the ethicalfutures news blog

ethicalfutures in the media again

Julian Parrott — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 17:27:42 +0100

Once again, ethicalfutures have been approached as leading commentators on ethical investment issues in Scotland. Attached are two article from ...

ethicalfutures newsletter

Julian Parrott — Fri, 23 May 2008 08:00:00 +0100

Attached to this post is the first in an occasional series of newsletters for our clients. We want to try ...

'My Generation' - hope for an ethical future

Julian Parrott — Thu, 22 May 2008 17:20:00 +0100

‘MY GENERATION’ TO DRIVE NEW AGE OF

MORALITY WITH SOCIAL SPENDING, SAY UK’S TEENS

Teenagers vow to use spending ...

John and his cat in a starring role

Julian Parrott — Tue, 20 May 2008 09:54:02 +0100

Thanks very much to John Pearce, a client of ethicalfutures, who featured as a 'case study' in this article in the Herald ...

The Guardian Money Blog - Ethical Investment Clinic

Julian Parrott — Mon, 19 May 2008 16:09:33 +0100

That was hard work but fun - lots of interesting questions posted today as part of the Guardians contribution to ...

NEIW event - Guardian website Ethical Investment Clinic

Julian Parrott — Sun, 18 May 2008 11:05:53 +0100

As part of the National Ethical Investment Week, the Guardian website is hosting an ethical investment clinic. Julian Parrott, a partner ...

National Ethical Investment Week 18th - 24th May

Julian Parrott — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:22:49 +0100

ethicalfutures are delighted to be involved with the first ever National Ethical Investment Week (NEIW). The NEIW will ...

Africa Invest

Julian Parrott — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:30:35 +0000

From time to time, a really interesting investment comes along that aims to do something a bit different. Africa Invest ...

"Not for Treehuggers"!!

Julian Parrott — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 20:20:00 +0000

Watch out, there’s a green bandwagon trundling along and it’s coming your way. A couple of years ago, you ...

Standard Life Fund Bans Planes

Julian Parrott — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 19:30:46 +0000

Following consultation with their investors, Standard Life have decided to exclude airlines from their list of eligible investments for the ...

Ethical Futures in the News

Julian Parrott — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 19:22:30 +0000

Attached is an article about ethical investment which appeared in the Scotsman 26th January 2008. Julian Parrott, Partner in ethicalfutures is ...

Happy New Year

Julian Parrott — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 10:20:21 +0000

All the best for an ethicalfuture in 2008

Rebels Wood - RIP Joe Strummer

Julian Parrott — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 10:00:13 +0000

On December 22^nd 2002 Joe Strummer, the inspirational lead singe of punk group the Clash and arguably spokesman for a generation, died of a congenital heart defect.

For some time, I have been meaning to visit the tree plantation, Rebel Wood in Orbost, Isle of Skye, that was dedicated to Joe on his death by Future Forests the Carbon Offsetting company that Joe helped to seed fund following one of his infamous ‘campfires’ at Glastonbury Festival. Visitors to our office will know that I have a number of trees in that wood and readers of my biog (on the website) will know of my political inspiration brought about by The Clash and punk rock. It seemed fitting therefore, to take a few days out form the late festive rush to visit Skye, see Rebel Wood and the area that Joe’s maternal ancestors hailed from.

As with many things Joe was a bit contradictory on matters ecological, developing a keen interest in the issues of global warming but still delighting in cruising in his ’55 Cadillac when in LA or jetting the world on tours. I’ve read a lot about him and seen him many times and realise that, whilst he might have fallen down on detail, he genuinely believed that his actions had some positive purpose; in essence he tried to walk it like he talked it.

Carbon offsetting is of course a bit of an ecological hot potato. Understandably, there is a concern of the rich West failing to address it energy habits and simply buying off the ‘unused credits’ of poor developing countries. Not unreasonably, certain industries the media and music business in particular have had ‘green wash’ criticisms leveled at them indeed, even Future Forests, the owners of Rebel Wood have been adcused of sharp practice;(http://www.robedwards.com/2007/02/from_sunday_her.html ).

For me personally, I still see it as a relevant part of the overall mix in measures to tackle climate change. There is obviously a need to tackle behavior and I think that managing behaviour and consumption are far more important but there is certainly a growing market in carbon offset and climate change issues in particular and this is of relevance to the ethical investor. The issues are becoming such a market buzz that there has been a bit of a rash of new fund launches recently; all of this come under the broad banner of ‘Climate Change Funds’ which are basically offering investment in a range of climate change related technologies as well as carbon offset. We are still looking at these and think that many are a bit of bandwagon jumping – but if and when we find something of interest, we’ll let you know.

For now, I can report that Rebel's Wood is doing its job, growing Scottish native deciduous trees slowly and steadily in a beautiful location and marking the life of a truly inspirational man…………………..and yes, I did offset the trip!

Martin –The Equity Release Specialist

Julian Parrott — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 09:37:31 +0000

Congratulations to our adviser Martin Wight on passing his exam on Equity Release Mortgages. At ethicalfutures we are keen to improve the standard and range of our advice and so we are committed to ‘continuing professional development’ to make sure we keep up to pace with current market developments.

With the increase of property values and the squeeze on retirement pensions, one of the growth areas in financial advice of recent years has been ‘Equity Release’. This covers a range of products but essentially relates to a mortgage or similar arrangement which allows you to release some of the capital value of your home, to spend as you like, whilst deferring repayment of the loan capital (and possibly the interest as well) until sale of your home. It’s a complicated area of advice and not one to take lightly but it does have an important role to play in advising elderly clients who are property rich but cash poor or possibly those who are keen to look at an alternative estate planning option.

Quite rightly, there is now increasing pressure from regulators to ensure that advisers have adequate knowledge of this subject. One of the key qualifications in this area is the Equity Release qualification offered by the Chartered Insurance Institute. Having now completed and passed this exam, Martin is now licensed to advise on the important subject.

Campaigning against the Arms Trade

Julian Parrott — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 14:32:10 +0000

In 2002 I was asked by the People & Planet group at Edinburgh University to help with their campaign to ...

Ethical Futures Adviser Wins National Award

Julian Parrott — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 14:00:04 +0000

We are delighted to announce that Julian Parrott, a partner in ethicalfutures, has been awarded the prestigious title of Money ...

Welcome

Julian Parrott — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 10:22:12 +0000

Welcome to the ethicalfutures news blog. For those of you that don't know us - ethicalfutures are Scotland's leading specialists ...