Investing for Women

Less Uncertainty

One of the primary benefits of sustainable investing is the potential to lower risk.

The rising temperature of our planet is having an effect on the weather systems of the world and we are seeing the impact of this across our planet.  A company or investment product that takes this on board is simply being a responsible business or product.  To ignore this is a business and financial risk.  To take it on board as a factor is about mitigating this risk.

Positive Social Impact 

Sustainable investing also has the potential to make a positive social impact and is an effective way to create social and environmental change. By investing in companies that adhere to social and environmental standards, you can directly support causes you care about.  Whether it’s investing in renewable energy projects or companies that promote gender equality, sustainable investments offer a way to make a difference in the world.

It is something you CAN do!

It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the scale of the problems facing our planet.  But choosing to invest sustainably means you can make a difference with your money, probably more than you think.  According to Make My Money Matter greening your pension is 21 times more effective at cutting carbon than stopping flying, going veggie and switching energy supplier combined.

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A better way, I think is to add padding to the column – to the left in this column and to the right in the left hand column – see the row above this one…  This is also better because on mobile you can remove the padding as these elements will stack ontop of one aother so the padding is not needed.

Money and investing have traditionally been dominated by (white) men.  But there have been and are successful female investors, though they are often overlooked, forgotten about or judged by a different standard.  Hetty Green is one such women.

Hetty Green (née Henrietta Howland Robinson) was a shrewd, confident and no-nonsense investor who was once the richest woman in America.

From a wealthy whaling family, her father was initially enraged that his wife did not give him the son he wanted to mentor.  At two years old she was sent way to live with her grandfather and aunt.  By the age of six she excelled at maths and reading and was reading the daily papers to her grandfather and father, then accompanying them on the waterfront where they ran their business.  As she gained her father’s approval he also taught her accountancy and trading stocks.

Hetty attended a strict Quaker boarding school when she was 10 and finished her formal education with three years at a Boston finishing school. There she followed a curriculum of both academic study and social etiquette to prepare her to be a debutante.

She married at 33 creating an early example of a pre-nuptial agreement so that by mutual consent their finances were kept separate.  Edward Green was known to be a speculative investor and lived an extravagant lifestyle.

She bailed him out of debt on a number of occasions.  When she found out he was planning to use $550,000 of her money to cover a loss without her consent she separated from him which was unheard of at the time.

After her separation she began a new life as an investor, creating her vast fortune with a clear strategy and discipline. Hetty held onto her shares when people were panic selling and buying them when they were cheap. Green is often considered a pioneer of value investing, famously practised by current-day billionaire Warren Buffett.

Hetty always made sure she had a large amount of cash available for lending purposes. In the Bank Panic of 1907 she was able to avoid financial disaster herself and bail out New York City and many other investors.

Both her father and her grandfather had steeped Hetty Green in business and finance from childhood, and she devoted her life to increasing her fortune. She became a major and feared operator on Wall Street, where, in addition to extensive holdings in railroad and other stocks and in government bonds, she maintained a considerable liquid fund for lending purposes. In the aftermath of the panic of 1907, a number of major investors found themselves in her debt. She also invested heavily in mortgages and real estate, particularly in Chicago.

Margins round image

Putting a margin round the image will make the image smaller, because it still has to fit into the same space

Gaps between columns

A better way, I think is to add padding to the column – to the left in this column and to the right in the left hand column – see the row above this one…  This is also better because on mobile you can remove the padding as these elements will stack ontop of one aother so the padding is not needed.

First things first. What do we mean when we talk about “greening your pension?” It refers to making your retirement savings more environmentally friendly by investing in sustainable and socially responsible funds. 

1. Green pension funds invest in companies that prioritize environmental sustainability, such as renewable energy, clean technology, and climate solutions. By investing in these funds, you can support and promote environmentally responsible practices, helping to mitigate climate change and protect our planet for future generations. 
2. Green pension funds also focus on social responsibility, including factors such as labour practices, human rights, and community engagement. By investing in companies that demonstrate good social governance, you can contribute to fostering positive social change.
3. Sustainable investing has shown potential for long-term financial performance. Many studies have indicated they may be better positioned for long-term success and could offer competitive financial returns. Green pension funds may also benefit from the transition to a more sustainable global economy, which could offer good results from investment opportunities. 
4. Companies that prioritize environmental and social sustainability may be better equipped to manage uncertainty. This can potentially reduce investment risks and enhance the long-term resilience of your pension portfolio. 
5. Green pension funds allow you to align your investments with your personal values. If you are passionate about environmental and social issues, investing in green pension funds can be a way to contribute to positive change and make a difference in areas that matter to you. 

Seek Advice

If you’re not confident in your investment knowledge, consider seeking advice from a financial professional or an independent financial advisor. They can help you understand the different sustainable investment options and guide you in choosing the right fund for your needs. 

Once you’ve identified a sustainable pension fund that aligns with your values and financial goals, contact your pension provider or employer to request a switch to the new fund.

They will guide you through the process and help you make the necessary changes to your pension investment. 

Green Pensions For A Green Retirement!

Finally, remember to review and update your pension investments every so often!

Keep track of how your pension funds are performing, including whether it continues to align with your values and financial objectives. 

By following these simple steps, you can take action to make your pension investments more environmentally friendly and align them with your personal values for a greener retirement.