In Focus: Passive Investing  

How to choose an ESG exchange-traded fund

  • To understand how ESG operates within an ETF.
  • To be able to explain the pros and cons to clients seeking ESG ETFs.
  • To learn how to assess the stewardship potential of passive ESG funds
CPD
Approx.30min

Trieber continues: “In some cases, ETF issuers have incorporated policies that are integrated throughout the firm, from reducing carbon footprint to the actual implementation of ESG policies at a product level.”

She also follows Sagayam’s and McDermott’s comments on active management, explaining that ETF providers often work with an active overlay to avoid the very sort of issue that Sagayam mentioned earlier. 

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Trieber states: “ETF issuers often partner with external asset managers for the management... Robust procedures can allow tracking of the progress made from stewardship efforts on the one hand, and annual public reporting on the other.

“In the UK where stewardship reporting has become increasingly important, robust policies and procedures are integral to the success of stewardship efforts.

"By the same token, some external asset managers can appoint companies providing corporate governance solutions, such as Institutional Shareholder Services, that co-ordinate the voting and engagement activities on behalf of ETF investors."

It would thereby appear that when it comes to ESG, there are advantages and disadvantages investing in passive funds; it all comes down of course to the client's end objectives.

Advisers should consult their clients on what kind of approach they wish to take; proactively investing in green companies, selective and thematic or screening, for example.

They need to be aware that a 'green ETF' may have less diversification and be more heavily concentrated with possible impact on returns.

However, ETFs offer a transparent, accessible, and low-cost way of investing sustainably. For someone new to investment, someone who does not have a large pot of money to pay charges or someone wanting clarity and transparency in their ESG journey, ETFs could be a good choice. 

ETFs and actively managed funds therefore could be seen to work well for different audiences. Alternatively, a transitional, integrated approach can apply to client portfolios that include green ETFs. 

However, it is clear inclusion of ESG is vital if investors are going to play an integral role in improving the world in which we all live. 

Anita Boniface is a freelance journalist

CPD
Approx.30min

Please answer the six multiple choice questions below in order to bank your CPD. Multiple attempts are available until all questions are correctly answered.

  1. Invesco claims there is how much of an increase in ETF assets over the past decade?

  2. ESG ETFs enable clients to include what, according to Dutt?

  3. What are ETFs benefiting from in Europe, according to Trieber?

  4. Bailey says that retail investors by and large do not use ESG-screened vanilla index ETFs. True or false?

  5. ESG ETFs have a low potential for what, according to McDermott?

  6. Sagayam says investing in ESG is very what?

Nearly There…

You have successfully answered all the questions correctly, well done!

You should now know…

  • To understand how ESG operates within an ETF.
  • To be able to explain the pros and cons to clients seeking ESG ETFs.
  • To learn how to assess the stewardship potential of passive ESG funds

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