Responsible investment … how on earth do I get started?

This is a question I get asked a lot.

That’s why we created Your Responsible Investment Roadmap – 8 simple steps to get you started

For sure, becoming a responsible investor can seem like a daunting task, even overwhelming at times. But don’t let that be a reason not to take your first step. Most of this fear comes from simply not knowing where to start.

It’s important to start somewhere because where we put our money matters. It matters because it impacts the world, our environment and the communities in which we live. It matters because it can and should reflect our beliefs. One could even say it is integral to who we are.

I am really excited to share this with you because, while it’s not rocket science, I think it’s really important to have it written down in one place. The purpose of the Roadmap is simply to provide you with practical and useful information to help you take your first steps.

So what does it cover? Here are the 8 steps that we suggest …

1. Prioritize what you care about … ask yourself, what sort of world do I want to live in? Where do I want to see change happen first?
2. Translate your priorities into responsible investment beliefs … these beliefs help us determine the kind of businesses we want to support and the kind of companies we want to invest in.
3. Set your boundaries and then assess your investment appetite … because it is important to be comfortable with how active a responsible investor YOU want to be. There is no right or wrong here, it has to fit for you.
4. Get educated, get empowered … it’s stating the obvious but worth saying! There is a wealth of information and analysis out there so let’s use it to our advantage.
5. Audit yourself … you are not alone if you don’t actually know how and where you are currently invested, nor whether these investments are aligned with the world or the future you actually want.
6. Engage with your finance services providers … sound them out. Take a list of questions to ask (we’ve provided you with some suggestions!) so you know they get your position.
7. Strategize your plan of attack … reflecting on what you have learned, identify your goals and then the immediate actions you can take.
8. Don’t stop here … there is so much more we can do. Bear in mind that being a responsible investor isn’t a one-off event!

So please, take a read and let me know what you think. Share with me your personal experiences and learnings so that we can continue to refine the Roadmap and make it more and more useful and easier to reference over time.

Also, it’s likely that your investment beliefs may shift as the world around us changes. I try to set aside time to regularly review my priorities and check in with others – it can help to make sure that I am staying on course!

Yours responsibly,

Jessica Robinson
Founder