Life and Shares: Ep 01 - Peeling back the label

Let’s break down the jargon: starting with investor classifications.  

Did you know that your level of wealth impacts how you can invest in the share market? In this episode, we hear from RMIT Associate Professor Chris Berg who thinks it’s “deeply unethical” that retail investors (‘mum and dad’ investors) don’t have access to the kind of products that rich people do and so are shut out of some of the most lucrative and risky investments… but accountants say there's a good reason for that.  

We also learn about the murky areas of ‘ethical’ and ‘sustainable’ investing and how it differs from ‘responsible’ investing. If an Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) is labelled sustainable, is it irresponsible for it to have a large holding in a fossil fuel company? Is ESG reporting the best way to judge which companies are good to invest in? 

Life and Shares is a four-part series that helps you understand the rules of the game so you can make informed decisions. This podcast is presented by The Ethics Centre, an independent not-for-profit that advocates for a more ethical society. Our work is made possible by donations including the generous support of Ecstra Foundation - helping to build the financial wellbeing of Australians.