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Green Investing for a Better Tomorrow

With gasoline prices at the pump well north of $4, conservation and a focus on renewable resources is on everyone’s mind these days. And although you may already recycle, drive a hybrid vehicle, and are a card carrying member of the Sierra Club, you may ask yourself what more you can do to help the environment. For many investors, this means taking a second look at your portfolio and making sure that your investment strategy aligns with your personal beliefs.

Loosely defined as an investment strategy that combines the goals of financial performance with social, ethical, and environmental accountability, Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) strives to make the world a better place by supporting companies that are good corporate citizens.

The majority of Socially Responsible Investments follow a screening approach. That is, the investments will narrow their investment universe to exclude companies involved in alcohol, tobacco, firearms, degradation of the environment, and abusive labor practices, among other criteria.

These investments can take the form of actively managed and index mutual funds, separately managed accounts, and exchange traded funds (ETFs). Further, there are SRI investments that represent many different asset classes, from domestic stock of various market capitalizations (small to large), to balanced funds which combine both stocks and bonds, to international funds which invest solely outside the United States.

More information on Socially Responsible Investing can be found on websites such as www.socialinvest.org , www.socialfunds.com , and www.greenmoneyjournal.com. These sites all contain listings of SRI funds and commentary on the ins and outs of this growing field.

So if you’re already doing everything you can to protect the environment, consider taking a look at Socially Responsible Investing, and have your money do the same.

To learn more about green investing and how you can make your portfolio more eco-friendly, contact Travis Allen, Certified Financial Planner™ at (714)384-4144 or tallen@wealthstrategiesgroup.net.

An investor should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of a mutual fund before investing. The fund prospectus contains this and other information about the fund. Contact your advisor or the fund company for a copy of the prospectus, which should be read carefully before investing.

The market values of securities fluctuate and their value may be more or less than their original cost when sold. Accordingly, you can lose money investing in a mutual fund. Bond investments involve the risks of price fluctuation due to changes in interest rates and the issuer's credit quality. Investments in foreign markets are subject to special risks such as currency fluctuations, political instability, differing securities regulations and periods of illiquidity. Funds that concentrate its investments in one region or industry may carry greater risk than more broadly diversified mutual funds.

Travis Allen is a Certified Financial Planner™ and the President of Wealth Strategies Group, a wealth management firm located in Costa Mesa, CA. Securities offered through Securities America, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC, and Financial Planning and Investment Advisory Services offered through Securities America Advisors, Inc., an SEC Registered Investment Advisor, Travis Allen, Representative. Wealth Strategies Group and the Securities America Companies are not affiliated.