The ESG Update

This week Dan and Brittany take a break from guest interviews to catch up on what they have been reading about in the news. Tune in to hear about how the NYSE is creating a new asset class related to ecosystem services and how solar companies must address slave labor in their supply chains. Oh yeah, and Brittany has cats…   Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) is an independent investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The opinions expressed herein are those of Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) and are subject to change without notice.

It's psychology week on The ESG Update! Lisa Mougin, President of Positivly, joins the podcast this week to discuss ESG and positive psychology while Brittany presents the behavioral drivers behind sustainable and responsible investing. And stay tuned to the end for a campfire conversation about goat yoga! Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) is an independent investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The opinions expressed herein are those of Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) and are subject to change without notice.

The seas they are a changing! Change Finance's President and COO, Dorrit Lowsen, joins the podcast to discuss the recent proxy voting season and a seminal year for ESG shareholder proposals. From putting pressure on BlackRock to promoting public benefit corporations, Dorrit also provides some updates on shareholder advocacy at Change Finance.   Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) is an independent investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The opinions expressed herein are those of Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) and are subject to change without notice.

Do sustainable practices have a positive correlation to financial performance? When it is deeply embedded into corporate strategy, yes it does! This week, we invite Tensie Whelan, Clinical Professor of Business and Society and Director of the Center for Sustainable Business at NYU Stern School of Business, to discuss the recent meta-analysis she and her team conducted. We dig deep into corporate performance, financial performance, and much more. Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) is an independent investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The opinions expressed herein are those of Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) and are subject to change without notice.

Let's bring politics into the conversation. In this week's episode of The ESG Update, we interview Nate Wyne, Co-Founder & CEO of Floodlight Invest. This ESG platform provides insight into political affiliations, gender & diversity records, and environmental violations. Tune in to learn how you can use Floodlight to align your values with your money without sacrificing alpha.   Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) is an independent investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The opinions expressed herein are those of Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) and are subject to change without notice.

It's time to clear up some confusion about ESG & 401k plans. After all, wouldn't It be nice to make our golden years a bit more green? Join us this week as we welcome Timothy Yee, Chief Retirement Specialist and Co-Founder of Green Retirement to discuss the role ESG, SRI, and sustainability can play in retirement plans.   Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) is an independent investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The opinions expressed herein are those of Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) and are subject to change without notice.

SRI history. ESG portfolio construction. All things shareholder advocacy. It's nirvana for ESG geeks! This week we discuss the Chartered SRI Counselor™ designation with the program's lead author and instructor, Jennifer Coombs MSF, CSRIC™, CRPC®.  If you are looking for ways to better understand the rapidly evolving sustainable investment industry, tune in to hear about this unique credential from the College for Financial Planning.   Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) is an independent investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The opinions expressed herein are those of Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) and are subject to change without notice.

We are thrilled to share a wonderful new podcast from our friends at InvestmentNews, Impact Adventures. Hosts Liz Skinner and Stephen Lamb will tell powerful stories of impact each week and explore different issues and opportunities in the environmental, social, and governance space. Tune in to hear the first episode and learn more about the history of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.     Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) is an independent investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The opinions expressed herein are those of Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) and are subject to change without notice.

Who doesn't love trees (...and persimmon flavored bourbon)? In this week's episode of The ESG Update, we welcome David Miller, CEO & Co-Founder of Iroquois Valley Farms as we dig deep into regenerative agriculture practices and the potential investment opportunities to support sustainable farming.   Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) is an independent investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The opinions expressed herein are those of Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) and are subject to change without notice.

If you're interested in the most prominent trends in the ESG advisor community, listen in to this special edition of The ESG Update! We welcome Victor Orozco of Bair Financial Planning to join us as we release the findings of the Change Finance ESG Asset Allocation Trends Report.   Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) is an independent investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The opinions expressed herein are those of Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) and are subject to change without notice.

Don't let an uncomfortable conversation be the barrier between you and progress. In this week's special episode of The ESG Update we celebrate Women's History Month by welcoming Sonya Dreizler to the stage. Listen in as we discuss allyship, inequalities, and various ways to approach uncomfortable conversations.     Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) is an independent investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The opinions expressed herein are those of Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) and are subject to change without notice.

Synthesizing complex ESG data sets into an intuitive and cost-effective platform is no easy task. We welcome Luke Wilcox, Founder of Ethos.so, in this week's episode as we discuss the tools they've created for lead generation, ESG portfolio analyses, and values-aligned investing. Also, stay tuned until the end to hear our first-ever ‘Around the Campfire' conversation!     Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) is an independent investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The opinions expressed herein are those of Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) and are subject to change without notice.

The relationship between ESG and risk may be more intertwined than you think. From litigation to stranded assets to loss of social license – we dissect the complex world of ESG and risk mitigation. Join us in this week's episode as we welcome back Andrew Rodriguez, CEO and Chief Investment Officer at Change Finance, and introduce the newest addition to our pod!   Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) is an independent investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The opinions expressed herein are those of Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) and are subject to change without notice.

Good ESG data doesn't have to break the bank. Qayyum Rajan joins the show this week to share how his firm, ESG Analytics, is harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to democratize ESG data for all.   Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) is an independent investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The opinions expressed herein are those of Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) and are subject to change without notice.

Climate science and financial analysis fall in love this week on The ESG Update. Dr. Pooja Khosla and her colleagues at Entelligent dig deep into complex climate models to help investors manage the risks associated with the transition to a net-zero economy.  Tune in to learn how some climate data falls short and how Entelligent is developing better solutions for investors.   Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) is an independent investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The opinions expressed herein are those of Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) and are subject to change without notice.

