SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTING

Socially responsible investing incorporates the investor’s social, ethical, moral, or religious criteria in the investment decision-making process. Some people define it for themselves as investing with their conscience, or investing with heart. It is a way to extend your personal values into your finances, and to make conscious decisions about how your money will affect issues important to you.

If you are interested in socially responsible investing, we will guide you through the process of determining how your portfolio can best reflect your values. We work with dedicated managers in the field to ensure that your portfolio meets both your financial and socially responsible goals.

In addition, Aegis maintains a philanthropic giving program which focuses on helping women achieve financial independence. We currently donate 5% of revenues, or 100% of profits, to nonprofit agencies which include the Global Fund for Women and the Economic Development and Justice Fund of The Women’s Foundation. Our goal is to grow our bottom line to eventually donate up to 25% of revenues to these nonprofit groups.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTING

I always hear about screens in socially responsible investing. What are screens?

Screens are the criteria that you establish for what you will and won’t invest in. You may screen out types of investments that are in conflict with your values, such as companies that deal in tobacco, weapons or animal testing, or which have bad environmental track records or operate in certain countries. You may also choose to screen in certain types of investments, such as companies which have positive human rights and labor rights track records, or which employ environmentally responsible practices.

How do I know if socially responsible investing is for me?

All financial decisions should be made thoughtfully, and deciding on socially responsible investing is no exception. Together we will explore why you are interested, what issues matter the most to you, and how your financial goals can best be met. Over time, we will build your knowledge and understanding of both general investing and socially responsible investing.

Can I do well financially through socially responsible investing?

Absolutely. Socially responsible investing provides very respectable results, and can even beat the results of traditional investments in some cases. But socially responsible investing can be more expensive because of research costs, so we can provide a cost-benefit ratio analysis to help you decide.

If I choose socially responsible investing, do all my investments need to be made that way?

Not at all. You may choose to allocate any percentage of your portfolio to socially responsible investments. It is never an all-or-nothing decision. Like all your investments, socially responsible investments must ultimately serve your financial needs first.

Is socially responsible investing more complicated than other types of investing?

Not necessarily. We can help you draw very simple or very complex parameters for your investments. You may just want to avoid one or two types of investments, or you may want to establish a proactive investment strategy designed to achieve very specific results in a certain area. Socially responsible investing can be a very powerful tool for personal and social change at any level.

What are some of the more proactive socially responsible investment strategies?

Shareholder activism has been gaining ground recently and has been responsible for some significant advances for participants. You may choose to purchase stock in a company which you generally support, but which is poised to make a major decision with which you disagree, such as opening a facility in a country known for human rights abuses, or undertaking a controversial merger. As a shareholder, you can vote against such decisions. Or you may purchase stock in a company whose practices you strongly disagree with in order to help change their policies. These types of strategies involve significant research and careful planning.