Podcasts about As You Sow

This Day in Legal History: SEC EstablishedOn this day in legal history, June 6, 1934, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) was established as part of the sweeping reforms of the New Deal. The SEC was created by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in response to the stock market crash of 1929 and the ensuing Great Depression, which exposed widespread fraud, manipulation, and lack of oversight in the financial markets. Its primary mission was, and remains, to protect investors; maintain fair, orderly, and efficient markets; and facilitate capital formation.President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Joseph P. Kennedy, a former stockbroker and businessman, as the SEC's first chairman. The choice was controversial—Kennedy had profited handsomely from some of the same speculative practices the SEC was meant to prevent—but Roosevelt believed that Kennedy's insider knowledge would make him an effective regulator.The SEC was empowered to regulate the securities industry, enforce federal securities laws, and oversee the nation's stock and options exchanges. Among its early duties were requiring public companies to file detailed financial disclosures, registering securities before public offering, and monitoring insider trading. The commission also played a key role in restoring investor confidence in U.S. capital markets during a time of deep financial mistrust.Over time, the SEC expanded its reach, responding to new financial products, trading technologies, and crises. From investigating corporate accounting scandals like Enron and WorldCom, to managing the regulatory fallout of the 2008 financial crisis, the SEC has remained a pivotal force in shaping American financial law. It continues to evolve, now addressing issues such as crypto asset regulation, ESG disclosures, and algorithmic trading.Speaking of the SEC, U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton dismissed a lawsuit challenging the SEC 2020 rule changes that made it more difficult for shareholders to submit proposals at corporate annual meetings. The rules, enacted late in President Trump's term, raised the ownership thresholds and lengthened holding periods required to file shareholder proposals. They also introduced stricter resubmission requirements for proposals previously rejected by shareholders.The plaintiffs, including the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, As You Sow, and shareholder advocate James McRitchie, argued the changes disproportionately harmed proposals on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues and reduced long-term shareholder value. They claimed the SEC failed to assess the benefits of such proposals before implementing the rules.Judge Walton rejected these claims, ruling that the SEC adequately justified the changes under its mandate to promote efficiency, competition, and capital formation. The SEC, which had defended the rules during both the Trump and Biden administrations, argued that the reforms ensured shareholder proposals had broader relevance and potential for meaningful corporate action. The 2020 vote on the rule changes split along party lines, with Republican commissioners in support. While the SEC declined to comment on the ruling, the plaintiffs expressed disappointment and affirmed their commitment to corporate engagement on environmental and social issues.SEC wins dismissal of lawsuit challenging tighter rules on shareholder proposals | ReutersOpenAI filed an appeal challenging a court order that requires it to indefinitely preserve ChatGPT output data in an ongoing copyright lawsuit brought by The New York Times. OpenAI argues the order conflicts with its user privacy commitments and sets a troubling precedent. The preservation directive was issued last month after The Times requested that all relevant log data be maintained and segregated.OpenAI CEO Sam Altman publicly criticized the order on social media, affirming the company's stance against actions it sees as compromising user privacy. The appeal, filed on June 3, asks U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein to vacate the preservation requirement.The lawsuit, filed in 2023, accuses OpenAI and Microsoft of using millions of Times articles without permission to train ChatGPT. In April, Judge Stein ruled that The Times had plausibly alleged that OpenAI and Microsoft may have encouraged users to reproduce copyrighted content. The ruling rejected parts of a motion to dismiss the case and allowed several of the Times' claims to move forward, citing multiple examples of ChatGPT generating material closely resembling Times articles.OpenAI appeals data preservation order in NYT copyright case | ReutersPresident Donald Trump's 2026 budget proposal includes a plan to eliminate the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), an independent agency that funds civil legal aid for low-income Americans. The proposal seeks $21 million for an "orderly closeout" of the organization, which had requested $2.1 billion to meet growing demand. The LSC supports 130 nonprofit legal aid programs that assist with issues such as evictions, disaster recovery, and access to public benefits.Critics warn that the move would devastate legal aid access for millions, particularly in rural areas and the South. In Louisiana, for example, there is just one legal aid lawyer for every 11,250 eligible residents. Legal aid leaders say they already turn away half of those seeking help due to budget constraints, and the proposed funding cut would further limit their reach.Organizations like Southeast Louisiana Legal Services and Legal Aid of North Carolina would lose 40–50% of their funding, jeopardizing services for communities still recovering from recent hurricanes. Legal Services NYC, the largest legal aid provider in the country, has implemented a hiring freeze in anticipation of possible cuts.The proposal revives a long-standing conservative goal. Past Republican efforts to dismantle the LSC date back to the Reagan era, and Trump made a similar attempt in 2018. The Heritage Foundation has accused the LSC of supporting controversial causes, but legal aid advocates argue the organization is vital to community stability and fairness in the justice system.Trump Plan to Ax Legal Aid a Conservative Aim That Targets PoorIn a piece I wrote for Forbes last week, I discuss how the IRS has quietly released the underlying codebase for its Direct File program on GitHub, marking a rare moment of transparency in government software. At the center of this release is something called the “Fact Graph,” a logic engine that models tax rules as interrelated facts rather than a linear checklist. Built using XML and Scala, the Fact Graph interprets ambiguous tax data, identifies contradictions or omissions, and suggests paths forward, all in a transparent, declarative format.What sets this apart is that, unlike proprietary tax software, Direct File's logic isn't hidden—it's open, reviewable, and potentially improvable by anyone. This move not only demystifies some of the inner workings of tax enforcement but also sets a precedent: if algorithms are mediating our legal obligations, we should be able to see and understand the rules they follow.The release is particularly striking in an era of eroding public trust in institutions and increasing reliance on automated decision-making. While Direct File itself remains limited in scope and its future uncertain, the open-sourcing of its logic engine may have laid the groundwork for broader change. Other agencies—from state tax departments to those experimenting with AI-driven policy enforcement—could adopt similar transparency, allowing the public to engage with and even help refine the systems that govern them.Peeking Behind The Code—IRS Just Open-Sourced Direct FileThis week's closing theme is by Robert Schumann and comes courtesy of Christopher Zbinden. This week's closing theme is Robert Schumann's Toccata in C major, Op. 7, a dazzling showcase of Romantic-era pianism and one of the most technically demanding works in the standard repertoire. Composed in 1830 and revised in 1833, the piece earned a reputation early on as a pianist's Everest—Franz Liszt himself dubbed it “the hardest piece ever written.” Clocking in at just over five minutes when played at tempo, it's a relentless whirlwind of perpetual motion, requiring both physical stamina and interpretive precision.The toccata form, traditionally a virtuosic keyboard piece emphasizing dexterity, becomes in Schumann's hands something more cerebral. Beneath its bravura surface lies a structure built on two contrasting themes, developed with intricate counterpoint and rhythmic displacement. The left hand must execute rapid repeated notes and wide leaps with precision, while the right weaves through syncopated figures and chromatic runs, creating a dense musical texture.Schumann dedicated the piece to his friend Ludwig Schuncke, who had recently died at the age of 23. That personal connection adds an emotional layer to a work that might otherwise be heard as pure technical spectacle. Unlike many showpieces of the era, Schumann's Toccata isn't just difficult for difficulty's sake—it's an expression of obsession, energy, and youthful ambition.For a composer better known for lyrical piano miniatures, the Toccata is an early signal of the depth and range Schumann would explore in later works. As this week closes, it offers a fitting sendoff: intricate, driven, and a little manic—in the best Romantic sense of the word.Without further ado, Robert Schumann's Toccata in C major, Op. 7 – enjoy! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

You don't need 100 people… you just need ONE.In this heartfelt sermon, “As You Sow,” Pastor Beto Rivas shares his vulnerable, faith-filled journey of sowing seeds in hard ground—preaching to empty chairs, losing possessions, battling discouragement—yet refusing to quit.Through powerful stories like C.T. Studd's generational conversion and real-life testimonies from Equatorial Guinea, Pastor Beto reminds us:

Proxy Season 2025: How Shareholders Are Making an Impact Amid Political Pushback At AIO Financial, we specialize in helping our clients align their investments with their values through socially responsible investing (SRI). We believe in the power of the individual investor—and there's no better example of that power than proxy season, when shareholders come together to hold corporations accountable. The 2025 Proxy Preview Report, developed by As You Sow, Proxy Impact, and Empower Venture Partners, underscores how shareholder advocacy remains one of the most powerful tools we have to influence corporate behavior—even in the face of increasing political and regulatory headwinds.

