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Ethical Investing: What is it? And who’s doing it?

06/11/2018

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When it comes to buzzwords, “ethical investing” is certainly up there in the industry at the moment. But it’s a tricky topic. While many people get the general gist of what ethical investing means, there’s a lot of confusion about the detail.

That is why the Boring Money team decided to dig a little deeper in our latest industry report, launched in October. Our question was this: Is ethical investing a fad? Or the future?

Given the infancy of the sector, it’s difficult to come down definitively on one side or the other just yet. But certainly the market is growing, with £17 billion of ethical funds currently under management, according to the Investment Association – up from £14 billion last year.

Who’s doing it?

Our research suggests that women are leading the charge when it comes to interest – and actual investment – in this area. More than twice as many women (32% compared with just 14% of men) said it is very or extremely important to them, and robo advisers that offer ethical portfolios tell us that a higher proportion of women choose their ethical portfolios than their standard offerings.

The future of the sector looks bright, with the robo advisers also telling us that customers of the ethical portfolios are likely to be younger – a finding that tallied with age-related interest levels in our survey.

What actually is it?

Drilling into the detail, though, is where the sector becomes more complex. Not only is there much confusion about what actually counts as (or is even understood by) ‘ethical’ among consumers, there is also a legitimate concern that one person’s ethics are not always in line with another’s.

According to our study of 2,055 Brits, only 36% of the public have heard of ethical investing – and there is understandable confusion when it comes to defining the practicalities of how ethical investing actually works.

The majority of respondents understood the term to mean blacklisting – i.e. excluding certain types of companies or industries from a portfolio. Unsurprisingly, arms, tobacco, gambling and pornography are the areas consumers say they most want to avoid.

‘Impact investing’ – where money is actively funnelled towards certain projects to support positive change – was a less recognised part of the ethical investing process. But when people were introduced to the idea, it was a more popular approach than blacklisting, with survey respondents naming healthcare, green energy and sustainable agriculture as the areas where they would most like to see their money put to positive use.

Which companies offer it?

There are a growing number of outfits that are offering ethical funds and filters within their selection processes. Big players such as LGIM, Vanguard and Barclays Smart Investor, as well as newer players such as Wealthify, Wealthsimple, PensionBee and Moola all offer ethical options.

However, many reservations evidently remain when it comes to investors actually putting their money where their mouths are. Our YouGov survey respondents, as well as information additionally gathered from 1,112 readers of The Times, expressed scepticism that ethical funds could generate the same returns that ‘normal’ funds could.

What next?

So – it seems that although the sector is clearly showing growing interest and engagement, there is still a job to be done on properly explaining it to would-be investors. What’s more, it seems people need reassurance that their money will still be working hard for them – as well as the causes close to their hearts.

So back to the original question: is ethical investing a fad, or the future? It certainly doesn’t feel like the former. But we’re a long way from the latter just yet!

 

What do you think? Would you like to blacklist certain types of company from your investment baskets? Or would you rather take the impact investing route, and actively choose to do good with your money? Have you already done one of these with your current portfolio?

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    Holly Mackay's Response

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  • I wanted an investment trust with an income, so I put £10,000 into The Investment Company. It delivers a reliable quarterly dividend but the capital value has dropped by 10% since I invested 2 years ago. What are your favourite investment trusts?

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    Mark Dampier's Response

  • I'm 24 and would like to begin investing. Am I better off using a robo advisor such as Wealthify/Wealthsimple or a fund such as Vanguard LifeStrategy?

    Amanda | Greater London | 06/08/2018 | 6

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    Holly Mackay's Response

  • I am 73 and cautious. There are two areas that your advice would be helpful..what if you just spend thousands on buying the gold standard footsie companies like shell and the rest and keep them for five years and then cash them in ?

    DB | UK | 24/07/2018 | 6

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    Holly's Response

  • Nutmeg require a minimum investment of £5,000. As I have less than £5,000 per annum income I am a bit confused about how much I can put into a pension. I know the government will only gross up a maximum of £2,880 per year but can I put more than this in and forgo the gross up?

    Barbara | Hertfordshire | 10/07/2018 | 1

    • Robo Adviser
    Richard Allum's Response

  • We have a portfolio of ISAs/PEPs worth around £250k, currently invested via Cofunds, managed by Chelsea and Bestinvest. I'm told this is quite an expensive option regarding platform charges. Are there better options?

    John | Berkshire | 08/05/2018 | 6

    • Robo Adviser
    • Online Investment Platforms
    Helena Wardle's Response

  • I would like to open a Junior shares ISA for my Grandson for about £50/month. How do I go about it and can you recommend some reliable companies?

