ESG Investing: Factors to Consider and Pitfalls to Avoid
About this Webinar:
ESG gives investors an avenue to make an impact through their portfolios, but what impact does this have on companies and greater society? What does this really mean for your portfolio and investment returns? Join Houston Trust Company as we welcome expert panelists from two of our investment managers, Fayez Sarofim & Co. and Vanguard, to explore:
- An overview of ESG investing methods including screening, impact investing, ESG integration, investment stewardship, and more
- The “dos and don’ts” of getting started with an ESG strategy
- Tips on how to build an ESG scorecard and apply it to real-world buys/sells
- The impact of ESG factors on the energy market and public company management teams
- How the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced ESG factors
Meet our Panelists:
Anthony J. (“A.J.”) Gracely is a Principal and Director of ESG at Fayez Sarofim & Co. Mr. Gracely joined the Firm in 2011 as an Associate. He is currently responsible for research of the global pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and energy infrastructure industries. As Director of ESG, Mr. Gracely oversees Environmental, Social, and Governance (“ESG”) research, ratings, and integration.
Mr. Gracely received a M.B.A. from Stanford University in 2007 and a B.B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Texas in 2002, where he graduated with High Honors. Prior to joining Fayez Sarofim & Co., he managed the Investments, Mergers and Acquisitions group at EDP Renewables and worked in the investment banking division of Morgan Stanley. Mr. Gracely serves as a member of the Annunciation Orthodox School Board of Trustees and on the Board of Directors for the Footprints Family Foundation.
Sarah Friedman Hersh is a senior ESG product manager in the Portfolio Review Department, responsible for reviewing and improving the competitiveness of Vanguard’s ESG (environmental, social, and governance) product lineup across asset classes, investment strategies, and product structures. Before her current role, Ms. Hersh was a leader on Vanguard’s Investment Stewardship team, where she led board-level company engagements and a team of proxy-voting analysts covering industrials, materials, energy, and utilities companies in the Americas. She also contributed to Vanguard strategy and industry dialogue on governance and sustainability topics that affect long-term value creation for the Vanguard funds. Before joining Vanguard in 2016, she worked in philanthropy and government relations
Ms. Hersh earned a B.A. in International Studies from Kenyon College and an M.B.A. from the Yale School of Management. She is a CFA® charterholder and holds the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board’s Fundamentals of Sustainability Accounting credential.
Meet our Moderator:
Taylor Scott joined Houston Trust Company in 2020. As Senior Vice President of Investments, he is responsible for performing equity manager due diligence, constructing the asset allocation for client accounts, and delivering regular reviews to clients to assess changing needs and market conditions. Taylor previously was a Senior Investment Advisor with Sentinel Trust Company, where he advised on $3.5 billion in assets for high net worth families. Prior to that, he was an analyst with Goldman Sachs & Co’s Special Situations Group, evaluating opportunities in distressed and performing debt.
Taylor holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Texas A&M University. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder.
Taylor currently serves on the Board of the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. He is also a member of the CFA. Institute and the CFA Society of Houston.