Think carefully about your goals. Are you mainly focused on maintaining a particular PR image, or are you trying to improve your risk-adjusted return? Do you want to make a difference with binding impact goals pursuing something like the SDGs? Or do you have very specific targets regarding climate change? Different goals need different strategies and solutions.

A sustainable strategy should fit your sustainable goals. Exclusions, for example can be the only element or a building block of a broader approach. ESG integration allows for a more meaningful approach, and impact investing is best if you want to make sure your investments have the clearest positive impact, or feel strongly about targeting specific goals such as investing in the energy transition. Most investors choose a mixture of strategies, often on an add-on basis.

Always make sure you use your rights as a shareholder or bondholder to influence corporate behavior. This means voting at shareholder meetings and using engagement; if you don’t have your own capacity, both can be outsourced. Active ownership can be very effective, especially when shareholders join forces to effect change on bigger issues.

While most asset managers have a sustainable offering, make sure you look under the hood properly. Is sustainability truly embedded in the organization and across their business or do they only integrate sustainability for selected strategies? What is their UNPRI score? What are their fund classifications and binding elements under the SFDR? Monitoring is also important. Check whether known standards such as TCFD are used.

We strongly believe in achieving both wealth and well-being. The world faces many big challenges and everyone needs to contribute to meet these successfully. Think, for example, of investment solutions that can contribute to the Paris Agreement, help restore and protect biodiversity, address the SDGs or protect human rights. Think of real world impact. Think of a sustainable future.