Strategi Institute is proud to have partnered with Mindful Money to further assist advisers and their clients. 

2024 will see the launch of:

• Modules in the Strategi Institute Governance and Compliance Officer courses.

• A module for the New Zealand Certificate in Financial Services (Level 5) version 3.

• CPD modules on Radar.

• Certification badging will be available for ESG and ethical investing.

 Who is Mindful Money and how are they assisting the Financial Services Industry?

Mindful Money is an independent charity that aims to make money a force for good. Since their establishment in 2019, Mindful Money has been providing transparency for Kiwis on holdings in their KiwiSaver and other managed fund investments, support for fund managers to deepen their involvement in ethical investment, and analysis for the financial services industry. They are specialists in ethical and impact investments. 

Mindful Money provides unique, independent insights into ethical investment. Most fund providers now claim some degree of ethical, ESG or sustainability practice but regulatory pressure is growing to ensure that fund providers ‘do what it says on the tin.’ Mindful Money provides a means to objectively test ethical claims against evidence from portfolios and specific investment practices. This provides credible assurance to support the work of financial advisers, supervisors and asset owners. 

Services include:

1. Ethical Audit – Mindful Money compares claims of ethical or responsible investment (from advertising, marketing, PDS, SIPO and RI policy) against objective measures of performance: 

• Portfolio analysis to categorise investments:
  • Analysis of investment portfolios to identify the underlying companies through a full look-through perspective, including indirect investments in external funds.
  • Categorising investment holdings into issues of concern to most New Zealanders (based on annual surveys), such as human rights violations, weapons and fossil fuels.
  • Insights into major investments that raise ethical concerns and risks.
• A review of key strategies for responsible investing, including:
  • Avoiding harmful impacts on people, nature and the climate.
  • Raising company standards through stewardship and engagement.
  • Contributing to positive real world outcomes.
  • Reducing financed emissions and support climate action.

2. Research and Insights – Mindful Money’s research analysis looks at emerging risks and trends that require a proactive response from fund managers. Past research has included NZ investment into global deforestation, companies aligned with the Putin regime, companies partnering with the Myanmar regime, investment into Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories, categories of fossil fuel companies, and action on climate change. For the past five years, Mindful Money has also undertaken annual surveys of the New Zealand public, including their expectations of financial advisers.

3. Capability Building – Mindful Money’s resources on ethical and responsible investment issues include more than 60 online seminars covering issues such as stewardship, investing for the climate, renewable energy and impact investment. They are complemented by bespoke seminars and workshops, and annual awards for ethical fund providers and Financial Advisers.

For more information get in touch with Barry Coates, CEO of Mindful Money at  ba***@mi**********.nz .