IFAs
WaterAid is the international non-government organisation dedicated exclusively to the provision of safe domestic water, sanitation and hygiene education to the world's poorest people.
Safe water and sanitation are now recognised as human rights, vital for everyone in the world, yet a billion people still don't have access to safe water and over two billion people are without sanitation.
The lack of these essential services traps people in a stranglehold of poverty, and causes a child to die every 15 seconds from water related diseases.
Socially responsible investment (SRI) describes investments that combine financial objectives which concern social, environmental and ethical issues. Consumers who invest in SRI can advance positive social and environmental goals.
If your clients decide to make an ethical investment, they won't be alone.
According ot the Ethical Investment Research Service (EIRIS), £6.8 billion is invested in UK retail ethical funds (as at December 2008) and around 78% of the assets of the largest pension funds incorporate SRI principles into their investment process.
Minerva Fund Management Ltd will set up and monitor 'best of the best' SRI fund models using the largest ethical fund management companies, rebalancing the models for optimal performance when they deem it necessary.
There are 5 Socially Responsible Models actively managed by Minerva Fund Management Limited; Adventurous Portfolio, Adventurous Saver, Balanced Growth Portfolio, Balanced Income Portfolio and Conservative Portfolio.
The Adventurous Saver is aimed at clients subscribing on a monthly basis, so unlike the Adventurous Portfolio, it excludes investment trusts and equities to avoid the additional dealing charges associated with these investment types.
Portfolio construction and ethical screening is provided by Jeremy Newbegin, director at the Ethical Partnership Limited.
Access to Socially Responsible Portfolios is by way of an investment in an Avalon Freedom ISA, Freedom Portfolio or Freedom Self Invested Personal Pension.
To demonstrate our commitment to WaterAid, for every WaterAid Freedom ISA, Freedom Portfolio and Freedom Self Invested Personal Pension application we receive, Avalon will donate 10% of the annual management fee arising from these products to WaterAid.
To request a Socially Responsible Portfolio/WaterAid brochure (or if you wish to mail a number out to your clients) simply go to the 'Contact Us' section of the website and enter your details and we will get your requirements out to you by return of post. Application forms and Minerva Discretionary Fund Management Agreements can be down loaded from the 'download' section of this site.
Photograph: Courtesy of: Skogafoss Waterfall Iceland Els Alphenaar