This article was first published in the March issue of Green Money Journal Two years ago, Natural Investments became the first financial advisory firm in the United States to convert itself into a perpetual purpose trust. For our firm, this was not just a legal milestone. It was an ethics-driven decision about the future of […]
Why a Perpetual Purpose Trust Model Works for Sustainable Investing Firms Read More »
For anyone following the financial news cycle, it’s hard to miss the increasingly heated debate around sustainable, responsible, and impact (SRI) investing. Detractors—often speaking from an ideological position on the right—argue that SRI promotes progressive values in corporate boardrooms. Supporters counter that these strategies have generally performed in line with traditional portfolios while helping to
Rewriting the Rules: Aligning Profit and Purpose with SRI Read More »
Our founder, Jack Brill, started as a socially responsible investment advisor in 1985. Jack and his son Hal ran a thriving, father-son business for 22 years, and when I joined Natural Investments in 2000, we became a firm. Manager Christopher Peck and I became co-owners in 2007 and one of the first B Corps in
The popularity of socially responsible investing (SRI) reached new heights in the past year. A recent JP Morgan study, “Sustainable Investing on the Rise,” revealed 82% of investors are very interested in sustainable investing and plan to increase their commitment to it in the next two years. Investors shared their investment priorities of climate change
According to the 2022 census, 11.5% of the U.S. population lives in poverty. That’s nearly 38 million people. Living in poverty means earning less than $15,060 per year for an individual, or $31,200 for a family of four. It also means struggling to access quality food, education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. In some communities, the
Spotlight: Capital Impact Partners – A Case for Fair Finance Read More »
Long-time followers of the organic food industry have seen many of their favorite companies bought out by corporations that do not share their values. General Mills bought Annie’s a decade ago. Dairy brand Horizon Organic is now owned by the global investment firm Platinum Equity. Kellanova (formerly Kellogg’s), Colgate-Palmolive, Clorox, Coca-Cola, and PepsiCo are also
Natural Investments recently converted its company ownership from six financial advisors to the Natural Investments Purpose Trust. That’s right, we’re now essentially owned by a purpose! Creating this trust over the past 18 months means that Natural Investments will continue to exist in perpetuityas an independent firm owned by an entity rather than individuals. Now
Natural Investments Becomes the First Perpetual Purpose Trust in Financial Services Read More »
Last year, my fellow NI advisor James Frazier wrote “Wall Street Wakes Up to SRI” on sustainable and responsible investments becoming a mainstream component of the financial services industry. Substantial asset flows into environmental, social, and governance (ESG)-labeled funds have prompted large conglomerates to buy up boutique socially responsible investing (SRI) companies in the SRI
In 2007, when I worked at The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment (US SIF)— The national association for socially responsible investing (SRI) firms and professionals—I became the staff liaison for the Investors and Indigenous Peoples Working Group (IIPWG). One of IPWG’s main campaigns at the time was asking companies and investors to pressure the
Download a full copy of our 2020 Social Impact Report A Year of Transformation by Michael Kramer One from the Heart: A Tribute to Jack Brill by Hal Brill 2020 Sustainable & Responsible Impact 2020 Shareholder Advocacy Review 2020 Regenerative Investments Putting Equity at the Center of our Organizational Culture by Carrie VanWinkle Spotlight: Kachuwa Impact