Swell Investing Blog | Invest with Intention.

A papal rejection of capitalism, proof that protest works on wage increases, and a Farm Bill that’s mostly about food for people in need. Stay up to date with companies making big waves. Here are three exciting things happening in the markets this week.

5 things I learned from...building a snack empire

Jordan Cohen of SnackNation talks to us about what he’s learned by building a brand focused on health, snacks, and gratitude. SnackNation delivers delicious snacks to 2.5 million people each month.

Pope Francis calls out big banks

The easiest way to invest: Make it a habit

Moving money straight from your account to your investments can create a strong path to wealth. But it’s not just about socking money away, it’s about the compound interest and dollar-cost averaging.

Is language a hurdle to investing?

In cultures where the language is without strong future tenses, people tend to take better care of their future selves by saving and investing more money. We break down why and what you can do to get ahead of your words.

5 things I learned from...doing business at the intersection of purpose and profit

PLUS ULTRA was created as a brand committed to creating common sense products that support positive change, transcend functionality, and serve the greater good. We talk to its founder Christina Ramirez to hear about what she’s learned.

More vegetable news than you can handle

A sunscreen ban, a dangerous lettuce situation, and produce on Mars. Stay up to date with companies making big waves. Here are three exciting things happening in the markets this week.

Eco-friendly spring cleaning

Ideas to show you how you can make the world a better place while giving your home a refresh. Swapping light bulbs, sustainably degreasing, and investing in your retirement are all on this list of eco-friendly spring cleaning tips.

Align takes dentistry to a new level

For a little more that 20 years, Align Technology has integrated cutting-edge methods into the traditional field of dentistry. Invisalign was approved by the FDA in 1998. Learn more about this smile making company in Swell Investing’s Healthy Living portfolio.

Belden connects the whole world

From private residences to public transportation, to local hospitals and global corporations, Belden is behind some of the functions of broadcast, industrial, and enterprise markets. Learn more about this holding in Swell Investing’s Green Tech portfolio.

Corning materials are part of our everyday lives

Corning is a leader in display technology, mobile electronics, automotive functions, optical communications – but it all started with a light bulb. Learn more about this $10 billion holding in Swell’s Zero Waste portfolio.

Darling Ingredients makes what’s old new again

Darling Ingredients is a multi-faceted business that accepts waste in various forms and converts it into products we can use once again. It’s a $128 million company and a proud part of Swell Investing’s Zero Waste portfolio.

Global Blood Therapeutics is managing sickle cell disease for the masses

Global Blood Therapeutics hopes that the large financial burden of living with sickle cell disease can be lessened by its revolutionary oral drug. They are working with the FDA to bring vexelotor to the market to help more than 70,000 Americans each year.

Essilor International ensure that the eyes have it

Essilor International employs 64,000 in about 70 countries, as well as a few dozen production plants and 16 distribution centers. It also houses a foundation that provides complimentary care to children who would otherwise not receive the services.

LIttlefuse lights the way to innovation

Littelfuse is known for its protective devices, but it now makes them for past and present technological advances, from fuel and electric cars to traditional and wind-powered illuminations. It’s a proud part of Swell Investing’s Renewable Energy portfolio.

Tetra Tech builds it from the ground up

For more than 50 years, Tetra Tech has been as a leading force in infrastructure ingenuity. In 2016 alone, it worked on 60,000 individual projects in more than 100 countries. The company is a proud addition to Swell Investing’s Clean Water portfolio.

On becoming a social good unicorn with Winston Ibrahim

Swell Investing invites Winston Ibrahim of Hydros to discuss how he was primed by his family for a traditional finance career and why he chose to build an impactful company instead.

Women’s biggest financial regrets exposed

Laser eyes, money troubles, and saying goodbye to golf course living. Stay up to date with companies making big waves. Here are three exciting things happening in the markets this week.

What is dollar-cost averaging?

Dollar-cost averaging is purchasing stocks with a set amount of cash each month, so that you mitigate the risks involved with trying to time the market while also taking advantage of the price dips.

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Purpose Meets Profit: Portland edition wrap up

Swell Investing’s Purpose Meets Profit events bring together local, socially conscious entrepreneurs to talk about how they do business at the intersection of money and morals. We took the show to Portland, OR for an impact investing event with women in mind.

Align takes dentistry to a new level

Belden connects the whole world

Corning materials are part of our everyday lives

Darling Ingredients makes what’s old new again

Global Blood Therapeutics is managing sickle cell disease for the masses

Essilor International ensure that the eyes have it

LIttlefuse lights the way to innovation

Tetra Tech builds it from the ground up

NuVasive is solving chronic pain

NuVasive is just 20 years old and is a leader for the future of solving chronic back pain. Its catalog of products and procedures have made it more than a billion dollars in net revenues. It’s part of Swell Investing’s Healthy Living Portfolio.

