SIO conference update: SRI — Time for a new name?

Corporate governance focus seen as opportunity for social investment State of the SRI nation: SIO boss reviews social investment industry on eve of conference (June 6, 2003) Canada’s socially responsible investment industry needs to improve its communication strategies — and perhaps consider a name change — if it hopes to grab a bigger share of […]

By Doug Watt | June 6, 2003 | Last updated on June 6, 2003

2 min read

Corporate governance focus seen as opportunity for social investment

SRI advisors bemoan lack of product

Fund manager offers strategies to combat SRI naysayers

SRI – Time for a new name?

Bonus tool A template letter to discuss SRI with your clients and prospects Back to CSIC Coverage main page

“Every person you meet has social and environmental concerns,” said Rajagopal, who led the workshop.

Vancouver advisor Perry Abbey says although many advisors are reluctant to embrace SRI because they worry about a lack of business, it is in fact “a tremendously underserviced” area.

“When I advertised SRI, I was astonished by the response,” Rajagopal added.

Getting solid, unbiased information about SRI was a concern for some new SRI advisors attending the workshop. In response, the Social Investment Organization has agreed to produce some material explaining the concepts of SRI and is also working on an advisor training program.

• • •

Filed by Doug Watt, Advisor.ca, dwatt@advisor.ca

(06/06/03)

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State of the SRI nation: SIO boss reviews social investment industry on eve of conference
Corporate governance focus seen as opportunity for social investment
SRI advisors bemoan lack of product
Fund manager offers strategies to combat SRI naysayers
SRI – Time for a new name?
Bonus tool A template letter to discuss SRI with your clients and prospects Back to CSIC Coverage main page
“Every person you meet has social and environmental concerns,” said Rajagopal, who led the workshop.

Vancouver advisor Perry Abbey says although many advisors are reluctant to embrace SRI because they worry about a lack of business, it is in fact “a tremendously underserviced” area.

“When I advertised SRI, I was astonished by the response,” Rajagopal added.

Getting solid, unbiased information about SRI was a concern for some new SRI advisors attending the workshop. In response, the Social Investment Organization has agreed to produce some material explaining the concepts of SRI and is also working on an advisor training program.

• • •

Filed by Doug Watt, Advisor.ca, dwatt@advisor.ca

(06/06/03)

(June 6, 2003) Canada’s socially responsible investment industry needs to improve its communication strategies — and perhaps consider a name change — if it hopes to grab a bigger share of the market, delegates attending a conference in Vancouver have been told.

Despite polls suggesting strong consumer interest, SRI remains very much a niche player in Canada, with just 3% of the market.

“We’re moving out of the developmental stage and stepping up to something much bigger,” said Ethical Funds vice-president Bob Walker during the closing session at the Canadian Social Investment Conference on Tuesday. “We have the building blocks; the question is, how do we grow the pie for SRI?”

Walker said it’s mostly a communications challenge. “SRI is a great concept but somehow we’re not getting that across to the great mass of people out there.”

The term “socially responsible investment” may also be problematic, Walker conceded. “We recognize that it’s an awkward phrase — nobody loves it.”

The industry needs to look for a word or phrase that evokes a “story or fable or metaphor that people believe in,” he said. “You can toss words like SRI, corporate social responsibility or sustainable investing out there, but they find no purchase, no traction.”

The language issue also came up during an advisor-only workshop earlier in the day. Some advisors said they felt uncomfortable using the phrase “socially responsible” with clients because it suggests that other types of investments are somehow irresponsible.

“I don’t use the term ‘SRI’ with clients,” said Sucheta Rajagopal, a Toronto-based advisor who specializes in the area. Rajagopal suggested that advisors find appropriate language, which could vary depending on the client. One participant said she asks clients if they’re interested in a holistic approach to their investments, combining financial and personal values.

Putting the language debate aside, there are common themes that can be discussed easily with clients, said Vancouver advisor Fran Goldberg, “I talk about ethics and the environment.”

M ore CSIC Conference Coverage

State of the SRI nation: SIO boss reviews social investment industry on eve of conference
Corporate governance focus seen as opportunity for social investment
SRI advisors bemoan lack of product
Fund manager offers strategies to combat SRI naysayers
SRI – Time for a new name?
Bonus tool A template letter to discuss SRI with your clients and prospects

Back to CSIC Coverage main page

“Every person you meet has social and environmental concerns,” said Rajagopal, who led the workshop.

Vancouver advisor Perry Abbey says although many advisors are reluctant to embrace SRI because they worry about a lack of business, it is in fact “a tremendously underserviced” area.

“When I advertised SRI, I was astonished by the response,” Rajagopal added.

Getting solid, unbiased information about SRI was a concern for some new SRI advisors attending the workshop. In response, the Social Investment Organization has agreed to produce some material explaining the concepts of SRI and is also working on an advisor training program.

• • •

Filed by Doug Watt, Advisor.ca, dwatt@advisor.ca

(06/06/03)

(June 6, 2003) Canada’s socially responsible investment industry needs to improve its communication strategies — and perhaps consider a name change — if it hopes to grab a bigger share of the market, delegates attending a conference in Vancouver have been told.

Despite polls suggesting strong consumer interest, SRI remains very much a niche player in Canada, with just 3% of the market.

“We’re moving out of the developmental stage and stepping up to something much bigger,” said Ethical Funds vice-president Bob Walker during the closing session at the Canadian Social Investment Conference on Tuesday. “We have the building blocks; the question is, how do we grow the pie for SRI?”

Walker said it’s mostly a communications challenge. “SRI is a great concept but somehow we’re not getting that across to the great mass of people out there.”

The term “socially responsible investment” may also be problematic, Walker conceded. “We recognize that it’s an awkward phrase — nobody loves it.”

The industry needs to look for a word or phrase that evokes a “story or fable or metaphor that people believe in,” he said. “You can toss words like SRI, corporate social responsibility or sustainable investing out there, but they find no purchase, no traction.”

The language issue also came up during an advisor-only workshop earlier in the day. Some advisors said they felt uncomfortable using the phrase “socially responsible” with clients because it suggests that other types of investments are somehow irresponsible.

“I don’t use the term ‘SRI’ with clients,” said Sucheta Rajagopal, a Toronto-based advisor who specializes in the area. Rajagopal suggested that advisors find appropriate language, which could vary depending on the client. One participant said she asks clients if they’re interested in a holistic approach to their investments, combining financial and personal values.

Putting the language debate aside, there are common themes that can be discussed easily with clients, said Vancouver advisor Fran Goldberg, “I talk about ethics and the environment.”

M ore CSIC Conference Coverage

State of the SRI nation: SIO boss reviews social investment industry on eve of conference
Corporate governance focus seen as opportunity for social investment
SRI advisors bemoan lack of product
Fund manager offers strategies to combat SRI naysayers
SRI – Time for a new name?
Bonus tool A template letter to discuss SRI with your clients and prospects

Back to CSIC Coverage main page

“Every person you meet has social and environmental concerns,” said Rajagopal, who led the workshop.

Vancouver advisor Perry Abbey says although many advisors are reluctant to embrace SRI because they worry about a lack of business, it is in fact “a tremendously underserviced” area.

“When I advertised SRI, I was astonished by the response,” Rajagopal added.

Getting solid, unbiased information about SRI was a concern for some new SRI advisors attending the workshop. In response, the Social Investment Organization has agreed to produce some material explaining the concepts of SRI and is also working on an advisor training program.

• • •

Filed by Doug Watt, Advisor.ca, dwatt@advisor.ca

(06/06/03)

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