There are lots of investment opportunities that younger investors are much more willing to invest in. For example, lots of young people have invested in bitcoin and have looked into different Bitcoin Prime Ervaringen to make sure they were using the right tool to invest with. Those looking to invest in Bitcoin will be pleased to know that there are a variety of ways in which they can do this, Brazilian investors can check this out – comprar Bitcoin com Paypal. They are also more likely to invest in tech startups as well as environmentally friendly initiatives. Environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing is a topic that is getting a lot of attention lately-and rightly so-as people are becoming more personally invested in the companies where they put their money. In fact, according to a recent study* which examined how consumers are feeling about ESG, nearly three quarters (73 percent) of people say that choosing an ESG investment is a way to reward good companies.
It’s possible you’ve already had some clients ask about adding an ESG component to their portfolio, and odds are they were on the younger side of your client base. This makes sense as nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of millennials in the study said ESG issues are important in their investing decisions. Not forgetting that having access to the best Trading Apps im Vergleich (trading apps in comparison) can help them to make the most well-informed decisions when it comes to making the best investment for their portfolio. If they don’t have that, the process could become a lot harder. The study also found that millennials are more likely to be interested in learning about various types of ESG information and are more likely to take action based on issues that are important to them.
But if you think ESG investing is purely a millennial story, think again, there is more than millennial money that meets the eye when it comes to investments.
Interest across generations
Although the study found that millennials are more likely to make investment and purchasing decisions based on ESG topics, Gen Xers and baby boomers are also putting their values into action-and this is a trend that is only going to grow.
More than half (54 percent) of Gen Xers said ESG issues are important in their investing decisions with boomers not far behind at 42 percent. In addition, majorities across all generations say ESG is a key factor in which companies they choose to do business with (77 percent of millennials/64 percent of Gen Xers/61 percent of boomers).
Furthermore, baby boomers are actually more likely than millennials and Gen Xers to say that the reason they want to participate in ESG investing is to encourage companies to be good corporate citizens (61 percent of boomers, compared with 51 percent of millennials and 48 percent of Gen Xers). Baby boomers are also more likely than other generations to take their business elsewhere if they disagree with a company’s track record related to certain ESG issues including transparency in business practices and finances, levels of executive compensation, and charitable contributions.
Lack of action equals opportunity
It’s clear that people from all generations-not just millennials-are looking to learn more about ESG and want to put their values into action. But actual participation in ESG investing is still quite low. Only 17 percent of millennials are currently participating in ESG investing, with percentages much lower for both Gen Xers (seven percent) and boomers (three percent).
What could be causing this lack of ESG activity? Part of it is undoubtedly a lack of education and resources as survey respondents noted they need more information in order to feel comfortable making ESG investment decisions. Yet, an equally important factor to consider is the lack of guidance people are currently receiving about ESG investment opportunities.
The study showed that clients simply aren’t hearing enough about ESG options from their financial professionals. In fact, most financial professionals have yet to take a proactive approach helping clients learn about and participate in ESG investing.
Only 30 percent of Americans working with a financial professional say they have discussed ESG investing with their advisor, and most of the time it was the client who initiated the conversation (69 percent). This, despite the fact that three-quarters of respondents currently working with a financial professional said they have positive perceptions of ESG investing, and over half (51 percent) of those currently not involved with ESG investing are interested in it.
3 steps you can take today
So, how can you put this knowledge to good use and strengthen relationships with you clients? Here are three things you can do today to make ESG a bigger part of your practice:
- Do the research-As ESG investing is becoming more common, resources to better understand ESG investment opportunities are more readily available. A couple of good options that can help build your ESG knowledge include the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Principles for Responsible Investment. Keep in mind that it’s also becoming easier to learn about companies’ business practices across the ESG spectrum- something more and more clients are coming to expect of their financial professionals. Take the time to understand the full picture before making any recommendations.
- Be proactive-Don’t wait for your clients to bring up ESG-let them know that you’re informed and able to provide sound advice about ESG options that could benefit their portfolio, especially when it comes to saving for retirement-after all, the majority of people already believe that companies that are good corporate citizens are better positioned for long-term success. It’s important to proactively work with clients to identify what issues are important to them and help them build their portfolio in a way that reflects their values.
- Be inclusive-One of the biggest takeaways from the ESG Investor Sentiment Study is the fact that-contrary to popular belief-all generations are interested in learning more about ESG investment options. Although millennials are a clear target for ESG discussions, don’t leave your Gen X or boomer clients out of the conversation. It’s likely they have opinions on ESG and would appreciate the opportunity to discuss and determine if some involvement with ESG investing might be right for their larger financial strategy.
Becoming more knowledgeable about a company’s operations, including its ethical impact and sustainability practices, can help your clients make better-informed spending and investing decisions. By taking the time to learn more about ESG investing, you can differentiate yourself and engage you clients in a new and meaningful way.
*Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America conducted an online survey, the Allianz Life ESG Investor Sentiment Study, in December, 2018, with a nationally representative sample of 1,000 respondents ages 18 years or older.
