We kicked off November by attending the 28th annual SRI Conference on Sustainable, Responsible, Impact (SRI) investing in San Diego, California. Our experience was through a variety of lenses: we were attendees, sponsors, and we represented the Conference and its organizers as the marketing and communications partner.
The SRI field has grown exponentially over the past decade – most recently with the widespread adoption of ESG, which is investing with consideration given to environmental, social, and governance factors. For years, the SRI industry, and by association ESG, has been plagued by the misperception that in order to pursue the investment discipline, investors must sacrifice returns.
The reality that is reshaping the industry? That’s just not true anymore. ESG does not negatively impact performance, and SRI is not your groovy uncle’s exclusionary investing dogma.
Yes, the initial surge of Socially Responsible Investing – which served as a way to protest environmental and social issues – led to diminished returns because returns were not the goal. But the new paradigm sheds those roots by putting financial returns and personal values on equal footing.
ESG can be a highly effective tool to that end. For example, according to MSCI, its All-World index (which invests using ESG factors) outperformed its parent index (which excludes ESG) by 39 basis points annually over the five years to the end of June 2017.
Even so, ESG raises even more questions about the best way – and best metrics – forward. The Conference underscored that the industry is at a communications crossroads. Several speakers predicted that the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals could evolve as a unifying guide to contextualize impact for investors.
There is a sense of urgency to orient the investment community, as SRI is going mainstream due to its financial merits and a growing call to action among investors. And while client interest and demand for SRI has grown, so too has the range of products that cater to this demand. Even in the environment of increased demand and products, financial advisors still struggle with not only understanding what SRI and ESG are, but also how to talk about the approach with clients.
This brings us back to the SRI Conference, which focused on educating advisors about a wide spectrum of opportunities. Our role as marketing and communications partner was to increase the visibility of the conference and engage prospective attendees, particularly advisors, around the industry’s critical theme. To that end, we’re proud to have contributed to the Conference’s mission with powerful, on-message press coverage:
- Prior to the event, we were able to raise the visibility of the conference and establish organizers as thought leaders within the sustainable investment space by securing media coverage in Responsible Investor, ESG Magazine, Financial Advisor Magazine, and Bloomberg.
- Additional Longview efforts led to journalists from publications like Financial Advisor Magazine, Financial Planning Magazine, and InvestmentNews reporting from the conference. Our on-site management of InvestmentNews resulted in several videos featuring conference organizers and attendees.
- Our efforts continue to result in coverage stemming from media attendance at the conference, with positive articles appearing in Financial Planning Magazine and Financial Advisor Magazine about both the organizers and the conference itself.
SRI and ESG continue to evolve at a rapid pace. At Longview, we welcome the challenge of helping our clients show how the investment strategies that make them unique and successful also deliver a positive impact for investors.
If you are interested in connecting with us to learn more about how we can help you tell your story, differentiate you from the rest of the market, and engage current and prospective investors, please contact us to learn more.
