FWIW, Welcome.
Insights to invest in the world you want
This is the first edition of For What It’s Worth (FWIW), a weekly newsletter from impact investing trailblazer Jean Case and her team. We’re here to keep you up to date with the latest resources, news, and trends you need to confidently align your investments with your values.
Investing can be complicated, and there’s a lot of pressure to get it right to reach your goals. It seems even more complicated if you want to invest in a way that also positively impacts the world. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Each week we’ll break down the information you need — no matter where you are on your socially conscious investing journey — to make sure you’re the one at happy hour with all the info.
So, how do I invest with purpose?
You know you want to bring about some good in the world through your investments, but you’re not sure where to start. You’re not alone. A 2019 study identified a massive 95% of millennials are “interested” in using their investments for good, but many aren’t sure where to turn for guidance. There’s a lot to know about impact investing — the sticky turn of phrase coined by reporter Clint Proctor, who describes it as “putting your principal where your principles are.” We see what he did there. To learn more about investing with purpose, start by learning the basics with this 101 on Socially Responsible Investing (SRI).
Eavesdropping on finance experts
Knowing the finance world can be hard to understand, the team at Kellogg School of Management posed some deceptively simple questions to an esteemed group of impact investing experts to bring some clarity. A Chief Investment Officer, professor of finance, money manager CEO, and major bank executive worked together to tackle the business vs. moral rationale, explore the future of sustainable investing, and unpack the various approaches to ESG investing goals. It’s as close as you can get to eavesdropping on a b-school class without having to worry about the tuition costs.
Your guide to the top terms
ETFs, ESG, SRI — sometimes it seems like people in the financial world are just playing with magnetic refrigerator letters. To understand these terms and more (plus how to pronounce them), check out our easy-to-read cheat sheet of commonly used terms. As we’ve found through our own financial journeys, it’s a continuous learning process as new terms spring up and investing fads change.
Before you go –
Gearing up for a commute again or prepping for a summer roadtrip? Our team has been listening to ESG Insider and MSCI’s Perspectives — and to round it out, here’s a short collection of other stellar impact investing podcasts to add to your queue.