Comments on: Do You Invest in Companies You Find to be Morally Repugnant? http://www.darwinsfinance.com/ethical-investing/ Financial Evolution: Education, Adaptation, Achievement Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:43:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ideas To Make Moneyhttp://www.darwinsfinance.com/ethical-investing/#comment-6261 Ideas To Make Money Sat, 19 Jun 2010 19:01:29 +0000 http://www.darwinsfinance.com/?p=1430#comment-6261 I will never invest in any company that I find repugnant. When it comes to my investing strategy I only invest in companies that I would be happy owning myself. I will never invest in any company that I find repugnant. When it comes to my investing strategy I only invest in companies that I would be happy owning myself.

]]> By: Carnival of Money Stories #31! Getting Ready for Christmas Edition | Ultimate Money Bloghttp://www.darwinsfinance.com/ethical-investing/#comment-3368 Carnival of Money Stories #31! Getting Ready for Christmas Edition | Ultimate Money Blog Mon, 07 Dec 2009 10:03:06 +0000 http://www.darwinsfinance.com/?p=1430#comment-3368 [...] presents Do You Invest in Companies You Find to be Morally Repugnant? posted at Darwin’s Finance, saying, “Do You Invest in Companies You Find to be Morally [...] [...] presents Do You Invest in Companies You Find to be Morally Repugnant? posted at Darwin’s Finance, saying, “Do You Invest in Companies You Find to be Morally [...]

]]> By: Brad Castrohttp://www.darwinsfinance.com/ethical-investing/#comment-3293 Brad Castro Wed, 02 Dec 2009 03:34:38 +0000 http://www.darwinsfinance.com/?p=1430#comment-3293 I guess it depends on your own set of ethics. For me, I could never invest in tobacco or privatized prison operators. But I have no problems investing in obesity (MCD) or alcohol (DEO). Do I think ethical investing affects the material world? Probably not. If enough people refuse to invest in a well run company based on their own conscience, the only result might be a slighly depressed share price - which benefits those who didn't have any of those qualms with a higher dividend yield. But if I invest in a company that I find repugnant, it affects me personally. I send myself all sorts of unhealthy messages about money and investing. In my example above, it would associate money and investing with death and human bondage. How could their not be pyschological consequences? Surely I can find something a little more personally benign in which to invest. I guess it depends on your own set of ethics. For me, I could never invest in tobacco or privatized prison operators. But I have no problems investing in obesity (MCD) or alcohol (DEO).

Do I think ethical investing affects the material world? Probably not. If enough people refuse to invest in a well run company based on their own conscience, the only result might be a slighly depressed share price – which benefits those who didn’t have any of those qualms with a higher dividend yield.

But if I invest in a company that I find repugnant, it affects me personally. I send myself all sorts of unhealthy messages about money and investing. In my example above, it would associate money and investing with death and human bondage. How could their not be pyschological consequences?

Surely I can find something a little more personally benign in which to invest.

]]> By: MoneyEnergyhttp://www.darwinsfinance.com/ethical-investing/#comment-3267 MoneyEnergy Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:15:12 +0000 http://www.darwinsfinance.com/?p=1430#comment-3267 I'd have to disagree if you think socially responsible investing makes no difference. One needs to take a wider view than simply financial ramifications. Also, SRI depends on each individual and is really relative. It's up to each person to do what they think is right and not base their decisions on what the "next person" might do. Counting on that "next person" to buy more shares of Altria is still counting on a future act - the only thing you can control is what you do. We are all consumers and we vote with our purchases - if you buy a hamburger at McDonalds or buy its common shares, you are giving your support to the mass meat slaughter industry, period. To me there is no debate really on whether ethics plays a consequential role in investing. It plays a consequential role everywhere, since every action sets in place its own chain of events. I’d have to disagree if you think socially responsible investing makes no difference. One needs to take a wider view than simply financial ramifications. Also, SRI depends on each individual and is really relative. It’s up to each person to do what they think is right and not base their decisions on what the “next person” might do. Counting on that “next person” to buy more shares of Altria is still counting on a future act – the only thing you can control is what you do. We are all consumers and we vote with our purchases – if you buy a hamburger at McDonalds or buy its common shares, you are giving your support to the mass meat slaughter industry, period. To me there is no debate really on whether ethics plays a consequential role in investing. It plays a consequential role everywhere, since every action sets in place its own chain of events.

]]> By: Ron Robinshttp://www.darwinsfinance.com/ethical-investing/#comment-3262 Ron Robins Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:40:51 +0000 http://www.darwinsfinance.com/?p=1430#comment-3262 Interesting thoughts on ethical investing. I have been following ethical investing for about forty years and believe that when we invest in a company, or many companies in the case of a mutual fund, ETF, etc., we share in the responsibility for the activities of those companies as well as participate in the outcomes of their corporate activities. So, anyone valuing their personal or spiritual growth has to take these things into account when investing. Also, if everyone invests according to their personal values, then, since so many of our core values are alike — and are supportive of higher ideals — that in the long run, only companies employing these higher values will truly prosper. And there is real evidence of this now. I advocate, teach, and write on the subject of personal values based investing -- and have a popular website that has unique information which might interest you. It includes the latest global socially responsible investing news and research. My site is at <a href="http://investingforthesoul.com/" rel="nofollow"> www.investingforthesoul.com </a> Best wishes, Ron Robins Interesting thoughts on ethical investing.

I have been following ethical investing for about forty years and believe that when we invest in a company, or many companies in the case of a mutual fund, ETF, etc., we share in the responsibility for the activities of those companies as well as participate in the outcomes of their corporate activities. So, anyone valuing their personal or spiritual growth has to take these things into account when investing.

Also, if everyone invests according to their personal values, then, since so many of our core values are alike — and are supportive of higher ideals — that in the long run, only companies employing these higher values will truly prosper. And there is real evidence of this now.

I advocate, teach, and write on the subject of personal values based investing — and have a popular website that has unique information which might interest you. It includes the latest global socially responsible investing news and research. My site is at http://www.investingforthesoul.com

Best wishes, Ron Robins

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