With more than $2.91 billion in funds under management, the Ethical Advisers’ Co-operative (EAC) continues to serve as a trusted source of advice and education for investors and advisers alike.
The EAC’s Annual Report for 2023 highlights the increasingly important role its members are having in shaping the ethical investment landscape in Australia and New Zealand, with its members providing advice to 3,948 clients. EAC Chair Sarah Wood commented that, “The Co-op’s aim is to provide a collaborative network for financial advisers and investment professionals in Australia and New Zealand to exchange knowledge and skills, resulting in a stronger voice, empowered clients, and increased ethical investments in the financial sector. “Co-op members work together to shape industry practices and policies, fostering the widespread adoption of ethical and responsible investments.” The Annual Report details the positive impact that the co-op creates through engagement with companies and fund managers, while also highlighting the Leaf Ratings developed by the Co-op. The ratings provide an accessible source of information for the public, advisers and fund managers about how well Co-op members perceive ethical, sustainable and responsibly labelled funds live up to their promises. Click here to view the Annual Report. ABOUT THE ETHICAL ADVISERS’ CO-OPERATIVE The Ethical Advisers' Co-operative Ltd (EAC) is a member-operated organisation created to help communicate the intention and benefits behind ethical investment. The EAC aims to help investors understand ethical investment and to help investors find a specialist ethical investment adviser to help plan for retirement, manage their superannuation or investment portfolio. https://www.ethicaladviserscoop.org/ Ethical investing is a growing trend as people become more aware of their investments’ impact on the environment and society. However, many people find ethical investing complex and intimidating, which is why the Ethical Advisers' Co-op is holding an educational week called Ethical Investment Week from 1 to 7 October.
As an annual event that aims to help people understand ethical investing and make informed investment decisions, Ethical Investment Week is coordinated by the Ethical Advisers' Co-op which comprises a group of leading ethical advisers, including our firm. During the week of 1 to 7 October, a range of events and resources will be available to help people learn more about ethical investing. These include:
If you want to learn more about ethical investing, we encourage you to participate in Ethical Investment Week. There's something for everyone, whether you're a beginner or an experienced investor. Here are some steps you can take to invest ethical investing:
Investing ethically is a great way to positively impact the world and build a sustainable future. Start your journey with Ethical Investment Week this October. The Ethical Advisers’ Co-operative has seen funds under management increase more than 15% to more than $3.13 billion invested with Adviser members.
The EAC’s Annual Report for 2022 highlights the increasingly important role its members are having in shaping the ethical investment landscape in Australia and New Zealand, with its members providing advice to 4,374 clients. EAC Chair Terry Pinnell commented that, “Ethical investment is a growing segment of the investment market. The level of ethical funds under management (FUM) is growing every year as existing advisers add more FUM, and new advisers come into the ethical arena.” The Annual Report highlights the Leaf Ratings developed by the Co-op. The ratings provide an accessible source of information for the public, advisers and fund managers about how well Co-op members perceive ethical, sustainable and responsibly labelled funds live up to their promises. This is a particularly relevant resource in light of growing concerns around greenwashing. “Fund managers want to be rated because they understand that receiving a Leaf Rating from our advisers is kudos you cannot buy,” EAC Chair Terry Pinnell said. Click here to view the 2022 Annual Report. ABOUT THE ETHICAL ADVISERS’ CO-OPERATIVE LTD The Ethical Advisers' Co-operative Ltd (EAC) is a member-operated organisation created to help communicate the intention and benefits behind ethical investment. The EAC aims to help investors understand ethical investment and to help investors find a specialist ethical investment adviser to help plan for retirement, manage their superannuation or investment portfolio. MEDIA CONTACT Tim Fitzpatrick | EAC Director Despite a tumultuous year for markets, funds under management with the Ethical Advisers’ Co-operative (EAC) were up over 15% on the previous year with $3.13 billion invested in ethically screened products as at 31 December 2022.
2022 saw Co-op members provide advice to 4,374 clients across Australia and New Zealand, up from 3,661 clients in 2021 with $2.72 billion in funds under management. “Despite markets being relatively flat over 2022, the level of funds invested ethically by Co-op members has increased by just over 15%,” said EAC Chair Terry Pinnell. “This due to new adviser groups starting to invest ethically and the increasing interest of investors that are seeing the value of investing to make the environment and society a better place. “We are expecting an increasing acceleration of investment in the next year, with new innovative investments reducing human impact on climate and reducing the loss of biodiversity.” This changing perspective, of clients seeking more ethical investment alternatives, was well illustrated during a series of client interviews conducted by the Co-op in the lead-up to their annual Ethical Investment Week. MEDIA CONTACT Tim Fitzpatrick | EAC Director ASIC’s infringement notice against Vanguard for greenwashing, while disappointing, highlights the need for fund managers to ensure any statements about ethical propositions are accurate.
“Greenwashing is a major issue in our financial system, and so we welcome action taken by ASIC to crack down on misleading claims,” says EAC Director Tim Fitzpatrick. “As ethical investment becomes increasingly mainstream, instances of what financial market regulators have called misleading marketing, poor product design and other types of greenwashing are certainly rising, regardless of whether it is intentional or not.” This pervasive practice, by which funds falsely claim or exaggerate their environmental, social and governance (ESG) credentials, poses a major threat to the integrity and reputation of the investment industry. This ‘Leaf Ratings’ analysis was accessed more than 12,500 times over 2021, reflecting an increased level of consumer awareness and concern about the genuine nature of their ethical and sustainable investments. About Ethical Advisers’ Co-op EAC advisers managed in excess of $2.72 billion of investment on behalf of their clients at the time of the 2021 annual report, a reflection of the growing demand by consumers for professional and ethical advice to select investments that truly conform to each clients’ ethical, environmental and sustainability values. The EAC’s Leaf Ratings can be viewed here: https://www.leafratings.org/ EAC Spokesperson: Tim Fitzpatrick | EAC Director By Jassmyn Goh - Money Management
There is no doubt that in recent decades Australia, and the world, has been experiencing extreme weather events from months-long bushfires, to flooding, to unprecedented temperature levels. On 21 April 2020, Michael Moore released a documentary on his YouTube channel titled Planet of the Humans, which has received over 5 million views as of May 1st. The film, directed and narrated by Jeff Gibbs, criticizes renewable energy technologies like solar panels, wind turbines, biomass-burning plants, and electric vehicles, as well as leaders of certain environmental advocacy organizations that have supported those technologies....
Read More on Climate Feedback Ethical Advisers Co-op members, David Rae, Karen McLeod and Luke Price feature in a Financial Standard article, written by Elizabeth McArthur.
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