Ultimately, it’s the collaboration between the investor and the investment that generates mutual success. This kind of investing fills the gap that banks are leaving wide open, diversifies clients’ portfolios and, in these cases, generates a positive social and ecological impact linked to financial success.

Can you make bigger profits and build a better world? In the 21st century, integrating sustainability—and quantifying its value to business and society—can enhance shareholder returns and reduce volatility in portfolios (which was not the case in 20th century socially responsible investing).

From entrepreneurial founders and CEOs to thought leaders and academics, a run through this editorial package offers superb examples of how to design and measure the shift towards a more sustainable brand and enterprise – and discover hidden sources of potential revenue, profit and shareholder value. 

Read the entire series here and share your feedback or insights on any of the articles you find by commenting here and by continuing to use the hashtag #newmetrics on Twitter and across all social media platforms.

What is your organization’s most important asset? CEOs often respond that the organization’s people are its greatest asset. But if this is true, where are people accounted for in the financial statements? Today, people are generally classified as expenses on the income statement and liabilities on the balance sheet — not as an investable asset. Thus, when CEOs seek to increase profit, they cut costs — like people — rather than investing in assets — like people — that can appreciate. (Co-authored with Tom Bowmer of HIP Investor Inc.)

* Magnet Investing Radio Show with Jordan Kimmel - ”Introducing the New Fundamentals of Investing,” interview with R. Paul Herman (about 30 minutes)

* CNN Radio Dallas “Ahead of the Curve” with Vince Rowe – Interview with R. Paul Herman  – “The HIP Investor, Make Bigger Profits by Building a Better World” (about 50 minutes)

* InvestoRadio – DonMcDonald and Tom Cock help investors navigate the world of finance. (about 45 minutes; also available on iTunes; recorded June 24)

* VoiceAmericaBusiness - The Money Answers Show with Jordan Goodman interviews HIP CEO and author R. Paul Herman. (About 55 minutes.)

* Power Trading Radio – Merlin Rothfeld interviews the HIP book author R. Paul Herman. (About 10 minutes; available on iTunes; scroll down to the April 29, 2010 segment.)

* Gabriel Wisdom - Business Talk Radio Network radio host and investment adviser Gabe Wisdom interviews the HIP CEO. (About a 10 minute interview; fast-forward to, or click the audio player to, about the 30th minute.)

How Can You Be a Leading Impact Investor – and More HIP

• Integrate “impact” as a fundamental criterion in your portfolio.
• Measure that impact now and over time – discover your HIP Score.
• Seek out sustainable investments in all asset classes of your portfolio, including your bank – use the HIP Check.
• Allocate funds to investments that deliver quantifiable impact and profit.
• Make it public by making the Investing Pledge.

Can Gordon Gekko’s Greed Be Good ?
Yes, if it’s HIP

By R. Paul Herman

“Greed, for lack of a better word, is good,” the mythic Gordon Gekko pronounced in the 1987 hit Wall Street. Michael Douglas seared those words into our collective conscious for more than two decades – yet today many forward-thinking investors and leading executives are questioning the dark consequences of that theme, given the 2008 meltdown and subsequent Great Recession.

A new crop of business strategies, product innovations and investment approaches are emerging to show that firms can be more profitable and deliver for shareholders when they balance unbridled short-term greed with the opportunity to do more good for all of society. By solving seemingly intractable long-term societal needs with today’s powerful levers of business and investing, these leaders are paving the way to a better world and potentially bigger profits.

READ the full feature on on REUTERS financial news network:
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUS282386187320100924

…or read the FULL feature on Matter Network, for cleantech news and green investing:
http://featured.matternetwork.com/2010/9/gordon-gekko-green-good-greedy.cfm

• Retailer – Sustainability Faceoff: Walmart vs. Target
• Oil Company – Sustainability Faceoff: Chevron vs. ExxonMobil
• Telecom – Sustainability Faceoff: Verizon vs. Sprint
• Beverage – Sustainability Faceoff: Coca-Cola vs. PepsiCo
• Food chain – Sustainability Faceoff: McDonald’s vs. Starbucks
• Energy – Sustainability Faceoff: Microsoft vs. Apple
• Bank – Sustainability Faceoff: JP Morgan Chase vs. Bank of America
• Defense – Sustainability Faceoff: Raytheon vs. Lockheed Martin
• Personal Care Products – Sustainability Faceoff: Procter & Gamble vs. Colgate-Palmolive
• Materials – Sustainability Faceoff: Dow vs. DuPont

NOTE: Sustainability statistics are a mix of 2007, 2008 and 2009 data (since books quote historical information). Check each company’s website for the latest info. The HIP approach is intended as a tool to help you interpret the data.

Read how to improve your company’s initiatives for higher human impact and profit – or gain plus good – here:

* Protecting Profits in a Water Scarce World – part 1 and part 2

* Innovators Creating Cash from Carbon Challenges: saving energy, pollution and money at the same time.

* New Profits from Non Profits? Partnerships among charities, companies and investors create value.

* Trust But Verify - A New Mantra for Company Growth

Meet the co-authors at SustainableBrands 2010 conference in Monterey, June 7-10, 2010.