098 ESG Investing with Vanguard’s Mark Fitzgerald
Mark Fitzgerald works for Vanguard, an investor-owned, leading asset management company. He is Head of Product Specialism in the ETF Stream. He joins me to talk about ESG investing. ESG which stands for Environmental, Social and Governance, but Mark explains what each of these terms really means. He also outlines where the selection of ESG or other funds fits within the broader investing process. We discuss how Vanguard builds investment portfolios that meet consumer demands, for example excluding munitions and tobacco, the challenges this brings and what investors should consider when deciding whether to pursue an ESG-friendly investment portfolio. Mark explains Vanguard’s approach to some specific companies such as Apple and Tesla and whether Vanguard itself would make the ESG-grade! This is a highly informative episode for anyone interested in investing and taking a more environmentally or socially responsible approach to investing.