As responsible investing (RI) quickly becomes best practice for the investment industry at large, James Leung, Portfolio Manager, CIBC Wood Gundy, shares his insights on the many benefits of attaining a certified designation in the space – including differentiating your practice and attracting new business.
As economic shutdowns continue, we’re seeing heightened levels in the VIX “Fear” Index. Has that led to any significant changes in the portfolio?
We assess the big picture, including how investments impact lifestyle, family dynamics, estate issues – and how they align with personal values.
James Leung on BMO Global Asset Management
Integrating BMO ESG Corporate Bond Index ETF (Ticker: ESGB) makes sense to me because in addition to being invested in a diversified portfolio of corporate bonds, my clients are able to align their socially responsible values through this vehicle. Professionally managed – and designed for investors seeking consistent income – the securities held in this ETF have a higher MSCI ESG rating than their peers, of BBB or above.
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Sectors such as IT and healthcare have experienced sky-high valuations. What impact, if any, has that had on portfolio rebalancing? For example, did you take gains in a particular industry or sector?
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Decoding Responsible Investing
Responsible About Investment
Responsible Investing: Creating a Sustainable Advantage for Your Practice
Responsible Investing and ESG: What’s right for your portfolio?
ESG Frequently Asked Questions
Responsible Investment Association
PRI Academy
Sustainable Accounting Standards Board
Your team often takes “Days Out Researching Anything” (DORA) to dig deeper on long-term trends – what value does that bring to your equity analysis? Also, have those drivers shifted in 2020?
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Given that Quality screens can vary across managers and issuers, how do you define a strong company? Give us an example of your ideal holding.
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Michael, one last question. We like to end our PM interviews by asking for a book recommendation for our Advisor audience. What are you reading these days?
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