Zevin Asset Management Honored as Best for the World 2021

For the fifth year in a row, we have earned a place on the Best for the World lists within the Certified B Corporation community. This year Zevin Asset Management was named Best for Customers by scoring in the top 10 percent of all Certified B Corps because of our firm’s focus on serving clients as we help solve pressing social and environmental issues.

Q2 2021 Impact Update

At Zevin Asset Management, we build responsible investment portfolios for our clients. We then address risks and create positive social impact by engaging with portfolio companies.

Structural racism, surveillance technology, and worker safety, wellness, and wages were all brought to the table at Amazon’s annual meeting earlier this month. Shareholders made clear that the company needs to adopt better corporate governance to properly address these issues. We presented a proposal asking for an independent chair on Amazon’s board of directors. We believe Jeff Bezos will not foster fresh perspectives to counter the problems Amazon faces given that he created many of them as founder and CEO. 

Thinking Critically while Investing Responsibly

Responsible investors combine their financial objectives with environmental, social, and governance-related risks and impacts. This type of investing goes far beyond simple exclusionary screening or even the much-touted “ESG integration” (environmental, social, and governance integration) that considers only risks and opportunities within the investment itself. Responsible investing gets at the heart of how the philanthropic community can use its unique voice to further the systemic changes that are desperately needed in our economy, society, and environment.

Inflation, Powdered Milk & Toothpaste

As an undergraduate student I recall my macroeconomics professor describing inflation as toothpaste, “Once it’s out of the tube, it’s extremely difficult to get back in.” Every time I brush my teeth these days I think of Professor Sims and the point he made; should inflation get out of control it becomes very difficult to rein in. Inflation in raw materials can create more inflation as higher input prices force higher output prices, which in turn leads to wage increases as workers demand higher pay so they can afford higher goods prices. Manufacturers then further increase prices to protect their profits and make up for higher labor costs. And so on.