Amy Domini, co-author of Ethical Investing (1984), launched the Domini Fund in 1991 as the world’s first environmentally and socially screened index fund. Since then, impact investing has become available through many mainstream funds, including many workplace 401Ks. The idea is to pick issues that are important to you and only invest money in enterprises that align with your stance on these issues. Index funds make this easy and may often outperform funds that are not screened for their impact. If your workplace 401K does not have an impact investment option, ask for one! Professional companies review employee benefits every year and may very well add this to the options they offer, as my company did on my request. Speaking of investment, you can also make your subscriptions (or cancellations of those subscriptions) talk. Marketing professor / serial entrepreneur / podcast host Scott Galloway founded Resist and Unsubscribe in February to curb the influence of Big Tech companies that enable the Trump administration’s anti-immigration policies. The website includes a handy guide to companies that Galloway deems as particularly egregious and provides links and instructions to easily unsubscribe from them. So far the movement has chalked up a $290 million loss in market cap valuation for Big Tech companies. (If you’re a supporter of ICE, you can still use this website to help audit your recurring subscriptions and save a little cash!)
Making Your Money Talk
Your vote is an important part of your voice as a citizen, but your investments may be sending a different message.
