With the increasing social consciousness of the investing public, companies are now required to disclose their activities and policies relating to a company’s impact on society. This is why the rise in socially responsible ETFs— exchange-traded funds — has become more prevalent.
These funds track underlying indexes that invest in companies that follow a set of minimum requirements related to a company’s impact on society.
Upon reading this, you might be thinking, “So what index should I look into?’ Or maybe you’re wondering, “Why should I care about how my investments affect others?”
Fortunately, we can answer both of these questions for you so that you can make an informed decision about which socially responsible ETF is right for your portfolio.
Table of contents
Look at the Fund’s Holdings
To get a better idea of what the socially responsible ETF is investing in, you should start by looking at the underlying index that it is tracking. If a socially responsible ETF is investing purely in stocks of companies that are socially responsible, then it may be the right fund for you to invest in.
This will give you the peace of mind that the fund is abiding by its policies and not just shoving its agenda down your throat.
While it is important to invest in stocks that are socially responsible, assessing the holdings of the underlying index is also important. You want to make sure that you are investing in companies that are socially and environmentally sound, but also profitable.
Research the Management
The next thing that you can look at when evaluating a fund is the management. When investing in a fund, you want to make sure that the managers of the fund are cutting-edge and up to date on the latest trends in their industry.
This will help you to avoid investing in a fund with unbiased, outdated management that may compromise the security of the fund.
Talk to an Investment Adviser
While you can research the management and the holdings of the fund, you can also talk to an investment adviser or adviser. Ask them a number of different questions, such as what is the fund’s financial performance, is it trading at a good price, and is it worth investing in?
Ultimately, a financial advisor can help you to evaluate a specific fund or help you identify funds that are right for you and your investment portfolio.
Look up the Fund’s Sustainability Report and Financial Performance
When you are evaluating a fund, it is also a good idea to read through the fund’s sustainability report and financial performance.
These reports will provide you with information about the fund’s management and holdings, as well as information about its sustainability policies. You will also have an idea of how much the fund has returned over the past few years.
This insight can prove to be of high value by helping you make an informed decision about which fund is right for you and your investment portfolio.
In Summary
Investing in socially responsible ETFs can help you to make your investments more sustainable. You want to make sure that the companies that you are investing in are following sustainable practices and are abiding by the same policies as the index that the ETF is tracking.
If a socially responsible ETF is not following these same practices, then it may not be the right fund for you to invest in.
You can evaluate a fund by considering the factors listed above, such as its management, holdings, and financial performance, as well as the fund’s sustainability report.