The world of finance has seen some dark times recently. Business ethics are under the microscope like never before and trust in the industry is at an all-time low. In such circumstances, aspiring finance professionals will need to demonstrate even greater levels of personal and professional integrity if they are to stand out from the crowd.
There has never been a better time for trustworthy, ethically-minded professionals to enter the world of finance. As one such investor, there are plenty of things that you can do to set yourself apart from your peers and build a portfolio which demonstrates your ability to think beyond just money.
This article will outline a few key principles which will serve as a useful checklist when building a moral investment portfolio.
Stay Conscious of Your Values
The most important thing to do when entering a new industry is to make sure that you are consciously aware of the values and ethics which drive you. This means that if you are offered a role which doesn’t align with your core values, you will have the clarity of thought to turn it down.
If you are not yet sure what your core values are, there are a couple of ways in which you can go about discovering them.
You could write down a list of values that are important to you, such as honesty, integrity, compassion and empathy. Once you do, ask yourself how these values impact your life and the lives of those around you. The idea is to explore how these values manifest themselves in your daily life.
Be Selective When It Comes to New Opportunities
Building a moral investment portfolio is all about making the right choices when presented with new opportunities. Although it would be nice if you could do everything, in reality you will only have enough time and resources to pursue a select few.
The most important thing to do when presented with a new opportunity is to ask yourself what the potential long-term benefits are.
If the benefits aren’t clear, then you should politely decline the opportunity and move on. In other words, you should only pursue opportunities that bring you closer to your long-term goals. If the benefits are clear and you feel confident that the opportunity is a good fit for you, then you should go for it and make the most of it.
Don’t Be Afraid To Ask Questions
There is nothing more intimidating than the thought of walking into a new industry and feeling like you don’t belong. However, it’s important to remember that you do belong in the finance world as much as anyone else.
The truth is, we live in a society where it is fashionable to pretend that you already know all the answers when, in reality, most people are just as clueless as you are. Therefore, it is common for novices to be too scared to admit that they don’t know something and to pretend that they do.
But asking questions and admitting when you don’t know something will not only make you a more empathetic person but it will also help you to learn faster. In fact, the best way to learn anything is to ask questions.
Building a Moral Investment Portfolio – The Key Takeaways
There are a lot of things that you can do to set yourself apart from your peers and stand out as a trustworthy and ethical professional in the finance world. The most important thing to do is to stay conscious of your values, make sure that you are selective when it comes to new opportunities, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. With these things in mind, you will be well-equipped to build a successful moral investment portfolio in finance that is driven by integrity and trust.
