Sustainability at Holden & Partners

When Holden & Partners say we want to help you plan for a sustainable future, we mean that in every sense of the word.

We believe that the long-term prosperity of individuals and the wider economy is inextricably linked to healthy ecosystems and a flourishing fair society. It is for this reason that we specialise in sustainable financial planning and investment advice and have done since the inception of the company. This means that we can bring your ethical investment preferences to bear when it comes to making recommendations regarding your financial future and wealth management.

Sustainability affects every aspect of our business, from how we position our model portfolios to how we think about the future and the financial advice that we give. It is for this reason that we are very proud to be an accredited B Corp, a certification that recognises the value we place on purpose alongside profit. We want to not only promote a better way of responsible investing but also a better way of doing business to build a more inclusive and sustainable economy.

Sustainable Investing

Holden & Partners manage a range of Sustainable Investment Portfolios.

To us, sustainable investment strategies are those that support development opportunities that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

We select investment holdings that aim to avoid negative outcomes for people and planet, and mitigate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) risks. Governance refers to the standards for running a company. Selecting investments that avoid negative outcomes is traditionally referred to as Ethical Investing. Ethical investment was one of the first forms of responsible investing and is what most people associate with the sector. Negative screening is the process of excluding companies that do not comply with specific predetermined social or environmental criteria, and this prevents the purchase of stocks that derive profit from areas of the market that pose particularly high ESG risks.

Alongside prioritising an ethical investment approach, we aim to seek out those investments that make important positive contributions to the environment and society. This is Sustainable Investing.

Our four-step process ensures that investment propositions meet our high sustainability standards.

  • We evaluate the aims of the fund to ensure that the approach to sustainability is clearly outlined and is a key part of the investment philosophy.
  • A vital component is examining how these aims are incorporated into stock selection. We prefer investment managers that go beyond the application of a simple screen to integrate ESG risks into valuations and fundamental analysis.
  • We analyse the approach to stewardship and engagement. This ensures that the investment fund manager is using their position as a stakeholder to advocate for better business practices.
  • We ensure that there are sufficient checks and balances in place so that ESG decisions are reviewed and investment decisions are subject to scrutiny. We believe that a culture of professional challenge and debate makes sure that there is no deviation from sustainability aims and promotes good investment fund governance.

We also assess the sustainability credentials of fund providers. We favour those fund houses that go beyond incorporating ESG considerations into their investment decisions by seeking to achieve best practice across the company.

We use various criteria and scoring methodology to assess each of the elements listed above. This means we have a quantitively measured approach to a qualitative process. As a result, we can compare different investments and select only those that meet our requirements for sustainable investing.

Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015 the United Nations set out a plan for a safer and more prosperous planet by 2030. A significant part of the United Nations 2030 Agenda consists of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The scope of the SDGs is extremely ambitious and therefore they are designed to unite all appropriate actors behind a shared ambition. This means that businesses should coordinate with Governments at various levels, and civil society organisations to collectively pursue these objectives which stand to benefit us all. We believe that businesses that offer solutions to navigate emerging challenges and provide innovative technology are likely to prove resilient over the long term. As a consequence, we seek out investment strategies that support alignment with the SDGs and are positioned to avoid the risks, including ESG risks, and take advantage of the opportunities posed by a changing planet.

All 17 SDGs are shown below:

You can find out more about the SDGs and the role of businesses in achieving them here.

Contact us

Whether it’s a question about your personal finances or how you can invest your wealth more ethically, we are here to help. Call us on 020 7812 1460, email info@holden-partners.co.uk or complete the form: