BlackRock ESG Multi-Asset Moderate Portfolio UCITS ETF (Acc) - MAMG - Share chat

Hello!

Blackrock have recently launched a range of multi-asset ETFs similar to Vanguard’s popular Lifestrategy range, but in ETF format with some active tilting using ESG underlying funds (https://portfolio-adviser.com/blackrock-unveils-multi-asset-esg-range/). I wonder if it might be possible to bring the GBP accumulating versions to Freetrade?

These would be:
BlackRock ESG Multi-Asset Growth Portfolio UCITS ETF (MAGG) Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) | iShares UK – BlackRock
BlackRock ESG Multi-Asset Moderate Portfolio UCITS ETF (MAMG) Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) | iShares UK – BlackRock
BlackRock ESG Multi-Asset Conservative Portfolio UCITS ETF (MACG) Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) | iShares UK – BlackRock

I currently have a freetrade GIA that I use for ‘playing around’ but I am mainly a passive investor, I am looking to move my ISA soon and would love to be able to use these as a lazy, ESG alternative to Vanguard. With a dearth of broad ESG bond ETFs on freetrade, this would be a big pull for me as a cheap, SRI ‘set and forget’ option rather than an ESG equity ETF and trying to find the right bond fund. I’d probably move my ISA over shortly after they became available - in the hope of automated regular contributions later.

Thoughts? I am led to believe that @Viktor is easily persuaded by ESG ETFs :slight_smile:

Thanks

A plus from me. I could see these potentially being attractive to ISA and SIPP holders

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So what exactly is ESG, and why is it good?

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As for why is it good, it’s personal preference and obviously comes in many different forms - in passive funds it’s usually just screening out certain businesses either based on individual companies ‘scores’ or removing whole sectors (say arms or oil). In the case of the iShares funds I happen to quite like them as the screen they use broadly meets what I want it to, but others are available.

Edit, to add, with iShares there’s three main types of ESG funds - screened, enhanced and SRI (Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) | iShares UK – BlackRock). These multi-asset ETFs I believe use a combination of these different approaches in the underlying funds

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Its a way of attempting to quantify the environmental, social, and governance impacts of a company

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Oh interesting - so a way for people to invest ‘ethically’ as well then, depending on what your ethical outlook is…

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indeed! It’s also a way to screen out the additional risk inherent in companies with poor governance etc. Some (including Blackrock Subscribe to read | Financial Times) argue that ESG investments will outperform in the future and that climate change will be a huge market risk to non-ESG companies, but who knows performance-wise. It’s certainly a way to put my money where my mouth is ethics-wise! But as you say, it does depend on your ethical outlook - if you want to be precise you probably need to actively invest, as you may not agree with the screens or scoring imposed in a certain passive fund

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Yeah, at the end of the day it always comes down to your own research. What of Shell? Probably a poorer hit on the environmental side, but they are a pretty large renewables company as well. Some ethics are subjective, but its a pretty decent tool.

Its good to see blackrock covering a few different ESG options.

This looks excellent, exactly what I’m looking for my regular investing - a responsible hedge against my poor individual stock picking!

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