On the occasion of responsible savings week which begins this Monday, Moneyvox is looking at the question that many savers are asking: how to make sense of your investments? To answer this, we interviewed Grégoire Coust, general delegate of the Forum for Responsible Investment (FIR).
Grégoire Coust
General Director of the Forum for Responsible Investment (FIR)
This week, from September 25 to October 8, is Responsible Savings Week. Despite a marked interest on the part of savers in responsible and sustainable investments, it is not always easy to see clearly.
According to the latest survey from the Responsible Investment Forum (FIR) published in September, 49% of savers believe they can have a truly positive impact on the environment and society through their savings.
So how can you make your savings meaningful through your life insurance contract? Are labels still a guarantee of savings, responsible and sustainable? To answer these questions, Moneyvox interviewed Grégoire Coust, general delegate of the FIR.
Life insurance and PER: three tips to green your savings
According to a survey carried out by the FIR, 57% of French people say they give an important place to environmental and social impacts in their investment decisions. Which products should they turn to?
Grégoire Coust: To meet the expectations of the saver, thematic funds, available in units of account in life insurance contracts, are the right solution. When we think about responsible investment, we will focus on a particular theme, social or environmental for example. This is the path that asset managers and distribution networks must follow so that the saver adheres to responsible savings. Depending on people’s interest, one can find products that are either thematic; either with a very clear guideline such as equality between men and women. The saver will be more receptive to it.
Can we really trust labels?
GC: When we think of responsible investment for the general public, we think of labels. But today it is not enough, we must go further. If you want to invest green, you can trust the Greenfin label, which is very demanding. About the ISR labelit is wise to question further because it is backed by very different funds [avec parfois des entreprises en portefeuille en lien avec les nergies fossiles, le tabac, le nuclaire, l’alcool, etc, ndlr. S’il n’y a pas de mensonge l’pargnant, celui-ci peut toutefois tre surpris par les entreprises en portefeuille. La rforme du label ISR en cours est essentielle. Il faut pouvoir gagner la confiance des pargnants et pour cela rester trs strict vis–vis des acteurs du secteur des nergies fossiles.
Ces placements qui vous permettent vraiment d’investir dans le solidaire
What advice would you like to give to investors?
GC: My recommendation is to think carefully about your values and based on that, choose a product linked to them. When we ask the saver about his sensitivity its durabilityhe is not always aware that he can act with your financial products. Once your client manager has made you fund proposals, do not sign right away. Go home and take the time to view fund documentation before subscribing.
What is the risk for the saver?
GC: What is interesting about thematic funds is that they can help start a conversation about the notion of risk. We will tell him that if he invests in a restricted universe like that of renewable energies for example, the market can be buoyant but with less diversification and that therefore the risk is greater.
Today, savers seem more mature on the subject. To give meaning to their savings, they are able to take more risk. Academic studies have shown that responsible investment has performance comparable to the traditional market.
Compare the best life insurance offers