NEI Investments

Office address: 151 Yonge Street, Suite 1200 Toronto, ON M5C 2W7
Website: www.neiinvestments.com
Year established: 1986
Company type: asset management
Employees: 51 to 200
Expertise: responsible investing, ethical investing, ESG, wealth management, mutual funds
Parent company: Aviso Wealth
CEO and key people: John Bai, SVP and CIO
Financing status: corporate backed or acquired

NEI Investments is a Canadian asset manager with expertise in responsible investing. It has $7 trillion in total assets under management. NEI Investments is a wholly owned subsidiary of Aviso Wealth, one of the largest financial services companies in Canada.

History of NEI Investments

NEI Investments was previously known as Ethical Funds. The firm first made an impact when it launched the first responsible investment fund in Canada in 1986.

Other milestones in responsible investing soon came after. In 1989, Ethical Funds became a founding member of the Social Investment Organization, now known as the Responsible Investment Association.

In 2006, the firm became a signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment.

When Ethical Funds merged with Northwest Funds in 2008, NEI Investments was born. Ten years later, NEI became part of Aviso Wealth, one of Canada’s leading wealth management companies.

In 2021, NEI’s Environmental Leaders Fund was named a 5-Star ESG Fund by Wealth Professional.

Products and Services of NEI Investments

Here are some of the investment products that NEI offers:

  • equity funds
  • fixed income funds
  • balanced funds
  • multi-asset solutions
  • NEI Impact Portfolios

NEI’s products focus on responsible investing and impact investing.

Culture at NEI Investments

NEI is committed to helping investors grow their finances in a responsible, sustainable way. It has become a leading voice in responsible investing, offering education and training to investors and financial advisors.

NEI forges strong partnerships with financial advisors to make their investment products accessible to Canadians throughout the country. NEI organizes webinars and events for financial advisors to learn and gain insights into the practice of responsible investing.

About NEI Investments SVP and CIO John Bai

John Bai joined NEI Investments in 2019 as its SVP and CIO. He brings over 25 years of experience to the role, having assumed leadership roles in financial services companies such as Merrill Lynch, TD Waterhouse, and Scotiabank. He has been invited as resource speaker on responsible investing on BNN Bloomberg and Wealth Professional.

Bai has earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Finance and Economics from the University of Toronto. He is also a CFA Charterholder.

Future at NEI Investments

NEI Investments remains a leader in responsible investing. It continues to “walk the talk,” promoting responsible investing and aligning its products and practices with that principle. It has $7 trillion in assets under management and has earned accolades, receiving “exceptionally high marks” in the latest assessment report under the Principles for Responsible Investment. Proof that sustainability and profitability can work together.

Responsible Investing or investing responsibly?

Why big 'R', big 'I' Responsible Investing should give way to investing responsibly to maximize investor benefits in a changing world

Responsible investing remains strong in Canada but there are concerns

Growth expectations have moderated over issues such as greenwashing and data quality

NEI Investments boosts impact offering with new funds

The firm has also announced some changes to existing funds including revised asset mixes

NEI reveals its key themes for corporate discussion in 2023

Active ownership program can have an impact, insists firm

Invesco Canada introduces Series of Dividend Aristocrats ETFs

Five new ETFs seeks to give investors exposure to reliable dividends with an ESG overlay

Aviso Wealth and CapIntel establish new strategic relationship

Credit union advisors will be given access to CapIntel's exclusive technology through Aviso Wealth

Harbourfront Wealth welcomes SVP of Corporate Development

Coby Bucci, one of Canada's early ESG analysts, tapped to improve advisor-business experience and procedures for ethical investment

NEI Investments and Invesco Canada enter strategic collaboration

Partnership to provide a portfolio of optimized ESG products and ESG investment expertise

For CapIntel, latest partnership is a learning opportunity

CEO James Rockwood says collaboration with Canadian ESG leader NEI Investments builds on previous successes

The pressure’s on for advisors in responsible investing space

Industry leader weighs in on challenges, and why recent setbacks in classifying ESG funds may be for the best