In this episode, John McNicholas sits down with Gavin Francis, founder of Worthstone and a leading advocate for sustainable and impact investing in the UK. Together, they discuss what it really means to invest sustainably, the aspects of funds that are doing the right things for the planet, and how to avoid the buzzwords and glossy brochures.

They explore how individual investors can align their money with their values, the difference between “doing less harm” and “doing measurable good,” and why terms like “impact” and “additionality” matter. Gavin shares real-world examples of companies making a difference, explains how regulation is catching up with investor intent, and offers honest insight into the challenges of measuring sustainability in a meaningful way.

If you're committed to ESG investing or curious about what it all means, this conversation will help you decide where your money goes to make the biggest impact to your portfolio and the planet.

Main Topics:

1. What Sustainable and Impact Investing Really Mean: Gavin Francis breaks down the core concepts—intentionality, additionality, and impact—and explains how these differ from traditional ESG labels.
2. How to Tell if a Sustainable Investment Is Making a Real Difference: John and Gavin discuss the importance of measurable outcomes, the challenges of greenwashing, and how investors can look beyond marketing to assess true impact.
3. Balancing Morals and Money: Can You Do Both?: The conversation explores how sustainable investing isn't just about values—it can also be about smart economics and long-term resilience.
4. Investor Psychology and Behaviour in Sustainable Markets: They examine how emotions, expectations, and FOMO (fear of missing out) influence decisions—and why time in the market still matters more than timing it.
5. Why Financial Advisers Play a Key Role—and Why Many Are Hesitant: Gavin reflects on the advice gap, why some advisers are slow to adopt sustainable strategies, and how client interest may actually be outpacing adviser confidence.

Worthstone Website: https://worthstone.co.uk/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavin-francis-worthstone/

Worthstone is independent of Everlake and the views and opinions expressed by Worthstone are not necessarily the views and opinions of Everlake.

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This podcast is intended for information and educational purposes only and does not represent a specific recommendation or advice for an individual to follow. Speak to your financial adviser, in the context of your own personal circumstances, prior to making any financial or investment decisions.