The Low-Carbon Stocks for Sustainable Investors includes Corporate Knights company rankings (by sustainable revenues), top natural food stocks, and more! By Ron Robins, MBA Transcript & Links, Episode 149, March 7, 2025 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast episode 149, published March 7, 2025, titled “The Low-Carbon Stocks for Sustainable Investors.” It's presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript and links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – on this episode's podcast page at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, and I don't receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal any investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. Additionally, quotes about individual companies are brief. Please go to this podcast's webpage for links to the articles and more company and stock information. ------------------------------------------------------------- The Low-Carbon Stocks for Sustainable Investors (1) I'm beginning this podcast with my just-released annual favorite sustainable company ranking: Corporate Knights 2025 Clean200 List. Here are some quotes from an article by CK staff introducing the 2025 ranking. “California-based shareholder advocates As You Sow and Corporate Knights (Canada) today released the new cohort of the Carbon Clean200, a global list of 200 publicly traded companies leading the sustainable clean energy economy… It shows sustainable companies on path to dominate global economy. Key findings include: The top 10 companies on the list by revenue include Apple (AAPL), Contemporary Amperex Technology (300750.SZ), Microsoft (MSFT), Tesla (TSLA), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSM) and Volkswagen (VOW3.DE). Thirty-five countries are represented in the Clean200, including the United States (41), China (21), Japan (18), Germany (14), and France and Canada (11 each). Clean200 companies earned more than $2.5 trillion in sustainable revenue in 2023 (the most recent year for which full-year results are available). Clean200 companies generated a total return of 190.9% on a sustainable-revenue-weighted basis, outperforming the MSCI ACWI index (162.0%) and the MSCI ACWI/Energy Index of fossil fuel companies (76.7%) on Total Return Gross – USD Basis from the Clean200 inception of July 1, 2016, to January 29, 2025. $10,000 invested in the Clean200 on July 1, 2016, would have grown to $29,090 by January 29, 2025, versus $17,670 for the MSCI ACWI/Energy benchmark for fossil fuel. The industrial sector accounts for 52 companies on the list, followed by information technology (32), and consumer discretionary and materials (29 each). IT companies had the highest total sustainable revenue, a cumulative total of more than US$687 billion. Background ‘It is telling that clean energy stocks generated more than double the returns of fossil fuel stocks since 2016, despite political headwinds, underlining that stock markets care more about economic materiality of the parabolic growth in clean energy than the political leanings of the day,' says Toby Heaps, CEO of Corporate Knights and co-author of the report. The Clean200 utilizes the Corporate Knights Sustainable Revenue database, which tracks the percentage of revenue companies earn from sustainable economy themes ranging from green power to electric vehicles to plant protein and smart buildings. The list excludes companies that are flagged on Corporate Knights' list of ‘red flag' companies and As You Sow's Invest Your Values suite of mutual-fund transparency tools that identify companies involved in fossil fuels, deforestation, the prison industrial complex, weapons and tobacco, as well as the exclusionary screens that form part of the Corporate Knights Global 100 methodology.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- The Low-Carbon Stocks for Sustainable Investors (2) The next article is about a sector that appeals to many ethical and sustainable investors. However, few invest in it directly. The article is titled 3 Natural Foods Stocks Positioned for Success in 2025. It's by Sumit Singh and is on zacks.com. Here are some quotes from the article. “Companies like The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (HAIN) and Vital Farms, Inc. (VITL) are responding to the rising demand for organic, clean-label and ethically sourced foods… However, this article focuses on these 3 Natural Foods Stocks to Watch. Quote. 1. United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) stands as a prominent player in the natural foods sector, serving as one of the largest distributors of organic and natural products in North America. Through its extensive network, United Natural Foods supplies a vast array of products, including fresh produce, pantry staples, dairy alternatives and plant-based foods. With its diverse portfolio, the company caters to both retail giants and independent natural food stores… This Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company is increasingly focusing on innovation and sustainability within the natural foods space. The company has committed to enhancing its supply-chain practices, reducing waste and supporting regenerative agriculture initiatives. United Natural Foods is also working closely with suppliers to accelerate food innovation. Through its supplier go-to-market program, the company has simplified the process of bringing new natural and organic products to store shelves. This initiative has enabled suppliers to reintroduce thousands of SKUs that were previously discontinued, expanding consumer access to diverse and healthier food options. 2. Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. (SFM) has been at the forefront of the natural and organic food movement, catering to health-conscious consumers seeking fresh, high-quality and ethically sourced products. The company's commitment to fresh, organic and attribute-driven products sets it apart. With nearly 46% of total produce sales now coming from organic products, Sprouts Farmers Market continues to expand its assortment, ensuring accessibility to high-quality, responsibly sourced food… This Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company continues to strengthen its connection with customers through tailored marketing and engagement efforts, such as social media campaigns and in-store discovery events like Sprouts Brand Discovery Days. These initiatives showcase the company's differentiated offerings while attracting a younger demographic and increasing foot traffic. 3. Beyond Meat, Inc. (BYND) is transforming plant-based food by using cleaner, healthier ingredients. The company's latest Beyond 4 products, including the Beyond Burger and Beyond Beef, are made from a blend of yellow peas, brown rice, red lentils and fava beans. These ingredients provide 21 grams of protein per serving while cutting saturated fat by 75% compared to traditional beef burgers, thanks to the use of avocado oil. This commitment to nutrition has earned recognition from the American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association, reinforcing Beyond Meat's focus on making plant-based options both tasty and healthy… This Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company's commitment to food innovation extends beyond retail into food service partnerships. The reintroduction of Beyond The Original Orange Chicken at Panda Express and the expansion of Beyond Nuggets at McDonald's locations in Europe underscore its ability to integrate healthier, plant-based options into mainstream dining. At the same time, Beyond Meat is working to educate consumers on its clean-label approach, challenging misconceptions about plant-based food processing.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- The Low-Carbon Stocks for Sustainable Investors (3) This next article is by an analyst who frequently appears on this podcast: Matt DiLallo. He is also writing about one of his favourite stock picks. His article is titled This Infrastructure Stock Could Be the Best Investment of the Decade. It can be seen on fool.com. Now, here are some quotes by Mr. DiLallo on his recommendation. “Brookfield Infrastructure (BIPC) (BIP) has an embarrassment of riches. The leading global infrastructure company is capitalizing on not one but three massive global megatrends: decarbonization, deglobalization, and digitalization. Those catalysts help drive the company's view that the world needs to invest an astounding $100 trillion over the next 15 years to maintain, upgrade, and build infrastructure. Given its leadership in the sector, it could be one of the best investments over the next decade as it capitalizes on massive opportunities to invest in infrastructure. Multiple growth drivers Brookfield Infrastructure believes that a trio of organic drivers will grow its funds from operations (FFO) by 6% to 9% per share each year. They are: Inflation indexation: Brookfield's infrastructure businesses produce very stable cash flow backed by long-term contracts and government-regulated rate structures, many of which link rates to inflation. Those escalators should boost its funds from operations per share by 3% to 4% per year. GDP growth Reinvested cash flow: Brookfield pays out 60% to 70% of its stable cash flows via dividends. It retains the rest to fund high-return organic expansion projects, which should drive another 2%-3% (in) annual funds from operations per-share growth… A trio of value enhancers Brookfield Infrastructure's megatrend-powered catalysts position it to grow its earnings at a more than 10% annual rate for many years to come. On top of that, it pays a more than 4%-yielding dividend that should continue growing at a healthy rate. Those factors alone position the company to deliver total returns of around 15% per year. Meanwhile, there's additional upside potential from an expansion in its valuation multiple. This high total return potential could make Brookfield one of the best investments over the next decade, especially when factoring in its much lower risk profile.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- The Low-Carbon Stocks for Sustainable Investors (4) Now, my final article is by another analyst on fool.com. Her name is Robin Hartill, and the article is titled How to Buy Constellation Energy Stock (CEG). Here's some of what Ms. Hartill says of her pick. “Constellation Energy (CEG) is the largest provider of carbon-free energy in the U.S., supplying about 10% of the nation's zero-carbon electricity. The Baltimore-based company's nuclear, hydro, wind, and solar generation facilities power about 16 million homes in the U.S. The company was established in 1999 as a part of Constellation Energy Group but later merged with Exelon Group (EXC) in 2012. Constellation Energy then spun off to become its own publicly traded company in 2022, focusing primarily on nuclear and renewable energy. In January 2025, Constellation Energy announced plans to acquire Calpine, a privately held company that's the leading generator of electricity from natural gas and geothermal resources in the U.S., for a net purchase price of $26.6 billion. The merger will create the largest provider of clean energy in the U.S. Last year, the company also made headlines when it inked a deal with Microsoft (MSFT) to restart a Three Mile Island nuclear power plant and power its artificial intelligence (AI) data center. If you want to invest in the transition to clean energy, buying Constellation Energy stock could be a smart move… Is Constellation Energy stock profitable? Constellation Energy stock is profitable. The company reported generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) net income of $11.89 per share and adjusted operating earnings of $8.67 per share for fiscal 2024, easily beating the top end of its twice-revised guidance range of $8 to $8.40 per share. In the fourth quarter of 2024, it posted adjusted earnings per share of $2.44, well above the analyst consensus of $2.19. The company's Q4 and full-year earnings report contained several other pieces of good news for investors. Constellation Energy said it completed $1 billion worth of share repurchases in 2024 and grew its dividend by 25%. It also received a credit ratings upgrade from Moody's, which could make it cheaper for the company to borrow money for projects that will power its growth. Constellation Energy pays annual dividends of $1.41, which works out to a dividend yield of 0.44% based on its share price as of mid-February 2025. That may not be the kind of dividend yield that excites income investors, considering that many utility stocks have yields well north of 3%. But the stock could be worth snatching up if you're looking for dividend growth. Since becoming its own publicly traded company in 2022, Constellation Energy has increased its dividend every year. The company said in its 2024 annual report that it expects to hike its dividend by another 10% in 2025.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Additional article links 1. Title: Lenovo Honored With Prestigious Corporate Governance on 3blmedia.com. By press release. 2. Title: TOV ETF: A Unique Blend Of Financial Growth And Ethical Investing on pradeshtak.com. By Ankit puri. One article from the UK Title: Two funds for investing in ‘most attractive' developed market on .ii.co.uk. By Morningstar. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment These are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips for this podcast. Please click the like and subscribe buttons wherever you download or listen to this podcast. That helps bring these podcasts to others like you. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let's promote ethical and sustainable investing as a force for hope and prosperity in these troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. I'll talk to you next on March 21st. Bye for now.   © 2025 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Story of the Week (DR):Trump signed an order ending DEI. Here's what it means for Fortune 500 companiesTrump's latest presidential moves mandate government agencies to specifically target companies in the private sector engaged in what it describes as “illegal DEI discrimination and preferences.”Despite the intended chilling effect of these executive moves, multiple legal sources point out that Trump's order and action do not constitute a change in the law. Rather, the language used in the order simply “enforces longstanding federal civil rights laws,” says Britney N.D. Torres, senior counsel at employment law firm Littler.Trump's executive moves just mean that companies will have to continue to carefully review their DEI-related policies, practices and initiatives based on longstanding anti-discrimination laws, and make sure they can't be interpreted in a way that is different from what they intended, she says.This week in Davos, Jamie Dimon reaffirmed JPMorgan's DEI commitments after the National Legal and Policy Center, a conservative nonprofit, proposed the bank revisit how compensation is tied to the company's racial-equity goal. “Bring them on,” said Dimon referring to the efforts from right-leaning groups. “We are going to continue to reach out to the Black community, the Hispanic community, the LGBT community, the veterans community.”Will this ever trickle down to JPM leadership?15 on Operating Committee: 1 POC (an Indian man–Sanoke Viswanathan, CEO of International Consumer and Wealth–who came from McKinsey); 7/15 F though so some credit dueBoard: nearly 50% F but a woeful -21% gender gap; no leadership positions on board or top 3 committees: only committees where women have power are Public Responsibility Committee and Risk Committee; 11 on board: 9 WM and 2 BFCan we stop pretending board and shareholder oversight is a thing? DRJPMorgan CEO Dimon's 2024 pay rises 8.3% to $39 million after record profitDisney CEO Bob Iger's Pay Package Rises 30% to $41.1 Million in 2024 Barclays proposes 45% increase in CEO pay under new bonus-linked scheme Goldman CEO gets big pay boost, and $80 million bonus for another five years at helmI promise I try not to pick Musk, but…‘The gesture speaks for itself': Germans respond to Musk's apparent Nazi saluteSome say it was an unambiguous Nazi salute but others are unsure and say focus should be on Musk's stated support for far-rightStarbucks lead independent director Mellody Hobson to step down Is this the only time in history a lead independent director was named in a headline or even mentioned at all?No more black people on board: no women in leadership positionsGoodliest of the Week (MM/DR):DR: Trump has a message to CEOs: Build in America or pay upDR: This confusing headline: Voters who backed Trump identify new swamp to drain: corporate power“The pendulum has swung so far. Things have gotten so out of line. Companies ought to be able to police themselves and not hurt people, and it's just gotten way, way out of line. It's time that it swings back the other way.”DR: Trump's DOGE department is now down to just one leader after Vivek Ramaswamy steps downMM: Microsoft Signs Forest Restoration Deal to Remove 3.5 Million Tons of CO2 DR MMMM: Jamie Dimon is doubling down on JPMorgan's DEI work as a conservative group targets Wall Street: 'Bring them on'Jamie Dimon says LFG RACISTSAssholiest of the Week (MM):John DeereSee, instead of sticking up for yourself against pretend journalists with zero credibility who cosplay at being ESG analysts but are really just anti gay middle school boys, you caved. You caved and now you have not one, but THREE shareholder proposals in a couple weeksAnd the ONLY one you challenged - the one you tried to exclude from your proxy - was the one by As You Sow, who asked the SAME THING as the National Public Policy Research Consumer Blah Blah BlahNational Legal and Policy Center (8 shares): SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL ON A REPORT ON RACIAL AND GENDER HIRING STATISTICSAs You Sow (26,000 shares): SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL ON A REPORT ON EFFECTIVENESS OF EFFORTS TO CREATE A MERITOCRATIC WORKPLACE You also got these anti woke gems:National Center for Public Policy Research ($2,000): SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL ON A CORPORATE FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY REPORT, asking for a new committee to show how committed you are to making moneyBowyer Research (100 shares): SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL ON A REPORT ON CHARITABLE GIVING, asking for a report on how you don't give to Southern Poverty Law Center, but they think you might be and they're discriminating against white religious conservatives and the KKKYou thought, “oh, if we just cut out our DEI stuff and make a press release, they'll go away… sure, we'll offend, like, all the black people and women and stuff, but it's worth it for our white farmers, and everyone will forget…”You were wrong. Your board was wrong. Your management was wrong. You know what petty middle school bullies do when you give them your lunch money? Take it the next fucking day, too. Grow a spine, tell the anti woke shitbirds that DEI is about expanding the talent pool that's been historically excluded and maximizing skills, and keep your lunch money in your pocketMaybe call someone at Costco to ask for advice on how to grow a pairThe proxy vote at Air ProductsOnly three directors have batted under 500 during their tenure at Air Products, only two on all boards in the last 7 years80 year old CEO has been on the board since 2013 and has 32% influenceThere are 81 current directors that are 80 with >30% influence in the US, 21 of whom are CEOsOf them, 12 rate worse than Seifi on TSR, and 13 are worse at EBITDA22% of the board are connected through other directorshipsThere are 910 US companies with higher degree of director interlocks12 of those companies have directors over 80 years old with >30% influence, and 8 of them perform worse than Air ProductsWhat the fuck does ISS and Glass Lewis do all day that they can write this about Air Products, but NOT the others:ISS: “With that said, one must acknowledge the reality of Ghasemi's age, and the board should have a robust strategy in preparation for his eventual departure. Confoundingly, the board appears to have ceded control of deciding Ghasemi's successor to Ghasemi himself…”GL: “… we are concerned that available information strongly suggests that the incumbent board, if left to its own devices and not held accountable at the forthcoming AGM, may simply surface something of a figurehead candidate previously selected or endorsed by Mr. Ghasemi, while concurrently permitting Mr. Ghasemi to retain substantial influence for an unspecified period, without a substantive acknowledgment of the poor capital allocation performance of his strategy.”Egan Jones: “We firmly believe that Air Product's unsatisfactory performance stems in part from mismanagement and the absence of effective leadership to guide the Company.”And why the fuck to investors WAIT until an activist is involved??Air Products CEO unseated from board; Activist investors win 3 seatsWill Hild, Consumer ResearchNasdaq files to withdraw mandate on ‘diverse' board directors after court defeatThose cheering Nasdaq's decision to pull the diversity mandate included Will Hild, executive director of Consumers' Research. He said he was pleased to see the exchange “abandon its anti-White, anti-Asian, and anti-male discrimination scheme.”24,960 directors in the US17,453 are male with an average influence of 1.4 women (it would take about 1 ½ women to equal one dude)White and Asians are 83% of directors and 83% of the US workforce, but are worth 1.4x the influenceWill Hild's most discriminated group - the White and Asian male - is worth, on average, 1.75x the average Black or Hispanic woman in terms of influence and powerConsumers Research is associated with the Philanthropy Roundtable which is associated with every idiot anti-woke anti-gay anti-black anti… non profit org, and Will Hild has made a solid 300k/year making up things about ESG and wokeismHolding students hostageData breach hitting PowerSchool looks very, very bad64.2m students9.5m teachersLargest breach everMaybe they also need to hire Clorox CEO on their board…Headliniest of the WeekDR: Velveeta just made nacho cheese you can stick in your pocketMM: Marriott elects Taco Bell CEO to board of directorsWho Won the Week?DR: the security team paid to protect Tim Noel, UnitedHealthcare new CEO to replace murdered Brian Thompson: best negotiation position ever?MM: Lawyers - how many law firms salivated at the idea of suing the Trump administration for every one of his six thousand executive orders on day one?PredictionsDR: Compensation Committees go buck wild in 2025MM: Zuckerberg's new algorithms automatically append the word “boobs” to every user search, except for the search for Democrats, which also replaces the word Democrats with “boobs”

