Fundamentals of Sustainable Investing

Enhance your understanding of sustainable investment through the US SIF Foundation course, Fundamentals of Sustainable Investing. The course is an introductory resource for investment advisors, financial planners and other financial professionals who want to learn the basics of sustainable and impact investment, and to incorporate it into investment portfolios and client conversations. The course covers the integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data into security analysis, discusses the latest trends and research, and explains how to communicate your expertise in sustainable and impact investment. The course can be taken in a self-paced on-demand online version and/or in a live (in-person or virtual) training format. 
 
Completion of the course results in a certificate, a better understanding of this rapidly growing industry, and qualifies for continuing education credits (4 hours for CFP® Board and various other industry designations).
 

Online and Live Course Training Modules
Module I: An Overview of Sustainable Investing
  • Introduction to sustainable investment including history and taxonomy
  • Growth trends in sustainable investment
  • Outlook on challenges and opportunities for the field

Module II: Approaches to ESG, Portfolio Construction Considerations and Shareowner Advocacy
  • Asset classes, strategies for application of sustainable investment, ESG analysis
  • Sustainable investment options within public equity, fixed income, cash, alternatives and community investing
  • Active shareowner strategies

Module III: Performance Studies, Fiduciary Standards, and Industry updates
  • Financial performance studies and meta-studies
  • ERISA and fiduciary duty
  • Trending topics and regulatory updates

Module IV: Communicating your Sustainable Investment Expertise with Clients
  • The value of adding sustainable investment to your practice
  • Working with clients and building a client base
  • Resources and next steps


Course Fees
US SIF Member $200
Non-member $250
The self-paced on-demand course is not currently available for purchase. The course is being updated to reflect recent regulatory updates, and will become available again in spring 2024.

Click here to be notified of the spring re-launch!

The self-paced on-demand online course can be accessed for 365 days from the date of purchase.

For group purchases, please click here for our volume discount schedule.

 
Upcoming Live (in-person or virtual with expert instructors) Training Dates
CITY/STATE DATE LOCATION
Chicago, IL June 25, 2024 US SIF FORUM 2024 - Swisshotel Chicago
Virtual Classroom September 2024 Click here to sign up for registration alerts
     
Past Live Training Dates
CITY/STATE DATE LOCATION
Virtual Classroom December 13, 2023 Online/Zoom
Virtual Classroom March 15, 2023 Online/Zoom
Virtual Classroom December 15, 2022 Online/Zoom
Virtual Classroom September 14, 2022 Online/Zoom
New Mexico June 7, 2022 US SIF FORUM 2022 - Hyatt Regency Tamaya
Virtual Classroom March 3, 2022 Online/Zoom
Virtual Classroom December 2, 2021 Online/Zoom
Virtual Classroom September 8, 2021 Online/Zoom
Virtual Classroom June 14, 2021 Online/Zoom as part of US SIF FORUM 2021
Virtual Classroom March 31, 2021 Online/Zoom
Virtual Classroom December 9, 2020 Online/Zoom
Virtual Classroom July 22, 2020 Online/Zoom
Washington, DC June 9, 2020 US SIF FORUM 2020 [cancelled due to covid-19]
Chicago, IL March 9, 2020 Morningstar Global Headquarters [cancelled due to covid-19]
New York, NY December 9, 2019 Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice
Colorado Springs, CO November 13, 2019 SRI Conference - Broadmoor Hotel
Minneapolis, MN June 11, 2019 US SIF Conference - Radisson Blue Hotel
Santa Monica, CA November 16, 2018 Swell Investing Headquarters
San Francisco, CA November 13, 2018 MSCI [cancelled due to wildfires]
Colorado Springs, CO November 1, 2018 SRI Conference - Broadmoor Hotel
Washington, DC May 31, 2018 US SIF Conference - Omni Shoreham Hotel
San Diego, CA November 1, 2017 SRI Conference - Hotel del Coronado
Chicago, IL May 10, 2017 US SIF Conference - Morningstar Global Headquarters
Santa Monica, CA February 8, 2017 Dimensional Fund Advisors Headquarters
Denver, CO November 9, 2016 SRI Conference - Hyatt Regency Downtown Denver
Washington, DC May 23, 2016 US SIF Conference - Renaissance Downtown Hotel
Colorado Springs, CO November 3, 2015 SRI Conference - Broadmoor Hotel
Chicago, IL May 4, 2015 US SIF Conference - Westin Michigan Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO November 9, 2014 SRI Conference - Broadmoor Hotel
Chicago, IL May 19, 2014 US SIF Conference - Capital Hilton
Colorado Springs, CO October 28, 2013 SRI Conference - Broadmoor Hotel
Chicago, IL May 20, 2013 US SIF Conference - Westin River North
Contact Michael Young, US SIF Education Manager, for more information.