Investing can be an ethical choice
THERE’S a Greek myth that not only gave Adrian Nathaniel the name for his company but helps inform his actions.
Jason and the Golden Fleece.
“I love mythology and my company, Argonaut Financial Services, references the myth of Jason and the Argonauts,” Mr Nathaniel said.
In the myth Jason is the rightful heir to a kingdom, claimed by his villainous half-brother.
“Jason has a dream of reclaiming his birthright, The Golden Fleece, and everything that that brings,” Mr Nathaniel said.
“But he can’t do that by himself, he needs a team of highly skilled individuals and they are the Argonauts.
“So I am just part of a team helping people achieve their goals.”
In particular, he helps those who are seeking to make an ethical difference with their investment funds.
Since starting down the ethical investment track Mr Nathaniel has steered $3 million in investment into ethical funds.
It’s a long journey from studying psychology straight out of school.
“When I finished school I could have studied almost anything but I was fascinated by the mind and also I didn’t want to chase after material consumption,” he said.
“I ended up deferring my studies and started travelling the world and living in an ashram for a while.
“While I was in India it was an eye opener on the power of money and how you could see how money could have a huge impact on people who were living in poverty.”
He said that was when some of the seeds of his future business were planted.
“I’m a financial adviser so typically I work between people and fund managers,” he said.
“It’s a position where you get to find out what people are wanting from their investments and I’ve been hearing a lot of people who are wanting something different.
Essentially over the past five years there has been a real change starting with the global financial crisis and just after that there has been a lot of distrust with the financial system and a lot of seeds being sown for change.
“This is where there has been real growth in the area of ethical investing, and the business started to gain momentum.
“From those disruptions the concept of sustainability started to appeal to people with sustainability incorporating the triple bottom line of people, planet and profit.”
He said this change in investor behaviour could be seen in the pressure brought to bear on New Zealand superannuation fund Kiwisaver over its weapons manufacturing investments.
“That led to Kiwisaver divesting $109 million from war manufacturing,” he said.
“As people become more aware of what their superannuation is invested in it’s really causing a lot of disruption which is leading to big fund managers doing something. For example that sort of pressure led to AMP’s divestment from weapons and tobacco in the Australian market last year.”
Mr Nathaniel said his goal was just to help people to make a shift into more positive investments and reduce some of the risks associated with nonsustainable companies.
“My mission is to increase the impact and value of people’s money and to reallocate money into companies that are making a positive difference.”
He will take a keynote role in the inaugural Brisbane Eco Expo from September 12-16 , helping frame the way everyday Australians can take eco steps to help save our world. The event will see eco-friendly businesses and keynote speakers congregate in a market-like space to offer natural, organic and sustainable products across home, food, beauty, health and lifestyle sectors.
MY MISSION IS TO INCREASE THE IMPACT AND VALUE OF PEOPLE’S MONEY AND TO REALLOCATE MONEY INTO COMPANIES THAT ARE MAKING A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE
ADRIAN NATHANIEL