Jack Schniepp

Is Bitcoin Socially Responsible?

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SRI and Bitcoin

As we continue to field questions from clients about whether or not it would be a good idea to add Bitcoin or some other type of Cryptocurrency to their portfolios, as we stated in our last blog, Bitcoin is not an asset and Bitcoin is not a true currency.  I find it interesting that it … Read more

What Bitcoin is NOT

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Bitcoin as an investment

“Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have no income or utility, so there’s just no way to arrive at a fundamental value. A bubble occurs when the price of something is way above its fundamental value. But we can’t even determine the fundamental value of these cryptocurrencies, and yet their prices have run up dramatically. In that sense, this looks like a bubble to me.”

What can one person do about Climate Change?

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Investing in companies that are actively working to reduce negative effects and improve their practices is a very tangible way of making an impact in this area. Positioning a portfolio which is directed towards these types of companies should make a positive impact on climate issues, while keeping you on track towards your own financial goals.

MARKET UPDATE – SECOND QUARTER 2021

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There are always concerns in the investment realm including inflation; increased government debt, market corrections, volatility, etc., but with strong fundamentals which include double-digit earnings expectations in the coming quarter, improved consumer sentiment, and continued favorable monetary and policy support, there are very good arguments to be made for staying invested in 2021 and beyond.

Legacy Income Trusts

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Legacy Income Trusts

Individuals with highly appreciated investments, a need for income, and a desire to financially support a charity have likely been introduced to Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRT). The way the trust works is that the donor receives an income stream for life based on the amount contributed, and a charity receives the remaining balance of the trust when the donor passes away.

Jack’s Quarter 1 Market Update

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The attached graph is one that I have used often with clients during periods of market decline. If you’ve looked at your accounts over the past 9 months or so you will know that we are not currently experiencing this scenario. In fact, the S&P 500 hit 4000 for the first time in the past … Read more

Women in Leadership

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Women in SRI

Adding women to leadership roles, improves sustainability practices, period.

Usually we hear of gender being a climate related factor because negative changes will cause the greatest harm on the poor, and women are more likely to be poor. But two recent studies (**1,2) show that when women hold positions on corporate boards, the companies they serve are significantly more likely to address climate change issues. This is how an article by IMPAX Asset Management (Pax World Funds) summarizes the results of the Carbon Disclosure Project questionnaire that asks for the reporting of a company’s impact on several carbon related issues.

This information probably didn’t come as a surprise to Pax World with their lineup of funds that are “Investing in companies that invest in women.” These funds have a record that continually shows the positive influence of women in leadership, including the area of investment returns. Check out the Pax Ellevate Global Women’s Leadership Fund (PXWIX) to see some of these statistics.

1. Mohammed Hossain, Omar Al Farooque, Mahmood Ahmed Momin, Obaid Almotairy, “Women in the Boardroom and Their Impact on Climate Change-Related Disclosure,” Social Responsibility Journal, Oct. 2, 2017.
2. B. Charumathi and Habeebu Rahman, “Do Women on Boards Influence Climate Change Disclosures to CDP? Evidence from Large Indian Companies,” Australasian Accounting Business and Finance Journal, 2019.

Jack Schniepp is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®, ChFC®) and the owner of Cascade Financial Strategies. CFS is a registered investment advisor licensed in Oregon, California and Idaho. They specialize in socially responsible investing which integrates environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) criteria into portfolio construction.