It's a new year and a fresh opportunity for self-reflection! Values and mission alignment consultant Genevieve Smith of GV Advisory joins the podcast this week to discuss how we apply ESG standards internally within our own businesses.   Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) is an independent investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The opinions expressed herein are those of Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) and are subject to change without notice.

George Gay has been working to effect positive change through the capital markets for 35 years. He joins the podcast this week to share his perspectives on the evolution of the SRI / ESG industry and update us on his firm, First Affirmative Financial Network.   Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) is an independent investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The opinions expressed herein are those of Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) and are subject to change without notice.

Seeds Investor is a fantastic new technology platform that empowers financial advisors to have values-based conversations with investors and then create custom portfolios. Tune in to hear how Founder and CEO, Zach Conway, created this innovative solution for the ESG investment industry.   Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) is an independent investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The opinions expressed herein are those of Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) and are subject to change without notice.

Can investors play a role in addressing systemic racism and sexism in our society? Damn right they can! Dorrit Lowsen, COO at Change Finance, joins the pod this week to discuss how our firm is pushing for gender and racial pay equity within some of America's largest corporations.   Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) is an independent investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The opinions expressed herein are those of Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) and are subject to change without notice.

Looking for ESG data and ratings for the municipal bonds? R. Paul Herman, CEO of HIP Investor, has solutions! Paul joins the podcast this week to discuss HIP Investor's analytics, ratings, and research on municipal bonds.  Paul also provides his perspective on the upcoming election and how the outcome may impact the growing ESG industry.     Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) is an independent investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The opinions expressed herein are those of Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) and are subject to change without notice.   HIP Investor Ratings LLC is a California limited liability company, providing 125,000+ ratings for investors, advisers, fund managers and retirement plans.  R. Paul Herman is a registered representative of  HIP Investor Inc.,  an investment adviser registered in the States of California, Washington, and Illinois, with clients across the USA. This is not an offer of securities. All investing has risks.  Past results are not indicative of future performance.

Kimberly Griego-Kiel of Horizons Sustainable Financial Services and the Deep Impact Investing Podcast joins the show to discuss the value of dedication to sustainable investing. Kim also provides her perspective on new reports from USSIF and Majority Action.   Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) is an independent investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The opinions expressed herein are those of Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) and are subject to change without notice.

Fossil fuels are a central part of the sustainable investing conversation. In Episode 6 of The ESG Update, Hunter Lovins, Chief Impact Officer at Change Finance, joins the conversation to share her insights into the fossil fuel industry and the merits of divestment.   Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) is an independent investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The opinions expressed herein are those of Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) and are subject to change without notice.

In Episode 5 of The ESG Update, Jeff Gitterman, Co-Founding Partner of Gitterman Wealth Management, joins the conversation to discuss how climate change presents unique risks to investment portfolios.   Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) is an independent investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The opinions expressed herein are those of Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) and are subject to change without notice.

In Episode 4 of The ESG Update, Founder of Verity Platforms, Jeff Marsh, joins the pod to discuss ESG current events and Verity, a platform for research and shareholder advocacy.   Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) is an independent investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The opinions expressed herein are those of Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) and are subject to change without notice.

In Episode 3 of The ESG Update, Business Development Specialist at the Wealth Consulting Group, Brittany Damico, joins the pod to discuss gender lens investing and best practices for communicating with investors about their values. Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) is an independent investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The opinions expressed herein are those of Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) and are subject to change without notice. The opinions voiced in this podcast are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which strategies or investments may be suitable for you, consult the appropriate qualified professional prior to making a decision. An Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) fund's policy could cause it to perform differently compared to funds that do not have such a policy. The application of social and environmental standards may affect a fund's exposure to certain issuers, industries, sectors, and factors that may impact relative financial performance — positively or negatively — depending on whether such investments are in or out of favor.  Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through WCG Wealth Advisors, a registered investment advisor. WCG Wealth Advisors and The Wealth Consulting Group are separate entities from LPL Financial. WCG Wealth Advisors, The Wealth Consulting Group and LPL Financial are not affiliated with any of the other referenced entities.

In Episode 2 of The ESG Update, President of YourStake.org, Gabe Rissman, joins the pod to discuss the importance shareholder advocacy and the availability of ESG data. Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) is an independent investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The opinions expressed herein are those of Change Finance, P.B.C. (Change Finance) and are subject to change without notice.

In Episode 1 of The ESG Update, CEO of Change Finance, Andrew Rodriguez, joins the pod to discuss how millennials feel about responsible investing and the impact that a proposed rule from the Department of Labor may have on ESG funds in retirement plans. Andrew and host Dan Carreno also discuss the relationship between ESG and investment returns. Change Finance is an independent investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The opinions expressed herein are those of Change Finance and are subject to change without notice. Investing involves risk and past performance is not indicative of future risk. This material is not financial advice or an offer to purchase or sell any product. Change Finance reserves the right to modify its current investment strategies and techniques based on changing market dynamics or client needs.

The team at Change Finance is proud to present our new podcast, The ESG Update, a biweekly podcast designed to keep financial professionals and investors up to date on the world of responsible investing. Subscribe for future episodes to hear host Dan Carreno, Head of Business Development at Change Finance, and various guests discuss the latest ESG news and resources available to environmentally and socially conscious investors.