At the Money: Aligning Investments With Personal Values
Aug 14, 2024
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Ari Rosenbaum, a principal at O’Shaughnessy Asset Management, delves into the evolving landscape of personalized investing. He discusses how direct indexing enables investors to align their portfolios with personal values beyond mere financial gains. Rosenbaum explains the significance of customizing investments to reflect ethical beliefs, such as avoiding sectors like firearms. He also touches on the importance of gender diversity in corporate governance and shares strategies for environmentally-conscious investing.
Investors are increasingly prioritizing value-based investing to align their portfolios with personal beliefs beyond just financial returns.
Tools like direct indexing empower investors to customize their portfolios by excluding companies that conflict with their ethical values, such as those in controversial industries.
Deep dives
Building Value-Based Investment Portfolios
Investors increasingly seek to align their portfolios with personal values rather than solely focusing on financial returns. The discussion emphasizes that individuals want to experience expressive benefits alongside utilitarian gains, prompting the rise of value-based investing. For instance, tools like direct indexing allow investors to avoid companies that do not align with their values, such as those involved in controversial industries like gun manufacturing or abortion. This approach enables a precise customization of investments to reflect diverse personal beliefs, whether they lean left or right.
Custom Screens for Diverse Investment Preferences
The capability to implement custom screens in investment portfolios has become increasingly popular, allowing investors to eliminate exposure to specific sectors or companies. For instance, an investor concerned about gun violence can choose to avoid firearm-related stocks, while someone advocating for gender diversity can exclude companies lacking female representation in leadership roles. This customized approach includes environmental concerns as well, enabling investors to select or avoid companies based on carbon production and eco-friendliness. Thus, individuals can create a portfolio that not only seeks financial growth but also resonates with their ethical beliefs and values.
The term 'ESG' gets thrown around in investing all the time. But, there's a better way to align your investments with your personal values. In this week's episode, Barry Ritholtz speaks with Ari Rosenbaum, principal at O’Shaughnessy Asset Management, about how to tailor investments to your ideological preferences.