The Low Down on Impact Investing

Impact investing is a form of investing that seeks to generate a measurable, beneficial social or environmental impact alongside a financial return. It is an approach to investing that actively seeks to create positive social or environmental change, such as reducing poverty or limiting climate change.

Impact investments can be made in both public and private markets, and can range from microfinance loans to investments in renewable energy. Impact investing is becoming increasingly popular among individuals and institutions. According to the Global Impact Investing Network, the number of impact investors has grown from approximately 100 in 2007 to over 700 in 2020.

This growth is driven, in part, by a desire to use financial resources to create positive change in the world. The concept of impact investing has its roots in the fields of ethical investing and socially responsible investing.

Ethical investing focuses on avoiding investments in companies and industries whose practices may be considered unethical or socially irresponsible.

Socially responsible investing, on the other hand, seeks to actively invest in companies and industries that promote or provide social and environmental benefits.

Impact investing is different from traditional investing in that it is driven primarily by the impact of the investment on society, rather than the financial return. Impact investors are typically willing to accept a lower financial return than they would with a traditional investment, in exchange for the assurance that their investment is making a positive contribution to society.

Impact investing is becoming increasingly popular as investors recognize the importance of using their financial resources to create positive social and environmental change. By investing in projects and companies that are focused on creating positive change, investors can use their money to help support sustainable development, reduce poverty, and make the world a better place.

One way for investors to engage in impact investing is through exchange-traded funds (ETFs). ETFs are a type of investment fund that is traded on a stock exchange, like shares of a company. ETFs allow investors to gain exposure to a wide range of assets, including stocks, bonds, and commodities, without having to purchase each asset individually. ETFs can also be used to gain exposure to specific sectors, such as renewable energy or microfinance.

By investing in an ETF that focuses on a particular sector, investors can help support businesses and projects that are focused on creating positive social and environmental change.

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