Research Project – Call for volunteers
At Ethical Futures we see it as part of our mission to help further knowledge and research about ethical and responsible investing.
Last year, we ran an internship and Eve, with your help, produced an excellent survey that was well received by many firms active in the sector. This year, we have our own ‘in-house’ student. Alan Whittle is one of our business associates who helps us with business and compliance services.
Alan outlines his project below;
Thank you for expressing an interest in my research.
I am currently studying for a MSc in Financial Planning and Business Management with Manchester Metropolitan University, a key part of which is the production of some original research in my chosen field. After careful consideration, I have chosen to use this opportunity to explore the idea of investments as an expression of individual personality. The provisional title of my dissertation is:
Social and Expressive Utility: An evaluation of investor motivation.
To widen my research, I am seeking to undertake interviews with investors and their advisers to help me develop my understanding of how investments allow people to express themselves.
I am hoping that interviews can take place from now until the end of August 2020. Given the current unprecedented situation, social distancing measures will be followed, and I would therefore like to conduct any interviews remotely via a video call. This would allow participation from the comfort of your own home with, I hope, minimal inconvenience.
If you are interested in participating in this research, I would be grateful if you could contact me at ALAN.WHITTLE@stu.mmu.ac.uk and I will provide you with further details.
A full Participant Information Sheet is included for your reference and a Consent Form will follow on receipt of your confirmation that you wish to participate in the research.
Should you choose to forward this on to anyone else you think might want to participate in this research, I have penned a short note below to give a little more information on who I am:
I am a Chartered Financial Planner and Fellow of the Personal Finance Society and have worked in and around financial services for most of the past 20 years (with some time off to work on crofting policy for the Scottish Government and to help deliver return to work programmes for a welfare-to work company). If you would like to see my professional profile on LinkedIn you can find this here. When I am not at work, I might be found picking a banjo or digging at my allotment and, under more clement circumstances, out in the hills.
Please feel free to forward this on to any colleagues or clients, friends and family whom you think might be interested in contributing.
It is important to take professional advice before making any decision relating to your personal finances. Information within this article does not provide individual tailored investment advice and is for guidance only. We cannot assume legal liability for any errors or omissions it might contain. Ethical Futures llp is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.