Tag Archives: social investment

Business

Social investing is taking off in the US, claims AAA

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A growing number of savvy investors are putting their cash into social investment bonds and funds that not only help vulnerable people to make more of the lives, but also make the investors money, according to AAA.

Boston, MA, August 09, 2012 – A growing number of savvy investors are putting their cash into social investment bonds and funds that not only help vulnerable people to make more of the lives, but also make the investors money, according to Alternative Asset Analysis.

AAA, an alternative investment advocacy group, claims that a number of recent articles in high-profile publications, such as NBCnews.com have underlined the growing popularity of social impact investing in the US. Although impact investing is not a new thing, some may think it only tends to focus on helping those in developing countries However, this is not so and a large number of bonds and funds are popping up in US cities aimed at helping locals get back on their feet.

The Calvert Social Investment Foundation is one such fund, which has loaned money to a range of good causes, such as Portland, Oregon-based central City Concern. This non-profit organization helps locals afflicted by poverty, homelessness and addiction to learn skills and start businesses.

The investment part of the deal takes place when the loans made by the Calvert foundation, and other similar funds, are packaged into bonds, which are then sold to investors who might be looking to invest in social projects.

AAA supports these kinds of projects, claiming that they can make a significant difference to people all over the world if they are managed correctly and there is enough interest. “A growing number of wealthy individual are becoming interested in philanthropy” stated AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson. “Following the global economic crisis, making a quick buck has become less important than helping their fellow man, it seems.”

AAA supports a range of alternative investments, with the emphasis on forestry research through sustainable plantations run by firms like Greenwood Management.

Contact:
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
71 Commercial St
Boston, MA 02109-1320
617-939-9596
info@alternativeassetanalysis.com
http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com

Business

AAA supports calls to make Impact investing easier

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AAA, an ethical and alternative investment advocacy group has spoken out to support a recent article in the UK’s Guardian newspaper, which called for social investing to be made easier for those who are not super-wealthy.

Boston, MA, February 15, 2012 – Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA), an ethical and alternative investment advocacy group has spoken out to support a recent article in the UK’s Guardian newspaper, which called for social investing to be made easier for those who are not super-wealthy.

As the article claims, social investment is an attractive concept for most people, but those interested may find that they hit a brick wall when they try to find out how they can actually access a fund themselves.

Many of the investors in impact investing funds are charitable trusts and those who have large sums to invest through boutique, specialized means.

According to the Guardian article though, there are more option becoming available. An example is the Allia bond in the UK, which groups together investors’ contributions – some as small as £100 – and use to offer loans through a social housing provider with an AA rating.

Another option is an account-based option called Shared Interest, which takes the form of a financial cooperative that takes cash from investors and offers funding for fair-trade farming initiatives and other socially responsible projects.

AAA, which supports many kinds of impact investing, including both environmentally and socially responsible projects, thinks it could still be easier for the man on the street to put his savings into ethical investments.

AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson, explained, “investing in ethical, alternative asset classes is becoming more and more mainstream, but there is still limited access for most of us who want to put out money where our mouth is, metaphorically speaking.”

AAA does point out that ethical investment can be easiest to achieve through sustainable forestry investment through projects, such as Greenwood Management‘s plantation in Brazil. “These offer individuals the chance to invest just £10,000 in exchange for a section of plantation land where fast-growing non-native timbers are grown,” explained Mr Johnson to UK–based investors.

Contact:
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
71 Commercial St
Boston, MA 02109-1320
617-939-9596
info@alternativeassetanalysis.com
http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com