Introduction
Investing with
future focus
We believe that money matters, but life matters more. Your financial decisions can be made in harmony with your aspirations for a more sustainable future. We can help you to understand how your decisions might influence a just transition to a lower-carbon economy.
We live in challenging times and your situation is unique. We can help you navigate the uncertainties and consider the trade-offs. We will work closely alongside you to help you invest for your future as part of a liveable planet and society.
An Introduction to
Sustainable Investing
Sustainable or ethical investing is a way of putting your money to work while considering the planet and society, not just financial returns. It’s about more than just avoiding companies with poor ethical records; it can be about proactively aligning investments with your people and planet beliefs and using your voice as a shareholder. It’s about encouraging companies to look after the environment, treat people fairly and adhere to good governance practices.
We can also use environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria to identify resilient, forward-thinking companies, who are managing well the ESG risks they face. Companies that are thinking long-term and considering the impact of their actions on the world around them.
How we help
Sustainable Investing
The Benefits of Sustainable Investing
Where you invest can help shape the world around us. Sustainable investing matters because it gives you the power to encourage companies to tackle climate change, improve working conditions and promote transparency. This approach is about more than just avoiding harm – it’s about actively contributing to a better future through your financial choices, using your voice as a shareholder to call for positive changes. Research is starting to show that companies with strong ESG performance often exhibit better operational efficiency and superior risk management. This potentially makes them more resilient over the long term.
At Paradigm Norton, we combine expert financial advice and planning with a strong commitment to sustainable investing, so you can feel confident your money is working hard for you and for the greater good.
Is Sustainable Investing right for you?
We’d love to help you think this through. Over the years we’ve found that sustainable investing has become attractive to a wide group of people. Having a variety of approaches to suit their preferences helps.
Our Responsible Investment portfolio is for anyone who cares about using their money, and the voice they have as an investor, to promote responsible business practices. Our Intentional Investment portfolio is for those who wish to go a step further and intentionally seek out companies whose products or services are helping to solve the challenges that humanity faces.
Whether you’re looking to transition your existing wealth into a more sustainable framework, or be more proactive in investing to help solve humanity’s challenges, our approach is adaptable and accessible. You don’t have to be an expert; all you need is an interest in investing sustainably.
Our clients come from all walks of life, and we tailor our advice to suit your individual needs and ambitions. If you want your money to reflect your values and believe in a future with cleaner energy, stronger communities, and responsible businesses, then building a sustainable investment portfolio is a powerful way to act on those beliefs.
Your Partner in Sustainable Investing
Navigating the world of sustainable finance can be complex, but you don’t have to do it alone. As a sustainable financial adviser, our role is to provide clear, expert sustainable investment advice UK investors can trust.
We work with you to understand what matters most, then construct a plan tailored to your financial goals and values. Whether you want to build a sustainable pension or want to explore how to start investing, we are here to guide you every step of the way on your sustainable investing journey.
*Investing places your capital at risk and the values of investments can go down as well as up.
We can help with:
- Sustainable Investment Planning
We select a sustainable investment strategy that aligns with your people and planet beliefs and long-term goals, always with a focus on achieving as much real-world change as possible.
- Portfolio Analysis
Unsure where you stand? We review your current investments to help you understand their ethical and environmental footprint.
- Shareholder Engagement
We work with fund managers who use their influence to encourage better business practices and drive meaningful change.
- Education and Guidance
We cut through the jargon, providing clear explanations and regular updates so you can make informed, confident decisions about your future.
Still have questions or want to know more?
Ready to talk about the future?
Talk to us today about building a future through sustainable investing.
Values
Why choose Paradigm Norton?
We have one clear aim: “To impact the lives of our clients, our community and our team for the better, forever.”
We start the financial planning process with the most important part – You. We’re not here to show you the way: we’re here to guide and navigate you through a path of your own choosing.
As one of the largest independent financial planning companies in England, serving more than 1,000 clients, we’re not just Chartered Financial Planners… we’re tried and tested financial partners.
Money matters, but life matters more. Our motto flows through everything that we do, from connecting you to responsible investment strategies to enabling you to build a brighter future, with a lighter footprint.