    Roger | Surrey | 26/04/2018 | 2

    • Junior ISA
    • Shares
    Holly Mackay's Response

  • Can you recommend some very basic books for a 69-year-old widow who is now having to manage her money?

    Martha | 12/04/2018 | 0

    • Shares
    • Funds
    Helena Wardle's Response

  • I just found your web site (recommended in Andy Bell's book on Do It Yourself investing). Could you say why you do not review Halifax Share Dealing in your list of ISA providers? Is there anything wrong with this ISA provider for you not to include it?

    Gerald | UK | 11/04/2018 | 0

    • Shares
    Richard Bradley's Response

  • I am post-divorce with a good settlement which I have only partially invested. Are there any courses you can recommend? I have sat in a number of meetings with accountants and financial advisers feeling somewhat patronised! I am sure that there are plenty of women in a similar position to me (aged 55!).

    Eavan | Ireland | 14/03/2018 | 3

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    • Funds
    • GIA
    Holly Mackay's Response

  • How can I find a good financial adviser?

    Byron | Greater London | 01/03/2018 | 0

    • Shares
    • Funds
    Holly Mackay's Response

  • I am very lucky to have just received a gift which I want to invest for our retirement. My husband and I aim to retire in around five years. We have 11 more years of school fees to fund, then hopefully university fees for two after that. I've put together a plan for us - can you have a look and see if it makes sense?

    Fiona | UK | 18/01/2018 | 6

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    • Cash
    • Online Investment Platforms
    Holly Mackay's Response

  • We have four grandchildren (2 English living in UK, and 2 Irish living in Eire). We have decided to start savings plans for their futures. Their ages are 18yrs, 11yrs, 8yrs and 4yrs respectively. My age is 75yrs, and my wife is a little older. What should we do, please?

    John | Buckinghamshire | 01/01/2018 | 1

    • Junior ISA
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    • Funds
    • Inheritance
    Martin's Response

  • I am already receiving a pension from a final salary scheme and I am retired. I have a sum of money I want to invest. Can I start another pension as a saver and, if so, how much can I put in every year?

    Collette | Greater London | 25/11/2017 | 0

    • Private Pension
    • Online Investment Platforms
    Boring Money's Response

  • How do I start investing, buy stocks, bitcoin, etc with £100?

    Claudette | Bedfordshire | 18/11/2017 | 1

    • Shares
    • Other
    Holly Mackay's Response

  • I am a 59 yr old retired lady with no income but I have reasonable equity..is it worth starting a pension or is it too late?

    LL | Norfolk | 10/11/2017 | 2

    • Private Pension
    • Shares
    • Pension
    Cherry Reynard's Response

  • I have a delightful 12 year old daughter and she has just opened her first bank account. I am dreadful with money but I would like to know what I should teach her so that she does not pick up my bad financial habits. Do you have some top tips of things to teach our children so they are wise and responsible with money please?

    Louise | Greater London | 11/09/2017 | 1

    • Junior ISA
    • Shares
    • Cash
    Lesley James's Response

  • I am particularly interested to know whether it is best to diversify and try and cover of a number of shares with investments or to pick out a smaller number and invest more?

    Richard | 05/02/2017 | 3

    • Shares
    Holly Mackay's Response

  • I am confused about index funds, e.g. Vanguard Equity fund. Do they track an index or include the yield? In the case of Vanguard, their low cost is attractive but their portfolio is made up of other Vanguard funds. I assume these probably each carry a fee structure - is this correct?

    Robin | Gloucestershire | 03/09/2018 | 0

    • Online Investment Platforms
    • Funds
    Boring Money's Response

  • Is it worth using a financial adviser when it comes to switching pensions funds, or should I do the research and pick the funds myself? I am no expert in stocks and shares.

    Helen | Dorset | 10/08/2018 | 4

    • Private Pension
    • Shares
    • Funds
    Helena Wardle's Response

  • I've got £20,000 from an endowment policy (astonishing, I know), and I'm looking into how best to invest to get a reasonable return without excessive risk. Any thoughts much appreciated!!

    Penny | Peterborough | 09/08/2018 | 1

    • Stocks and Shares ISA
    • Cash
    • Online Investment Platforms
    • Life Insurance
    Boring Money's Response

  • I use H&L and although they are a bit 'plumy' on the phone I quite like their website and the costs are OK. So I was thinking of H&L for [my son]. I would be telling him to open these two funds and regularly invest and forget about them for 10 years!

    R | Greater London | 29/05/2018 | 1

    • Lifetime ISA
    • Robo Adviser
    • Online Investment Platforms
    • Funds
    Holly Mackay's Response

  • Should I be even thinking about the stock market?

    Lysa | Greater London | 06/09/2017 | 0

    • Stocks and Shares ISA
    • Shares
    Holly Mackay's Response

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