In Episode 52 of the Investing in Impact podcast, we speak with Conor Murray, CEO and Cofounder of OpenInvest, on getting acquired by J.P. Morgan and building the technology infrastructure for values-based Investing.
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OpenInvest was founded with a simple yet ambitious goal – to make a positive impact on the world through sustainable investing.
The teams background in building scalable and complex financial systems led them to create an asset management platform with personalized value filters.
In recent years, there has been a significant shift in the investment industry as investors increasingly seek to align their financial goals with their personal values.
This trend has given rise to values-based investing, an investment approach that allows investors to create portfolios that reflect their personal beliefs and values.
In 2016, OpenInvest was established as a Public Benefit Corporation, a designation that allowed us to cement the mission in their legal charter: to mainstream values-based investing through technology.
The OpenInvest platform allows investors to personalize their investment portfolios based on their values and beliefs. Through technology, they aim to make values-based investing accessible and transparent, empowering investors to align their financial goals with their personal values.
OpenInvest was acquired by J.P. Morgan in 2021, with the intention to scale the movement, offering investors an intuitive and personalized investing experience.
About Conor
Conor Murray is co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of OpenInvest, where he guides values-based innovation and integration in partnership with J.P. Morgan Wealth Management.
After graduating from MIT, Conor began his career in financial technology at Morgan Stanley and went on to lead teams of engineers responsible for portfolio construction and optimization at Bridgewater Associates, the world’s largest hedge fund.
What is Sustainable Investing?
To fully understand values-based investing, it is essential first to understand the concept of sustainable investing. Sustainable investing is an umbrella term that encompasses investment approaches that incorporate financial, social, and environmental objectives.
There are several approaches to sustainable investing, including values-based investing, ESG, thematic investing, and impact investing.
What is Values-Based Investing?
Values-based investing is an investment approach that reflects an investor’s values by avoiding or increasing exposure to specific companies, sectors, or business practices.
This approach can offer investors a high degree of customization and personalization.
Thanks to recent technological innovations, investors can actively choose investments according to their values without sacrificing financial returns.
This approach allows investors to build a values-aligned portfolio around the causes they care about while prioritizing their financial goals.
Causes that OpenInvest is Developing
- Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Invest in Women Leaders
- Fight Deforestation
- Support LGBTQIA+ Rights
- Divest from Weapons
OpenInvest’s Role in Values-Based Investing
OpenInvest provides features like Dynamic Custom Indexing, sustainability reporting, and more.
OpenInvest’s platform also allows investors to choose from a range of investment themes and to personalize their portfolios based on their values and beliefs.
Values-based investing is still a relatively new investment approach, and there is still much room for growth and development.
As technology continues to evolve, investors will have even more opportunities to build personalized portfolios that reflect their values.