Janine Firpo, a pioneer in values-aligned investing, shares her journey from technology and social entrepreneurship to advocating for financial decisions that reflect personal values. Janine offers practical advice and tools to help you navigate the world of impact investing, empowering you to align your investments with your values and make a meaningful impact. Key Takeaways: The importance of aligning your investments with your personal values for meaningful change. How small groups and community support can enhance your confidence and knowledge in investing. Practical tools and resources for identifying and selecting values-aligned investments. How women taking control of their financial decisions can drive social change Inspirational Moments: [00:07:45] – Janine discusses her transition from a career in technology to becoming a leader in impact investing and how personal values play a crucial role in investment decisions. [00:22:10] – Take a deep dive into the importance of creating small, supportive groups to foster learning and confidence in values-aligned investing. [00:38:25] – Janine shares powerful stories of women who have transformed their financial lives and driven social change through impact investing. Meet Our Guest - Janine Firpo:  Janine Firpo is a seasoned values-aligned investor and social innovator, with a long history of working at the intersection of women and their money. From the early years of Apple Computer to senior positions with Hewlett-Packard, the World Bank, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Janine has always found herself making an impact. In 2017 she left a successful 35-year career in technology and international development to focus on how women can create a more just and equitable society through their financial investments. Her book, Activate Your Money: Invest to Grow Your Wealth and Build a Better World, a collaborative effort that involved almost 150 women (and a few men) was published in May 2021 by Wiley. Later that year, Janine co-founded Invest for Better, a non-profit organization that helps women invest their money in ways that align with their values.  Janine walks her talk. She is taking action to move all her own assets into investments she feels good about and is watching them grow with market-rate returns. Website: Invest for Better LinkedIn: Janine Firpo Inside Scoop:  Janine Firpo has made it her mission to empower women to become confident investors who align their financial decisions with their values. Through her nonprofit, Invest for Better, she creates small groups where women can openly discuss and learn about investing. Her approach emphasizes the importance of personal values in investment choices, advocating for a personalized definition of sustainability and impact. Janine also shares practical tools and resources, such as ethos ESG and As You Sow, to help individuals make informed investment decisions. Important Links: Get courses, templates and more at our online store- Learn Grow Thrive: https://learngrowthrive.wendieveloz.com DIYers dream—hop in our University for templates and FREE resources: https://wendieveloz.com/university Podcast audio/video management by Podcast Abundance. Find out more at www.podcastabundance.com/services --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/social-impact-level-up/support

Sacrificing the comforts of life is often seen as part of the “spiritual path,” so it might seem unusual to hear from a Vedic master that, “You deserve the best.”Yet this is one of the key teachings of Swami Bramhananda Saraswati, Thom's master's master, also referred to as Guru Deva.In this episode, Thom clarifies the meaning and intent of Guru Deva's quote, reconciling the notion of deserving the best with the “pervasive guilt” that often holds us back from claiming or accepting the best. It's an episode you deserve to listen to…Episode Highlights:[00:45] Your Birthright[02:38] In the Best Interests of All[04:12] Pervasive Guilt Consciousness[05:37] Living Your Best - Tat Wale Baba[07:46] A Dark Cave in the Jungle[09:19] As You Sow, So Shall You Reap[11:08] Lean Into the BestUseful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoleshttps://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/info@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoleshttps://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

The backlash against ESG is continuing, with a string of lawsuits aimed at shutting down shareholder activism. We don't often talk about shareholder activism in the vein of protecting protest, but it's absolutely part of the story. Andrew Behar, CEO of shareholder advocacy group As You Sow, joins us to explain what's going on, and why anyone who cares about basic rights needs to be tuning into the ESG fight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Greenest Global Companies podcast features Corporate Knights and As You Sow's 2024 Clean 200 global green company rankings. Plus Ron Robins, MBA Transcript & Links, Episode 124, February 23, 2024 Hello, Ron Robins here. So, welcome to this podcast episode 124 titled “The Greenest Global Companies.” It's presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. And look at my newly revised website at investingforthesoul.com! Tell me what you think. Now, remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – on this episode's podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, nor do I receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal to you any personal investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. Additionally, quotes about individual companies are brief. Please go to this podcast's webpage for links to the actual articles for more company and stock information. Also, some companies might be covered more than once and there are also 8 article links below that time didn't allow me to review them here. ------------------------------------------------------------- List of Clean 200 companies captures the green transition in full flight I'm beginning this podcast with one of my favorite company rankings that has just been released! It's on corporateknights.com and titled List of Clean 200 companies captures the green transition in full flight. The introduction is by Rick Spence. Here are some quotes by Mr. Spence. “Released by Corporate Knights and California-based shareholder advocates As You Sow on February 15, the 11th Clean200 ranking captures the green transition in full flight, cataloguing those public companies that are earning the most from sustainable sources. Crucially, it also signals to investors – venture capitalists, institutions and individuals alike – that a wide range of companies are capitalizing on new-economy principles without sacrificing annual returns or opportunities for growth. Between July 1, 2016, and January 15, 2024, Clean200 companies generated a total return of 103.5%. Although they underperformed the MSCI ACWI broad market index, which grew 114.4%, the Clean200 trounced the key index of global fossil fuel companies (the MSCI ACWI/Energy Index), which gained only 64.5% through those years. And that's the big deal, says As You Sow CEO Andrew Behar, who co-authored the 2024 study. ‘In 2016, we created the Clean200 in response to investors saying, if we divest fossil fuels, there is nothing to invest in.' Eight years later, the message is clear: ‘Investors who are not tilting their portfolios toward a clean future do so at their own peril.' Top Companies In first place again is Apple (AAPL)… Other blue-chip names on the list include Tesla (TSLA) (number three), HP (HPQ) (five), Microsoft (MSFT) (six), Daimler (DTG.DE) (12), BMW (BMW.DE) (16), Nissan (NSANY) (36), Nike (NKE) (50), Swatch (UHR.SW) (157) and even the iconic U.S. Steel (X) (177) – which recently committed to being zero-carbon by 2050. ‘Our mission is to shine a light on the heroes of the battle against climate change,' notes report co-author Toby Heaps, CEO of Corporate Knights. ‘The 2024 Clean200 proves there are true sustainability champions out there. The key is to rigorously apply a scientifically inspired method to identify these gems.' In total, Clean200 companies earned more than $2.2 trillion in sustainable revenue in 2022, deriving on average 54.7% of their revenues from sustainable business activities, versus 13.6% for their MSCI ACWI peers… The ranking excludes firms involved in industries such as fossil fuels, deforestation, prisons, weapons and tobacco – as well as companies that engage in blocking climate policies. Leading the pack is the U.S., with 39 companies making the list this year. Other blooming centres of corporate sustainability are China (23), Japan (18) and France (13), followed by Brazil, Canada and Germany with 10 companies each.” End quotes ------------------------------------------------------------- 13 Best Renewable Energy Stocks To Buy According to Hedge Funds Next up is back to energy with this article titled 13 Best Renewable Energy Stocks To Buy According to Hedge Funds. It's by Fatima Farooq and seen on finance.yahoo.com. Here's some of what Ms. Farooq says. “We selected the names for our list of the best renewable energy stocks to buy by consulting Insider Monkey's hedge fund data for the third quarter… Hedge funds' top 10 consensus stock picks outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here)”. 13. Daqo New Energy Corp. (NYSE:DQ) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 18 It manufactures and sells polysilicon to photovoltaic product manufacturers in China to be used in ingots, wafers, cells, and modules for solar power solutions. 12. Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE:AGR) Hedge Fund Holders: 19 Anthony Crowdell at Mizuho holds a Neutral rating and a $34 price target on Avangrid, Inc. as of January 3… Avangrid… engages in the renewable energy generation business in the US, focusing on onshore wind power, solar, biomass, and thermal. 11. Clearway Energy, Inc. (NYSE:CWEN) Hedge Fund Holders: 23 Clearway Energy… has about 5,500 net megawatts of installed wind and solar generation projects… Oppenheimer's Noah Kaye maintains an Outperform rating and a $37 price target on Clearway Energy… as of January 19. 10. Green Plains Inc. (NASDAQ:GPRE) Hedge Fund Holders: 24 Green Plains… produces, stores, distributes, and sells clean fuel… On January 30, Goldman Sachs analyst Adam Samuelson maintained a Buy rating and a $34 price target on Green Plains. 9. Sunrun Inc. (NASDAQ:RUN) Hedge Fund Holders: 26 Sunrun Inc. designs, develops, installs, and sells residential solar energy systems in the US … A Buy rating and a $28 price target were maintained on Sunrun Inc. on January 3 by Mizuho's Maheep Mandloi. 8. SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:SEDG) Hedge Fund Holders: 27 Christopher Souther at B. Riley Securities maintains a Buy rating and a $133 price target on SolarEdge Technologies… as of February 5. SolarEdge Technologies designs, develops, and sells direct current optimized inverter systems for solar photovoltaic installations. 7. Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (NYSE:AQN) Hedge Fund Holders: 28 On January 8, Ben Pham at BMO Capital upgraded Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. from Market Perform to Outperform and placed a $7.50 price target on the stock… Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. is a renewable energy and utility company. 6. Enbridge Inc. (NYSE:ENB) Hedge Fund Holders: 35 Enbridge is an energy company with a proactive Renewable Power Generation segment that operates assets such as wind, solar, geothermal, and waste heat recovery. 5. Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENPH) Hedge Fund Holders: 40 Enphase Energy designs and manufactures home energy solutions for the solar photovoltaic industry in the US and internationally… A Buy rating and a $140 price target were maintained on Enphase Energy… on February 1 by Philip Shen at Roth MKM. 4. Constellation Energy Corporation (NASDAQ:CEG) Hedge Fund Holders: 45 Constellation Energy Corporation is a producer of carbon-free energy with about 32,355 megawatts of generating capacity consisting of nuclear, wind, solar, natural gas, and hydroelectric assets. 3. First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) Hedge Fund Holders: 49 First Solar is a provider of photovoltaic solar energy solutions… On January 3, Maheep Mandloi maintained a Buy rating on First Solar alongside a $196 price target. 2. NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) Hedge Fund Holders: 58 NextEra Energy… generates electricity through wind, solar, nuclear, coal, and natural gas facilities. RBC Capital's Shelby Tucker reiterated an Outperform rating and a $74 price target on NextEra Energy on January 30. 1. General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) Hedge Fund Holders: 76 GE… provides green energy solutions by combining onshore and offshore wind, blade manufacturing, grid solutions, hydro storage, hybrid renewables, and more… Overweight rating and a $153 price target were maintained on General Electric on January 24 by Julian Mitchell at Barclays.” End quotes ------------------------------------------------------------- Profit and Purpose: 7 Standout Stocks for the Ethical Investor This next article covers some well-known companies. It's titled Profit and Purpose: 7 Standout Stocks for the Ethical Investor by Josh Enomoto, on investorplace.com. Here are some quotes on each of his picks. “1. Waste Management (NYSE:WM) It's one of the leaders in environmental sustainability with a focus toward waste reduction and renewable energy initiatives. For one thing, the company owns a vast network of recycling facilities… Second, the company forwards a waste-gas-to-energy project. Per its website. Analysts rate shares a consensus moderate buy with a high-side target hitting $230. 2. NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE) Commanding a presence in 49 states… (and) through its vast network of facilities – including solar and wind turbines – NextEra Energy features about 72 gigawatts (GW) of operating capacity… Rough economic conditions hurt NextEra Energy bad in the final months of 2023. However, analysts anticipate a recovery, pegging shares a moderate buy with a $69.60 average price target. 3. Costco (NASDAQ:COST) I don't think it's an anecdote to say that most Americans love the open-warehouse-style big-box retailer… But where it really shines is how well Costco treats its employees… In 2022, data from Glassdoor noted that the retailer's employees rated the business a four out of five regarding worker satisfaction… Analysts rate Costco stock a strong buy with a high-side target of $825. 4. Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) Starbucks… appeals to modern investors by emphasizing the ‘S' component of ESG stocks… the company proudly boasts of its ethical sourcing of its key ingredients, from coffee beans to tealeaves to cocoa. In addition, its manufactured goods – from the merchandise on its shelves to the furniture in its stores – involve ethical sourcing… Also, I'd be remiss not to mention Starbucks' youth empowerment, hunger relief, and inclusivity programs… And analysts love it, pegging shares a consensus strong buy. 5. Visa (NYSE:V) According to a Forbes article in 2023, Visa represents the most carried card, printing a market share of 52.8%... Lots of folks love talking about the ‘E' and the ‘S' in ESG stocks. However, governance is also a major component of holistic ethics. Here, Visa's corporate governance practices help promote long-term value and accountability to its shareholders. Part of this involves ensuring diversity and inclusion and not just in the workforce itself but in the upper echelons of leadership… Analysts rate shares a consensus strong buy with a $303.74 average price target. 6. Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) Maintaining high standards of governance, Apple focuses on a range of important issues. In June 2020, the company launched its Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, advancing opportunities for many people of color and Indigenous communities…. Also, Apple implements a shareholder voting process focused on executive compensation. That's one distinct mechanism to keep the company accountable to stakeholders. Overall, analysts peg shares a moderate buy with a $208.07 average price target. Notably, the high-side target hits $250, implying robust bullishness despite a soft start to 2024. 7. Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) Thanks to the tech giant's big investments in artificial intelligence, it has steadily rocketed higher since the 2022 doldrums. Further, as AI becomes more ingrained into everyday life, Microsoft stands to be a massive winner. And when it comes to ethical stocks, the company may be the all-around champion… management set out ambitious environmental targets, most conspicuously being its aim to be carbon negative; that is, it will remove its historical emissions since its founding in 1975. In addition, it's a huge player in social equity, promoting directives focused on encouraging women to participate in technology. Finally, MSCI Ratings awarded Microsoft an AAA rating, the highest rating available to organizations. Unsurprisingly, analysts love Microsoft, rating it a consensus strong buy with a $469.45 price target.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Other Honorable Mentions – not in any order. 1. Title: Top 10: Solar Companies found on energydigital.com. By Maya Derrick. 2. Title: 3 Solar Energy Stocks Poised for a Strong Comeback on investorplace.com. By Faisal Humayun. 3. Title: ESG Funds Bucking The Trend on fa-mag.com. By Ron Delegge. 4. Title: BK Named A Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock on nasdaq.com. By BNK Invest. 5. Title: Get Rich Quick with These 7 Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy Now on investorplace.com. By Ian Cooper. 6. Title: 3 Strong Buy Renewable Energy Stocks to Add to Your February Must-Watch List on investorplace.com. By Tomas Levani. 7. Title: 3 Renewable Energy Stocks to Own Before the Election Frenzy Begins on investorplace.com. By Jeremy Flint. 8. Title: 3 Hidden-Gem Renewable Energy Stocks Ready to Ride a Massive Market Wave on investorplace.com. By Matthew Farley. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast titled: “The Greenest Global Companies.” Now, please be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. That helps bring these podcasts to others like you. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let's promote ethical and sustainable investing as a force for hope and prosperity in these deeply troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. And, again, please look at my new totally revised website at investingforthesoul.com. Tell me what you think! I'll talk to you next on March 8th. Bye for now.   © 2024 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

