Is There Such a Thing as Ethical Investing?

Bottom Lines Top Dollars

In this week's episode of Bottom Lines Top Dollars we discuss a question that many punks, weirdos, leftists, environmentalists and anti-capitalists ask themselves when they become financially stable: what do I do with my extra money? Investing your excess cash is an important way to save towards retirement, but can it be done ethically? Is it possible to grow your savings without contributing to bad things in the world (massive carbon emissions, pollution, unfair and exploitative labour practices, etc). Concerns about the ethical implications of investing your money can sometimes keep people from taking action for their own futures. In this episode we discuss all of this and some strategies you can use to feel better about what you do with your savings.

If any of these questions interest you, then you should listen to this episode: Why does investing our money scare us? What is investing and how do you do it? What are stocks and bonds and how do they make you money? What are RRSPs, IRAs, 401ks? Is investing inherently unethical? If you think of yourself as an anti-capitalist, does your participation in profit from property make complicit in all kinds of horrible shit? If you do decide to invest your money, is there a way to do so ethically? Can you use your investment money for good? To invest in green companies or push for positive change? What are impact funds or ESG funds? What is values-based investing? How do you evaluate an investment firm to know whether their funds actually meet your ethical standards? How much time and effort is required to actually invest ethically? Is it a realistic goal for the average person?

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The Ladies Who Crunch are Hadassah Damien and Laura Boo. More information about us and this podcast can be found at ladieswhocrunch.club.

Please follow us on Instagram (@bottomlinestopdollars) and if you want to send us questions or episode ideas, email us at [e-mail].

Special thanks to our researchers Ariel Federow and Handy Levine.

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