“For those interested in supporting social causes or sustainable business, but who still want to earn money from their investments, SRI provides a way.” says Miranda Marquit, a contributor to USNews.
These days SRI, or socially responsible investIng, is a rapidly growing trend. In the past investors didn’t think too much about where their investments were going and what the consequences were but today many investors want to invest in companies that align with their values and also do some good.
So, how do you decide which investments to make? First, you have to decide what’s important to you. Is it the environment or are you more interested in social change?
If you want to invest in a company you’ll want to find out how they make an impact. Do they have a corporate social responsibility policy? How do they treat their workers? What sort of environmental policy do they have? And do they volunteer or give to social causes? If want to invest to protect our planet, there are plenty of opportunities available in renewable energy, water, waste reduction, organics, aquaculture and green transportation to name just a few.
Or are you more comfortable investing your money in mutual and exchange traded funds? Nowadays there are numerous socially responsible funds available.
In real estate too, you can invest and do good. Crowdfunding has opened the world of real estate investing for investors who want exposure to real estate but can’t afford a big purchase. Although many real estate crowdfunding platforms still provide opportunities only for the wealthy (accredited investors) there are impactful real estate investment opportunities on platforms like Small Change.
Of course, as with all investments, there are no guarantees of returns, but as the industry grows and statistics are gathered it’s clear that socially responsible investors can do well.
Read the full story here.
Image by Andreas Klinke Johannsen licensed CC BY-SA 2.0