There's a new, relatively easy way to learn about sustainable investing, and Morgan Stanley is one broker-dealer encouraging its financial advisors to take notice.
Last month, the US SIF Foundation launched what it says is the first online course in the United States for financial advisors on sustainable investing. The course, Fundamentals of Sustainable and Responsible Investment (SRI), is the first to be offered by the foundation's new Center for Sustainable Investment Education.
Morgan Stanley is a lead supporter of the course and is encouraging its financial advisors to take it. The broker-dealer has been a leader in sustainable investing, and earlier this year rolled out a platform to make it easier for retail and institutional investors to combine financial returns, personal values and positive social or environmental impact.
What will advisors learn by taking the course? It includes four parts: An Overview of SRI, SRI Portfolio Construction and Shareowner Advocacy, Current SRI Trends and Issues,
and Communicating Your SRI Expertise with Clients. Heavy hitters in SRI will be teaching it, including Justin Conway, a senior director of investment partnerships at Calvert Foundation; Paul Ellis, a CFP and franchise advisor with Ameriprise for over 20 years who now consults with advisors on incorporating SRI into their practices; Georgette Frazer, CPA, CFP, AIFA, who was a financial planner and wealth manager specializing in SRI for 25 years; Darragh Gallant, a managing director and a director of institutional relations for Sustainalytics; Paul Hilton, CFA, a portfolio manager at Trillium Asset Management; Michael Lent, a financial advisor and chief investment officer with Veris Wealth Partners; and Timothy Smith, senior vice president and director of ESG Shareowner Engagement at Walden Asset Management.
The online course can be taken at any time, but for those advisors more comfortable with live instruction, it will be offered May 21 at Morningstar's offices at 22 W. Washington St. in Chicago from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., right before the US SIF National Conference. An added benefit is that the online and live versions of the course are approved for three CE credits by the CFP Board and three credit hours by the CFA Institute.
What will it cost? The live course costs $250 for those who are not US SIF members and $150 if the person attends the course and conference ($125 for members). The online course is $240 for US SIF members and $300 for others.