F&C Stewardship Income Fund Review

We like:

Stewardship's long history; its consistent performance

We don't like:

Its light green investment approach

SmartPlanet judgement:

Stewardship's long history and solid, ethical UK investments make it a consistent fund for investors looking to put their money where their mouth is. We would have preferred a darker green investment policy, but its reliability makes up for a lot.

Friends Provident pioneered ethical funds in the UK, launching the first Stewardship series fund (Stewardship Growth) in 1984. Although now the granddaddy of all ethical funds, it didn't have an auspicious start, being nicknamed the "Brazil fund" (you'd have to be nuts to invest in it) -- and certainly not regarded with the respect it is now. The whole sector was seen as a joke, actually. Continue reading...