Socially responsible investing (SRI) is still relatively uncharted territory for most advisors, according to a recently released study; however, since more clients are demanding SRI than ever before, it may be time to get wise.
The study, conducted on behalf of Citizens Advisors by Registered Rep., which surveyed its advisor readership in the first quarter of this year, found that 64 percent of advisors confess to knowing little about SRI. Additionally, respondents had an average of 2.5 percent of assets in SRI funds, and 73 percent believe that amount will stay the same over the next two years.
But, according to a survey of non-SRI investors done in January by market-research firm Yankelovich on behalf of Calvert Funds, interest in SRI funds has increased to 54 percent in 2005, up from 40 percent in 1999. Assets in SRI funds have grown 400 percent, to $40 billion in eight years, according to Morningstar, and the number of funds has grown from 65 in 1998 to 200 today.