The world has certainly changed over the last 10 years. The cliché for taking readers back in time is to reference Apple products. In May 2010, the original iPad had just been launched, while consumers were looking forward to the new iPhone4, still a month from market.
The biggest change for me has been a silent revolution: the acceptance of sustainable investing. This reflects two developments. First, there is now strong evidence that integrating sustainability into investment decisions can enhance returns. Second, more consumers are considering not just what a product does, but the environmental and social context in which it has been produced. Such considerations are now increasingly a factor in their investment choices.
Some commentators attribute this increased awareness to the emergence of ‘millennials'. There is some truth in this: this generation now outnumbers baby boomers as adult consumers for the first time. However, older people can be just as passionate about sustainable investing, not least as they consider their legacy to their children. There is an ongoing societal shift towards understanding the importance of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors, which form the bedrock of sustainable investing.
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Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. The value of investments and the income from them is not guaranteed and may go down as well as up and investors may not get back the amount originally invested. The views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute investment advice.
