Ethical Fund Ratings

What are the Ethical Fund Ratings?

What are the Ethical Fund Ratings?The Ethical Advisers Co-operative has developed the Ethical Fund Ratings to assist people in making choices for their investments and superannuation that are in line with their ethical values.

The co-operative have rated funds which have an ethical or sustainability focus. We applaud all investment managers who attempt to invest ethically and sustainably. There are quite significant efforts being taken within the finance industry to develop more ethical and sustainable investments.

All of the funds rated by the co-operative are making an effort to invest in more environmentally sustainable, ethical and socially responsible investments. The Ethical Fund Ratings website is designed to help you understand the differences between these funds, to help make a choice about investing in an ethical fund, and to help ensure that the fund you invest in meets your personal ethical values.

The ratings do not include financial information about the funds, including investment performance or fees. The funds have been reviewed and rated by advisers that are part of the co-op based on each funds' ethics only. This includes things like the fund's environmental and social credentials including the underlying investments, their research and screening methods and their voting records and engagement on important issues.

We recommend you speak to a Financial Adviser with experience in ethical investment for personalised advice before making any decisions. Experienced Financial Advisers can assist with selecting a fund which meets not only your ethical values, but also your financial needs and personal situation.

About the Ethical Advisers Co-operative

The Ethical Advisers Co-operative (EAC) was first established in 2011 by a dedicated group of financial advisers who recognised the need to represent and advocate on behalf of ethical and sustainable investment advice within Australia, a need that remains to this day.

Since those early days, the Co-operative has grown to a membership of 35 advisers, all of whom operate within ethically focused Financial Planning practices around Australia, collectively managing over $1.5 Billion of ethical investor's money.

A not-for-profit organisation, the Co-op has built an outstanding reputation as a vocal representative on behalf of those advisors and investors seeking ethical alternatives and through their active participation within the investment industry, the Co-op has worked alongside major organisations promoting sustainability and ethical advice, such as; the Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA), 350.org, ACCR and Market Forces.

The primary objective for Co-op members has been to help expand awareness of the benefits of ethical investing and to provide guidance to those investors seeking to adopt and implement investment strategies that align with their personal values. Currently, EAC advisers assist over 3,300 Australians to make the best of their financial position while pursuing ethical outcomes. Their advice continues to assist clients in achieving strong, sustainable returns while encouraging the responsible allocation of capital within global markets.

Co-op Advisers have been in the vanguard of ethical investing both within Australia and internationally and have helped develop some of the most innovative ethical investment solutions to help to achieve your financial goals while not compromising your personal values .

Our highly qualified members regularly advise on topics such as; personal investment, family trusts, charities, not for profits, philanthropic trusts, self-managed super funds, co-operatives and ethical superannuation investing.

© Ethical Advisers' Co-operative Limited 2023

The Ethical Advisers' Co-op acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we work and live, the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander people of Australia, and pay our respect to the Elders past, present and emerging. We recognise and respect their cultural heritage, beliefs and relationship with the land and waters, and recognise their role in caring for and maintaining the land over thousands of years. We also extend that respect to other First Nations. We see reconciliation as a fundamental responsibility for The Ethical Advisers' Co-op and we are committed to advancing reconciliation with Australia’s First Peoples and engaging with their concerns.

We acknowledge and pay our respects to Māori as the tangata whenua the indigenous people of Aoteroa (New Zealand) and their ancestors who have cared for the whenua (land), its forests, rivers, and mountains for generations. We recognise their continuing connection and contribution to the whenua, and as Treaty of Waitangi partners and we are committed to building respectful relationships with Māori communities and to working towards a more just and equitable society.

As ethical financial advisors, we commit to building respectful relationships with Indigenous communities, working towards economic empowerment and self-determination, and supporting the financial well-being of all Australians and New Zealanders. We recognise that ethical financial advice creates positive change and contributes to a sustainable future, and we are committed to using our skills and expertise to make a difference.

The contents of this website are intended as general advice only. The information provided by the Ethical Advisers Co-operative do not account for any individual’s personal objectives, financial situation or needs. It should not be used, relied upon, or treated as a substitute for specific professional advice. The Ethical Advisers Co-operative recommends all users obtain their own independent professional advice from an appropriately qualified financial adviser before making any decision relating to their particular requirements or circumstances. Investing in, or switching between investments or superannuation funds may have unintended financial consequences.

The survey results, and all information contained in this website including all documents, consider only the ethics of each fund and do not include any analysis of fees, performance or financial suitability. The ethical score is subjective and benchmarked against each adviser’s average ethical client. Your ethics may differ. We recommend you speak to an experienced ethical financial adviser for personalised advice before making any decisions. The information provided by the Ethical Advisers Co-operative does not constitute financial advice. The information is presented in order to inform people motivated by ethical, environmental or social concerns.