This is the first report in a series of 3 on Environmental, Social and Governance ("ESG") in wealth management, and comes after the video introduction: ESG Initiatives: A Catalyst for Change .

ESG considerations are significant drivers to wealth managers' propositions. This report will highlight key trends, shifts, and opportunities in the ESG market. Celent will then discuss the implications of these trends for wealth managers, and how technology can solve for challenges posed by ESG-driven initiatives.

• This report highlights key ESG trends, shifts, and opportunities for wealth managers.
• ESG investing and initiatives are growing significantly across the world
• There is a shift in investment strategy from screening and exclusion to impact and thematic investments, and an increasing individualization of E,S, and G
• Legislation is gaining traction across the world, however; the industry is indisputably challenging to regulate
• Investing within an ESG framework is a rapidly growing segment, however; critics claim that the catch-all “ESG” acronym is becoming less and less meaningful
• Data challenges, such as subjectivity, are the cornerstone to issues in ESG adoption and acceptance rates
• The industry must reconcile the damaging effects of “greenwashing” and determine how they can deploy scalable technology solutions via build versus buy approaches to create more objectively, data-driven ESG customizable portfolios and solutions

Upcoming reports:

It's Not Easy Being Green: Developing the Optimal ESG Portfolio Engine for Advisors and Clients

Smoke and Mirrors? Solving ESG Data Challenges through Technology: A Vendor Assessment