Insurance, Investments, and Group Benefits

Market watch bulletin - February 28, 2022: Given the current geopolitical situation here are a few thoughts from our investment team.

The situation is changing very rapidly in Ukraine, so we won't try and update you on the moment-to-moment situation.

Let’s start by extending our sincerest best wishes to the people of Ukraine. We can't imagine what it feels like to wake up to a terrifying situation that must have felt inconceivable a couple of months ago and realize that your life and that of your family are in danger. All our thoughts and prayers are with them.

From the desk of Ashley Misquitta: In this recent article, Ashley Misquitta reviews the key market events impacting 2021 and beyond. 

Transition was clearly a dominant theme over the past year. Transitioning from the unprecedented COVID-19 lockdowns of 2020 and early 2021, global economies began to ease restrictions as vaccines were rolled out in the spring, driving greater economic activity across many sectors. And we saw many other important transitions occur as well.

Key takeaways: Tactically increased bonds, decreased international equities*

Tactical update - January 27, 2022

We are taking a slightly more defensive posture by trimming international equities and adding to bonds. This is indeed a tactical, but measured decision. It is a move in a more conservative direction with an eye towards taking potential risk exposures incrementally lower.

Key takeaways:

Emblem Portfolios - Canadian: September 22, 2021
Emblem GIF Portfolios - Global: September 27, 2021

• Incrementally less aggressive outlook/positioning towards risk assets
• Deploying cash to realign select asset class exposures back to targets
  
  

Highlights:

• Strong sustainable investing interest in the current environment
• Record fund flows into Canadian sustainable investment funds
• Wide interest/usage gap and demographic factors allude to potential for greater fund flows
• Discussion and education will be important drivers going forward

From an evidence point of view, the proliferation of sustainable investment strategies and strong fund flows into these products are easily researched through publicly available resources. Underlying these trends, however, is a more durable structural shift.

Myth #3: Sustainable investing is a fad

Myth #2: All sustainable investing approaches are essentially the same

It is vital in understanding the different approaches related to sustainable investing. While standards and definitions continually evolve, there are generally six approaches to sustainable investing. Depending on an investor’s motivation in considering sustainable investing, some approaches may be more relevant than others. 

Sustainable investing has experienced increased interest over the past few years, with a sharp acceleration in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other high profile social issues, such as the Black Lives Matter movement. There are, however, some common myths and misconceptions among investors that may be new to modern sustainable investing approaches. This educational resource attempts to provide insight and clarification into what we believe are the most misunderstood issues.

Myth #1: Sustainable investing is the same as ethical investing

Key takeaways:

Tactical Update - May 21, 2021

• Economies in Canada, the United States, and Europe continue their gradual re-openings following their COVID-19 induced shutdowns.