Giving advisers ESG insight so they can grow

Whether it's due to reports of heat waves or polar vortexes, or the realization that businesses that are good stewards of the earth also tend to be responsible with investors' capital, the demand for socially conscious investment products has never been greater. Financial advisers can attest to that demand — especially as it relates to younger investors. Millennials expressing a high level of interest in strategies that focus on environmental, social and governance issues jumped from 26% in 2017 to 35% a year later, according to a joint research report released in November by InvestmentNews and Calvert. The report also found that 26% of ultra-high-net-worth investors have a high level of interest in ESG investing, advisers say, up from only 10% in 2017. (To download a free copy of that report, go to InvestmentNews.com/esgreport.) So why are ESG options underrepresented in company-sponsored retirement plans? That's a question we asked ourselves when InvestmentNews' senior columnist Jeff Benjamin embarked on this week's cover story. Read his story. I think some of the answers might surprise you.

Grow your practice

InvestmentNews is committed to providing more editorial coverage, events, webcasts and other content around ESG. Our goal is to arm advisers with everything they need to grow their practices and meet the demands of their clients through ESG investing strategies.​ (More: Why millennial demand for ESG is falling on deaf ears) In December, we're joining forces with the United Nations to put on a two-day Impact Forum. The forum, which will run Dec. 4-5, will provide advisers, asset managers, broker-dealers and other industry professionals with a valuable place to exchange ideas and learn practical tips on incorporating impact investing into client portfolios. We'll also be featuring a series of short films aimed at promoting ESG through storytelling. Stay tuned for more details in the weeks to come.