Smart Sustainable Investing

A better way to do the right thing.

We believe that you don’t need to sacrifice your core values to meet your financial goals. In fact, research from the Deutsche Bank Group showed that by applying responsible investment strategies you can1:

  • Lower your risk
  • Increase your returns
  • Have a positive impact on your community and the environment

In 2013, Portfolio Managers, Graham Isenegger and Neil Chappell launched three sustainable investment strategies that use positive screening tools to identify companies that meet Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) qualities.

Blue Heron
Canadian
ESG Leader

Blue Heron
Global
ESG Leader

Blue Heron
Dividend
ESG Leader

Why?

We believe that your investments should be aligned with your values. You may be uncomfortable with the presence of unsustainable businesses in your portfolio. Your ownership of these companies may present an ethical concern, an unacceptable risk, or a missed opportunity to invest in companies that are at the forefront of innovation. Current research from MSCI ESG revealed that only 1 in 10 of those interested in Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance screened portfolios actually hold responsible products in their portfolios. The Blue Heron ESG leader portfolios are a result of our efforts to innovate and to provide you with a better, more sustainable option.

Why not?

Making the choice to invest responsibly is not making the choice to accept lower returns. Our research has shown that focusing on sustainable businesses can positively impact your portfolio’s performance and can measurably lower your risk2.

How?

Our screening ensures that you invest in the most committed, innovative, and sustainable companies. Positive screening emphasizes the impact of sustainability on a company’s long-term potential to compete and succeed. This investment approach allows you to express your values on corporate behaviour such as social justice and the environment through stock selection positively – without sacrificing your portfolio diversification or long-term performance.

This positive screening is augmented with the exclusion of a number of industries including:

  • Cluster bombs or landmine manufacturing
  • Nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons manufacturing
  • Tobacco production
  • These steps together create our Smart Sustainable Investing approach which identifies an ‘investable universe’ of companies that exhibit the best-in-class Environmental, Social and Governance qualities. We then further refine this best-in-class ‘investable universe’ into actively managed portfolios using both quantitative and qualitative research.
  • All integrated oil companies and all fossil fuel exploration and production companies
Our SSI screening process, from a positive ESG screen, a quantitative screen, a qualitative screen and finally portfolio construction.

Doing the right thing for you

Smart Sustainable Investing is one part of our ‘you-centric’ approach to wealth management. We work with you to develop and attain your vision of the future. Our professional knowledge and detailed processes are complemented with empathy and understanding, resulting in long-standing and trusted relationships. A union of values and performance.

 

1 Sustainable Investing. Deutsche Bank Group - June 2012

2 ESG Issue Brief ‘Options for Reducing Fossil Fuel Exposure’ MSCI ESG Research January 2014