The International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) celebrates World Investor Week (Oct 7-13) empowering investors with insights in critical areas including sustainable finance. It is heartening to see the spotlight on how sustainable finance is revolutionising investment opportunities, albeit with complexities and challenges.

World Financial Planning Day (WFPD) is a global event to help raise awareness of the value of financial planning. It is a perfect opportunity for individuals and families around the world to take positive steps toward controlling their financial lives—now and in the future.  

WFPD is organised by the Financial Planning Standards Board (FPSB). In this blog we highlight findings from the recent ‘FPSB Value of Financial Planning Report’, based on extensive Global Consumer Research of 15,332 consumers. 

Ethical Investment Week is an opportunity to learn more about how to ensure your money matters. The theme ‘What Type of Ethical Investor Are You?’ encourages inquiring into where you sit on the ethical investment spectrum and whether the advice you receive and the funds you invest in align with your ethics. 

The World Choir Games, often regarded as the choral equivalent of the Olympics, is a spectacle that celebrates harmony, unity, and the transformative impact of music. Scheduled to take place in Auckland in July 2024, this prestigious event will host over 300 choirs and more than 20,000 participants from around the world.

Earth Day is a timely reminder to examine your investment portfolio. To what extent are you invested in businesses that are ethical leaders making a positive environmental impact by addressing issues such as plastics? You can vote with your investment and aim to ensure your money matters by seeking to make ‘good’ money and making a difference.

The recent passing of Professor Daniel Kahneman has cast a poignant spotlight on his profound contributions. For personal investors, Kahneman's insights into human psychology offer a treasure trove of lessons invaluable lessons that can enhance decision-making processes and investment strategies.

It’s time to get ready for a Fun Friday! With Friday, 12th April being ‘Walk on Your Wild Side Day, ’ it’s a great time to step out of your comfort zone and do something fun at work and home that no one expects you to do.

Applying religious principles as the basis for ethical guidelines in investing is growing in popularity according to a new report ‘Faith-Based Investing: Beyond Profits: A Path to Ethical Wealth.’ from global investment research firm Morningstar.

Evidence is increasing that there is a strong correlation between ethics and sustainable financial performance. Leading businesses internationally and local companies such as the finalists in the recent New Zealand Business Ethics Awards - 3M New Zealand, Datamail and Auckland International Airport - are committed to ethical leadership.

Following the international trend that has seen companies such as British Telecom, Shell and BP produce ethical accounting reports in 1999, leading New Zealand companies have committed themselves to producing in the coming year reports that account for not only traditional financial results but also environmental, social and ethical performance.

Businesses are increasingly reflecting upon ethics and reaping benefits through this process. The Four Ps of ethical business: purpose, principles, practices and performance measurement provide a framework for this reflection and achieving a triple bottom-line of financial, social and environmental performance.

This year’s theme for the UN-supported International Women’s Day, to be held on 8th March, is 'Invest in women: Accelerate progress’. The UN maintains that the world is at a crossroads for gender equality and that standing up for women’s rights is more important than ever. In keeping with the spirit of NZ’s women's suffrage movement, NZ investors, investment advisers, and fund managers can be ethical leaders by investing more in women to accelerate progress towards gender equality. You can use your money as a force for good by voting for gender equality with your investments.

The Ethical Advisers’ Co-op (EAC) recently released their 2023 Annual Report ‘Building Your Sustainable Legacy’. Money Matters was thrilled to contribute. We are the only Kiwi members of the Co-op, which advises 3,948 clients who collectively invest more than $2.91 billion.

A New Year can inspire a commitment to make change. For example, an ethical investor’s New Years resolutions might include aiming to make more of a difference in 2024 by proudly and loudly advocating for ethical investment…

A look at risk highlights from the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2024.

Three key lessons from ‘The Catalyst’s Way’ for ethical investors