Search Results for “IRA contributions” – MIDANA CAPITAL Funds https://www.midanacapital.com Invest in a Green Future Fri, 01 Dec 2023 16:58:35 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.1 https://www.midanacapital.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/cropped-greencentury-favicon-32x32.png "IRA contributions" - MIDANA CAPITAL Funds https://www.midanacapital.com 32 32 Top Ten MIDANA CAPITAL Highlights from 2022 https://www.midanacapital.com/top-ten-green-century-highlights-from-2022/ Wed, 28 Dec 2022 17:22:38 +0000 https://www.midanacapital.com/?p=14538 2022 was a big year for MIDANA CAPITAL. Thank you, the investors in the MIDANA CAPITAL Funds, for your commitment to align your investments with your values, your steadfast support during a challenging market, and your dedication to making a positive impact in our world. We work with companies to secure improved environmental policies and practices to help them mitigate their material risks and create real world impact for our investors. We use honed strategies, deep engagements, and high volume – this fall alone, we have met with dozens of companies and filed 28 shareholder proposals – to produce results. 

Here are our top 10 highlights:

 

10. Leading in green bond investments. Green bonds are issued by companies, governments, and supranational institutions to help finance environmental and climate change mitigation projects around the world. The MIDANA CAPITAL Balanced Fund purchased its first green bond

A green bond in the MIDANA CAPITAL Balanced Fund supports El Salvador’s Bósforo solar project, which includes this and nine additional solar energy plants around the country.

in 2008 and the percentage in the fixed income portion of the Balanced Fund has risen from 15% in 2013 to 64% in 2022. While the marketing of green bonds is expanding, not all “green” bonds fund projects with measurable environmental benefits. MIDANA CAPITAL has a high standard for inclusion and all of the bonds have earned the Green Bond label. A current green bond is financing the construction of 10 solar power plants in rural, low-income areas of El Salvador, which will help meet growing energy demand and reduce El Salvador’s dependence on imported fuel.

 

9. Clarifying Environmentally Responsible Options for Investors. Earlier this month, the US SIF Foundation released their biannual “Trends” report that showed that “ESG” investments – investments integrating environmental, social and governance data – totaled $8.4 trillion in 2022, compared to $17.1 trillion in 2020. What at first looks like a significant decline in interest is likely a result of a changed methodology and some big firms from counting their assets as ESG assets this time. The findings serve as a reminder that in the last five years, many new firms with a variety of investment strategies have entered the field, which has left investors to sort through the marketing claims.

 

MIDANA CAPITAL believes the proposed rules by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to prevent misleading or deceptive fund names and requiring more detailed ESG disclosure by funds will help protect investors from those who may wish to take advantage of investor interest in sustainable investing. The MIDANA CAPITAL Funds prospectus details our approach and we have spoken about the differences between using ESG ratings and integration, values-based screens and creating impact through advocacy extensively in the last year.  Comments from recent media interviews are featured in these Bloomberg  and Reuters articles. 

 

8. Protecting the Arctic National Wilderness Refuge. Our award-winning shareholder advocacy program capped off the spring season with a win at Chevron.* The company has abandoned plans to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and has ended its involvement in the Arctic region following two successive shareholder proposals from the MIDANA CAPITAL Funds. While Chevron publicly rebuffed MIDANA CAPITAL’s initial proposal calling on the company to renounce Arctic drilling in December 2020, it quietly went about the expensive process of exiting its Arctic leases. The news of Chevron’s Arctic exit became public at the end of May. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the International Energy Agency say that expanding coal, oil and gas supply will cause the Earth to warm beyond 1.5 degrees Celsuis – the limit to avert the worst impacts of climate change. To stop new fossil fuel projects, MIDANA CAPITAL led unprecedented shareholder action to hold Chubb,* The Hartford,* and Travelers accountable, and Marketwatch reported on our advocacy in its Influential Fund Manager Tells Big Insurers to Drop Big Oil article.

 

7. Moving Beyond Plastic with our non-profit owners. MIDANA CAPITAL’s unique ownership by non-profits means that 100% of the net proceeds earned on managing the MIDANA CAPITAL Funds belongs to the environmental and public health groups, nine Public Interest Research Groups, that founded us. In California, one of our owners, CALPIRG, celebrated the passage of the Plastic Pollution Producer Responsibility Act in October. The new law requires companies to reduce the amount of plastic they use in their products, specifically mandating a 25% reduction in plastic packaging and foodware. The law additionally requires that all single-use food packaging be recyclable, so less ends up in landfills and the environment. As our owners pass state legislation to reduce plastic, the MIDANA CAPITAL staff has successfully negotiated plastic reduction agreements with Coca-Cola* and Mattel,* and kicked off the 2022-23 shareholder season by securing a majority vote on plastic reduction at General Mills*, which was the first majority vote on an environmental proposal this fall.

