Last fall, we heard some great news: Solar City, a leading provider of solar power systems to homes and businesses in the US, had found a way to let investors participate in the shift to renewable energy. The “solar bonds” that they created and unveiled in October of 2014 work…

For the last decade or so, economists and investment advisors have agreed that “interest rates can’t go much lower — they’re bound to rise, and probably soon”. But the rate on the benchmark 10-year US Treasury bond has, over the last ten years, fallen from between 4% and 5% down…
On Friday, February 13th, I had the delight and honor to be interviewed by my friend Steven Saint-Thomas, host of the “Adventures in Permaculture” radio show on Colorado Springs’ new community radio station, KCMJ (93.9 FM, for those in the Pikes Peak area — streaming online at http://kcmj.org/ for everyone…
At this point, we think that the evidence is clear: Humanity’s 250-year reliance on fossil fuels, accelerating all the way, has driven Earth’s ecological balance to the brink. We understand that something needs to be done, and quickly, if we’re to prevent ecological collapse. But what needs to be done,…
One of the biggest stories in the economic and SRI press right now is the nosedive that oil prices have taken in the last seven months. After several years of running right about $100 per barrel, after the end of June the price dropped below $45. The pundits can’t quite…
A couple of weeks ago, I posted about the reasons we have for short-term optimism — the reasons why we think that 2015 is likely to be a good year for the markets, and for social justice and environmental sustainability. But, naturally enough, talking about optimism for the short term…
January is thought to be named for the Roman god Janus, the god of beginnings and endings, whose two faces look forward and backward at the same time. The change of the calendar makes this a great month for reviewing what happened last year, and looking ahead into the year…
In last week’s post, I took a look back at 2014. While many Americans were worried that the economy and the markets were in terrible shape, things were actually … pretty darn good. Economic activity was strong, unemployment declined, the US markets were up, and we made some significant progress…
Quick: Without looking at your investment account statements, or Googling for the data, how did the American economy and stock & bond markets really do in 2014? As recently as November, the vast majority of us thought that the economy was in dire shape. About 45% of American voters went…
Our friends at TIAA-CREF have posted about SRI (sustainable, responsible, impact) investing and “the performance question”. Briefly: Because portfolios that incorporate non-financial criteria — sustainability issues, say, or ESG (environmental, social, and governance) issues — will have a somewhat smaller set of stocks to choose from, most investment professionals assume…
As we approach the end of the year, it’s time to take a close look at your investments, paying particular attention to three main things: Taxes — If you have a taxable brokerage account, it’s probably a good idea to check on your realized gains and losses for the year,…
PRESS RELEASE Horizons Sustainable Financial Services Presents: “Exploring Horizons in Carbon Energy: Divestment and Engagement” September 16 & 17, 6 to 8 pm — Jean Cocteau Cinema, Santa Fe Santa Fe, NM — August 22, 2014 — Horizons Sustainable Financial Services, a Santa Fe-based registered investment advisory firm, announced…