Fossil Free Investing

Why choose Fossil FreeTM investing

Align with your values

You can now choose to make a positive impact on society and the environment with each allocation of your capital. At Genus, we screen out industries or companies that don’t align with your values and integrate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) screening into your investments.

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Make a difference

Divesting from fossil fuels and removing military, weapons, tobacco, alcohol, junk food, and factory farming from your investments is how you vote with your money, make a difference in the world, yet not sacrifice returns.

Build a portfolio that has a positive net impact

Genus is the first investment firm in Canada to apply a Net Impact ScoreTM. We use this innovative process to measure the net impact of your portfolio. This shows the positive and negative impact of your investments. Take a look at the latest Net Impact Report.

Benefit from active risk management

By using our investment research, we are able to go beyond diversification and create a portfolio for you that recalibrates to changing markets. This helps you manage risk and enhance returns no matter what is happening in the market.

Make environmental & social impact

As a client of Genus, you now have the opportunity to invest in sectors such as: clean water and sanitization, health and education, affordable and clean energy, climate action, and responsible consumption and production. We use the UN Sustainable Development Goals to measure the impact.

Support conscious capitalist businesses

Private and public companies, institutions, and NGOs (Non Governmental Organizations) are choosing sustainable products and services. Investing in fossil free means supporting companies that are doing good in the world.

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Avoid stranded asset risk

Regulations and public perceptions are changing, and markets may not be efficiently pricing this risk. Sometimes companies may be forced to walk away from their unsustainable projects. By investing in fossil free you reduce the risk of stranded assets in your portfolio.

Grow your money while making a difference in the world

Spectrum of sustainable investing

Learn more about the different types of sustainable investing.

Learn more about our most recent research on key issues in sustainable investing.

NET IMPACT REPORT

INSTITUTIONAL NET IMPACT RANKING REPORT

Defining investment terms

Fossil free

Investing that avoids companies that produce, transport, and refine fossil fuels. This investment strategy also avoids industries with high emissions. This approach is called negative screening.

Impact investing

Impact investing aims to generate a social or environmental difference in addition to financial gains. Impact investing goes beyond negative screening by including businesses that do the most good.

Responsible investing

Responsible investors commit to incorporating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors in investment decisions and in active ownership. Responsible Investing does not require any negative or positive screening, but rather building ESG thinking into traditional analysis.

Active ownership

Active ownership includes voting proxies towards objectives and shareholder engagement with management. Active owners take a more proactive stand and advocate for change.

SRI (Socially Responsible Investing)

SRI investors focus on ethics and social concerns. This approach avoids industries that aren’t aligned with client values, such as tobacco and weapon companies. The Genus Fossil Free funds are socially responsible.

ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance)

ESG stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance. Starting in the 1990’s, the investment and business community increased their attention on good governance such as board policies, executive compensation, and shareholder protections. Over the past 30 years, that focus has increasingly expanded to additional stakeholders, notably employees, customers, and the environment. There are at least six ways to implement ESG Investing, such as:
  1. Negative Screening (exclusionary)*
  2. Best-in-class Selection*
  3. Active Ownership*
  4. Thematic Investing*
  5. Impact Investing*
  6. ESG Integration*
*Included in Genus Fossil Free strategies

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The UN (United Nations) SDGs are 17 goals that work together to form a blueprint for a better and more sustainable future for all. With a target of 2030, the goals address challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and justice.

Stranded assets

Stranded assets are corporate investments that have suffered from unanticipated or premature write-downs or devaluations. This can be caused by a variety of factors such as changes of regulation, social acceptance, or consumer preferences. Stranded assets usually refer to fossil fuel reserves, such as unmined coal, or infrastructure.

Greenwashing

Greenwashing is the process of conveying a false impression or providing misleading information about how a company’s products are environmentally conscious. As sustainable investing has gained momentum there is increasingly a risk of bandwagon jumping that is more promotional than real.

Client impact

“Graduating from a big bank to Genus was one of the best financial steps we've ever taken. Genus has delivered reliable asset growth despite our moderate risk tolerance. As our financial security has grown, we've also been the beneficiaries of a great client experience. The company's communications have been consistently transparent and informative, including educational webinars and a well-designed web portal where we can track investments daily. Most importantly to us, our portfolio manager has always responded swiftly and thoroughly to our questions and requests. ”
Martin T.
"Having relatively diverse financial goals and needs, along with a slight reticence regarding the stock market, Genus skillfully addressed all of our concerns, and put together a truly exceptional plan: Fossil free funds and a diversified investment portfolio, check; An effective Impact investment portfolio that coincides with our hopes and dreams for a better world, check; Professional advice and assistance to create a donor advised charitable fund with immediate charitable receipts for tax purposes, check. Returns? Way beyond our expectations! We even had some fun along the way and certainly enjoyed an incredible two-year start to what will be a satisfying long-term relationship with Genus."
Marc B.
“I love the service I get at Genus.”
Chris H.
“Leslie and I were fellow board members when we met twenty years ago. For the last ten she has been thoughtful in the construction of an investment strategy for my family and is executing the strategy as planned. The team at Genus has met my expectations and are a pleasure to deal with.”
Bob Q.
“For over 15 years, I have provided selection and performance evaluation of multiple investment managers for a significant family office. Leslie and Genus have been foundational for me in my role. I have always found Leslie and her colleagues to be insightful and proactive, and found the performance of their portion of the portfolio to be well above benchmarks. And they have been a great pleasure to work with.”
Douglas H.
“Genus is a very innovative firm. I am pleased to invest in their Fossil Free and Impact strategies that help me invest in line with my values.”
Marnie C.
“Great team of professionals. Excellent website and reporting. Responds to inquiries promptly. Very pleased with the process of changing from another company to Genus as well. Kudos.”
David L.
“Genus consistently provides a good, clearly explained, comprehensive picture of the general economic and financial situation, along with an excellent account of the investment decisions made in relation to this. Genus’ equally strong concern with clients’ questions and requests for further information is also a very important part of the service it provides.”
Allan S.
“Back in 1992 when I found myself at fifty with a substantial amount of money to invest, I knew just one thing — that I didn’t want to contribute to tobacco companies, arms manufacturers, or oil. But over the ensuing years the options for socially responsible investing have become far more sophisticated and I’m very happy that this is a big part of the Genus approach. I also very much appreciate the long-term relationship with my portfolio manager, Mary Lou.”
Ann P.

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