As financial planners, you are tasked with helping your clients plan for the many elements that erode their wealth, such as inflation, longevity, taxes, and health care. Unfortunately, many haven’t given climate change a second thought. Let me talk you through four assumptions in cashflow modelling that are likely to be impacted by climate change.
Higher costs
First comes assumptions around inflation. Climate change itself will put pressure on raw materials, as will our response to the crisis: higher demand for low carbon technology, quick spending to meet targets, skilled individual shortage etc. This all creates significant inflationary pressure, which may not be captured by your current long-term view.
Investment returns
Next is the assumptions about stable global growth rates and expected returns from investments given a risk profile. Climate change is likely to dramatically shift risks and opportunities across the world, including making big pockets of the economy lose competitiveness and permanent value through stranded fossil fuel assets or high-polluting business models. Mainstream investment following market benchmarks does not appear to be pricing in these risks or opportunities correctly and this is unlikely to be in the client’s long-term benefit.
Physical risks to property
We are already witnessing the impacts of climate change in more frequent extreme weather conditions, flooding and fires. In this new world, clients’ property value may also need to be assessed against these physical impacts of climate change and depending on location, your cash flow modelling may need to integrate rising insurance costs for example or in more extreme cases the need for a new home.
Health effects
Lastly, if we surpass our climate targets significantly, there will be a shock to all systems, and the physical risks to your client’s health may fully undermine “life planning” as we know it now. Passing wealth onto the next generation, while often a key aim, will be a challenge if there is no world to pass it into.
Thinking ahead
For these reasons, 21st-century financial blueprints should include provisions for climate change. There are ways you can start act to prepare now.
Savvy planners will incorporate any additional climate-related cost-of-living spikes into their cash flow forecasting and help clients find ways to safeguard their wealth.
When it comes to investments, establish whether all your investment managers are integrating climate related risks and opportunities into their decision making and portfolio management.
As you know, all EQ’s strategies are managed to remain future-oriented. Additionally, our client reporting demonstrates that we deliver on our objectives, including carbon risk management. Finally, keep an eye out for our carbon calculator, currently in development which will be released very soon.
Climate change will impact us all and may afford opportunities for forward-thinking planners to set themselves apart.