Engaged Portfolios - I help clients steward capital in ways that create corporate change and develop communities.
Shareholder Advocacy.
Shareholder advocacy may be one of the most powerful tools in the investment universe today for investors to elevate their voices in the American economy.
Shareholder advocacy creates pressure - and, if enough shareholders agree with a request that has merit, a corporation may change behavior. Most outcomes in our nation are currently non-binding and therefore non-enforceable .
Still, brand pressure alone can transform.
Farm Girl Capital stands alongside clients in this surf of change by design, and, as able, by:
- favoring investments that actively improve environmental, social and governance (ESG) outcomes through shareholder advocacy including dialogue, shareholder resolutions, and long term accountability.
- helping make sense of the stakeholders and natural rhythms within the shareholder engagement network and seasons,
- offering resources on various proxy voting matters, and
- connecting clients with shareholder advocacy non-profits, consultants, and third party managers who facilitate full-service proxy voting and engagement of shares.
Like the sea, the world of shareholder advocacy is ever changing, a living body - based on government policy and the network of persons that find interest, comfort and hope there.
Shareholder advocacy coalesces investor awareness and power.
The ultimate goal of shareholder advocacy is a stronger company for the good of all - including shareholders.
Farm Girl Capital does not retain authority to vote proxies on shareholder resolutions.
Investment selection within portfolios is guided, in part, on how managers implement shareholder engagement and participate in advocacy for responsible investment.
Community Development.
While shareholders are at the forefront of corporate change through advocacy, the relatively more resilient fixed income side of the portfolio can create impact, too. In addition to lowering the overall risk of the portfolio, fixed income investments fund green infrastructure, affordable housing, and community wellness. By loaning to projects in low income housing, small business development, job creation, and local healthcare facilities, investors engage in the development of healthier communities.
Patient Capital.
Private opportunities in restorative investments like regenerative agriculture, renewable energy, and affordable housing can tie up funds for longer and be less liquid.
They may not have a secondary market in which to sell to convert into cash.
I refer to this as patient capital. Clients tend to have a budget for patient capital and invest smaller portions of the portfolio.
Still, private opportunities in a restorative economy can be an important part of the overall diversification of a portfolio from a fulfillment and impact perspective.