Idacorp is powering the future of hydroelectric energy

Idacorp believes they can move toward a carbon-light future, and that’s the direction they’re headed by divesting from plants that are powered by coal and other fossil fuels, which includes pushing to close the North Valmy Power Plant by 2025.

DaVita keeps your body in check

DaVita Kidney Care estimates that it has served nearly 200,000 people at its outpatient dialysis centers in America. DaVita is a proud part of Swell Investing’s Healthy Living portfolio.

Aecom constructs a better building from the ground up

Aecom is a defining name in its industry,working in commercial and residential properties, educational and governmental buildings, hotels, museums, and stadiums. They are a proud addition to Sell Investing’s Renewable Energy portfolio.

Earth Month Social Challenge

At Swell, we want to take Earth Day to the next level. It’s great to feel galvanized when April 22nd rolls around - you might recycle more that day, think twice about purchasing a disposable water bottle, etc.

Perrigo puts medicine within reach

The Perrigo Company makes medications and household items - it is the the leading over-the-counter, private-label pharmaceutical company in the world and a proud addition to Swell Investing’s Disease Eradication portfolio.

Air Products is all around us

For more than 70 years,Air Products has spearheaded the industrial gas industry, and has grown into a lasting leader in its sphere. It’s market cap is $35 billion and it’s a part of Swell Investing’s Renewable Energy portfolio.

Every Day is Earth Day

Earth Day is a time to reinvigorate and be reminded of our passion for keeping this beautiful planet of ours clean and healthy. Swell wants to partner with you this April to bring impact investing to the next level and waive your fees for an entire year.

Smith and Nephew makes medical advancements every day

Smith and Nephew is committed to research and design that creates worthwhile medical products as practically as possible. They are a holding in Swell Investing’s Healthy Living portfolio.

Marine Harvest puts dinner on the table

Marine Harvest meets one-fifth of the world’s demand for fresh fish, and is the leader in supplying farmed Atlantic salmon anywhere it wants to be served. It’s a proud addition to Swell Investing’s Healthy Living portfolio.

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On becoming a social good unicorn with Winston Ibrahim

Swell Investing invites Winston Ibrahim of Hydros to discuss how he was primed by his family for a traditional finance career and why he chose to build an impactful company instead.

5 things I learned from...doing business at the intersection of purpose and profit

Eco-friendly spring cleaning

On becoming a social good unicorn with Winston Ibrahim

Swell Investing invites Winston Ibrahim of Hydros to discuss how he was primed by his family for a traditional finance career and why he chose to build an impactful company instead.

Purpose Meets Profit: the Swell home

Swell’s Purpose Meets Profit events are all about bringing together local, socially conscious entrepreneurs to talk about how they do business at the intersection of money and morals. Our April event was a celebration of our new office.

Unexpected ways you can vote for the planet during earth month

By collectively nudging our behavior and actions in the right direction, a happier and healthier planet is possible for us all. Together, we can stack up a bunch of seemingly tiny actions for some serious environmental impact.

Interview with Cathy Clark

Swell Investing has launched a podcast! You’ll hear individual stories of impact and inspiring stories to make you a more informed investor, we’re very excited to begin this journey with our listeners.

The women of impact investing

In the early days of the impact investing movement, women were arguably seen more as program beneficiaries than financial movers and shakers. Now they're leading the charge and making big moves.

Purpose Meets Profit: Portland edition

Swell Investing is taking its popular Purpose Meets Profit event on the road - our first stop is Portland, OR for International Women's Day. Speakers from adidas, GladRags, Modernist Financial, and Sugar Wheel Works will speak on ethical entrepreneurship.

February's Purpose Meets Profit

We are kicking off 2018 with a new take on our popular Purpose Meets Profit series, and we can’t wait to tell you all about it. The theme is the beauty industry, subscription box services, and scaling your company in an ethical way when packaging is involved.

5 things I learned from...launching my own business

A Stanford graduate, Justine Lassoff is passionate about making a difference as a social entrepreneur. She is cofounder of Love Goodly, a fast-growing subscription box for women seeking a healthier lifestyle focused on cruelty free and non-toxic beauty.

Quest Diagnostics is all about the data

Data may come in many forms, but under the guidance of Quest Diagnostics, its use is only going to enhance our lives in its most basic form. Quest Diagnostics is part of our Healthy Living portfolio.

Clean Harbors is about more than just water

In a world where everything seems to have more than one focus, Clean Harbors appears to be yet another part of the hyphenated crowd. But its main goal is singular: it simply wants to make the environment safe from the products that people are bound to produce.

Hibbett Sports scores big

As a longtime underdog in its industry, Hibbett is the type of company that makes thrives under the radar. It had for decades in smaller to mid-sized markets across the country, and now that it’s in a fresh quarter, it hopes to do the same on a bigger scale.

