ESG Investing With Haleh Modasser
In this episode of Financial Finesse, I interview expert guest Haleh Modasser, Sr. Vice President at Stearns Financial in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Haleh is the author of Women on Top: Women, Wealth & Social Change, which makes a case for women to leverage their wealth to propel the changes we want to see in the world while also benefiting financially. Beyond charitable giving, volunteering, and political activism, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing is an increasingly popular way for women to make an impact by aligning our investment dollars with the causes we value.
More than ever, I hear women asking, “What can I do to help?” in the wake of a global pandemic and growing social unrest, and this episode tackles that question head-on. Haleh and I discuss how values-based investing can be a faster and more impactful way to effect change and why it’s so important for women of the Baby Boomer generation, who control the majority of the nation’s wealth, to be aware of these types of investment opportunities.
During our conversation, we touch on both the principles and mechanics of ESG investing, and why interest in these strategies has skyrocketed since the pandemic began. Whether you’re a financial advisor who wants to educate your clients on these opportunities or a woman who wants to use your wealth to support the issues you care about, I encourage you to listen to this episode.
Finally, if you’re a client of Curtis Financial Planning or want to work with an advisor to learn more about how to incorporate ESG principles into your investment portfolio, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Episode Highlights
- [03:00] Haleh provides an overview of values-based and ESG investing and the progress it's made as an investment approach in the last five years.
- [07:00] I ask Haleh to debunk the misconception that ESG investment strategies underperform traditional, bottom-line investing.
- [10:00] Haleh and I discuss how Boomer women can use their wealth to effect real change in the world.
- [19:24] Haleh makes a compelling case for why women should "vote with our pocketbooks."
- [21:00] We talk specifically about the pandemic, BLM movement, and what women can do to help.
- [22:00] Haleh offers her perspective on the best way to incorporate these principles into your investment portfolio to make the biggest impact.
- [27:20] Haleh shares why she believes ESG investing is the wave of the future.
- [30:53] Haleh and I discuss what financial advisors can do to educate our clients on these strategies and make them more readily available.
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Here's The Full Conversation
I hope you find it as fascinating as I did!
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