In a global investment landscape that at times appears rife with uncertainty and beset by bubbles and busts, two main areas stand out both as pockets of opportunity and as major forces for change: sustainable, responsible and impact (SRI) investing—that is, investment that considers environmental, social and governance criteria as well as returns—and financial technology, or fintech, which is revolutionising how financial services are delivered. Both of these sectors have attracted massive investor interest in recent times and are poised to transform the way people invest and transact in the years ahead. More importantly, both are creating possibilities, particularly for individual investors, which were all but unimaginable even a decade ago.

Based on extensive research and interviews with industry participants and experts, this paper explores the ways in which SRI and fintech are transforming investment for the better. Among its main conclusions are:

• SRI is on the cusp of a revolution. Previously the domain of large institutional investors, SRI is poised for a period of growth among a wider base of investors, beginning with high net worth individuals (HNWIs), as a more idealistic, socially engaged generation comes to the fore and takes advantage of a growing range of SRI products and options.
• Sustainability will become more standardised. Investor demand and the emergence of codes like the UN-backed Principles for Responsible Investment will drive the creation of more objective frameworks and measurements for key sustainability indicators, taking some of the “guesswork” out of sustainable investing.
• Emerging markets will catch up with—and at times surpass—developed markets, both as destinations and sources for SRI investment, and in the development and adoption of fintech solutions for a wider base of investors.
• “Green” will go mainstream. With more jurisdictions mandating sustainability reporting and more investors embedding sustainability principles in their mission statements, data on sustainability approaches and performance will be as important (and scrutinised) as financials in presentations by companies and funds.
• Technology will “democratise” investment. The gaps between large institutional investors and HNW investors in terms of access to information and investment opportunities will narrow as solutions emerge that harness and analyse data on behalf of the individual user. Automated and mobile platforms, meanwhile, will provide individual investors with a wider range of asset management solutions at lower overall cost.
• Expect an SRI-fintech feedback loop. By automating elements of SRI asset management, fintech will make it easier for investors to achieve their impact goals and has significant potential to contribute to the sector’s growth. The refinement of SRI-related fintech solutions, meanwhile, is likely to result in advances that can be applied in other areas.
  

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