Nearly five of six advisors said they were exploring impact investing in a new survey, with growing client demand cited as the top reason for the interest.

Advisors cited increased client demand (44 percent), a way to differentiate themselves (41 percent), followed by opportunity to grow their practice (31 percent) as the reasons they would increase participation in impact investing products, according to an online survey of 322 advisors by Incapital. 

Sixty percent of advisors said client interest in these products has increased over the past year.

The survey found that advisors are increasingly looking for products that provide reasonable financial returns as well as a social or environmental impact. Fifty-two percent cited both financial and social impact goals as paramount when selecting investments for clients.

The biggest barriers advisors cited for participating in impact investing products were a lack of a long-term track record (46 percent), followed by performance and yield considerations (42 percent).