Head of Sustainable Investments at Royal London Asset Management, Mike Fox will discuss:

• Why the best days for sustainable investment are still to come
• Key sustainable themes and how they’re contributing to a cleaner, healthier, safer and more inclusive society
• The potential opportunities within sustainable investing and an outlook going ahead
  

Europe is the largest market for thematic funds in the World. Assets surged in the wake of the global pandemic and these once niche funds now represent around 6% of all equity fund assets in the region. Funds targeting themes with a sustainable angle have been some of the biggest winners. Assets in European Energy Transition funds grew by 6x over the three years to the end of 2023 and yet many investors have been left out of pocket. Thematic funds allow investors to make granular bets on emerging trends like solar or wind while reducing some of the risks connected with single stock investments. They can also be expensive, highly volatile and given their distinctive characteristics require additional due diligence from investors. In this session we will address some of the questions we are frequently asked about thematics and present a framework for evaluating these often poorly understood investments.

A quickfire focus on new funds, themes and sectors - why they were launched, what makes them stand out, their investment teams, key parts of the sustainable investment process, key positions at launch, engagement approach, and how they fit in investors' broader sustainable portfolios.

As the majority of UK defined-benefit pension schemes mature, trustees and sponsors of schemes are considering how best to navigate and approach their endgames. What are the options for endgame and what investment strategies should be considered?

In a challenging year, UK pension schemes navigated integrating sustainable investments amid geopolitical and economic turmoil. Despite this, the role of UK pension assets in driving net zero and sustainability remained crucial. We examine the progress made, improvements, and priorities in the coming year.

How are pension funds integrating impact into their investment mandate to include private markets such as infrastructure, private debt and real estate? How to assess and measure the achieved impact?

The Mansion House reforms propose a dynamic shift in pension investment that have the potential to impact significantly on trustees and sponsoring employers. We explore the key aims, changes, and requirements of trustees.

With an urgent need to accelerate climate action, businesses are increasingly under pressure to adapt and transition towards more sustainable practices. How can investors make assessments of transition plans if data is not standardised? What sectors offer most opportunity? Demonstrating how engagement is making a difference.

Emerging markets rely heavily on foreign private investment to finance their climate transition but, despite an ongoing boom in sustainable investment, investment funds are directing only a small share of allocations into emerging markets. This panel explores the role of investment funds in financing green companies and fostering economic growth, the markets and sectors that provide most potential, overcoming barriers to greater allocation in emerging markets, and the metrics used to measure the impact of investment on environmental sustainability and social goals.

AI has been identified as a hugely significant long-term disruptive growth driver over the coming decades, that is set to be a key determinant in the success and survival of many of today’s companies around the globe. This session will explore how companies across sectors are adopting AI and managing risks, as well as long-term opportunities to future-proof investor portfolios.

Considering the evolving role of financial advisers in a digital age and what the financial planning firm of the future might look like. We will explore how advisers can adapt to the changing needs of their clients and use technology to support the evolution of their client proposition.

The FCA’s Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR) have been positively received by the industry to curb greenwashing and ensure that funds are accurately labelled. This session will explore what the new rules means for advisers, the usefulness (and limitations of labels), how they sit with Consumer Duty requirements, and how this could affect investor behaviour. We will also explore what the FCA is looking for from advisers in this area and how this could evolve in the future. 

We examine the pivotal role of engagement in driving sustainable outcomes for clients, communities, and the planet. Enabling advisers to enhance the client relationship and evidence the positive change investments are making.

Exploring the global megatrends shaping the investment landscape of tomorrow that should be on advisers’ radars. How are companies adapting to a rapidly changing environment and what are the risks to their businesses from disruptive forces? How can investors take advantage of these trends and how will they shape future client portfolios?