S3 Ep6 | The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world, with almost 2.2 million people in prison, and 1 in 7 Americans have an immediate family member incarcerated for more than a year. And yet the prison-industrial complex remains a robust, well-funded system. The right data gives us not only a picture of the dire state of incarceration, but a powerful tool to invest in social change. In this episode, Tanay Tatum-Edwards, Founder & CEO of FreeCap Financial, shares how social justice-informed financial data can help investors take real action against mass incarceration. About Tanay.Tanay Tatum-Edwards is the founder and CEO of FreeCap Financial, Inc, a research company that provides investors and money managers with intelligent, social-justice oriented data to equip individuals and collectives with the tools they need to enact positive change in this world. Before FreeCap, she developed a lifelong commitment to using investment strategies to create systemic social change while working in asset management. Tanay has multiple loved ones impacted by mass incarceration and is committed to using her expertise to address it. Prestigious fellowships have supported her work, including Echoing Green, Fulbright, Halcyon Incubator, and Roddenberry Foundation.Tanay regularly shares insights from FreeCap's research at events, including SOCAP, Confluence Philanthropy, Stanford University, Vassar College, Tufts University, Georgetown University, and Yale University. Her thought leadership has been spotlighted in major news outlets, including MarketWatch. A foodie, NBA fan, and lover of hip-hop, Tanay received an M.A. in Law and Diplomacy from The Fletcher School at Tufts University, where her classmates elected her commencement speaker, and a B.A. in Africana Studies & Sociology from Vassar College, where she served as student body president.Renegade Capital Tools & Tips.A renegade not only listens but acts. We've consolidated a few tips from this episode to help you use your investments to fight mass incarceration. Check if your investments are incarceration-free. As You Sow has a great resource to see if your 401k or personal portfolio is prison-free. You can also share this resource with your advisor and ask questions about other ways to decarcerate your investments. They also have some great suggestions as part of the Prison-Free Action Toolkit. Join the Waitlist for FreeCap's Free Prison Risk Index. FREE is an index that makes it possible to invest in companies who lead in fair chance hiring and disrupt the prison industrial complex. The index will be made up of FreeCap's highest rated companies and will be the first of its kind to incorporate a companies' fair chance hiring practices and prison risk mitigation efforts. Join the waitlist Support the showLove the podcast? Subscribe and follow to never miss an episode.Linkedin | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Join our mailing list

2023 saw a record number of shareholder proposals pushing companies to bring environmental and social issues more into focus, and one of the most active in the space has been As You Sow. Founded in 1992, the group bills itself as the nation's non-profit leader in shareholder advocacy. They have an extensive track record of putting forward resolutions on issues such as energy & climate, social justice, and the circular economy. On this episode of the ESG Currents podcast, BI analyst Rob Du Boff sits down with Danielle Fugere, As You Sow's President & Chief Counsel. This episode was recorded on Oct. 10.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of Lever Time, news editor Lucy Dean Stockton is joined by researcher Rosanna Landis Weaver and Andrew Behar, CEO of the non-profit shareholder advocacy organization As You Sow, to discuss how they're using stock ownership in publicly-traded companies to promote corporate change from within. 50 years ago, economist Milton Friedman argued that a corporation's “greatest responsibility lies in the satisfaction of the shareholders.” In other words, the primary goal of every business is to increase its profits and maximize returns to investors. But in hindsight, even Fortune magazine acknowledges that the ideology of “shareholder primacy” has extensively damaged society. That's where shareholder advocates come in, since they use their ownership in publicly traded companies to influence company decision-making. Whether it's pushing for transparency, addressing ethical concerns, advocating for sustainable practices, or curtailing CEO pay, shareholders have the ability to shape the companies in which they own stock. In today's interview, Rosanna and Andrew explain how their organization As You Sow practices shareholder advocacy, including a recent win at Starbucks to reduce their plastic waste. They break down their annual list of “The 100 Most Overpaid CEOs,” which details how some of the highest paid CEOs actually underperform for their companies. And they discuss how the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee recently opened an investigation into As You Sow along with other organizations, as part of their culture war against ESG (Environment, Social, and Governance) investments. A transcript of this episode is available here.Links: As You Sow The 100 Most Overpaid CEOs (As You Sow, 2023) BONUS: On Monday's bonus episode of Lever Time Premium, exclusively for The Lever's supporting subscribers, we'll be publishing our interview with journalist and author Cole Stangler about his new book Paris Is Not Dead: Surviving Hypergentrification in the City of Light, which explores how gentrification has affected the cultural makeup of Paris, and the public housing policies that have helped maintain the city's diverse, working-class character.If you'd like access to Lever Time Premium, which includes extended interviews and bonus content, head over to LeverNews.com to become a supporting subscriber.If you'd like to leave a tip for The Lever, click the following link. It helps us do this kind of independent journalism. levernews.com/tipjar

Andrew Behar, the CEO of As You Sow, is a well-known advocate for shareholder advocacy. With a rich background in documentary filmmaking, entrepreneurship, and technological innovation, he brings a unique perspective to shareholder advocacy.Behar's journey as a shareholder advocate was influenced by his personal experiences. Growing up near Long Island Sound in Connecticut, he witnessed the environmental impact of industry on his surroundings. These early observations of environmental degradation left a lasting impression on him.Before dedicating himself to shareholder advocacy, Behar explored entrepreneurial endeavors, including a medical device company that earned him five patents and demonstrated his commitment to using technology for positive change.Behar then transitioned to As You Sow in 2010. As CEO of a nonprofit organization, he began advocating for values-aligned investing and using shareholder influence to drive corporate responsibility.Behar emphasizes that As You Sow practices shareholder advocacy, which focuses on engaging with companies to improve their practices. Shareholder activism, on the other hand, often involves taking over boards or liquidating companies, a different approach that doesn't align with As You Sow's goals.The core philosophy of As You Sow is to compel companies to reduce material risks on various issues, including climate change, diversity, equity, inclusion, and more. Under Behar's leadership, As You Sow has developed valuable tools to empower shareholders, including the Investor Value Tool and As You Vote Tool.The goal is to create a win-win situation where companies make responsible decisions that benefit all stakeholders.In this episode, we'll explore Behar's journey and the core principles of shareholder engagement, shedding light on how it works, where it falls short, and how it can be improved. I really learned a lot from my discussion with Andrew, and I hope you will too!Show notes: https://sri360.com/podcast/andrew-beharAbout the SRI 360° Podcast: The SRI 360° Podcast is focused exclusively on sustainable & responsible investing. In each episode, I interview a world-class investor who is an accomplished practitioner from all asset classes. In my interviews, I cover everything from their early personal journeys to insights on how they developed and executed their investment strategies and what challenges they face today. Each episode is a chance to go way below the surface with these impressive people and gain additional insights and useful lessons from professional investors. Connect with SRI360°: Sign up for the free weekly email update: https://sri360.com/newsletter/Visit the SRI360° PODCAST: https://sri360.com/podcast/Visit the SRI360° WEBSITE: https://sri360.com/Follow SRI360° on X: https://twitter.com/SRI360Growth/Follow SRI360° on FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SRI360Growth/Key TakeawaysIntro (00:00)Andrew's journey into shareholder advocacy (06:55)Our rights as shareholders (15:31)The concept of materiality in advocacy (22:18)Investor Values and As You Vote Tools (25:23)Shareholder activism vs shareholder advocacy (38:48)Successful engagement campaigns (45:38)As You Sow escalation process (50:31)Driving change amidst culture wars (01:03:44)Is Shareholder Advocacy always a win-win (01:04:38)What asset managers need to do differently (01:08:54)Disclosure issues with private equity (01:20:17)

Andrew Behar is the CEO of As You Sow, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing environmental and social corporate responsibility through shareholder advocacy. As You Sow helps companies gage their social and environmental impact, improve their culture, and generally do better in the ways their individual stakeholders really want to see.   Discover the work As You Sow does in bringing shareholders' concerns to the boardroom, why the companies shifting toward justice and sustainability are thriving, and how you as a shareholder (retail or institutional) can shift the system by exercising your right to vote on the issues that matter to you.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://sensiba.com/resources/

Host Chris Adams is joined by Andri Johnston, Digital Sustainable Lead for Cambridge University Press and Assessment as they talk about using DIMPACT to calculate the carbon impact of digital publishing as well as news from the world of green software concerning one acronym; ESG and one portmanteau; LightSwitchOps. They also cover some upcoming events and we learn about Andri's love of books!

Is the world going crazy? This week we discuss how an abortionist is apparently bringing their baby to the clinic, WHO's recommendation to encourage children 4 and under to “ask questions about sexuality”, the anti-capitalist cafe that's going under, and Coke's battle with woke culture. So listen and decide for yourself! Topics Discussed:The Abortionist that brings their baby to work!WHO pushes the sexualization of toddlersPro-Abortion, Anti-Capitalist Coffee Shop to close after just one yearCoca-Cola won't be investigating ‘risks' of doing business in pro-life statesCoke Shadiness Links Mentioned:Unhappy Mother's Day: Abortionist Brings Baby to Work! - Operation RescueAbortion Testimonials of Clinic WorkersWHO Pushes “Early Childhood Masturbation” For Toddlers, Encourages Questions About Gender Identity For Kids Aged 4 - Summit NewsToronto “Anti-Capitalist” Coffee Shop With “Pay What You Can” Model Closing After One Year Of Business - The PublicaCoca-Cola shareholders reject proposal to investigate ‘risks' of doing business in pro-life states - Live Action NewsIn Proxy Memo, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo Are Urged to Stay Out of Divisive Abortion Issue - Financial ContentCoca-Cola's PartnershipsCoca Cola Foundation's Grants in 2021Project Last Mile: Matching Health Enterprises With Private Sector Expertise To Improve Family PlanningProject Last Mile 2020 Annual ReportPro-Life America Podcast Episode 129: Population Control & Eugenics Efforts have been Disguised as “Aid”Maafa 21 - Black Genocide in 21st Century AmericaRate & Review Our Podcast Have a topic you want to see discussed on the show? [Submit it here.]To learn more about what Life Dynamics does, visit: https://lifedynamics.com/about-us/Support Our Work 

Optimizing product packaging is essential for reducing waste and driving the circular economy. In this episode, Tad and Julianna sit down with Kelly McBee, Circular Economy Sr. Coordinator at As You Sow, to discuss the mission of As You Sow, the Corporate Plastic Pollution Scorecard they developed to rank companies on their progress toward plastic goals, how companies can get better scores in the future, why third-party certifications are so important to the achievement of corporate plastic reduction goals, and what's next for As You Sow. Interested in submitting a question for Tad to answer on an upcoming episode? Click the link below and scroll to the bottom of the page! SHOW NOTES: https://www.tadradzinski.com/tad-talks-sustainability-podcast/episode32-circular-product-packaging

If the “ESG”—environmental, social, and governance—movement had a guiding text, it would the Proxy Preview. Put out by the corporate social responsibility investing nonprofit As You Sow, the Proxy Preview details all the ESG “shareholder resolutions” that activist shareholders, government worker and labor union pension funds, and left-of-center nonprofits want American businesses to adopt. Joining […]

If the “ESG”—environmental, social, and governance—movement had a guiding text, it would the Proxy Preview. Put out by the corporate social responsibility investing nonprofit As You Sow, the Proxy Preview details all the ESG “shareholder resolutions” that activist shareholders, government worker and labor union pension funds, and left-of-center nonprofits want American businesses to adopt. Joining us to discuss the Proxy Preview and the organizations behind it is our colleague, Capital Research Center research specialist Robert Stilson.Sources: The Proxy Preview: ESG in 2023Influence Watch ESG Activism HubAs You SowFollow us on our Socials: Twitter: @capitalresearchInstagram: @capitalresearchcenterFacebook: www.facebook.com/capitalresearchcenterYouTube: @capitalresearchcenter

In this episode, I interview ESG expert Andy Behar, CEO of As You Sow. Learn how you and your community can make an impact in your company and beyond by leveraging your power as a stakeholder in our economy.

