By Ahnika LeRoy, Contributor
While conventional wisdom holds that environmental protection and financial success are at loggerheads, they can coexist and even flourish together. The growth in impact investing, a form of investment designed to generate financial gain and positive social and environmental impact, is a testament to investors’ willingness to take non-financial costs into account in their investment decisions.… Read More

By Dan Sherman, Contributor
This month is national Bike to Work Month. Hopefully, you’ve been able to strap on a helmet, make the ride to the office, and remind yourself just how long it has been since you did a leg day at the gym.… Read More
By James Griffitts, Contributor
In Washington, tightening EPA restrictions and policies favoring cleaner energy have led some to characterize present policy as a war on coal. Whether or not an actual war on coal is underway, a recent report released by the Carbon Tracking Initiative indicates that the decline in the US coal sector is not cyclical, but structural.… Read More

By James Griffitts, Contributor
The phrase “bottom line” has its roots in traditional business accounting. The term refers to the bottom line of an income statement, where total profit or losses are recorded. In effect, the bottom line indicates whether a business is making or losing money.… Read More
By Holly Testa, Director, Shareowner Engagement
First Affirmative’s shareowner advocacy program does not stand alone. Many of the asset managers we use in client accounts are also our partners in advocacy—and they have powerful stories to share. In this installment, we talk with Stu Dalheim, Vice President, Shareholder Advocacy, Calvert Investments.… Read More
By Charles Sandmel, Contributor
“Green Bonds,” the long-awaited marriage of fixed-income and sustainable investing, has exploded in volume over the past few years and become a hot topic. Issuance grew from less than $1 billion worldwide in 2008 to $35 billion last year.… Read More
By Ahnika LeRoy, Contributor
Last year was a record-breaking year for new renewable energy installations. According to a report conducted by Frankfurt School UNEP Collaborating Centre, investments in renewable energy were up 17% from 2013 to $270 billion globally in 2014.… Read More
By Lauren Morrell, Contributor
We’ve all heard about the upcoming generational wealth transfer estimated at over $41 trillion that will be passed down to the Millennial Generation by 2040, but a less known fact is that two-thirds of this transfer will end up in the hands of women, according to Audrey Choi, CEO of Morgan Stanley’s Institute for Sustainable Investing.… Read More
By Holly Testa
First Affirmative’s shareowner advocacy program does not stand alone. Many of the asset managers we use in client accounts are also our partners in advocacy—and they have powerful stories to share. In this installment, we talk with Lauren Compere, Director, Shareowner Engagement, Boston Common Asset Management.… Read More
Why do you invest? Guest Blog by Rebecca Jackson
For most people, the answer is probably simple—investing is the best way to build wealth for the long-term. But have you ever considered investing as a means to express your personal values and a way to improve social and environmental outcomes?… Read More