allows investors to purchase assets or investment vehicles that contribute positive social or environmental value in addition to market returns.
"Tax time is a great time to learn what you own and decide whether to re-allocate any investments to better match your values," says Ellen Remmer, Senior Partner at The Philanthropic Initiative (TPI), and creator of Invest for Better (investforbetter.org), a nonprofit impact investing education campaign specifically geared towards women. "The good news is you do not have to sacrifice financial returns for a more prosocial portfolio. For example, you may choose to move mutual funds out of a portfolio that invests in fossil fuel producers. You can ask your financial advisor to help align your portfolios with a goal towards sustainability or gender equity. You can support businesses in underserved communities or innovative startups that solve global problems. There are so many ways to become an impact investor. The key is knowing what your goals are and having a plan to get started."
Here are seven key steps from Invest for Better that can help anyone use tax time as motivation to make their money work for better. For more, see investforbetter.org
1. Know What You Own
2. Define Your Values and Goals
3. Understand Your Risk Tolerance and Appetite for Engagement
4. Create an Impact Investment Policy
5. Talk to Your Financial Advisor
6. Talk to Your Partner
7. Think About What Other Money You Can Influence
If you'd like to learn more about the campaign, please contact Jennifer Montone at jmontone@tpi.org. Women who may be interested in taking impact investing to the next level can also contact Ellen Remmer directly at eremmer@tpi.org.
About Invest for Better
Women are controlling more and more of the world's wealth, and express strong intention to invest their money in prosocial vehicles. But there is a disconnect between women's interest in impact investing and the actions they currently take with their investments.
Invest for Better aims to close the gap. The campaign provides concrete steps any woman can pursue to become an impact investor—everything from investing in a community development financial institution to buying a green bond to becoming an angel investor—and invites women to pledge to take action.
The Philanthropic Initiative (TPI)
Invest for Better is a project of The Philanthropic Initiative (TPI). The Philanthropic Initiative (TPI) is a global philanthropic consulting practice that helps individuals, families, foundations, and corporations develop and execute customized strategies to increase the impact of their giving and achieve philanthropy that is more strategic, effective, and fulfilling. For 30 years, TPI has served as consultant and thought partner to ambitious donors and funders who embrace innovative thinking in their efforts to find local, national, and global levers of change. TPI is committed to actively promoting and advancing strategic philanthropy by conducting cutting-edge research, publishing donor education resources, and training individuals, organizations, and advisors in best practices. TPI merged with the Boston Foundation in 2012, and continues to operate nationally and globally. For more information, visit www.tpi.org or check out our blog Deep Social Impact. We're also on LinkedIn and Twitter @TPIPhilanthropy.
Media Contact:
Jennifer Montone
The Philanthropic Initiative
211266@email4pr.com
617.338.5880
SOURCE Invest for Better