Young adults realise that philanthropy is only one component of effecting positive change. Getty
Young adults realise that philanthropy is only one component of effecting positive change. Getty
Young adults realise that philanthropy is only one component of effecting positive change. Getty
Young adults realise that philanthropy is only one component of effecting positive change. Getty

How parents can help build Gen Z’s interest in sustainable investing


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Parents often use philanthropy to emphasise a family’s core values and introduce their children to the concept of wealth management. However, getting the next generation involved in the family’s investment activities has proven to be much more difficult.

Sustainable investing can help change this dynamic. There is growing interest in the opportunities that sustainable investing brings in the Middle East.

It is notable that Cop27 will be held in Egypt in November 2022. This interest aligns with government initiatives such as the UAE announcing its intention to reach net zero by 2050.

Furthermore, value-based investing is not new to the Middle East: Sharia-compliant strategies are a prime example.

Young people are keen to consider the opportunities of making a positive impact with their wealth and to harness opportunities in renewable energy and sustainable food production.

Demonstrating how financial assets can be used responsibly to generate a profit and address social or environmental issues can spark a lifelong interest in investing for a generation eager to save the world.

The silver lining: parents don’t have to sacrifice investment returns to meet their children “where they are”, as was once widely presumed regarding sustainable investing.

Indeed, that myth has been dispelled: sustainable investing is an investment strategy that has matched traditional benchmarks.

Understanding the next generation

To deepen their children’s interest in investing, parents should understand their long-term financial goals and how investing can have an impact that is consistent with their children’s passions and the causes they care about.

Although some parents worry that incorporating sustainable investing would mean forgoing the competitive returns that their portfolio targets, in actuality, it appears that incorporating sustainable objectives will position their portfolio for sectors that are poised for growth, while still meeting their goals.

Additionally, it sets their children on the path to becoming informed investors.

Parents should also consider how they want their family to utilise their wealth and over how many generations. This entails considering the investment knowledge their children might need to effectively manage their resources.

Parents should also ask their children what other goals they would like their investments to pursue, besides financial gains, as well as inquire about their interests in current events and investment topics.

Driving positive change through investments

Young adults today realise that philanthropy is only one component of effecting positive change, and purposefully make concerted efforts to better the world through their day-to-day actions. This includes their voting preferences, travel plans, spending habits and investment approaches.

Introducing young adults to sustainable investing, an umbrella term used to describe investment strategies that incorporate financial as well as social and environmental objectives, can have a positive impact on them.

This can introduce them to the world of finance by focusing on issues and causes they care about, such as diversity, climate solutions, financial inclusion and education.

It can help them gain a deeper understanding of the asset management ecosystem, from the role of individual investors to the impact of institutional capital. And it can put the family’s core values into practice.

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Watch: Meet the teenager and his sister launching a new cryptocurrency

Wide range of investment options

Sustainable investing incorporates a wide range of investment strategies and trends, including:

  • Values-based investing: an investment approach that reflects the investors’ values by avoiding or increasing exposure to specific companies, industries or business practices
  • ESG: an investment strategy in which consideration of environmental, social and governance factors is a vital role in implementation and portfolio construction investment decisions
  • Thematic investing: investing in companies and funds that target specific themes or issues, such as water, clean energy and gender diversity
  • Impact investing: invests in companies, organisations and funds that aim to generate positive, measurable social and/or environmental outcomes in addition to financial return

Diversifying portfolio performance

Sustainable investing is a long-term trend for the return-seeking investor, rather than a passing fad or a concession to the interests of Gen Z.

Adding sustainable investments to their portfolio may, in fact, enable investors to maximise portfolio returns, while lowering risk.

Sustainable investing does not necessitate a performance trade-off. Studies have shown that ESG factors, for example, improve portfolio returns by lowering volatility.

Moreover, sustainable investing can offer opportunities to invest in megatrends such as sustainable agriculture and electric vehicles, which have backing from a variety of stakeholders including governments, consumers, asset managers and businesses, and can present growth prospects.

Investors can also maintain their targets as they can include sustainable investing into an existing portfolio without altering its risk-return profile.

Finally, investors can make a difference as they can choose from a variety of environmental and social factors, including clean energy, racial equity and health and wellness, to name a few.

Amanda Lott is head of wealth planning strategy and Jessica Matthews is global head of sustainable investing at JP Morgan Private Bank

What sanctions would be reimposed?

Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:

  • An arms embargo
  • A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
  • A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
  • A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
  • Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
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Tell-tale signs of burnout

- loss of confidence and appetite

- irritability and emotional outbursts

- sadness

- persistent physical ailments such as headaches, frequent infections and fatigue

- substance abuse, such as smoking or drinking more

- impaired judgement

- excessive and continuous worrying

- irregular sleep patterns

 

Tips to help overcome burnout

Acknowledge how you are feeling by listening to your warning signs. Set boundaries and learn to say ‘no’

Do activities that you want to do as well as things you have to do

Undertake at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. It releases an abundance of feel-good hormones

Find your form of relaxation and make time for it each day e.g. soothing music, reading or mindful meditation

Sleep and wake at the same time every day, even if your sleep pattern was disrupted. Without enough sleep condition such as stress, anxiety and depression can thrive.

BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

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Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

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HIJRA

Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy

Director: Shahad Ameen

Rating: 3/5

Company profile

Company: Rent Your Wardrobe 

Date started: May 2021 

Founder: Mamta Arora 

Based: Dubai 

Sector: Clothes rental subscription 

Stage: Bootstrapped, self-funded 

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The Bio

Name: Lynn Davison

Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi

Children: She has one son, Casey, 28

Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK

Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Favourite Author: CJ Sansom

Favourite holiday destination: Bali

Favourite food: A Sunday roast

THE SPECS

Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder

Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)

Power: 141bhp 

Torque: 250Nm 

Price: Dh64,500

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The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood

Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.

The Voice of Hind Rajab

Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees

Director: Kaouther Ben Hania

Rating: 4/5

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THREE
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What is graphene?

Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.

It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.

Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.

By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.

At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.

It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.

But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.

In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties. 

 

Updated: September 23, 2022, 5:00 AM`