Part 1: Investors and advisors turn to SRI. Mark Begg, a vice president and investment advisor at Richardson Financial Partners Ltd., Eugene Ellmen, executive director of the Social Investment Organization and Gary Hawton, CEO of Meritas Mutual Funds, describe socially responsible investing, and the growth in retail and institutional interest in the category.
Part 2: Manufacturers winning distribution Keith Sjogren, director of research and advisory services at Investor Economics Inc., describes the manufacturing and distribution landscape across the country, Michael Jantzi, president of Jantzi Research Inc., makes a product announcement, while Kevin Towers, an advisor at GP Wealth Management Corp., describes his experience building portfolios with SRI. They all spoke in Toronto.
Part 3: SRI clients: More than aging hippies The popular perception is that most SRI investors are environmental activists. While they are among the core clients, the investor base is broadening, say several advisors. Patti Dolan, an advisor at Research Capital Corp in Calgary; Kathleen Peace, an advisor in Toronto at IPC Investment Corp. and James Galloway at Dundee Private Investors Inc. in Caledon speak about their clients. Michael Jantzi, president of Jantzi Research Inc. and Gary Hawton, CEO of Meritas Mutual Funds join the conversation in Toronto.
Part 4: SRI advisor puts focus on client values Sucheta Rajagopal, an advisor with Hampton Securities Ltd. who deals exclusively in SRI, describes her business, client values and the outlook for the industry. Michael Jantzi, president of Jantzi Research Inc. and Gary Hawton, CEO of Meritas Mutual Funds join the conversation in Toronto.
Part 5: SRI industry challenges KYC rules Several advisors and industry participants discuss the possibility for changes to know-your-client and suitability rules to include a social values component.
Part 6: SRI underperformance myth put to rest long ago Advisors, industry executives and analysts discuss the performance and costs of SRI investments compared to their peers, SRI indexes, and the experience of building portfolios with the category of investments.
Part 7: Clients arrive to SRI with negative screens first Chris Gordon, an advisor with Edward Jones in Mississauga, Ont., Gary Hawton, CEO of Meritas Mutual Funds and Keith McLean, a portfolio manager with I.G. Investment Management, Ltd., describe the changing landscape of negative screening in the SRI industry and how clients approach the industry.
Part 8: Screening to promote shareholder activism Advisors and industry executives describe positive screening and how it promotes shareholder advocacy and change in the social, environmental and governance arenas.
Part 9: Four environmental victories for the SRI industry Advisors and industry executives name several positive environmental outcomes for which the SRI industry takes some credit.
Part 10: Social values victories are sometimes works in progress Advisors and industry executives describe several positive social victories for which the SRI industry takes some credit.
Part 11: SRI scores a big win with Say on Pay Gary Hawton, CEO of Meritas Mutual Funds, and Stephen Griggs, executive director of the Canadian Coalition for Good Governance, discuss how some of Canada’s major public companies have agreed to shareholder advice on executive compensation, and its potential impact on pay globally. Meritas championed the so-called, “Say on Pay” issue for the SRI industry. Griggs spoke in Toronto at the TMX Media Centre. Hawton spoke in Kitchener, Ont.
Part 12: Roundtable on SRI's outlook in Canada Sucheta Rajagopal, an advisor with Hampton Securties Inc. in Toronto, who deals almost exclusively in socially responsible investments, moderates a discussion about the potential for growth of the SRI industry in Canada, regulatory and government leadership and the challenge of integrating SRI factors into normal equity analysis. She spoke with Christophe Vandewiele, head of Dexia Asset Management in Canada and Max Zehrt, an SRI analyst at TD Asset Management Inc. They spoke at the TMX Broadcast Centre in Toronto.