As a leading Certified B Corporation®, we balance profit with purpose, people, and the environment. We think differently to most companies and have hard-wired our commitment to being a force for good into the DNA of our company - as an Employee Owned B Corp.
Team
Meet our experts
Talk to us today about building a future through sustainable investing.
Read
Brochure
We work with fund managers who use their influence to encourage better business practices and drive meaningful change.
Free financial planning resources
Discover our free financial planning resources to help you take control of your finances.
Questions
Sustainable Investing FAQs
Here are some of the most common questions we’re asked about Sustainable Investing and how we help guide you every step of the way.
Does sustainable investing mean I have to accept lower returns?
This is a common myth, but the evidence suggests otherwise. The goal of sustainable investing is not to sacrifice returns, but to achieve strong financial performance by investing in a wide range of higher-quality, more resilient companies.
In our Responsible portfolio we focus on engaging with companies held to encourage them to behave more ethically – this means that whilst there are some exclusions, your investments are still very widely diversified and we expect* returns to be the same. Companies that adopt more responsible practices may also be taking a longer-term view. While there is currently no conclusive evidence, this approach could potentially support greater long-term growth relative to their peers.
With our Intentional portfolio, costs are a little higher. This alone does potentially lower the returns one might expect. We hope the higher costs might be offset by higher returns of companies aligned to solving some of the globes most pressing challenges, but there is insufficient evidence at present. We think it is important to be honest with clients about possible trade-offs, rather than set an expectation of higher returns without strong evidence to support such claims.
*Past performance is not indicative of future results. Always consider your financial situation, objectives, and risk tolerance.
How can I be sure my investments aren't just 'greenwashing'?
“Greenwashing” – where a fund or company overstates its green credentials – is a valid concern.
This is where professional due diligence research becomes critical. A key part of our role as we endeavour to be a truly sustainable financial adviser is to look beyond the marketing labels. We analyse fund holdings, scrutinise the fund managers’ voting records and corporate engagement activities, plus draw on independent expertise to ensure the investments chosen genuinely match up to your and our standards. True sustainability requires transparency, and we help you find it.
What's the difference between ESG, SRI and Impact Investing?
These terms are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings:
SRI (Socially Responsible Investing): This is the original ethical approach, often focused on excluding companies in sectors like tobacco, gambling, or weapons (known as negative screening).
ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance): This is a more data-driven approach that actively seeks out companies that have strong environmental, social, and governance metrics, believing they are better-run businesses.
Impact Investing: This is the most proactive strategy, where the primary goal is to generate a specific, measurable positive social or environmental impact alongside a financial return, such as funding a renewable energy project.
Can I build a sustainable pension or a responsible ISA?
Absolutely. Applying sustainable principles to your tax-efficient wrappers like pensions and ISAs is one of the most effective ways to build wealth whilst encouraging responsible business practice.
We can help you build a sustainable pension plan for your retirement or construct an ethical ISA portfolio that is true to your principles and will ensure you can use your voice as a shareholder, all within a tax-efficient structure.
Will my small investment really make a difference in the world?
Yes, it really can. Think of it as the power of collective action.
Your investment, when joined with thousands of others, sends a powerful signal to the market. It can channel capital towards innovative companies solving the world’s biggest challenges. But crucially it ensures that our voices as shareholders are used to hold companies to account and advocate for positive change. This pressure encourages all companies to improve their practices. Your investment becomes a vote for the kind of future you want to see, hopefully contributing to positive changes and real-world impact.
I'm ready to start. What's my next step?
The first step is a conversation about what’s important to you, but this is part of a wider financial planning process. A successful sustainable investment strategy must align with your entire financial life. We begin by understanding your personal ethical preferences. We then integrate this into a comprehensive analysis of your financial goals, your return expectations, and your personal risk tolerance.
The result is a robust plan where your sustainable investment preferences and financial objectives work in harmony, ensuring your money is supporting your future in a way you can feel truly proud of. We can then help you translate those principles into a tangible sustainable investment portfolio that aligns with your financial goals, or if appropriate help you on your journey of getting started with impact investing.