Ellen Kennedy
Ellen writes about environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing, as well as sustainability in personal finance. She has worked on sustainable investing for over 20 years. Ellen was an ESG manager and analyst at Calvert Investments, focusing on climate change, water, and consumer staples. She served on the sustainability councils of several Fortune 500 companies, led corporate engagements, and filed shareholder proposals. She also alerted investors to emerging issues at the time, such as deforestation from palm oil plantations, and the use of toxic chemicals in consumer products. As a consultant, Ellen advised start-up funds and non-profit groups on how to best measure sustainable investments for impact. Before that, Ellen was a program officer for Winrock International, managing loans to alternative energy projects in Latin America. Ellen also directed a program that provided scholarships in agricultural science to women in Angola.
Ellen earned a master’s from the University of California Berkeley in international relations and Latin America. Her research focused on the role of migrants’ remittances on local economic development in rural Mexico. Ellen earned a B.A. in Philosophy and Spanish from Haverford College. She is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese.
Latest articles by Ellen Kennedy
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ChatGPT and Job Security: Is AI Coming for Your Job?
When it comes to ChatGPT and job security there are a handful of things to know - and strategies to follow.
By Ellen Kennedy • Published
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Chase Launches $1K Bonus Offer For Sapphire Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card recently launched a jaw-dropping deal for new customers.
By Ellen Kennedy • Published
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Save Money With Solar Energy – Without Changing Your Roof
Learn more about community solar, projects that help save money with solar energy.
By Ellen Kennedy • Published
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What is a Good Credit Score?
Having a good credit score can save you hundreds, even thousands of dollars on credit cards, mortgages and other loans.
By Ellen Kennedy • Last updated
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New Way To See Free Credit Scores From FICO
FICO announced a new way you can now sign up for free credit scores.
By Ellen Kennedy • Published
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5 Great Places to Buy a Vacation Home
With remote work on the rise, more people are looking for a permanent getaway.
By Ellen Kennedy • Published
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Do Green Credit Cards Deliver?
Eco-friendly, or green credit cards may appeal to consumers, but be sure to avoid those that are just hype.
By Ellen Kennedy • Last updated
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How to Get Approved for a Credit Card You Want
Get approved for a credit card before you apply, or at least increase your odds of approval.
By Ellen Kennedy • Published
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How to Pay off Credit Card Debt
Making Your Money Last Keep up with credit card bills using these tried-and-true strategies.
By Ellen Kennedy • Published
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What is ESG?
ESG means investing in a way that considers a company’s environmental, social, and governance profile. But will ESG help you meet your investment goals and deliver impact?
By Ellen Kennedy • Published
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How To Get a Credit Card with Bad Credit
Got bad credit? You can still qualify for some credit cards; just be sure you do your research first.
By Ellen Kennedy • Last updated
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How to Choose a Credit Card for You
Choose a credit card to improve your credit score, save money, or earn rewards; but don’t get in over your head.
By Ellen Kennedy • Last updated
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This New Sustainable ETF’s Pitch? Give Back Profits.
investing Newday’s ETF partners with UNICEF and other groups.
By Ellen Kennedy • Published
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The White House Touts A Digital Dollar: What Does That Mean?
cryptocurrency A CBDC, or Central Bank Digital Currency, is a step closer in the U.S., but going digital will take years.
By Ellen Kennedy • Published
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What Ethereum's 'Merge’ Means for You, the Market, and the Climate
cryptocurrency The "Merge" seems to have worked. What you need to know about crypto's biggest story of 2022.
By Rodrigo Sermeño • Published
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How to Invest $1,000: Loan to Kiva
Smart Buying What could be better than donating to a good cause? Making that donation a loan and recycling it, re-investing after each repayment.
By Ellen Kennedy • Published
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The ESG Investing Backlash
ESG Is sustainable investing helping investors avoid ESG risk, or is it designed to advance a “woke” agenda?
By Ellen Kennedy • Published
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3 Sustainable Fashion Stocks to Buy Now
investing The apparel industry has a rough record on environmental, social and governance issues, but these firms are trying harder.
By Ellen Kennedy • Published
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How Senate Breakthrough on Climate Could Benefit ESG Investors
ESG Portions of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 have the promise of more revenue and tax credits for companies making products that help fight climate change.
By Ellen Kennedy • Published
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Do You Have Guns in Your Funds?
ESG Investors looking to make changes amid gun violence can easily divest from gun stocks ... though it's trickier if they own them through funds.
By Ellen Kennedy • Published
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New ESG Fund from Engine No. 1 Leans on Activism
ESG The Engine No. 1 Transform Climate ETF (NETZ) offers an approach to sustainable investing that includes – wait for it – oil and gas companies.
By Ellen Kennedy • Published
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McDonald's (MCD) Stock: Tasty, Empty Calories
Investing for Income For some, ESG challenges such as climate change and animal welfare offset the durability and dividends of MCD shares.
By Ellen Kennedy • Published
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5 ESG Stocks to Buy for Earth Day 2022
ESG We explore five highly rated ESG-friendly stocks that act as standouts in five key environmental areas.
By Ellen Kennedy • Published
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3 Ways Climate Change Disclosures Would Benefit Investors
ESG Publicly traded companies might soon have to report how they manage climate risk – and their own greenhouse gas emissions.
By Ellen Kennedy • Published