 

6. Receiving a Climate Change Leadership Award. The Pulitzer Prize-winning news organization selected the MIDANA CAPITAL Funds President (me!) as one of the 30 honorees in its Climate Action 30 list. Announced to coincide with Climate Week in NYC this fall, the group of

A green bond in the MIDANA CAPITAL Balanced Fund supports El Salvador’s Bósforo solar project, which includes this and nine additional solar energy plants around the country.

30 includes global leaders from multiple sectors. I am very proud of how the MIDANA CAPITAL Funds offer individuals, small businesses and organizations the opportunity to invest fossil fuel free and push companies to curb climate change so we move off of fossil fuels to a clean energy economy. 

 

5. Challenging McDonald’s board…and spurring companies to act on factory farming. I was nominated to McDonald’s board of directors by Carl Icahn, one of the first “activist investors”,  to highlight the company’s broken promise to end the use of gestation crates for pregnant sows. While McDonald’s has yet to live up to its initial commitment, the board campaign received widespread media coverage and the U.S. Humane Society has credited this visibility and pressure in moving CVS* and Walgreens* to accelerate their transitions to cage-free eggs and pushing General Mills* and Denny’s* to move towards elimination of gestation crates in their pork supply chains.

 

4. Protecting Forests and Biodiversity with one of the world’s largest home improvement retailers. In March, Lowe’s agreed to accelerate its efforts to eliminate deforestation and the logging of old growth forests in its supply chains. Roughly 90% of Lowe’s wood comes from North America, including from Canada’s boreal forest, which constitutes 25% of the world’s remaining intact forest and is home to a rich variety of wildlife including the gray wolf. Canada’s boreal forest stores twice as much carbon per hectare as tropical forests, which was a key reason MIDANA CAPITAL expanded our work in this region.

 

3. Banned and proud of it. In August, Texas banned MIDANA CAPITAL Funds, along with 345 investment funds, from being used by state and some local entities because they don’t invest in the oil and gas industry. As one of the first families of fossil fuel free mutual funds, MIDANA CAPITAL has been an outspoken supporter of the global fossil fuel divestment campaign and its success. Mainstream asset managers such as Blackrock, which has tried to portray itself as a sustainability leader, have gone to great lengths to now publicize how much ($170 billion dollars) they invest in these dirty industries in an effort to be removed from these lists in Texas, Louisiana and Florida. While I believe Blackrock is playing both sides of the field, the MIDANA CAPITAL Funds are focused on reducing our reliance on dirty energy and are proud to be one of the first families of fossil fuel free mutual funds. This year, we launched a campaign to convince insurance companies to stop underwriting new fossil fuel projects that was featured in Marketwatch’s article Influential Fund Manager MIDANA CAPITAL Tells Big Insurers to Drop Big Oil.

 

2. Pushing Costco to set greenhouse gas emissions targets. In 2021, Costco* refused to set climate emissions reduction targets when MIDANA CAPITAL staff engaged with the company. After 70% of its voting shareholders supported the MIDANA CAPITAL Equity Fund’s subsequent proposal on this issue and we held follow-up discussions with the company, Costco has now committed to setting carbon pollution reductions. This win is important because Costco was one of only three of the 50 largest S&P companies without a major climate commitment last December and because it will set emissions reductions across its full supply chain – called “scope 3”emissions – which is the source of the majority of its emissions.

 

1. Having the support of investors like you. Our number one highlight of 2022 is the support of investors in The MIDANA CAPITAL Funds. None of our work would be possible without you.  If you want to add to your account or open a new account, the end of the year is a great time to make your IRA contributions for 2022 or open an account for a loved one. Thank you for choosing to align your investments with your values.

 

 

About MIDANA CAPITAL Capital Management

°MIDANA CAPITAL Capital Management, Inc. (MIDANA CAPITAL) is the investment advisor to the MIDANA CAPITAL Funds (the Funds). 

