2021 RIA Investor Opinion Survey
Canadian retail investors seek climate action in their portfolios, want advisors to offer responsible investments
The 2021 RIA Investor Opinion Survey, which is based on an Ipsos poll of 1,000 individual investors in Canada, found that 85% of respondents agreed that Canadian corporations should set goals for their businesses to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, and 78% agreed they would like a portion of their investment portfolio to be invested in companies that are providing solutions to reduce carbon emissions.
In a year that saw the emergence of a national dialogue on reconciliation, the survey found that 70% of respondents want Canadian companies in their portfolio to partner with Indigenous Peoples on decisions around a future energy transition.
The survey, sponsored by AGF Investments Inc. and Desjardins Group, also shows that 77% of respondents said they want their financial services provider to inform them about responsible investments that are aligned with their values, while only 27% said they had ever been asked if they were interested. About one-third of respondents said they currently own responsible investments, similar to last year.
Highlights:
- 85% of respondents agreed that Canadian corporations should set goals for their businesses to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
- 70% of respondents reported that they want Canadian companies in their portfolio to partner with Indigenous Peoples on decisions around future energy transitions.
- An overwhelming number of respondents (85%) expressed concern about climate change and the environment.
- 80% of respondents would like their fund manager to encourage Canadian corporations to reduce their carbon emissions.
- 78% of respondents said they would like a portion of their investment portfolio to be invested in companies that are providing solutions to reduce carbon emissions.
- While 77% of respondents said they want their financial services provider to inform them about responsible investments that are aligned with their values, only 27% said they had ever been asked if they were interested. About one-third of respondents said they currently own responsible investments, similar to last year.
- Knowledge levels about RI are gradually improving over time. 69% of respondents said they know little to nothing about RI, including 20% who have never heard of RI. This is an improvement from last year when 75% said they knew little to nothing about RI, including 29% who had never heard of RI.
- Overall interest in RI is holding steady, with 73% of this year’s respondents expressing interest in RI. Interest among older investors showed a meaningful increase in interest compared to last year.
