International financial advice firm DeVere Group is offering clients free advice on socially responsible investing.
The firm said that this is the “first ESG campaign of many to come throughout 2021”.
Nigel Green, DeVere Group chief executive, said: “ESG is one of the megatrends of this decade. It was heading slowly this way before, but the pandemic has acted as a catalyst.
“The health of our planet and how it affects human health which, in turn, affects the way we all live and work, has come dramatically into the fore.
“Whilst ESG highlights values, it’s also about profits, with environmentally and socially responsible funds continuing to out-perform the market and offer lower volatility.
“By offering free advice we will be removing any potential barrier in considering ESG by potential investors, and we aim to position $1bn (£740m, €820m) in environmental, social and governance investments within five years.”
‘Assist clients’
DeVere Group has found that 56% of global investors that are already engaged in ESG believe they are investing in a safe-haven in times of volatility in traditional markets.
“Data underscores the financial reward-making abilities of ESG investments and their core values are ones to which we should all be showing commitment,” Green said.
“We hope we’ll be able to assist our clients in fulfilling their environmental goals by investing in companies that will reduce carbon, and investing in those that prioritise employees’ rights, consumer protections, board diversity and corporate transparency and stakeholder accountability, whilst simultaneously receiving good returns.
“We believe this is an especially important initiative right now as ESG moves ever more into the mainstream.
“However, there are still investors who regard such investments as a ‘quirk’ or ‘nice to have’ rather than a legitimate portfolio diversification tool that delivers profits with purpose.”
