EP #110: JSG Investing with Dan Katz
Where you invest these things will say a lot about what you think is important. Or does it? What is the story that you would want to tell about yourself? Many people have their investments (of either type) on auto-pilot and don’t consider what they are actually supporting. Today’s information age makes it much easier to educate ourselves about what it is that we are investing in.
Time is certainly a valuable resource. In decades past, it might have been hard to research where our financial investments go. You might have had a employer sponsored retirement plan that was invested in a default fund. This may or may not have been a good financial investment for you, but what did it do for the world? Dan Katz is the the Co-Founder of Amberwave Partners and investment firm that has developed a new concept to consider - JSG investing. Listen in as Dan explains this new concept that could help you reach your impact goals.
What You'll Learn In Today's Episode:
What is Impact Investing
What is SRI and ESG
How there is more to thin about that financial returns
How you can achieve returns and impact
How to do well by doing good
What putting the economy on ice during the COVID-19 pandemic did
How supply chains affect the economy
The growth of exchange traded funds (ETFs)
How iUSA (Amberwave’s flagship fund) started
How Amberwave uses the JSG filter related to the S&P 500
Why opportunity is important in order to contribute to society
The data behind the best performing companies related to JSG
The need for more impact investment options
What it is like to be in public service during a time of crisis
What companies should be thinking about related to their workforce
Dan’s personal impact focus
Ideas Worth Sharing:
“There isn’t enough diversity of options in the market right now.” - Dan Katz
“It can’t be a catch all.” - Dan Katz speaking of ESG investing
“Each of those we think is fundamental to improving people’s lives.” - Dan Katz speaking about jobs, security, and growth
“The economic machine is not designed to be durned off and be put in the fridge for a couple months.” - Dan Katz
“If you allow the labor relationships, the contactual relationships, the customer relationships to disintegrate, its very very very difficult to put the machine back together again,” - Dan Katz
“Absence of the opportunity…it’s very very difficult to participate meaningfully in our society .” - Dan Katz
“Companies that do have better workforce practices and are creating more jobs tend to out perform to outperform their Pierse by 2-3% annually.” - Dan Katz
“We only invest in the top job, security, and growth performers within technology rather than all of the companies that are in the S&P 500.” - Dan Katz
“It would be very natural to focus on top performers regardless of sectors..” - Dan Katz
“We believe that companies should be thinking about what they should be doing for job creation.” - Dan Katz
“I was deeply passionate about US foreign policy, US security policy, and our ability to make the world a better place.” - Dan Katz
“Those are the things where I feel as if I can have the greatest impact.” - Dan Katz
“Perspective is really the most important thing. Everyone has challenges that they go through in life..” - Dan Katz
“ESG is jus the start. We really need more diversity, more options in the market that really reflect all of the values held by Americans.” - Dan Katz
“We want to partner with people and we find that it’s very very important that they have an idea of what’s meaningful to them.” - Bob DePasquale
“We always like to a get a vision, a feel, of the people to which we spoke.” - Bob DePasquale
Resources In Today's Episode:
Dan Katz - LinkedIn
Bob’s Book - Personal Finance in a Public World
This week’s E-Impact Blog Entry
Episodes Referenced:
EP #08: Making A Difference Through Impact Investing with Jon Sahn
EP #35: Sustainable Investment Management with Sascha Janzen
EP #98: The Four Things You Can Do With Money with Mac Gardner
