Where we invest financially is one of the most direct and simple ways we can contribute to values-based positive change in the world. Advancements in technology are continually making this task less intimidating and more accessible, enabling consumers at all investing levels to support sustainability efforts. We found 7 socially responsible investment platforms that are easy, automated, transparent, and customizable so that you can use your money to invest in categories like green tech, renewable energy and clean water—and match your financial goals with your personal value.
1. Swell Investing
Socially Responsible Mission | Swell is an investment platform focused on providing consumers with a way to invest in companies that have a positive impact on the world. They carry forward the belief that what you care about and what you invest in can be one and the same. Swell invests in growth companies that offer innovative solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges—like renewable energy, clean water, and healthcare.
How It Works | Swell is built on a belief that today’s biggest challenges will result in tomorrow’s leading industries. Each of their six portfolios represent baskets of publicly-traded companies that stand to grow based on important social and environmental trends. To be included in one of their six portfolios, each company must pass two screenings: environmental and social performance and the financial potential of the stock. Swell requires an initial minimum investment amount of $50 and allows you to distribute your investment across their six portfolios based on your values:
- Green Tech
- Renewable Energy
- Zero Waste
- Clean Water
- Healthy Living
- Disease Eradication
Minimum Investment Amount | $50
2. Motif
Socially Responsible Mission | Motif’s goal is to simplify investment products and make them universally accessible, so that anyone can choose to make values-based investments. They take a strategic, disciplined approach to investing, equipping you with intuitive, transparent, and low-cost resources. Through Motif, you’ll be able to purchase and own underlying stocks, know exactly where your money is going, and avoid hidden fees. Their convenient, customizable platform utilizes data and technology efficiently and conveniently. Plus, securities in your account will be protected up to $500,000.
How It Works | You’ll invest with dollar amounts rather than shares, choosing to disperse your money to one or more of the following categories: Sustainable Planet, Fair Labor, and Good Corporate Behavior. You can directly own stocks amongst five different asset classes, automate and act on insights, and check in on the progress of your tax-aware auto-investing. Motif offers the option to either pay as you go, or subscribe monthly. With automatic drift protection, you’ll stay on track for your financial target. Learn more by watching the video here.
Minimum Investment Amount | $250
3. OpenInvest
Socially Responsible Mission | OpenInvest is a Public Benefit Corporation dedicated to transparency and making a positive difference in the world. They promise to “help drive real change by investing in companies that promote good over evil.” When you invest with OpenInvest, you’ll gain access to a comprehensive and fully diversified portfolio that can be easily tailored to reflect your values. The company will help make tax optimization at the individual equities level possible over all accounts, and you’ll gain higher tax savings. OpenInvest supports individual & joint investment accounts and traditional, ROTH, and SEP IRAs.
How It Works | With OpenInvest, you’ll open a brokerage account, fund the account, and essentially let them handle the rest. You’ll be able to declare what you care about most (climate change, social equality, etc) so that your investments will directly align. OpenInvest will work to maximize your impacts, which you’ll find measured via your online dashboard, and you’ll be able to join movements, engage, and use investor power to make your assets grow directly with the market. This method will help cut unnecessary fees and taxes, too.
Minimum Investment Amount | $100
4. EarthFolio
Socially Responsible Mission | EarthFolio is a hassle-free automated investing service with roots in the idea that “Investing is more than a transaction, it’s a personal stake in the future.” Investments with EarthFolio will contribute to mutual funds which promote positive social and environmental progress. Its online advisory service helps you invest exclusively in funds classified as Sustainable or Responsible. This enables you to leave the world a bit better through smart, low cost, time-efficient investing.
How It Works | You’ll take approximately ten minutes to design, set up, and start the process of managing account. Afterwards, you’ll own a fully diversified portfolio with is automatically rebalanced and optimized to your specific goals. You’ll have the choice to open an individual or joint account, trust account, IRA or Roth Rollover, 401(k) or 403(b) Rollover, or SEP. You’ll also be able to share your goals.
Minimum Investment Amount | $25,000, 0.5% annual fee
5. Hedgeable
Socially Responsible Mission | Hedgeable is known to offer the most customization and diversification of any digital investing platform. They help clients grow accounts while simultaneously making a difference—you’ll invest in companies with positive impacts on the world and people. Your investments will reach a diverse set of asset classes, geographies, and sectors. All the while, you’ll have the assurance of high-risk management and downside protection in every account.
How It Works | Hedgeable guides you through the process of investing in low-cost ETFs, individual stocks, MLPs, REITs, and alternative asset classes. You’ll be able to customize your portfolio in more than 200 ways, add capital, and continually make your portfolio more diversified and able to hold more securities for increased liquidity. The process will allow you to invest in alternative assets (such as bitcoin, venture capital, and impact causes), and all accounts over $100,000 will automatically be invested in core-satellite portfolios.
Minimum Investment Amount | $1 and no minimum balances, minimum auto-deposits, or any other catches
6. Ellevest
Socially Responsible Mission | Ellevest is the only digital advisor that truly takes the unique lifetime salary curve of women into account, not just her current salary. They claim, “Investing shouldn’t be unisex. We factor women’s risk preferences and longer lifespans into your plan.” Though Ellevest puts special emphasis on fair investing for women, they work with any adult US citizen to help make financial goals become realities through wise investing.
How It Works | Ellevest will calculate financial goal targets to meet your specific needs, taking special note of male/female financial trends so that retirement target amounts reflect the longer lifespans of women. They’ll factor in income differences and suggest how much you should contribute based on your specific financial profile. You’ll receive investment strategies that consider gender-specific salary curves and your goal targets.
Minimum Investment Amount | No minimum balance
7. Wunder Capital
Socially Responsible Mission | Founded in 2013, this award-winning investment platform is helping people invest in solar projects in the US. Wunder Capital wants you to “do well and do good”—your investment will serve the dual purpose of funding essential large scale eco-friendly solar projects, and your profits will go directly to your bank account.
How It Works | Wunder has a national network of large-scale solar partners, and actively manages all sourcing of commercial solar opportunities, to the underwriting, contracting, and construction of each project. From there, they manage the ongoing relationship with the solar customer while sending profits to the investors on the platform. Their trusted team of Department of Energy researchers and industry leaders help determine which projects to pursue so your investment is diverse and well-vetted.
Minimum Investment Amount | $1,000
