Financial advisor-investor relationship. CONSOB Mirroring survey on sustainability and investments

The integration of the ESG factors (Environment, Social, Governance) in the financial advice process is among the most important goals of the Action Plan on Financing Sustainable Growth launched by the European Commission in 2018. The incorporation of sustainability rests on the assumption, supported by evidence and empirical research, that the financial advisor can play a key role in informing and promoting investors' interest in sustainable and responsible investments. It is therefore useful to investigate whether the financial advisor-investor relationship may lead to a higher consideration of the ESG factors in the individuals’ investment process by leveraging on the communication between the parties involved. The present Report pursues this objective by comparing investors' opinions on responsible investment products with advisors’ perceptions of their clients’ preferences. Building on the answers to a double interview (so-called mirroring survey), the Report detects some areas for improvement also thanks to a matching indicator, i.e. a measure of the alignment between investors’ statements and professionals’ perceptions.