Investing that Makes the World Rejoice
Values-based investing is an investment approach that is rooted in the belief that money should express one’s values. Investors are not just concerned with profit, but also with the positive impact that a company is making. Often times we may neglect or simply not care about how companies operate. The values-based approach encourages us to become more mindful about business practices and to hold these companies accountable.
The goal is to promote the common good by investing in socially responsible businesses. A values-based investment approach seeks to close the gap between our personal values and our investment decisions.
Avoid, Embrace, Engage
When you buy shares of a company, you have ownership. It’s important to have this in mind. Look at your portfolio companies, and re-assess your relationship and feelings towards them. Avoid any industries or businesses that go against what you believe in. Embrace companies that seek to do good and are congruent with your values. Lastly, you can engage with companies to help them continue to create positive value.
Can I Profit from Values-based Investing?
Values-based investing is usually thought of as the half way point between investing and philanthropy. If you choose to invest only in ethical companies, you are giving up opportunity to grow your money tenfold. However, this is a common misconception. It’s possible to invest according to your values and still receive large gains. Choose businesses that are poised to grow as a result of the meaningful impact they are creating in the lives of others.
Engaging a Business to Change its Practice
All investors conduct due diligence on a company they’re interested in. Information about a company’s products and services are easily researched. But information about how a company treats its customers, employees, and suppliers may not be so obvious. In the event that the nature of the business changes or you discover new things about the company that you don’t agree with, you need to make a decision. You can choose to exit and avoid this company or you can choose to persuade them to adopt more sustainable practices. As someone who has a stake in the company, you have the power to ask them to do better.
How Secondary Markets Shape Businesses
You might think that buying a security from the secondary market is insignificant, but that’s not true. When you purchase shares, you are affecting the market price for that security. Market share price is calculated for in a company’s cost of equity, which ultimately affects its ability to raise funding. Buying and selling does affect a company’s ability to gain new streams of capital. Not only that, but management teams are sensitive to the market share price. If shares are continuously in high demand, then it means that they’re doing a good job. It has an effect on company leaders’ psychology.
Remember that you have engagement power if you own shares. It may seem like the number of shares that you own is too little to change anything. But all of our shares pooled together make up the businesses’ capital. We are able to create a demand for a certain kind of business to thrive through the use of our investments.
Values-based Investments are Long Term Partnerships
What do you do if one of your portfolio companies isn’t doing as well as you expected? Even with a values-based approach, you still have an investment thesis. If proven wrong, you can sell your shares and exit.
The general philosophy behind values-based investing is that funding a company is seen more as an enduring partnership instead of just a buy and sell strategy. It forces you to have a more long-term perspective. You are providing capital to a business you believe in so that they will grow over time.
