Tag: Economy

Your Quarterly Market Update with Johann Klaassen (Ep. 98)

Your Quarterly Market Update with Johann Klaassen (Ep. 98)

What’s new in the market? 

How’s the investment arena doing so far? What if we all started investing like we truly cared?

In this episode, Kimberly Griego-Kiel and Johann Klaassen navigate the current markets while providing a snapshot of the economy and all things inflation and investing. They debunk common misconceptions surrounding gold as an investment and shed light on the increasingly popular concept of ‘green gold’ and its actual environmental impact. 

Kim and Johann leave no stone unturned! Listen in as they guide us through the uncharacteristic behaviors of bonds and the implications of investing in precious metals.

Throughout the episode, Kim and Johann discuss:

  • Advice for those concerned about their portfolio or the markets
  • The intriguing phenomenon of uncharacteristic bond behavior and its potential impact
  • The reality behind the allure of gold as an investment and those who stand to gain
  • What you need to know about ‘green gold’ and its environmental consequences
  • The hidden environmental and social costs of investing in precious metals
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel and Johann Klaassen:

About Our Guest:

Johann A. Klaassen, Ph.D., is the CEO and Chief Investment Officer for Horizons Sustainable Financial Services, where he develops asset allocation strategies and oversees investment policy for Horizons’ individual and institutional clients. As a passionate advocate for SRI, a skilled navigator of its intricacies, and an enthusiastic early adopter of just about every new communication tool and technology, Johann is informed, informative, and far more accessible than his many commitments might imply. He directly serves clients across the nation, tending to specialize in serving unusual and special circumstances or needs.

Your Environmentally Sustainable Financial Services News Brief (Ep.70)

Your Environmentally Sustainable Financial Services News Brief (Ep.70)

A lot is going on in the world today, from climate change to active wars. 

But, how does it all affect us?

In this episode, Kimberly Griego-Kiel breaks down some of today’s hot topics in the news. In an educational discussion, Kim addresses how these industry-related topics impact financial advisors and investors while unveiling the role of ESG and the markets within these uncertain times.

Kim discusses:

  • The rapid increase in attacks on the ESG industry
  • Ways advisors in the ESG arena can respond to the situations happening within the industry
  • Deloitte’s four key stages of decarbonization
  • Why investors shouldn’t panic about the bear market
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel

 

What You Should Know About Gender Lens Investing with Kristin Hull, Ph.D. (Ep.69)

What You Should Know About Gender Lens Investing with Kristin Hull, Ph.D. (Ep.69)

Looking at investing from a gender perspective uncovers the inequalities of the economy and reveals opportunities to create more effective and efficient systems.

In this episode, Kimberly Griego-Kiel sits down with Kristin Hull, the founder, CEO & CIO of Nia Impact Capital. Kristin unveils the role gender plays in impact investing and highlights Nia’s portfolio and its contribution to environmental sustainability and social justice. 

Kristin discusses:

  • The definition of gender lens investing
  • The firm’s six solution themes 
  • How to find business success through diversity in management
  • Ways to incorporate gender investing in your portfolio
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Kristin Hull:

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel

About Our Guest:

Kristin Hull is the founder, CEO, and CIO of Nia Impact Capital. Kristin is a conscious investor empowering individuals, families, and organizations to invest in alignment with their values for the world they want to see. She launched Nia Global Solutions in 2013 to bring activism and impact investing into the public markets. In doing so, she developed Nia’s six solutions-focused investment themes, weaving a gender lens throughout the investment thesis.

Kristin founded Nia Community Investments in 2010, a 100% mission-aligned investment fund focused on social justice and environmental sustainability in Oakland. Before Nia Community, Kristin served as President and Chair of the Board of the Hull Family Foundation from 2007 to 2011, where she oversaw all of the investment efforts, transitioning the endowment from a traditional investment portfolio to one of the country’s first 100% mission impact invested portfolios. Kristin is also a co-founder of Impact Hub Oakland, a co-working space nurturing entrepreneurs and social change-makers.

