Terror-Free Investing Leaders

Terror-Free investing is a grass-roots phenomenon that is not restricted to any area of the country or segment of the population. That said, a number of noteworthy asset management firms, public pension systems and public officials stand out in their efforts to validate Terror-Free investing and ensure that individual and institutional investors alike have a choice when it comes to investing in companies that do business in terrorist-sponsoring states:

• The "Four State Model" – Building on the groundbreaking Louisiana bill (see below), legislators in Massachusetts, New York, Delaware and Maryland have joined forces to promote a national legislative Terror-Free model that is rapidly taking hold in the 50 states. Much like Louisiana, legislators Kevin Murphy of Massachusetts, New York State Senator Jeffrey Klein and Assemblymen Ron George of Maryland and Don Blakely of Delaware have designed an approach that not only establishes a Terror-Free policy for state investments, but is consistent with market principles.
  
  For example, whereas legislative initiatives in Florida, California and elsewhere require states to establish inconsistent "do not buy" lists (that make it impossible for managers to offer commingled products that are most cost effective and non-disruptive from an investment process standpoint, but require uniform exclusion criteria), the "Four State Model" establishes a national standard exclusion criteria and legislative approach that would allow states to pool their assets in pursuit of their policy objectives. Read the letter and view the model legislation sent by these legislators to state officials across the country.
  
  
• Missouri Treasurer Sarah Steelman – Treasurer Steelman has been a pioneer in Terror-Free investing, leading several state and national initiatives. Her Wall Street Journal editorial of December 2006 is widely viewed as a catalyst for the increasingly vibrant market of certified Terror-Free products and services available to institutional and individual investors alike. Ms. Steelman also led Missouri to become the first (and only) state to offer Terror-Free options to participants in the state's 529 Education Savings Plan—a certified international separate account from UMB Financial as well as the Roosevelt Anti-Terror Fund. Importantly, you do not have to be a Missourian to enjoy the option of investing in Terror-Free vehicles when saving for your children's education; the Missouri 529 education savings plan is available to all American families.
  
  
• The Missouri Investment Trust (MIT) – Led by Missouri Treasurer Sarah Steelman, MIT recently became the first public fund in the country to institute a Terror-Free investment policy governing its international investments, thereby establishing a national precedent that proved that Terror-Free strategies are possible in the institutional investment space.
  
  
• State Legislative Initiatives – Louisiana State Representative Pete Schneider and his colleagues in Louisiana are responsible for establishing an institutional market for passive Terror-Free investment products that will revolutionize Terror-Free investing. Louisiana's bill calls for the creation of commingled Terror-Free investment products for use by the state's 13 public pension systems. As a result of this legislation, FTSE and CSAG established their Terror-Free Index Series, upon which leading firms such as Northern Trust can offer cost effective and high performing commingled offerings that are available to institutional investors across the country.
  
  Thanks to Louisiana and the creation of such products, now any university, foundation, union pension system, Police and Fire fund, Jewish Federation or other institutional investor in this country can simply choose to invest Terror-Free by investing in such products—and on a very cost effective basis.

Conflict Securities Advisory Group, Inc. is not a registered investment advisor. Please see disclaimer for important information regarding this site and Terror-Free investing.