Women bring the skills, perspectives, and emotional intelligence necessary to achieving the green transition, addressing food shortages, and equitable financing. Women are 49.7% of the world's population, but only 1.9% of venture capital investments in 2022 were placed with women-led startups. Patience Marine-Ball and Ruth Shaber, coauthors of The XX Edge: Unlocking higher returns and lower risk, join Mitch Ratcliffe to discuss the power and impact of women in business and other leadership roles. The book shares stories of corporate, startup, nonprofit and many other organizational innovations and improvements led by women, and they make the case that those of us with two X chromosomes bring essential skills that are in short supply in the face of climate change, social disruption, and 20th Century business strategies that are too exhausted to thrive in the 21st Century. There has been progress in bringing women into leadership across society, but it is slow work. Today, 42% of U.S. businesses are owned by women and 19% of startups have at least one female founder. And women are making the educational investments to lead. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, in 2018-19 women earned 57.9% of bachelors degrees,. 63.9% of masters degrees, and 56.4% of doctoral degrees. Patience and Ruth explain several resources to keep in mind as you shop, invest, and vote to create the world your want, including As You Sow, a nonprofit shareholder activist organization, Ethos ESG, a values-based tool for filtering investment options, as well as Patience's work at the Women of the World Endowment and Ruth's at the Tara Health Foundation. The XX Edge is available now at Amazon. You can learn more about Patience at Ruth at https://thexxedge.com/

How much do you know about corporate responsibility and sustainability? This week, Andy Behar, the CEO of As You Sow, joins Kim Griego-Kiel to talk about the nonprofit organization's role in shaking up the business world with its innovative environmental and social justice approach.  Listen in as Andy details the ins and outs of creating … Continue reading Critical Climate and Diversity Stakeholder Resolutions for 2023 with Andy Behar (Ep. 85) →

Shareholder advocacy group As You Sow judged CEO pay based on stock returns, shareholder opposition, and the ratio of compensation to average worker pay.

Timeless Concepts That Your Soul Knows. Find out which of the principles you are naturally of and living. Join Sam and I as we discuss the keys to an inspired life. This is an exploration into the 7 Spiritual Principles of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Trust Yourself – All that you need for growth and guidance in life is already present inside you. As You Sow, You Will Reap – Your thoughts and actions shape your character, and your character determines your destiny. Nothing Outside You Can Harm You - Circumstances and events don't matter as much as what you do with them. The Universe Is Inside You - The world around you is a reflection of the world within you. Identify with the Infinite - Center your identity on the soul and your life's purpose will unfold. Live in the Present - The present moment is your point of power. Eternity is now. Seek God Within - The highest revelation is the divinity of the soul. Sam's Book: Living from the Soul: https://geni.us/Livingfromthesoul (Amazon) Lorraine's website: lorrainenilon.com.au Book a personal session with Lorraine https://calendly.com/lorrainenilon/60min Check out Gems of Wisdom from XXXX - Use them as journal prompts, contemplation points or conversation starters. https://www.facebook.com/LorraineNilon A special WORDS OF WISDOM form for reviews - https://form.jotform.com/Insight.../words-of-wisdom-reviews- Thought-Provoking videos and Flip the Book - https://youtube.com/@lorrainenilon Support the show- https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LorraineNilon Music by Joystock - https://www.joystock.org

Welcome to a look back at this year's interviews with industry experts. It has been a packed year so join Kieran Poole as we journey through the class of 2022.  Hear from CorpGov's Jim McRitchie, Schulte Roth and Zabel's Ele Klein and Marc Weingarten, As You Sow's Olivia Knight, film director Bruce David Klein, Muddy Waters Research's Carson Block, White & Case's Tom Matthews and Sonica Tolani, The California State Teachers' Retirement System's Aeisha Mastagni, Shareholder Rights Group's Sanford Lewis, Georgeson's Cas Sydorowitz and Alicia Ogawa, Olshan Frome Wolosky's Ryan Nebel and Elizabeth Gonzalez-Sussman, The Activist Investor's Michael Levin, Vinson & Elkins' Lawrence Elbaum, Sustainable Governance Partners' Jessica Strine, William Blair's Christina Bresani, and Alliance Advisors' Emmanuelle Palikuca, FT's Dan McCrum, and Willis Tower Watson's Heather Marshall and Kenneth Kuk.  Want to hear a guest on the show? We have put together a quick survey for you to tell us how we can improve our offering.

In this episode, we investigate corporate climate commitments and how to make them stronger. We get to the root of zero-emissions pledges and greenwashing — specifically in the oil and gas industry.  Dr. Paasha Mahdavi, associate professor of political science at the University of California, Santa Barbara, joins us to report this story. Paasha talks with Louise Rouse, a consultant who teams up with investors to push corporations for climate accountability. He also speaks with The Science Based Targets Initiative's head of standards, Emma Watson, and Jill Courtenay, director of communications and project management at the shareholder advocacy nonprofit, As You Sow. Leah, Katharine, and Paasha look at how we can get to a decarbonized economy through policy and shareholder activism — a tool that can be used by anyone with a retirement account. They learn about the SEC's proposed mandatory disclosure rules, shareholder resolutions, and the difference between buzzwords like “carbon neutral” and “net zero.” Paasha also mentions three different categories, or “scopes,” of corporate emissions. You can read about scope one, “burn,” scope two, “buy,” and scope three, “beyond.” Corporations that keep this info hidden can face serious blowback from their investors. Check out this earth-shaking vote by ExxonMobil shareholders to reshape the company's board of directors in 2021 (which Jill Courtenay mentions in the episode).    Next time, we'll enter the worlds of three activists working across the country to fight petrochemical pollution within their communities. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and don't miss a single episode this season!

Rosanna is much more than just one of the foremost executive compensation experts. She's a sharp eyed observer of American capitalism who has had more than three decades of corporate governance experience at the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the Investor Responsibility Research Center (IRRC), the Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) and Change to Win.Rosanna is Wage Justice & Executive Pay Program Senior Manager at As You Sow where she's the author of the As You Sow foundation's The 100 Most Overpaid CEO's annual report.On this episode of Outside In she talks with Jon about executive compensation, income inequality, her Mennonite upbringing, the different kinds of smart and her book Weaving A Family.

You may not know it, but there's a political and ideological war raging inside your investment portfolio. In recent years, a tiny but very vocal minority has sought to bully financial institutions into adopting their views of culture and politics. But it seems they've gone too far. We'll talk about that with economist Jerry Bowyer today. WHAT IS ESG? ESG is an acronym for Environmental, Social, and Governance investing, ESG, and it's being exploited by the minority you mentioned. The Wall Street Journal recently ran a story about a letter addressed to the money management giant Blackrock by the Attorney General of Arizona and 18 of his counterparts in other states. This comes after a series of actions taken by state-level financial officers questioning Blackrock and other asset managers as well as rating agencies for their heavy-handed imposition of ESG. They were imposing their views of ESG on state investment assets and even on the states themselves. Add to that the world's richest man, and former ESG darling, Elon Musk, calling the whole thing a scam, and pushback from Republican senators, governors, and other hopefuls against the politicization of the world of finance, and it adds up to a powerful reaction to a movement which had been seen as the inevitable future of the industry. BACKLASH AGAINST ESG MOVEMENT Bowyer says the backlash against the ESG movement is important because that sense of inevitability was a key source of ESG's power. The message was fall in line with the inevitable march of history or get left behind. When investors questioned the prudence of imposing political criteria on financial decisions, they were assured that it was, indeed, prudent because this was where the world was going. Eventually, the governments of the world would wake up to the reality of climate change and outlaw fossil fuels, leaving them as stranded assets sitting on company balance sheets. As social consciousness inevitably rose, anti-social behavior would be punished in the form of reputational risk and eventually the loss of the company's social license to do business. So don't take a risk, do the safe thing, and fall into line now. But a populist revolt stubbornly held on, not just to God and guns, but also to fossil fuels, color-blindness, viewpoint diversity, parental rights in education, and the sanctity of life. Facts are stubborn things, but our ruling class now has to learn that stubborn people are also a fact. Those who stubbornly hold fast to things which the anointed can't believe still exist are aware, angry, and registered to vote (and have the IDs to prove it) know it. And dozens of attorneys general, treasurers, senators, and governors know it. This means that the chief selling point, risk management, has suddenly become the chief objection. ESG is now a controversial political risk. How is the ESG crowd reacting to this backlash? The controversy is now so undeniable, Bowyer says, that the ESG industry is lashing back at the backlash, the denial of which is essential to the premise of that industry. As You Sow, one of the non-profit clearinghouses for the industry, posted a quote on social media acknowledging that the acronym ESG as a construct may have lost some of its luster and has been explaining to the shrinking faithful that the reason why there's been such a backlash against ESG is that it It's extremely effective! So, the new party line is basically, We're losing so much because we win so much. The unspun version is that ideology pushed the movement beyond the investing public's tolerance point and the shareholders and the voters are correcting the imbalance. Things have gotten so bad that they haven't just alienated the populist right, they've alienated some pretty close former allies, for example Tesla Inc. The green giant of industry had been an ESG colossus until Elon Musk failed to keep pace with the inevitable march of history and came out of the closet as a free speech absolutist and Twitter-prisoner public defender. At the recent Tesla Annual meeting, the shareholder base of an electric car and solar panel company jeered as activists presented ideologically charged public statements, cheered when the moderator stepped in to cut the speeches short and then went on to vote down the slate of ideological ballot proposals. Did I mention that this was Tesla? If they've lost Tesla, they've lost. THE WAR ISN'T OVER But the war isn't over. Even if the whole ESG movement goes down in flames, the people behind it are always looking for something and they never give up. Let me explain it like this: Humanistic philosophy can deny, but not ignore, the reality of human sin. This means the people who espouse it need it to find other ways to purge their own feelings of guilt. Social justice investing stepped in as their form of atonement for the sin of being a capitalist. But the thing is, and it's critical to understand this: Whatever form of atonement they come up with in the future will never be complete because the demands for purity keep escalating. Americans should revolt against this new form of authoritarianism, but only a Christian worldview can truly replace it. (RW) Economist Jerry Bowyer is the author of The Maker Versus the Takers: What Jesus Really Said About Social Justice and Economics and you can read Jerry's weekly insights on the economy at Vident.com. On today's program, Rob also answers listener questions: ● What is the best way to manage an IRA at age 64? Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000 or email them to Questions@MoneyWise.org. Also, visit our website at MoneyWise.org where you can connect with a MoneyWise Coach, join the MoneyWise Community, and even download the free MoneyWise app. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1085/29

