Building an ESG investment portfolio that can seem daunting for new investors. After all, it’s a process that requires some research and analysis to get the environmental, social, and governance factors right.
However, while it might seem overwhelming initially, investing in ethically-minded companies is easier than you think. There are plenty of ways to ease newbie investors into the world of ESG investing with little risk or cost.
If you’re ready to start investing with ESG factors in mind, keep reading. This blog outlines different strategies investors looking to incorporate SG factors into their portfolio should consider.
Let’s look at what you need to know to start building ESG investment portfolios.
Know Your Ethical Values
Before you can build an ESG investment portfolio, you need to know what you value in your investments. In other words, what do you value, and what can you support with your investment dollars? This will help you narrow down the best investments for your situation.
For example, if you’re passionate about gender equality, you may want to invest in a company that practices fair gender practices in its employment approach.
Outline What You’re Looking to Achieve
Once you know your values, it’s time to outline what you want to achieve from your investment portfolio.
Investors often have unrealistic expectations when it comes to saving for retirement, but they can achieve much more by using their money for good. Make sure you have a clear vision of your desired outcome and social impact before investing. This will help you stay focused on the big picture and help you keep your spending and investing aligned.
Read Up on ESG Reports and Performance
Another great strategy to building an ESG investment portfolio is reading up on investor reports that include information about the ESG (environmental, social, and governance) performance of certain companies you’re considering investing in.
These reports can help you decide which companies have the best ESG performance so you can diversify your portfolio with fewer investments. You can also see how a company stacks up against its industry peers based on factors like environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance.
This insight can help you narrow down on companies to include in your investment portfolio as well as decide how much you’re looking to invest.
Consult An Investment Advisor
If you’d like to start building ESG investment portfolios, you might consider hiring an investment advisor.
Investing on your own can be difficult and daunting, even for experienced investors. However, an investment advisor can help you navigate this process and build a sustainable investment portfolio that’s made up primarily of ESG investments.
In Conclusion
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re no stranger to the world of ESG investing. Perhaps you’ve heard about the benefits of investing money in the stock market, or maybe you’ve even read something on how to start investing safely and prudently.
No matter where you are in your understanding of ESG investing, there is almost certainly a lot that you do not know yet even as an experienced investor. There is always more to learn and grow from as an investor.
The first step towards doing this is identifying your values, outlining your desired outcome, and reading up on reports and performance.
Taking these steps will help inform your approach as well as help determine which investment approaches are most conducive to your goals and personal risk tolerance.
