SPECIAL REPORT
5-STAR AWARDS: ESG FUNDS
INVESTING IN A BETTER FUTURE THE TASK of evaluating socially responsible investments can be a challenging one for advisors. It’s a sector where approaches and innovations can vary widely, from the factors used to select securities to the level of active management. Which funds are truly providing the combination of values and solid performance that advisors are looking for when selecting ESG options for client portfolios? To discover the fund providers that are going above and beyond with their approach to ESG,
“People often ask, ‘What return compromises do you think you’re going to have with a climate fund?’ And I say, ‘Why do you think we’re going to compromise on returns?’” Hugo Lavallée, Fidelity Investments Canada
WHAT’S MOST IMPORTANT TO ADVISORS WHEN CHOOSING AN ESG FUND? Fund manager performance 91% Reflection of values 91% Security selection 89% Track record 88% Fees 81%
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WP turned to readers, asking them to rate their favourite ESG funds based on five criteria: reflection of values, track record, fund manager performance, security selection and fees. So what approach did the 5-Star Award winners take that made them stand out? “We are very proud of our longstanding partnership with SRI pioneer Vancity Investment Management,” says Kos Lazaridis, senior vice-president, chief product officer and head of strategy at iA Clarington Investments, which was named a 5-Star winner for its Inhance Global Equity SRI fund. “We are gratified to see our trust and confidence in the abilities of this talented group of professionals rewarded with the WP 5-Star rating.” Hugo Lavallée, portfolio manager of another 5-Star winner, the Fidelity Climate Leadership Funds, says, “I think we’re really hard to beat. We don’t have that many competitors that can bring what we bring to the table. I also like to think that success is due to having the right team as a whole here at Fidelity.”
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