You may not know it, but there's a political and ideological war raging inside your investment portfolio. In recent years, a tiny but very vocal minority has sought to bully financial institutions into adopting their views of culture and politics. But it seems they've gone too far. We'll talk about that with economist Jerry Bowyer today. WHAT IS ESG? ESG is an acronym for Environmental, Social, and Governance investing, ESG, and it's being exploited by the minority you mentioned. The Wall Street Journal recently ran a story about a letter addressed to the money management giant Blackrock by the Attorney General of Arizona and 18 of his counterparts in other states. This comes after a series of actions taken by state-level financial officers questioning Blackrock and other asset managers as well as rating agencies for their heavy-handed imposition of ESG. They were imposing their views of ESG on state investment assets and even on the states themselves. Add to that the world's richest man, and former ESG darling, Elon Musk, calling the whole thing a scam, and pushback from Republican senators, governors, and other hopefuls against the politicization of the world of finance, and it adds up to a powerful reaction to a movement which had been seen as the inevitable future of the industry. BACKLASH AGAINST ESG MOVEMENT Bowyer says the backlash against the ESG movement is important because that sense of inevitability was a key source of ESG's power. The message was fall in line with the inevitable march of history or get left behind. When investors questioned the prudence of imposing political criteria on financial decisions, they were assured that it was, indeed, prudent because this was where the world was going. Eventually, the governments of the world would wake up to the reality of climate change and outlaw fossil fuels, leaving them as stranded assets sitting on company balance sheets. As social consciousness inevitably rose, anti-social behavior would be punished in the form of reputational risk and eventually the loss of the company's social license to do business. So don't take a risk, do the safe thing, and fall into line now. But a populist revolt stubbornly held on, not just to God and guns, but also to fossil fuels, color-blindness, viewpoint diversity, parental rights in education, and the sanctity of life. Facts are stubborn things, but our ruling class now has to learn that stubborn people are also a fact. Those who stubbornly hold fast to things which the anointed can't believe still exist are aware, angry, and registered to vote (and have the IDs to prove it) know it. And dozens of attorneys general, treasurers, senators, and governors know it. This means that the chief selling point, risk management, has suddenly become the chief objection. ESG is now a controversial political risk. How is the ESG crowd reacting to this backlash? The controversy is now so undeniable, Bowyer says, that the ESG industry is lashing back at the backlash, the denial of which is essential to the premise of that industry. As You Sow, one of the non-profit clearinghouses for the industry, posted a quote on social media acknowledging that the acronym ESG as a construct may have lost some of its luster and has been explaining to the shrinking faithful that the reason why there's been such a backlash against ESG is that it It's extremely effective! So, the new party line is basically, We're losing so much because we win so much. The unspun version is that ideology pushed the movement beyond the investing public's tolerance point and the shareholders and the voters are correcting the imbalance. Things have gotten so bad that they haven't just alienated the populist right, they've alienated some pretty close former allies, for example Tesla Inc. The green giant of industry had been an ESG colossus until Elon Musk failed to keep pace with the inevitable march of history and came out of the closet as a free speech absolutist and Twitter-prisoner public defender. At the recent Tesla Annual meeting, the shareholder base of an electric car and solar panel company jeered as activists presented ideologically charged public statements, cheered when the moderator stepped in to cut the speeches short and then went on to vote down the slate of ideological ballot proposals. Did I mention that this was Tesla? If they've lost Tesla, they've lost. THE WAR ISN'T OVER But the war isn't over. Even if the whole ESG movement goes down in flames, the people behind it are always looking for something and they never give up. Let me explain it like this: Humanistic philosophy can deny, but not ignore, the reality of human sin. This means the people who espouse it need it to find other ways to purge their own feelings of guilt. Social justice investing stepped in as their form of atonement for the sin of being a capitalist. But the thing is, and it's critical to understand this: Whatever form of atonement they come up with in the future will never be complete because the demands for purity keep escalating. Americans should revolt against this new form of authoritarianism, but only a Christian worldview can truly replace it. (RW) Economist Jerry Bowyer is the author of The Maker Versus the Takers: What Jesus Really Said About Social Justice and Economics and you can read Jerry's weekly insights on the economy at Vident.com. On today's program, Rob also answers listener questions: ● What is the best way to manage an IRA at age 64? Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000 or email them to Questions@MoneyWise.org. Also, visit our website at MoneyWise.org where you can connect with a MoneyWise Coach, join the MoneyWise Community, and even download the free MoneyWise app. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1085/29

Quantum Quote: “You can't climb a mountain if it's smooth." -Andre Iguodala   Investing is one of the primary ways to secure a better financial future for you and your family. But, did you know that where we bank and how our investments are managed can greatly impact our carbon footprints?    Our finances, including our retirement funds, are not charity. Ensuring that these are properly invested is a must.    Carbon Collective provides the opportunity to ensure that our investments not only build a better future for us, but also for our planet. As part of its mission, we have the power to create a zero-carbon society by forcing major corporations to transition and decarbonize faster through your investments.   Make the right choice. Invest with impact. Save our planet.   Zach Stein is the co-founder of Carbon Collective, the first investment advisory firm focused solely on solving climate change.   Zach's entrepreneurial journey began with his hands on the ground, well, more accurately, in poop. He founded Urban Worm, a Bay Area worm composting farm that took free waste products– horse manure and apple pulp– and turned them into premium compost that sold for $20 a gallon.   This urban agriculture base led Zach into the world of indoor farming, raising leafy vegetables and fish in controlled environments. He teamed up with James Regulinski to launch Osmo Systems, an innovative sensor/monitoring platform that would enable first indoor farmers and then the broader world of fish and shrimp farming to detect key aspects of their water quality for 1/10th the cost. They raised over $4m from top-tier VCs to commercialise the tech.   Now, Zach and James are scaling Carbon Collective and rapidly expanding their offerings, team, and member base.     Sign up for a free webclass to discover how easy it is to get ultra-efficient geothermal heating and cooling installed in your home – without the pain of emptying your savings account.   In “The Power Of Earth With Comfort” From Climate Master webclass, you'll discover the answers every homeowner needs to know, including:   How geothermal heating and cooling can draw energy from the ground beneath our feet (for pennies) Why homeowners everywhere are making the switch The secrets to securing utility incentives and tax credits to pay for a large portion of your new geothermal system and much more…   If you are tired of rising energy costs and want to save up to 70% on your energy bills, go to www.AWESomeEarthKind.com and register now for this FREE special event that will show you exactly how to get geothermal heating and cooling installed in your home.     SuperNova #1. So often, when it comes to climate change, individuals get stuck in a loop of "I'm terrified, emotionally. And I don't know what to do. I see these lists, and it's like you have to do everything."  How should we prioritise that? What we found to be a really helpful framework is focusing on the big things, like the gears of your life that run in the background, focus where it's a weighty decision to make a change, but once you make it, you're done, and you just get to go on living your life. One simple example is where you keep your money.   SuperNova #2. Remove the really big rocks first. And then you can kind of take a breath and re-establish.   SuperNova #3. If you don't have effective teamwork, then you aren't going to be successful, or it's very hard to be successful. Invest in the team, and put that front and center.   AHA! Moment: I'll share like, from fairly early on, we ended up doing 120 interviews with folks to try and understand where their climate anxiety took them and where they got blocked. This was before we knew that Carbon Collective was going to be an investing company. We set up all these elaborate demos to try to walk people through a simulation of what it could be. In our first interview, this guy says, "Hey, this was fine, but you really should read this book called the "Mom Test". We're like, "What's the Mom Test?" It is the best book I've ever read for people who are looking to see if a particular product should exist. It teaches you how to interview, where you go, and how to dig for past behaviors. When you dig for the why of their behavior, you see where people got blocked.    Best Advice He's Ever Received: “Learn. So long as you're learning you're on the right path.” -Zach Stein   Personal Habit that Contributes to Success: “Making sure I get good sleep, which has been really hard with a five-month-old.” -Zach Stein   Internet Resource: Loom   Magic Wand: “I think I would re-establish our deep human connection to nature and that we're a part of it. I think that if that happened across the world, so many of our environmental problems, in addition to climate change, we would just feel so much of the pain that is happening that we wouldn't need to do anything to solve it. It would just happen.” -Zach Stein   WTF Moment: “I lived through the orange day in San Francisco in the Bay Area. This was during fire season. I, at the time, was waking up with the sun at seven am. There was a skylight right above my bed. It was so dark- I woke up at 10 am. It was the weirdest day I've ever been in. My wife, and I had recently bought a home in the Bay Area and we looked at each other and were like, "Did we make a huge mistake?" -Zach Stein   Most Energized About Today: “Honestly, I'm really energized about my kid. He's in such a cute phase. Whenever I see him, he smiles at me. It's incredible!” -Zach Stein   Parting Advice: “So long as you're learning, you're on the right path. And just trust that that's going to take you there.” -Zach Stein     Connect: Website: https://www.carboncollective.co/ Email: zach@carboncollective.co Project Drawdown: http://www.projectdrawdown.org/ Project Drawdown's Climate Solutions at Work: https://drawdown.org/publications/climate-solutions-at-work As You Sow: https://www.asyousow.org/ International Energy Agency: https://www.iea.org/ Renewing America: https://www.rewiringamerica.org/

In this episode, Forrest talks with Zach Stein, co-founder of Carbon Collective. Carbon Collective is the first online investment advisor that is 100% focused on combatting climate change. They help individuals and organizations to invest in diversified, low-fee, climate-focused portfolios. By helping investors to know which companies are truly operating in ways that are in keeping with a zero-carbon future, Carbon Collective helps people who want to live greener lives to collectively focus their resources and their influence as consumers in ways that work for the good of the planet.Forrest and his daughter Kayra and I did a “test drive” of Carbon Collective by making an actual investment—to see if the platform is easy to understand, easy to use, and up front about all costs and fees. If you want to watch a video of that process, we'll send you a link to anyone on the Circlewood e-mail list. If you aren't yet on that list, go to circlewood.online and add your name to our growing, global community of earthkeepers; use this link to join the Circlewood email list.Guest: Zach Stein - co founder of Carbon Collective - online investment platform Mentions:  zero carbon future Dr. Katharine Hayhoe - Earthkeepers' interview minimum of $5 trillion/year investment into climate solutions needed Project Drawdown Climate Policy Initiative McKinsey - $9 trillion/year investment estimate Vanguard -investment firm; MSCI - analyticscompany Carbon Collective's investment strategy As You Sow - nonprofit in Berkeley, California Pacific Garbage Patch 2018 IPCC report - UnitedNations' scientific body for climate change 2017 fire season in Bay area - San Francisco, California fossil fuel industry in decline; fossil fuels get more expensive to extract solar, wind & batteries get cheaper as manufacturing issues get resolved Vanguard index funds - market innovation ; new ESG fund 

Andrew Behar, CEO of As You Sow, joins the podcast to discuss the power of using shareholder advocacy to drive change at large corporations. Andrew walks us through “a day in the life,” specifically May 25, 2022, when his team presented resolutions at five corporate annual meetings on issues ranging from climate change to racial justice; Andrew talks about the SEC's new draft rule that addresses the ESG naming problem within mutual funds; and the paradox of employees unknowingly investing in companies that are destroying the Amazon through company retirement plans.

Today's episode focuses on what's perhaps the easiest way for you to help move billions of dollars out of fossil fuels. That's right, I said “you,” “billions of dollars,” and “easy,” all in the same sentence. The surprising answer to this riddle is your 401k—and a young company called Sphere.  In this episode of Invested in Climate, I have a fascinating conversation with Sphere CEO and Founder Alex Wright-Gladstein, a serial entrepreneur who's making it easy for everyday people and companies of all sizes to divest their 401ks from fossil fuels. I think you'll learn a lot from this episode and walk away with a really easy and impactful action to take.  In Today's Episode, we cover:[2:35] When Alex realized her life's work was to protect the planet [6:05] Learn more about Sphere and the problem it works to solve [10:30] Is divesting money from fossil fuels having an impact?  [15:11] What do you need to do to get started?  [16:04] Are climate-friendly 401k options more expensive?  [18:41] Details about the Sphere 500 Fossil-Free Index Fund [22:34] Raising awareness for fossil-free investing [25:49] Who is currently working with Sphere? [27:03] How to change investments in a 401k with a past employer  [29:32] Other investment strategies you should consider [32:04] Actionable ways Alex is making strides in other areas [34:32] Why you should focus on creating infrastructure change Resources & People Mentionedhttps://ayarlabs.com/ (Ayar Labs) https://www.oursphere.org/ (Oursphere.org) https://www.asyousow.org/blog/category/invest+your+values (As You Sow) https://fossilfreefunds.org/ (Fossil Free Funds) https://marilynwaite.com/sustainable-banking-and-investing/ (Marilyn Waite's blog) with link to green banks Ayana Elizabeth Johnsson's https://www.ayanaelizabeth.com/climatevenn (venn diagram) for climate action https://www.oursphere.org/news/case-study-university-of-california (How University of California Decided to Let its Employees Divest from Fossil Fuels) Learn more about https://investedinclimate.com/podcast/stop-lending-your-money-to-fossil-fuels-with-atmos-financial-ep-3/ (Atmos Financial) https://gimletmedia.com/shows/howtosaveaplanet (How to Save a Planet podcast) Connect with Alex Wright-GladsteinConnect on https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwrightgladstein/ (LinkedIn) Connect With Jason Rissmanhttps://investedinclimate.com/ (https://InvestedInClimate.com)  On https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrissman/ (LinkedIn) On https://twitter.com/jasonrissman (Twitter) Subscribe to https://pod.link/1620915138 (Invested In Climate)

Shareholders have filed more ESG resolutions in 2022 than in all previous years, according to Morngingstar.. In this podcast we speak with Andrew Behar, CEO of the non-profit As You Sow, a shareholder advocacy non-profit that focuses on corporate social responsibility. We discuss the current proxy season and how accounting, auditing and financial disclosure practices fit into their approach to engaging with public companies. Special Guest: Andrew Behar.

