Environmental Social Governance

Socially Responsible (ESG) Investing Limitations. Socially Responsible Investing involves the incorporation of Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) considerations into the investment due diligence process. ESG investing incorporates a set of criteria/factors used in evaluating potential investments: potential investments: Environmental (i.e., considers how a company safeguards the environment); Social (i.e., the manner in which a company manages relationships with its employees, customers, and the communities in which it operates); and Governance (i.e., company management considerations). The number of companies that meet an acceptable ESG mandate can be limited when compared to those that do not, and could underperform broad market indices. Investors must accept these limitations, including potential for underperformance. Correspondingly, the number of ESG mutual funds and exchange-traded funds are limited when compared to those that do not maintain such a mandate. As with any type of investment (including any investment and/or investment strategies recommended and/or undertaken by Pearl Planning), there can be no assurance that investment in ESG securities or funds will be profitable, or prove successful. Pearl Planning generally relies on the assessments undertaken by the unaffiliated mutual fund, exchange traded fund or separate account portfolio manager to determine that the fund’s or portfolio’s underlying company securities meet a socially responsible mandate.