Socially Responsible Investing

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As a socially responsible investment advisor – Invested Interests.com has access to data on many different social issues. There are more than 10,000 public companies in the United States and their record on any number of social issues changes frequently. How do you stay on top of this?

Most advisors in the US contract with a limited number of research organizations to collect and maintain this information. However, the license fees for this data average $20k a year! That is why today, most investors seek out an advisor that has access to this data. Except for the largest investors, $20k in annual expenses is out of the question.

How does an issue, like the environment, become a social screen? more>>

Washington , DC (PRWEB) September 25, 2006 – The Sudan Divestment Task Force and Invested Interests have created the first online tool allowing individuals to screen their mutual funds for investments in companies supporting the Sudanese government. Initiated and perpetuated by the Khartoum regime, the first genocide of the 21 st century, rages into its fourth year in the country’s vast Darfur region. Although many companies operating in Sudan contribute positively to the underprivileged by building vital economic infrastructure, numerous Sudan experts agree that certain “worst offending” companies are clearly contributing to Sudan’s capacity to carry out genocide while imparting little or no benefit to Sudan’s citizens. By targeting this select set of “worst offending” companies investors can remain consistent with principles of socially responsible investing while minimizing or eliminating unintended harms to Sudanese civilians.

The Sudan Screening Tool , using data provided by the Sudan Divestment Task Force, provides visitors with a report detailing the names, dollar value and percent of total assets invested in offending companies. Sudan divestment data has previously been available only to large institutions. The Sudan Screening Tool allows for any mutual fund investor, approximately 57 million U.S. households, to actively participate in Sudan divestment.

Collected from public and governmental databases, corporate interviews, foreign policy experts, and research provided by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), this data is maintained and routinely updated by the Sudan Divestment Task Force and Invested Interests.

To learn more about the atrocities in Sudan or the case for Sudan divestment, visit the website of the Sudan Divestment Task Force at www.sudandivestment.org.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) May, 2006 – Invested Interests.com announces that it is the first U.S. investment advisor to offer Sudan/Darfur investment screens to website visitors and clients. This data allows investors to screen their current investments, using complimentary tools at Invested Interests.com, for involvement in this region. This is the first time individual investors in the United States have had direct access to this screening information.

Invested Interests.com is an online investment advisor that specializes in socially responsible investing for individuals, non-profit and for-profit organizations. It is based in San Francisco, CA and has clients throughout the United States and Europe. Invested Interests.com offers complimentary tools on its website that allow visitors to screen and monitor their investments for a variety of social issues in addition to the new Sudan screen.

On March 16, 2006 the University of California’s Board of Regents voted to divest from companies tied to the government of Sudan. According to SaveDarfur.org, approximately 400,000 people have died since this conflict began in 2003. In addition, it is estimated that more than 2.5 million people are currently displaced throughout the region. The U.S. State Department has labeled the situation “genocide.” Many contend that the international community has been slow to respond to this situation and that this delay has added to the suffering of those affected. Today, a growing consensus has emerged that immediate political and economic pressure must be focused on the government of Sudan to change its current policies.

Divesting from Sudan involves comparing an investor’s current investments to a database of companies that have known business ties to the region. This data is collected from extensive research using public and government databases, corporate interviews, and research provided by non-governmental organizations (NGOs). This data is maintained and updated by Invested Interests.com and third-party partners.

“Anything that aids socially-conscious investors in being better informed about how their monies are being used is particularly noteworthy. In far too many cases, investments are put to use in activities and projects that would curdle the blood of many investors if they knew how their funds were being used. This latest socially responsible investing (SRI) screen offered free by Invested Interests.com allows investors to determine if their monies are being used in any way to support genocide and other atrocities in the Sudan/Darfur. It offers them conscious choice.”
- John Renesch, futurist; author, Getting to the Better Future: A Matter of Conscious Choosing

The tools available at Invested Interests.com allow any investor to easily apply social screens to their current mutual fund. These tools allow investors to align their investments with their social priorities. Clients of Invested Interests.com have unlimited access to advanced screening data and receive investment advisory services from our experienced advisors.

Once again, July was another month of sideways stumbling in the market. July also marks the beginning of the “earnings season.” Many companies announce their results for the second quarter of 2006 during this month.

Earnings have been mixed overall – especially in technology. However, the trend of record profits continues for oil companies!

As the market tries to figure out the direction of the economy and the effect inflation will have on it, here are a couple of notes on what to consider with any new investments you are entertaining. more>>