Jarrod and Olivier speak with Yihana von Ritter, the Associate Director of Private Market Investments at Align Impact. She joined Align Impact in 2019 after completing her graduate studies at Yale and holding impact investing roles at Agora Partnerships in Colombia and Investing for Good in the United Kingdom. Previously, Yihana had gained extensive experience working with various non-profit organizations in the United States, Panama, and Colombia. She was the Country Associate for Clinton Health Access Initiative where she led national-level operations in Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, and El Salvador. Yihana also served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Paraguay as a Community Mobilizer and Health Educator. Yihana holds an MBA and a Master of Global Affairs from Yale University and a BA from Stanford University.⁠We discuss what makes Align Impact unique from the rest of the impact investing industry, the myth of having to sacrifice financial return for ESG impact, how to lower financial risk as entrepreneurs, how to measure impact accurately, actions being taken to scale impact investing, what we can do as entrepreneurs to attract impact investments, and how you can invest your own money responsibly: As You Sow.Website: alignimpact.comLinks to Resources:Catalytic InvestmentConcessional FinanceProfessor Timothy Swanson, The Willingness to Pay for Property Rights for the Giant Panda: Can a Charismatic Species Be an Instrument for Nature Conservation?Basic EconomicsForest Trends - Pioneering Finance for ConservationThe Rockefeller FoundationThe MacArthur FoundationGlobal Impact Investing NetworkProgram-Related InvestmentsIRISSustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB)B Corporation CertificationBlended FinanceR20 (R20 Regions of Climate Action)Convergence - The Global Network for Blended FinanceThe UK Sets the Scene for Mandatory ESG Laws in the Western WorldAs You SowFollow us on Instagram at @makers_on_a_mission!Visit Makers on a Mission to explore more.

Brian Levitt, global market strategist for Invesco says that there is some good news in the market -- with signs that the bond market is expecting inflation to slow and ease and other indicators showing promise -- but everyone should be watching the impact of Federal Reserve interest-rate hikes to see how long the current doldrums drag on. Levitt noted that less than 25 percent of companies on the New York Stock Exchange are trading above their 200-day moving average, and that the market typically bottoms out when that number reaches 15 percent, but he noted that commodity prices, interest rates and inflation all must moderate before the market gets to a more solid footing. Also on the show, Professor Pelin Pekgun from the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina discusses inflation and how supply chain issues typically get resolved so that an economy can break the cycle of rising prices and shortages to return to normal, Ted Rossman of Bankrate.com discusses the record levels of household debt -- but a surprising drop in credit-card debt -- reported Tuesday by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and Andy Behar of As You Sow discusses the group's research showing that many social investment funds aren't practicing what their name says they should preach, holding stocks that don't belong in a fund built around current governance standards.

Andrew Behar is the CEO of As You Sow, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to promote environmental and social corporate responsibility through shareholder advocacy, coalition building, and innovative legal strategies. Check out: https://www.asyousow.org/ 

Are public companies really leaning in to a more suitable, socially responsible future? Boardroom Alpha sat down with Andy Behar, CEO of non-profit shareholder advocacy organization As You Sow, to discuss some of the key ESG issues investment managers are tackling today. Read the full report: https://www.boardroomalpha.com/andrew-behar-as-you-sow-esg-revolution

Click Here to read Marcia's profile on LinkedInClick Here to read Janine Firpo's profile on LinkedInClick here to learn more about Activate Your Money - Invest to Grow Your Wealth and Build a Better WorldClick here to learn more about Invest for BetterClick here to learn more about As you Sow - Invest Your ValuesClick here to learn more about the Rising Tide NetworkClick here to learn more about Next Wave ImpactClick Here to learn more about the ACA 2022 Summit in Atlantic City NJClick here to find out more about the Angel Capital AssociationTake courses to learn how to be an angel investor at Angel University - click here for info!Want to reach the Angel Capital Association? CLICK HEREHave ideas for the show?  Email us at theacaangelnextdoorpodcast@gmail.com

Josh Weber, cofounder and executive chairman of nZero, a Nevada company that tracks Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions for large organizations, explains the complexities of tracking corporate greenhouse gas emissions. Tracking emissions is the first step toward business taking responsibility for the previously unacknowledged environmental and social costs of delivering products and services. It will be some time before this information is widely available in useful form for consumers and citizens to help make decisions about the products or services they buy or the government policies they support. nZero's technology, along with those of other emerging carbon tracking tools, is a critical piece of the environmental puzzle we each need to understand.A study by the non-profit As You Sow of the 55 largest companies in the U.S. found that only three, Microsoft, PepsiCo and Ecolab Inc, earned an A-level grade; Google and Apple received B and B- grades, respectively, and most of the rest, 84% of companies are flunking out of the race to head off climate change. Carbon tracking is mostly restricted to Scope 1 and 2 emissions, the direct and indirect emissions associated with power used by a company. MSCI Research reported in September 2020 that only 18% of the firms it follows are reporting their scope 3 emissions — we'll explore why these emissions are difficult to track. You can find out more at https://nzero.com/.

In May 2020, the world witnessed the horrific death of George Floyd, shocking Americans into confronting the racial injustice experienced by Black Americans daily. This event forced a re-evaluation of our most fundamental beliefs about racial justice and institutions and became a catalyst for change. As You Sow, the nation's leading non-profit in shareholder advocacy, created the Racial Justice Initiative, which provides a complete corporate profile on racial equity issues for companies in the Russell 1000 Index. My guest today is Olivia Knight, Racial Justice Initiative Manager at As You Sow. Knight explains how As You Sow uses the scorecard to  engage companies on policy changes and to file shareholder resolutions.

How to fight climate change using retirement funds with Alex Wright-Gladstein, creator of SPFFX, a mutual fund that mirrors the S&P 500 Index without investing in fossil fuels.   We discuss: ⭐️ Where to invest fossil-fuel-free ⭐️ SPFFX expected returns and expense ratios ⭐️ How to fight climate change using retirement funds ⭐️ How to ask your 401k provider to provide a fossil fuel free option within your retirement plan   Become a patron! https://linktr.ee/artisticfinance   Sphere:  https://www.oursphere.org/   Fossil Free Funds - Non Profit by As You Sow: https://fossilfreefunds.org/   How Your Retirement Fund May Be Supporting Russia's War In Ukraine: https://medium.com/@ga1ex/how-your-retirement-fund-may-be-supporting-russias-war-in-ukraine-dabd7d5118c5   Is Climate Change A Touchy Subject Around Your Thanksgiving Table: https://medium.com/@ga1ex/is-climate-change-a-touchy-subject-around-your-thanksgiving-table-here-are-some-pointers-to-help-7e21acba4341   Alex Wright-Gladstein on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwrightgladstein/   Episode with David Martin Jacques: https://www.artisticfinance.com/episode/O3a50geiwtSl8721XTMF/Diversify-with-David-Jacques   Ethical Investing Episode with Chris Lose: https://www.artisticfinance.com/episode/axDYFWfytfnYqcp5W53Q/Ethical-Investing-with-Chris-Lose   Elena Notkina - Russian Dancer: https://www.artisticfinance.com/episode/WuzWj66NREiKwHKhsH0M/Elena-Notkina-Choreographer   Daria Vergizova - Russian Choreographer: https://www.artisticfinance.com/episode/bzQys2Hka73gUHclofSo/-Daria-Vergizova-Choreographer   M1 Finance - Sign up with our affiliate link: https://m1.com/?affiliateCode=38CySeWQVxyIR9SVoUwu6Q2UUkGThrxgE1JnxQ0&utm_source=2762113&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=10646&utm_term=38CySeWQVxyIR9SVoUwu6Q2UUkGThrxgE1JnxQ0&utm_content=Online%20Tracking%20Link&irgwc=1   Interview by Ethan Steimel  

Investors and advisers are more interested than ever in putting their money to work to better the planet and the people living here. While there's lots of talk about "making sure your money aligns with your values," there's very little talk about how to actually to do so. Where does one find the data on environmental impact, carbon emissions, social justice, diversity, community impact, biodiversity protection (or harm) and all the other critical ESG metrics when making an investing decision?  What does that data look like? How should one weigh those metrics against basic financials?  In short, how does one actually go about ESG investing?As You SowYourStake.org MSCI ESG RatingsRelated Article:  SEC chief takes to Twitter to issue warning on greenwashingRelated Article:  Industry plea to SEC: Too early for Scope 3 disclosuresGuest BiosMax Mintz is a partner and financial planner at Common Interests, a holistic financial advisory firm specializing in sustainable, responsible and impactiInvesting. Common Interests is a Certified B Corp®, a designation the firm pursued to demonstrate verified commitment to social and environmental responsibility, and track their progress over time. In 2019, Max was honored as a 40 under 40 advisor by InvestmentNews, which he ascribes to the firm's commitment democratizing access to both financial services and impact investing.You can learn more about Max and his firm on their website: www.commoninterests.comJina Penn-Tracy is passionate about leaving this world a better place. Jina believes that comprehensive planning allows individuals, businesses, and nonprofits to make more ethically aligned and influential decisions regarding the spending and investing of their money.  A cancer diagnosis at age 19 led Jina to years of consumer activism around issues of chemical contamination in our environment and especially the food system. After co-founding a rapidly growing import company in the 1990s, Jina shifted careers in 2004 to become the type of financial advisor she wished she could find; an advisor focused on utilizing the power and influence of money to make positive changes in the world. In 2019, early life trauma led her to found the nonprofit Children's Theatre Alumni Survivors Fund (CTA Wellness). Jina is the president of the Board of CTA Wellness. Since 2014, Jina has volunteered with the Carbon Divestment Coalition in Minnesota, committed to seeing the Minnesota state pension funds divested from the top 200 carbon-holding companies. 

We talk with Olivia Knight, Racial Justice Initiative Manager, As You Sow. We discuss how investors can better track whether companies are walking the walk as well as talking the talk on racial justice and environmental justice issues. We talk about the increase interest in social justice data, and what companies and industries are doing a better job of providing investors with this information. More on As You Sow: https://www.asyousow.org/

Olivia Knight of As You Sow joins Kieran Poole to discuss racial equity audits, EEO-1 surveys, the Racial Justice Scorecard, and her most challenging moments.  View all of the products offered by Insightia by visiting our website and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.  Want a guest interview or topic discussed? Tell us here.