How to retire a billionaire

You read that right, billionaire -- with a B. We know. Retirement savings doesn’t always feel like the most exciting topic. If you’re younger, it feels far away; if you’re older, it feels too urgent to consider nuances.

Brookdale makes your golden years glow

Although we know that it’s a part of life, few of us want to talk about it: getting older. We smooth out wrinkles with our fingers, ignore the constant pain in our knees, laugh off our growing affection for game shows.

UNFI knows what you want before you do

With its commitment to providing sustainable foods from equally sustainable sources, UNFI has fostered the type of dependability that’s vital in its field. Because when it comes to food, no matter what we’re thinking, all we really want is quality.

Sincerely, Swell

Here at Swell, we have a lot to be thankful for. Since our launch in May of this year, the number of new accounts has grown by more than 1,000%. We’re humbled by how many people have embraced our mission and joined us.

5 investing influencers you need to know

When you find a great resource, you want to share it with everyone you know, which is why today we’re celebrating some of our favorite podcasts, websites, and vlogs that cover topics we care about, namely personal finance, green tech, and healthy living.

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Pope Francis calls out big banks

How Does Swell Differ From a Robo Advisor?

Unlike many online investment advisers, Swell does not use an algorithm to manage its client accounts. Swell uses a “rules-based” investment approach designed to identify companies that are making a positive impact and addressing global challenges.

The Heart and Brains of a Swell Impact Portfolio

The portfolio curation process is a labor of love here at Swell. It’s a chance for our portfolio management team to delve into the financial markets and surface companies that are making a positive impact in the world.

Impact Investing Glossary

Figuring out all the abbreviations used when discussing impact investing can be tough. Here's a handy guide. This forum leads the talks in advancing sustainable, responsible, and impact investing across all asset classes.

3 little ways climate will change your everyday life

Danone, in our healthy living portfolio, is a leader in sustainable agriculture. Their key priorities are to preserve and improve the quality of soil, protect water resources, protect biodiversity, minimize greenhouse gas emissions and maximize carbon capture.

Stocks vs mutual funds

Not every investing tool is best for every investor, and that’s ok. When it comes to choosing between mutual funds and stock portfolios, the good news is that you don’t have to. They both have a place in your financial life.

Don't panic when the markets are down

Being rash and exiting the stock market or selling shares in response to a drop is not the best way to react. Rather than panic, wise investors understand that ups and downs are a part of the process.

Can donations be cancelled out?

Examine your investment portfolio. Take a look at the company names in your investment products. If you see ones you don’t like, divest. Then, reinvest. There are a host of investment products that do not hold companies you might find objectionable. Donate.

Boring, but important: retirement savings

Most of have some kind of retirement savings program through our work, and some of us are even lucky enough to get a match from our employer on the funds we deposit. Always take the match!

What we're reading now

September 8th is International Literacy Day. For the 50th anniversary the UN is focusing on Reading the Past, Writing the Future. Despite the steady rise in literacy rates over the past 50 years, there are still 750 million illiterate adults around the world.

Ecotourism spots that are closer than you think

It’s more than just feeling exhausted and overworked, vacations have been scientifically linked to benefitting your health both physically and mentally — from lowering blood pressure to reducing stress levels.

Introducing: Impact IRAs

Investing in your future is a good thing, that’s a no brainer. But where do you put that money? We’ve recently introduced Impact IRAs to our line of products to make the decision a little simpler.

Need to know stats on the pumpkin spice latte

The autumnal equinox is September 22nd, which means it's finally ok to indulge in your PSL addiction. Since its release in 2003, more than 200 million of the spicy drinks have been sold.

How to open a Swell Investing Account

Setting up a Swell Investing account is super simple. You just need some basic info that you’ve probably got memorized. We’ll also ask you a few questions about your finances so that we can serve you best.

Live your best financial life in 5 steps

A survey from GoBankingRates found that one in three Americans has no money saved for retirement. With fewer and fewer companies offering pensions to employees, the need to save for retirement has become even more crucial.

Which IRA is right for you?

What makes IRAs so magical? They allow you to maximize the benefits of a retirement savings account without having to invest as an employee at a corporation, as you would with a 401(k).

Your financial plate

Dave Fanger, Chartered Financial Analyst and Swell's CEO and founder, opens up about creating a healthy, balanced "financial plate." Here are the four best ways to divvy up your money

GoPro makes your movie dreams come true

GoPro was started in 2004 by Nick Woodman, a surfer looking for a better way to film his adventures. At the time, the only way to film someone surfing was to shoot video from the shore or with an expensive hand-held grip.

What's really in your fund?

Log into your online portal for your retirement account. If you poke around, you should be able to locate the tickers for the funds you invest in. A “ticker” is a five letter code for mutual funds, and a three or four letter code for ETFs.

The Current

STORIES THAT MAKE YOU A MORE INFORMED INVESTOR