Partner Article

Launch of new wealth management firm promoting LGBT rights investments

A team of wealth managers have joined together to launch a new ethical wealth management firm focused on promoting LGBT equality through its investments.

London-based Equality Capital, which launches today (8 March), is to offer wealth management services to help investors make more ethically aware decisions, and has stated it aims to educate people on the ultimate destination of their investments.

It said that many investors are not completely cognizant where their investments are going, and that in some instances may be funding regimes and governments in overseas markets that criminalise LGBT and still wield the death penalty.

Touting itself as the first UK wealth manager to put LGBT rights at the centre of its approach, Equality Capital has established a system whereby it screens and scores markets based on their perceived ethical approach to a range of discriminatory and LGBT issues.

These include marriage equality, civil partnerships, discrimination laws in employment, adoption rights, military service rights and any legal punishments that may be in place for being LGBT.

Charlie Nicholls, who is Managing Partner at Equality Capital, said that, rather than limiting potential investments, the firm’s social outlook presents a unique opportunity to invest in profitable LGBT-friendly markets.

He commented: “We aim to create a like-minded community of investors who care about LGBT positive rights and equality. Our social commitment doesn’t hinder our ability to earn attractive returns for our clients, in fact it improves them as there are many opportunities in LGBT friendly markets.”

Acting as financial advisors and discretionary investment managers, the firm has said it will also be available to work in an intermediary role, allowing investors to keep their current advisors too.

Along with advising clients on how ethical their investments and portfolios are, Equality Capital has also said it hopes to actively seek out investment opportunities that support LGBT communities and make positive impacts around the world.

“We are exceptionally lucky here in the UK that our democracy has chosen equality and that our rights are protected by the law,” Nicholls added.

“However, there are many places around the world where this is not the case and by making intelligent, well-informed investment decisions, we can ensure that we are not inadvertently supporting areas that contribute to the suffering of LGBT people.”

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