 

55. How we can Create a New Economy With Rex Raimond — Part 1

55. How we can Create a New Economy With Rex Raimond — Part 1

In October 2021, Kimberly Griego-Kiel took part in the ESG For Impact! conference in Colorado Springs. 

During this two-day conference, Kim attended sessions focused on SRI investments, strategies, and concepts while connecting with like-minded professionals and industry leaders. 

One of those leaders was Rex Raimond, the director of The Transformational Investing in Food Systems (TIFS) Initiative.

In the first part of the ESG for Impact! miniseries, Rex joins Kim to explain everything around investing in global food systems. They explore how food growth can impact our health and the environment and outline ways we can get into a new sustainable economy.

Kim and Rex discuss:

  • How food systems fit within the ESG arena
  • The destructiveness of the agricultural system
  • The financial component of growing food system operations
  • Consequences of not managing our land properly
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Rex Raimond

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel

About Rex Raimond: 

Rex Raimond has more than 20 years of experience developing strategies and building effective partnerships for sustainable and equitable food systems. He applies his partnership-building skills to help build a movement among concessional, impact, and commercial investors, companies, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to increase investment in principles-aligned food system businesses that are economically viable and deliver sustainable impact. Rex has worked on many aspects of food and agricultural systems transformation, including sustainable finance, crop insurance, and agricultural policy, market incentives for soil health practices, sustainable supply chains, food safety, science and emerging technologies, sustainable landscape planning, and climate change. 

 

Episode 43: U.S. Farmers and Ranchers In Action: Creating Sustainable Food and Supply Chains – With Erin Fitzgerald

Episode 43: U.S. Farmers and Ranchers In Action: Creating Sustainable Food and Supply Chains – With Erin Fitzgerald

Farmers are a lot like scientists. In fact, for farmers to be able to cultivate healthy food for people like us, they need to know a lot about the way they’re producing and growing that food. 

How are farmers and ranchers working to bring us healthier meals while also enhancing sustainability efforts in agriculture?

Find out in this episode, as Erin Fitzgerald, the CEO of U.S. Farmers and Ranchers In Action (USFRA), sits down with Kimberly Griego-Kiel to continue the conversation on sustainable agriculture. Erin explains everything you need to know about USFRA and the firm’s role in creating solutions for economic and agricultural sustainability.

In this episode, you will learn:

  • USFRA’s vision and mission
  • How farmers and ranchers can reduce carbon emissions 
  • From cow Fitbits to cover crops: Technological innovations for farms and ranches 
  • Ways agriculture can contribute to America’s overall economic growth 
  • And more!

Tune in today and learn how you, too, can support the sustainable agriculture movement! 

Resources: Horizon Sustainable Financial Services: (505) 982-9661 | info@horizonssfs.com  | Facebook | Erin Fitzgerald | US Farmers and Ranchers in Action  | Film: 30 Harvest | Cow Manager | Episode 42: Investing in Climate-Smart Agriculture – With David Bennell

Episode 42: Investing in Climate-Smart Agriculture – With David Bennell

Episode 42: Investing in Climate-Smart Agriculture – With David Bennell

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s (WBCSD) David Bennell focuses on creating high-quality products, services, and programs that deliver real value and set the standard for safety, sustainability, and profitability.

In this episode, join Kimberly Griego-Kiel as she sits down with David to discuss his contribution to the Transformative Investment in Climate-Smart Soil Agriculture report and to highlight what you really need to know about agricultural investment.

In this episode, you will learn:

  • How much private capital is in the United States’ agricultural system 
  • Why technological and financial innovation benefit the agriculture sector 
  • The role of greenhouse gas emissions in agricultural production 
  • Why resilience is so important in an agricultural environment 
  • And more!

Listen in and find out why, at the end of the day, you are always investing in agriculture! 

