Training
The recent market crash has shaken many of the investment institutions that we rely on as guaranteed. Indeed, the framework for retirement security built since the New Deal has been shaken. Ultimately, some of the investment strategies and philosophies guiding many institutional investors did not protect our pensions and other institutional assets. Instead, they were enthralled by short-term alternative investment “innovations” that undermined the economic stability of our communities and harmed the lives of millions of citizens.
Practical Solutions
We need to change the values that all too often guide investment professionals--away from unnecessary complex and risky short-term instruments—toward:
- Investing in real enterprises that will build value and grow jobs;
- Investing in necessary housing and real estate that provides safe living and working spaces; and,
- Reinvesting in our cities and supporting clean energy and efficient transportation, thereby creating smart growth and tangible assets.
The good news is that institutional investors still own tens of trillions of dollars. Of these assets, “workers’ capital”-- the assets accumulated in collectively-funded pools to provide retirement security -- has grown tremendously.
Forums and Education
HCS seeks to advise the managers and capital stewards of these assets to direct them toward investments creating value for shareholders, working families and retirees alike by investing in responsible firms and building good housing and commercial projects. We should also explore the opportunities, while understanding the risks, of promising new clean economy investments.
The challenge is aligning a critical mass of institutional investors that are familiar with the successful track record and fiduciary appropriateness of responsible funds and responsible investments.
Our Team and advisors have also invested a considerable number of years advising trustees and capital stewards, state treasurers, labor and management principals, investment and policy leaders who wish to design or invest in responsible capital strategies that contribute to community and national economic revitalization, and energy independence.
To these ends, HCS providea a forum for ‘thought leadership’ around the goal of responsible investments for pension trustees, investment managers, institutional investors and other capital stewards identifying more responsible strategies for alternative pension investments.