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Responsible investing
Consumers are increasingly exercising their political or environmental
choice by, for example, buying organic food or cruelty-free cosmetics.
To attract this type of consumer, the financial market is therefore
providing alternative options to traditional finance.
According to the Ethical Investment Research Company (2003), there are
now over 40 funds in the UK dedicated to responsible investment and
an estimated £2.8 billion under ethical management, although we’re
still a long way behind the US in this.
Ethical issues
If you decide that you want to investigate how to invest ethically,
we can guide you through the choices available. For example, you might
feel that ethical funds are right for you, but you might equally want
to put your money into other sectors. If you decide to go down the ethical
route, you need to check the policy of your chosen company to ensure
that it suits your beliefs. Some funds set up a dialogue with companies
in order to persuade them to adopt the best practice on social, environmental
and ethical issues.
Easy investing
The easiest way to invest ethically is through a collective investment
fund such as a unit trust. There are also a number of ethical fund providers
offering ethical pension plans and endowment policies. You can even
take out an ethical life assurance policy.
| Socially
responsible investment funds no longer cost more than conventional
ones. To find out how to invest with a conscience, please contact
us for further information. |
The
past is not necessarily a guide to future performance. Levels and bases
of, and reliefs from, taxation are subject to change. These investments
are intended as long-term investments. If you withdraw from these investments
in the early years, you may not get back the full amount invested. Investment
values may fall as well as rise. You may not get back the full amount
invested.
Article date 03/04
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