Resources: Horizon Sustainable Financial Services: (505) 982-9661 | info@horizonssfs.com | Facebook | David Bennell | World Business Council for Sustainable Development |  

Report: Transformative Investment in Climate-Smart Agriculture

Episode 41: An In-Depth Look at Corporate Sustainability Reporting (CSR)

Episode 41: An In-Depth Look at Corporate Sustainability Reporting (CSR)

You’ve likely heard the term CSR (Corporate Sustainability Reporting) at least once. But do you really know what this type of reporting entails and why it’s so important?

Find out in this episode as Kimberly Griego-Kiel takes you along for an in-depth look at CSR. By outlining its benefits, challenges, solutions, and guidelines, Kim explains CSR’s role within corporations and reveals how it fits into the overall idea of sustainability. 

In this episode, you will learn:

  • The history and purpose of Corporate Sustainability Reporting (CSR) 
  • Challenges associated with CSR
  • The role of CSR in a firm’s profit and ESG metrics  
  • Kim’s take on how to achieve good quality CSR 
  • How millennials are shaping the future of sustainability 
  • And more!

Listen in for your crash course on the ins and outs of CSR!

Resources: Horizon Sustainable Financial Services | info@horizons

Episode 40: ESG and Sustainable Investing Predictions for 2021

Episode 40: ESG and Sustainable Investing Predictions for 2021

What can we expect to see from sustainable investing in 2021?

Find out in this episode as Kimberly Griego-Kiel reveals her ESG and sustainable investing predictions for the year! 

Join Kim as she forecasts what might lay ahead based on industry research findings. Plus, she shares the potential benefits ESG investing can bring to the government, citizens, and corporations alike.

In this episode, you will learn:

  • How impact investing has grown since 2018 
  • Why more companies and individuals are choosing sustainable investing 
  • ESG and social investing trends of 2021 
  • Why corporation sustainability reporting could be a new requirement in upcoming years 
  • And more!

Tune in today to learn Kim’s view on 2021’s sustainable investing industry!

Resources:

Horizon Sustainable Financial Services | info@horizonssfs.com  | Facebook505-982-9661 | 2020 US Social Investment Forum Report 

 

Episode 39: A Reflection on the 2020 Markets, Economy, and Unemployment Rates

Episode 39: A Reflection on the 2020 Markets, Economy, and Unemployment Rates

COVID-19 has impacted almost all areas of our lives, including the economy and markets. 

However, now that we’ve entered 2021, we are starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel. 

In this episode, join Kimberly Griego-Kiel and Johann Klaassen as they reflect on the 2020 economy, market, unemployment, and ESG numbers to create a vision for what’s to come in 2021.

In this episode, you will learn:

  • The eye-opening 2020 unemployment rates in some parts of the country
  • Reasons why the stock market is improving 
  • How positive economic performance is related to ESG and social impact investing
  • Why you should be careful about the idea of “getting back to normal”
  • And more!

Listen today to take a look back on 2020 and to prepare for all that’s to come in 2021!

Resources:  Horizon Sustainable Financial Services | info@horizonssfs.com  | Facebook

505-982-9661 | Johann Klaassen 

Episode 38: 15 Tips & Tricks for Saving and Budgeting in 2021

Episode 38: 15 Tips & Tricks for Saving and Budgeting in 2021

Whether we make $10 or $100 an hour, many of us are always looking for ways to better save our money. 

In this episode, Kimberly Griego-Kiel reveals 15 tips and tricks to help you maximize your savings in 2021. Kim shares money-saving strategies to help you work towards your savings goals and highlights ways a monthly budget plan can complement your savings process. 

In this episode, you will learn:

  • About saving for emergency funds, vacations, or debt repayments
  • Bulk buying, gardening, homemade meals, and streaming services as affordable alternatives
  • Benefits of a clean and clear credit score 
  • What to ask yourself when making big purchases 
  • And more!

Join Kim now and discover how you can optimize your spending, saving, and budgeting for 2021!  

Resources: Horizon Sustainable Financial Services: (505) 982-9661 | info@horizonssfs.com  | Facebook