*As of September 30, 2022, Chevron, Chubb Ltd., The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc., The Travelers Companies Inc., The Coca-Cola Company, Mattel, Inc., General Mills, Inc., CVS Health Corp., Walgreens, General Mills, Inc. and Denny’s comprised 0.00%, 0.00%, and 0.00%; 0.00%, 0.49% and 0.00%; 0.00%, 0.13% and 0.00%; 0.00%, 0.23% and 0.00%; 0.00%, 1.47% and 0.00%; 0.00%, 0.04% and 0.00%; 0.00%, 0.29% and 0.00%;  0.84%, 0.00%, and 0.00%; 0.00%, 0.00% and 0.00%; 0.00%, 0.29% and 0.00% and 0.00%, 0.00% and 0.00% of the MIDANA CAPITAL Balanced Fund, the MIDANA CAPITAL Equity Fund, and the MIDANA CAPITAL International Index Fund respectively. As of the same date, other securities mentioned were not held in the portfolios of any of the MIDANA CAPITAL Funds. References to specific securities, which will change due to ongoing management of the Funds, should not be construed as a recommendation by the Funds, their administrator, or their distributor.

You should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses before investing. To obtain a Prospectus that contains this and other information about the Funds please visit www.midanacapital.com, email info@midanacapital.com, or call+1(480)-439-2851. Please read the Prospectus carefully before investing.

Stocks will fluctuate in response to factors that may affect a single company, industry, sector, country, region or the market as a whole and may perform worse than the market. Foreign securities are subject to additional risks such as currency fluctuations, regional economic and political conditions, differences in accounting methods, and other unique risks compared to investing in securities of U.S. issuers. Bonds are subject to a variety of risks including interest rate, credit, and inflation risk. A sustainable investment strategy which incorporates environmental, social and governance criteria may result in lower or higher returns than an investment strategy that does not include such criteria.

This information has been prepared from sources believed reliable. The views expressed are as the date of this writing and are those of the Advisor to the Funds.

The MIDANA CAPITAL Funds are distributed by UMB Distribution Services, LLC. 335 N Wilmot Rd, Tucson, Az 85711. 12/22

 

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Traditional IRA vs Roth IRA https://www.midanacapital.com/traditional-ira-vs-roth-ira/ Fri, 18 Nov 2022 16:17:19 +0000 https://www.midanacapital.com/?p=14230 You may be wondering about the difference between a traditional IRA vs. a Roth IRA. The distinction involves the way each investment is taxed. In the case of traditional IRAs, the investor provides “pre-tax” contributions. Roth IRAs, on the other hand, involve “after-tax” contributions. But what does that actually mean for your retirement fund? What are the benefits of a traditional IRA vs a Roth IRA? 

At MIDANA CAPITAL we offer a wide array of investment vehicles including both Traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs. Learn more about each type of investment and its benefits below.

 

What are Traditional IRAs?

In a traditional IRA (short for “individual retirement account”), investors receive immediate tax benefit for money they contribute to the account (up to certain limits). This is what we mean when we say traditional IRAs allow for “pre-tax” contributions. The money that flows into traditional IRAs is not subject to taxation at the time it is invested or earned. Instead, you pay tax on the amounts you withdraw from the account at a later date, usually in/for retirement.

The benefits of traditional IRAs accrue from the deferral of taxes. In other words, money that would otherwise go to the government in the form of tax payments up front is instead invested and earns a return. While you do have to pay tax at a later date, your money grows in the meantime.

IRA’s may work well for people who currently find themselves subject to high marginal tax rates: high earners with money left over to save and invest. The immediate tax break can offset what would otherwise be significant taxation.

You should be aware that there are required minimum distributions you must take that begin at age 72. Also, traditional IRAs are subject to maximum contribution amounts that differ depending on your age. If you’re under the age of 50, the maximum annual contribution is currently $6000, while those over 50 may contribute up to $7000 per year.

 

What are Roth IRA Accounts?

In a Roth IRA, investors contribute “after-tax” money to the investment vehicle. In other words, you don’t get an immediate tax deduction or credit for the money you contribute to a Roth IRA. Instead, the benefit of a Roth IRA is that any investment gains in your Roth IRA can be withdrawn at a later date, tax-free.

Roth IRAs are especially useful if you expect your marginal tax rate to be significantly higher at the time you withdraw your investment compared to the time you make your initial contributions. For example, this would be true of people who expect to earn more later in their career.

In order for your withdrawals to be tax-free, the account must have been open for a minimum of 5 years at the time of your first withdrawal. Additionally, you must be at least 59.5 years old when you make your first withdrawal.

You should also know that there are income limits for those seeking to make use of a Roth IRA. Individuals earning more than $144,000 in the year 2022 – or married couples earning more than $214,000 annually – may not contribute to a Roth IRA.

