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For 2019, we're celebrating Earth Day over a full week of festivities and service. In service to our mission as a firm, we want to be the most impactful we can while aligning ourselves with the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals. We believe this includes investing with a specific purpose around environmental and social issues as well as offering up our service and our volunteer time to issues we deeply care about. 

We are pleased to announce that Vanderbilt Financial Group has joined the United Nations Global Compact initiative — a voluntary leadership platform for the development, implementation and disclosure of responsible business practices. With this announcement, VFG is proud to join thousands of other companies globally committed to taking responsible business action to create the world we all want.

As the recent tragedy in South Florida illustrates, school shooting has become a national epidemic. Impact investing gives us the ability to vote to end gun violence with our dollar signs. Financial advisors, stock market investors, and public market participants who dream of a safer society for our children may wish to consider impact investing as a way to design their portfolios to mirror their values.

Every so often, it’s great to get some motivation from the top. We were honored that our CEO Stephen Distante was able to speak with internationally recognized thought leader Jed Emerson, an impact investing strategic adviser known for his work helping individuals and institutions seeking to leverage the greatest financial, social and environmental impact from their investments.  His words give us great insight into the meaning and purpose of capital and how financial advisors can best integrate impact investing into their practice.

Many advisors are still hesitant to jump into impact investing. We asked Managing Partner at TriLinc Global, Joan Trant, to share her thoughts on this increasingly talked about approach to investing.