PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 34
INVESTMENT FOCUS
Seize the Opportunity
W
idespread apocalyptic forest
fires in California, Australia
and the Amazon; rapid melting
of glaciers at the Earth's poles; epic air pollution.
These conditions point to extensive
and accelerating climate change around
the globe. And the impact is not limited
to physical dimensions: " Climate change
has become a defining factor in companies'
long-term prospects, " wrote Larry Fink,
head of investment giant BlackRock, in his
annual letter to corporate CEOs in January.
" In the near future-and sooner than most
anticipate-there will be a significant reallocation
of capital. ... Every government,
company and shareholder must confront
climate change. " Fink's letter triggered a
deluge of missives on climate from other
investment managers, corporate CEOs and
even the head of the U.S. Federal Reserve.
A move toward more responsible
34 PLANSPONSOR.COM February - March 2020
investing, adhering to environmental,
social and governance (ESG) principles-among
which climate is a central
factor-has been underway for years. The
United Nations Principles for Responsible
Investing initiative includes signatories of
450 asset owners, 292 service providers
and 1,773 investment managers. And
while many institutional investors have
adopted ESG principles, one enormous
pool of capital-the $8.5 trillion invested
in U.S. defined contribution (DC)
plans-is largely silent on ESG, says the
Investment Company Institute (ICI).
Although institutional investors
bring a great weight of money to ESG
investing, individuals are engaged, too.
Morningstar's " 2019 Sustainable Funds
U.S. Landscape Report " identifies 351
vehicles that followed ESG principles or
sought sustainable principles alongside
Art by Alex Eben Meyer
Adding ESG investments to the menu involves some analysis
conventional financial return. The year
2018 saw a 50% increase in such funds and
record asset inflows-for total managed
assets approaching $90 billion.
Because U.S. retail investors are likely
owners of DC accounts as well, it stands
to reason that some would be receptive to
extending ESG criteria to their retirement
investments. And, according to independent
research firm Cerulli Associates in
its 2019 survey of 401(k) investors, 48%
said they would prefer to invest in companies
that are environmentally and socially
responsible. That percentage rises to about
two-thirds for investors under age 40.
Sponsors say they view ESG principles
favorably, as well. Separate Cerulli
surveys report that 81% of plan sponsors
see fund options' investments in environmentally
and socially responsible funds as
somewhat or very important.
http://www.PLANSPONSOR.COM
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020
The Case for a Process
2020 PLANSPONSOR Best in Class 401(k) Plans
A Changed Perspective
Seize the Opportunity
Ready As It Goes
Income Insight
Good Read
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - Cover1
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - Cover2
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 1
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 2
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 3
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 4
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 5
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 6
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 7
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 8
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 9
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 10
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 11
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 12
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 13
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - The Case for a Process
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 15
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 16
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 17
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 18
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 19
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 2020 PLANSPONSOR Best in Class 401(k) Plans
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 21
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 22
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 23
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 24
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 25
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 26
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 27
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 28
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 29
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - A Changed Perspective
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 31
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 32
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 33
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - Seize the Opportunity
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 35
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - Ready As It Goes
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 37
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - Income Insight
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 39
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - Good Read
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 41
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 42
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 43
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 44
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 45
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 46
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 47
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - 48
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - Cover3
PLANSPONSOR - February/March 2020 - Cover4
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/may_june_2024
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/march_april_2024
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/january_february_2024
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/november_december_2023
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/september_october_2023
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/july_august_2023
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/may_june_2023
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/march_april_2023
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/december_2022_february_2023
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/october_november_2022
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/august_september_2022
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/june_july_2022
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/excellenceawards_2022
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/april_may_2022
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/february_march_2022
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/december_2021_january_2022
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/october_november_2021
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/august_september_2021
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/june_july_2021
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/april-may_2021
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/february-march_2021
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/december-january_2021
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/october-november_2020
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/august-september_2020
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/june-july_2020
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/april-may_2020
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/february-march_2020
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/december-january_2020
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/october-november_2019
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/august-september_2019
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/june-july_2019
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/april-may_2019
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/february-march_2019
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/december_2018-january_2019
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/october-november_2018
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/august-september_2018
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/june-july_2018
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/april-may_2018
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/february-march_2018
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/december_2017-january_2018
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/november_december_2017
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/october_2017
https://www.plansponsordigital.com/plansponsor/september_2017
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com