Sustainable Investing: Aligning Your Investments with Your Values

We want our lives to mean something and many of us are looking for ways to make everything from our lifestyles to our careers ones that are conducive to the betterment of the planet. But what about our investments? Building up financial wealth doesn’t have to mean you compromise on your values, you just need to take time aligning your investments with your values. Here are some ways that you can do this:

What it’s all about

As you ponder what to invest in, you’ll want to educate yourself a bit more on sustainable investments. ESG investments are becoming more and more popular as people are realizing that they want to do more for the planet.

Following the ESG criteria means that you will take time to see how your investment impacts the world. You can take into account how the investments leave a carbon footprint or if they’re affecting energy efficiency. This also means that you’ll take a look at stock investments and avoid investing in anything that has to do with a brand or business that is known for poor treatment of employees. It’s all about the kind of footprint that you’re leaving on the world with your investing.

Think about your values

Whether you invest in precious metals IRA or you invest in mutual funds, it’s a good idea to take your values into consideration. If you’re not specifically looking at what you’re investing in, but you know that you want to build financial wealth with your values in mind, your investments may lead you to donate to charities or organizations that are helping the planet or people in need. Whatever you do with your investments, take time to determine how they can best align with your values at the end of the day.

You might also consider alternative assets that align with your interests, like private number plates, which have become increasingly valuable as rare combinations grow in demand. These tangible assets are easy to transfer and can offer steady appreciation without being tied to traditional market fluctuations.

Financial returns can be sustainable

While it can be scary to invest in perhaps what could be considered less popular investment options than others, with the way that sustainable businesses are stepping up in today’s world, financial returns should be expected. It’s not bad to want your investments to bring you the kind of financial returns that you hope for. It’s just a matter of finding the right match for well-positioned stocks and investment portfolios that are aligned with your values and ethics at the end of the day.

Do your research

If you want to be confident that you’re both making wise investment decisions but also staying aligned with your values, it doesn’t hurt to do your research. There are many companies that are set up for longevity and growth that are also doing their part for sustainability. You may need to take time browsing online and getting input to be sure you’re investing in what will bring you financial returns while also being an ethically sound decision, but that time spent will be worthwhile.

Hire a pro

It’s not easy to figure out how to both increase your wealth while also trying to be aligned with your values. Fortunately, with a professional investment advisor, you can make the decisions that feel right to you and that help your money grow.

They can provide helpful tips and steer you away from decisions that may look appealing that may not bring you the returns you had hoped for. Ask your advisor to help you avoid greenwashing companies. You may find that there are advisors out there that are just as intent on sustainably investing as you are.

In Conclusion

If you’re looking to succeed financially while also caring about the environment, consider these tips above. While it’s a niche thing to do, sustainable investing is becoming more popular, which means that there is financial growth in sustainable money initiatives.