Is ethical investing becoming mainstream? Notes from a conference held in Auckland this week: Problems with naming; Importance of the issue; “Short termism” in the financial world; The big issue: trust; What government is doing; What KiwiSaver providers are doing; Why investors aren’t doing more; What investors can do easily.
New developments in ethical investing: What is it?; Are the returns as good as in other funds?; Big NZ funds put pressure on Facebook, Google and Twitter; Mindful Money website — Good KiwiSaver funds, How is your fund doing? Find a fund that suits you; Listeners’ emails.
What are shares exactly? Listeners’ questions. Are they an ethical investment?; How to pick shares; What not to do — insider trading.
Q&As: Capital gains tax on second homes would be based on gains from April 2020; New tax would reduce income inequality; The right adviser could help readers decide whether to sell rental; It would be great if online tool showed ethics of companies.
Ethical (or responsible) investing: What we say versus what we do — Survey on New Zealanders’ views; But are we acting on those views?; Why not, and what can be done about it; Avoid “bad” companies or engage with them?; One worry — keep an eye on fund risk.
Q&As: KiwiSaver providers are poor educators (includes list of ethical KiwiSaver funds); No extra protection for KiwiSaver funds; Pros and cons of property v shares; The believer, the atheist and the agnostic.
Q&As: Taking socially responsible investing a step further — investing in ‘good’ companies; Tax-favoured shares not necessarily a wise investment; Lots of fee payments early on worry new KiwiSaver; NZ has low-tax high-dividend share funds.
Listeners’ questions, comments and quibbles on the last discussion — on index funds and exchange traded funds: How to begin at share investing; Some critical views about shares, index funds and corporations; Why fewer than half active funds can beat index funds; Medians and averages — the difference, and when it matters.
Q&As: Ethical investing can be effective — even if it’s not done perfectly; KiwiSaver tax credit continues if you’re overseas briefly; Deduction of overseas pension from NZ Super the only fair way.
Q&As: Should student earn interest while running up student loan?; Freebies for shareholders left some the worse for wear; Deduction of Canadian pension from NZ Super seems fair; Another ethical KiwiSaver fund; Show Me The Money Week about to start.