Topping ESG rankings (stocks): “Report--Meet the top 200 companies investing in a clean energy future”; “Barron's 100 Most Sustainable Companies”; “Top 5 ESG Stocks To Radar Now”; “10 Real Estate Companies That Are Both Greener and More Profitable”; “For Greenification in Munis, Try SMI”; and “This ETF is designed to help fight heart disease”; plus PODCAST: The Stocks Topping ESG Rankings. And More… Transcript & Links, Episode 77, February 25, 2022 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast episode 77 published on February 25, 2022, titled “The Stocks Topping ESG Rankings. And More…” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, links to content – including stock symbols, quotes, and bonus material – at this episode's podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now, just a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in this podcast. Furthermore, if you're concerned about the ESG and sustainability ratings of any stock or fund included in this podcast, check your broker's online site for such information. If your broker doesn't have this information, signup for free with Morningstar and you can gain access to company and fund ESG-sustainability ratings. Please note, I receive no compensation from Morningstar or anyone else covered in these podcasts. Also, if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. Now a point about current volatile market conditions. You should know that in such markets studies show that companies highly rated for their ESG and sustainability scores usually show superior returns compared to the overall markets. Just a thought in these troubled times where we all wish for the troubles around Ukraine to get resolved peacefully and without much loss of life. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. The Stocks Topping ESG Rankings. And More… Let's begin looking at As You Sow and Corporate Knights' Report: Meet the top 200 companies investing in a clean energy future. By TOBY A.A. HEAPS, ANDY BEHAR, MICHAEL YOW, AND MATTHEW MALINSKY. Here are some quotes. “The Clean200 are the largest 200 public companies ranked by green energy revenues… Geographically… the United States dominated the 2022 list, with 52 companies on the Clean200, while Canada had the second largest share with 18, closely followed by China, which 16 Clean200 companies are headquartered in. On average, 58% of revenues earned by Clean200 companies are classified as clean, which is up from 39% in 2021 and significantly above the 20% average clean revenue for their MSCI All Country World Index (ACWI) peers… $10,000 invested in the Clean200 on July 1, 2016, would have grown to $20,709 by January 31, 2022, versus $20,315 for the MSCI ACWI broad market benchmark and $13,167 for the MSCI ACWI/Energy benchmark for fossil fuel companies.” End quotes. The top five Clean 200 companies are Apple inc., Alphabet Inc., Intel Corp, TSMC, and Iberdrola. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. The Stocks Topping ESG Rankings. And More… Another good ranking is the just-released 2022 edition of Barron's 100 Most Sustainable Companies. Writing about them is Lauren Foster. Ms. Foster writes, quote… “In the fifth annual Barron's ranking of America's Most Sustainable Companies, shares of the 100 companies on our list returned 34.4%, on average, in 2021, besting the S&P 500 index's 28.7%... 41 of the 100 companies on last year's list beat the market in 2021.” End quotes. Barron's top five are NVIDIA, ON Semiconductor, Crocs, Inc., Applied Materials, and Jones Lang LaSalle. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. The Stocks Topping ESG Rankings. And More… Now Mavis Babcock at topnewsguide.com has penned this article titled Top 5 ESG Stocks To Radar Now. Here are their names followed by some brief quotes on each one. “1) Viking Energy Group (OTCMKTS:VKIN) is perfect for any speculative investor searching for ESG investments.  The diversified green company has made three recent acquisitions; a carbon capture system that produces sellable commodities from carbon emissions, a medical waste treatment device called the ‘OZONE', and a Green Renewable Diesel Production Facility in Reno that it is extremely close to closing on. 2) Mattel Inc. (NASDAQ:MAT) … the stock has gained 15% so far this year… Mattel is now projecting its 2021 net sales of $5.4 billion to grow 8% to 10% in the current year. Adjusted EPS is seen at $1.42 to $1.48. The toymaker also lifted its 2023 net sales growth forecast to high-single-digit from a previous outlook of mid-single-digit growth… Hasbro forecast growth of ‘low-single digit' in both annual revenue and operating profit this year. 3) American Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:AFG) … the stock has jumped 58% over the past year… (and) delivered fourth-quarter 2021 core net operating earnings per share of $4.12, which outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 38.3%. The bottom line doubled on a year-over-year basis. 4) CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE:CNHI) … The stock is trading above 34% from its 52-week low and 4% away from its 52-week high. CNH Industrial came out with quarterly earnings of $0.25 per share, beating the Consensus Estimate of $0.21 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.30 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items. This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of 19.05%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this truck, tractor and bus maker would post earnings of $0.22 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.36, delivering a surprise of 63.64%. 5) Ternium S.A. (NASDAQ:TX) Is another stock in the ESG sector which has been showing consistent rise. The stock has moved up 8% over the past one quarter… Benefits of higher steel prices and healthy shipments are likely to reflect on its fourth-quarter results.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Considering green real estate REITS? Well, here's a list also published in Barron's titled 10 Real Estate Companies That Are Both Greener and More Profitable. It's by Evie Liu. 2022 Rank* 2021 Rank Company Ticker REIT Industry Weighted Score 2021 Return Market Capitalization (bil)** Dividend Yield** 1 1 Kilroy Realty KRC Office 74 19.3 $7.1 3.3% 2 2 Host Hotels & Resorts HST Hotel 73 18.9 11.8 0.0 3 8 Boston Properties BXP Office 72 26.0 17.3 3.5 4 NR Ventas VTR Healthcare 71 7.9 20.4 3.5 5 3 Alexandria Real Estate Equities ARE Office 70 27.6 28.4 2.4 6 NR AvalonBay Communities AVB Apartment 70 61.4 33.1 2.7 7 5 Kimco Realty KIM Retail 69 68.8 14.4 2.9 8 NR Equity Residential EQR Apartment 69 56.7 32.5 2.8 9 4 Equinix EQIX Data Center 69 20.0 61.5 1.7 10 10 Brixmor Property BRX Retail 68 60.2 7.2 3.5 *Rank based on non-rounded weighted average; **Market cap and dividend yield as of 12/31/2021; NR=not on the 2021 ranking; N/A= not available Sources: Calvert Research & Management. ------------------------------------------------------------- For Greenification in Munis, Try SMI Many US ethical and sustainable investors like municipal bonds. If this, is you, review this article titled For Greenification in Munis, Try SMI. It's by TOM LYDON and published on etftrends.com. Here are some quotes from Mr. Lydon. “The vast fixed income market is fertile ground for green fund innovation.... Consider the case of the VanEck HIP Sustainable Muni ETF (SMI), which debuted last September as the first exchange traded fund dedicated to green municipal bonds. The actively managed VanEck HIP Sustainable Muni ETF is managed by HIP Investments — a pioneer in the green municipal bond space… ‘HIP Ratings incorporate research that shows which variables are key to improving outcomes. Then, HIP tracks data and metrics related to evidence-based targets and goal,' said HIP Investors founder and CEO Paul Herman in a recent note. (This ETF)… which sports a 30-day SEC yield of 1.27%, holds just 44 municipal bonds. That's the result of a high bar for entry created by HIP Investor's stringent investment criteria and the newness of green municipal bonds. None of the ETF's holdings exceed a weight of 4.77%. ‘HIP Investor's methodology, which precedes the term ‘ESG' by several years, uses five pillars based on Maslow's hierarchy of needs. These five pillars — Health, Wealth, Earth, Equality, and Trust – can be mapped to ESG as well,' adds Herman. Additionally, the HIP's methodology features a dual-pronged approach that focuses on sustainability and education… ‘In the VanEck HIP Sustainable Muni ETF (SMI), HIP Ratings also track the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) framework, as well as a Climate Threat Resilience score,' notes Herman. California and New York municipal bonds combine for 60.6% of the ETF's weight. (This ETF) has an effective duration of 5.77 years, and 84% of its holdings carry investment-grade ratings.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- This ETF is designed to help fight heart disease while making you money. Here's how Now here's another specialist ETF that might be of interest to numerous ethical and sustainable investors. The article's titled This ETF is designed to help fight heart disease while making you money. Here's how. It's by Josh Meyers and found on cnbc.com. Here are some quotes from Mr. Meyers' article. “'The IQ Healthy Hearts ETF (HART)… is designed to help investors do well while doing good,' New York Life Investments' Wendy Wong told CNBC's 'ETF Edge' on Monday. HART's current portfolio includes companies such as UnitedHealth Group (UNH), Apple (AAPL), Novartis (NVS) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ). The ETF, powered by Index IQ, sees a portion of fees go toward supporting the American Heart Association's fight against heart disease… ‘The American Heart Association uses [the funds] to support its Social Impact Fund,' she said. ‘This addresses health inequalities in under-resourced communities.' New York Investments' support has accelerated the growth of the Social Impact Fund by nearly three times, according to Wong. The HART ETF is significant in the ESG space as well, ETF Trends CEO Tom Lydon said in the same interview.  Lydon called the partnership a great example of ‘[making] sure that we're not only doing right but feeling good about it at the same time and maybe learning how we can help our family do a better job of staying healthy.' HART is outperforming the S&P 500 so far this year, down about 5% versus the benchmark index's 6% loss.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Other Honorable Mentions – not in any order 1. Title Most Active Stocks Today? 4 Renewable Energy Stocks For Your Watchlist | Nasdaq. By Amos C. The stocks are Enphase Energy Inc (NASDAQ: ENPH), Daqo New Energy Corp (NYSE: DQ), Brookfield Renewable Partners LP (NYSE: BEP), and Solaredge Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: SEDG). (As mentioned in previous podcasts, Daqo is accused of using Chinese forced labor.) 2. Title This Top Stock Is a Rock for Any Renewable Energy Portfolio | The Motley Fool. By Travis Hoium. Quote “First Solar (FSLR) was the one that I really wanted to bring to bear for people.” End quote. 3. Title Here are the top 20 BSE 100 companies with strong corporate governance: Report - BusinessToday. By Rahul Oberoi. Click the link on this podcast's webpage for company names. 4. Title 3 ethical ASX companies with Australian Ethical's Mike Murray | Ethical Investing in Australia | Rask Media. Recommendations by Mike Murray. Again, click the link on this podcast's webpage for the company names. 5. Title 6 Top-Performing ESG ETFs With High MSCI Ratings on money.usnews.com. By Aaron Davis and Tim Lawson. Again, click the link on this podcast's webpage for the company names. Recommendations Related to UK, Australian, and European Stocks and Funds 1. Title Interactive Investor's top 20 ethical funds and trusts | This is Money. By Jane Denton. Quote “The Baillie Gifford Positive Change impact fund was the most popular ethical option for investors with Interactive Investor over the past 10 months, new data shows.” End quote. As before, click the link on this podcast's webpage for list of the funds. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “The Stocks Topping ESG Rankings. And More…” To get all the links, stock symbols, or to read the transcript of this podcast -- and more -- go to investingforthesoul.com/podcasts and scroll down to this episode. Also, be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let's promote a better post COVID world through ethical and sustainable investing! Contact me if you have any questions. Stay well and healthy—and conscious about the ethical and sustainable values of your investments! Thank you for listening. Talk to you next on March 11. Bye for now. © 2022 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul.

In their new book, Patience Marime-Ball and Ruth Shaber share a simple but often overlooked investment strategy to earning higher returns: including women as financial decision-makers within your organization or team. Here they share why they wrote the book, why it is important, and some of key findings.--BiographiesPatience Marime-BallPatience has more than two decades of investment experience across capital markets – debt and equity financing, large scale infrastructure, distressed assets, as well as venture stage opportunities. She has made major contributions to the gender lens investing field, including conceptualizing and building IFC's Banking on Women Investment Platform (current portfolio of approx. $2.7 billion); co-development of the first ever Gender Bond issued on the Uridashi market; and co-structuring alongside Goldman Sachs of a $600M debt fund ( $1.7 billion in loans to women entrepreneurs deployed to-date). She is an early stage investor with Golden Seeds and was previously Vice President with Mizuho Bank.Patience is a member of As You Sow's Prison Free Funds and Racial Justice Initiative Advisory Committees. She is Vice Chair of the Board at the International Center for Research on Women, as well as an Advisor to Emerging Sun, and a Venture Partner with ATP. Patience holds a JD from the Pritzker School of Law and an MBA from Kellogg at Northwestern University.Ruth ShaberRuth Shaber MD is the founder and president of the Tara Health Foundation, which promotes health, well-being and opportunity for women and girls through innovative evidence-informed programs. Her philanthropic goals include advancing the field of gender lens impact investing. She started her career as an Obstetrician and Gynecology at the Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco Medical Center in 1990. From 1997 to 2003, she served as chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology and from 2001 to 2007 she served as the director of Women's Health for the Northern California division of Kaiser Permanente. She is also the founder of the Women's Health Research Institute in Kaiser Permanente's Northern California Region. Ruth was the Medical Director at the Kaiser Permanente Care Management Institute (CMI) from 2007 to 2012. She is a member of the board of directors at Jacaranda Health and on the National Medical Committee for Planned Parenthood Federation of America.Ruth received her B.A. from Yale University and her medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania. She served her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of California in San Francisco.

One hundred million Americans are contributing to 401(k) retirement plans, but few know that many of these plans invest in fossil fuels, deforestation, private prisons and other companies that may not be aligned with their values. My guest on today's program, Andrew Behar, CEO of As You Sow, explains that many companies who sponsor 401(k) plans are contradicting their own stated sustainability goals. For example, companies like Apple, Disney, Microsoft, and Visa all have ambitious ESG targets, but the investment choices in their plans often include major GHG polluters and companies that are burning down the Amazon rainforest. Behar and I also talk about As You Sow's exciting new programs: “As You Vote,” for proxy voting, and the “Activate Network,” that works with financial advisors to empower shareholders.

In this reverse episode, I'm interviewed by Omural Ates. We talk about my book Living from the Soul: The 7 Spiritual Principles of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Stoic philosophy, creating a life vision statement, and more. Omural is a school teacher, fitness instructor, and personal development coach in Texas. He's the creator of Recoding Behavior, www.recodingbehavior.com. The book Living from the Soul is available at www.samtorode.com. THE 7 PRINCIPLES: 1. Trust Yourself All that you need for growth and guidance in life is already present inside you. 2. As You Sow, You Will Reap Your thoughts and actions shape your character, and your character determines your destiny. 3. Nothing Outside You Can Harm You Circumstances and events don't matter as much as what you do with them. 4. The Universe Is Inside You The world around you is a reflection of the world within you. 5. Identify with the Infinite Center your identity on the soul and your life's purpose will unfold. 6. Live in the Present The present moment is your point of power. Eternity is now. 7. Seek God Within The highest revelation is the divinity of the soul.

Tisha Schuller sits down with Danielle Fugere, President of As You Sow, to learn about shareholder activism from the activist perspective. Shareholder resolutions are increasingly successful in pushing oil and gas companies to address climate concerns on activist terms. To meet the incoming challenges, oil and gas leaders must both build an understanding of the activist perspective, and develop an engagement strategy. In today's episode, Tisha and Danielle discuss: · The drivers behind shareholder advocacy · How oil and gas companies can engage constructively with shareholder activists · What to expect next from future shareholder resolutions Danielle assumed the role of President of As You Sow in 2012 and continues to serve today. She has served in leadership roles for environmental advocacy organizations since 1995 including Environmental Advocates, Friends of the Earth, and the Environmental Law Foundation. Danielle holds a J.D. from the Berkeley School of Law and a degree in political economics from the University of California, Berkeley. Subscribe here for Tisha's weekly "Both Things Are True" email newsletter. Follow all things Adamantine Energy at www.energythinks.com. [Interview recorded on August 26, 2020]