A growing number of KLD’s clients serve high-net-worth investors (HNWI), commonly defined as individuals whose investable assets exceed $1 million. Nelle Coady, Assistant Manager of Client Services at KLD, reports that “the next generation of money” is concerned with the social impact of their investments.

“Young, high net worth investors are looking to be more proactive,” Nelle explains. “Our institutional clients tell us that social responsibility is a priority for more and more of their younger investors.”

The wider investment community, in the U.S. and abroad, has recognized this trend. American Banker reports: “Major custody banks are increasingly adding socially responsible investment factors into their monitoring services.”

Canada’s National Post quotes UBS Global Portfolio Management strategist Vijaya Govindan:

“There’s a huge shift in terms of a younger population that are interested in those areas….We’re appealing to a very broad range of investors, because SRI is really coming into the mainstream … It’s just about what’s going on in the world.

“As it’s become important to our clients, it’s become more important to us.”