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Socially Responsible Investment

Stewardship - investing with care

Interest in social, ethical and environmental issues has grown dramatically over recent years. More people are looking for ways to contribute to a safer, happier future and understand that making an investment often means looking beyond traditional financial issues.

Stewardship - our range of strictly screened ethical funds - were launched in 1984 to give individual investors, who cared about more than simply investment returns, somewhere to invest their money. It was the first UK fund of its kind and has created a fast growing investment area.

The aims of Stewardship's pioneers were:

  1. to exclude companies that do not meet the ethical standards of the funds or harm society
  2. to support companies that make a positive contribution to society
  3. to encourage better business practices through shared ownership and dialogue.

The earliest aims of the fund remain, but have broadened over time and adapted to the wider range of investments now within the Stewardship range of funds.

Today's Stewardship funds invest in shares and loan stock (bonds) from a very wide range of companies around the world. This international exposure brings constant challenges, particularly when it comes to applying the ethical criteria to different cultures. However, the funds take the view that we should not shy away from such challenges and the ethical criteria of the funds is applied as consistently as possible across the globe.

The value of an investment is not guaranteed and can go up and down depending on investment performance. Your clients could get back less than they've paid in.

 

Published by Friends Provident Life and Pensions Limited