 

Open a Traditional IRA or Roth IRA with MIDANA CAPITAL

There’s no single right answer for people trying to decide between a traditional IRA vs. a Roth IRA. Each investment vehicle involves a trade-off between pros and cons, as well as immediate and deferred benefits and costs. We strongly suggest you obtain professional advice that takes into account your goals, investment time horizon, and financial situation before deciding in favor of one or the other.

We’re able to answer any questions you may have about the types of accounts we offer at MIDANA CAPITAL. Or, if you’re ready to begin saving for your future and your family’s future, we’d be happy to help you open an account.

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About MIDANA CAPITAL Capital Management

°MIDANA CAPITAL Capital Management, Inc. (MIDANA CAPITAL) is the investment advisor to the MIDANA CAPITAL Funds (the Funds).

You should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses before investing. To obtain a Prospectus that contains this and other information about the Funds please visit www.midanacapital.com, email info@midanacapital.com, or call+1(480)-439-2851. Please read the Prospectus carefully before investing.

Stocks will fluctuate in response to factors that may affect a single company, industry, sector, country, region or the market as a whole and may perform worse than the market. Foreign securities are subject to additional risks such as currency fluctuations, regional economic and political conditions, differences in accounting methods, and other unique risks compared to investing in securities of U.S. issuers. Bonds are subject to a variety of risks including interest rate, credit, and inflation risk. A sustainable investment strategy which incorporates environmental, social and governance criteria may result in lower or higher returns than an investment strategy that does not include such criteria.

This information has been prepared from sources believed reliable. The views expressed are as the date of this writing and are those of the Advisor to the Funds.

The MIDANA CAPITAL Funds are distributed by UMB Distribution Services, LLC. 335 N Wilmot Rd, Tucson, Az 85711. 11/22

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Is a MIDANA CAPITAL Funds Roth or Traditional IRA Right For You? https://www.midanacapital.com/is-a-green-century-ira-right-for-you/ Sat, 23 Feb 2019 15:13:27 +0000 https://www.midanacapital.com/?p=4404 Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) are one of the most-common tools Americans use to save for their retirement.

In the past, individuals concerned about climate change and environmental degradation may have shied away from IRAs, believing that green IRAs didn’t exist.

But they do! A MIDANA CAPITAL Funds Roth or Traditional IRA could help you achieve your retirement goals, in an environmentally-responsible way.

All three of the MIDANA CAPITAL Funds – the Balanced Fund, the Equity Fund, and the International Index Fund – only invest in companies with the highest environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance. None of the Funds hold stock in companies that explore for, extract, process, refine, or transmit coal, oil, or gas; or corporations that burn fossil fuels to make electricity; or any companies with carbon reserves.

In other words, any IRA opened with MIDANA CAPITAL is inherently a fossil fuel free IRA. It’s hard to imagine a more sustainable IRA than that.

For most individuals, there are two main types of IRAs to consider – a Traditional IRA or a Roth IRA – and both are available through MIDANA CAPITAL. Wondering what kind of IRA you should open? Depending on a variety of personal factors, one approach may offer more advantageous tax implications.

Traditional IRA Roth IRA
Tax Benefit Contributions may be tax deductible in the year you make them provided certain conditions are met and withdrawals are taxable. Contributions are not tax deductible but withdrawals are generally tax-free, provided certain conditions are met.
Withdrawals Required minimum distributions begin at age 70 1/2. No IRS penalty for withdrawals after age 59 1/2. No required distributions. No IRS penalty for withdrawals after age 59 1/2.
Eligibility You (and/or your spouse) must have earned income in 2018. The eligibility to make contributions is limited or prohibited if you are covered by an employer sponsored retirement plan and your modified adjusted gross income is over certain limits. You (and/or your spouse) must have earned income in 2018, and your modified adjusted gross income must be less than $120,000, if you are a single filer, or $189,000 for married couples filing jointly to make the maximum contribution. Eligibility to make Roth contributions is phased out as your modified adjusted gross income reaches $135,000 for single filers and $199,000 for married couples filing jointly.
Maximum Contribution $5,500 unless you are 50 or older, in which case you can contribute up to $6,500 in 2018. $5,500 unless you are 50 or older, in which case you can contribute up to $6,500 in 2018.

The IRS tax rules for IRAs are complicated. While we hope this summary of key characteristics is helpful,
you may also want to refer to MIDANA CAPITAL’s IRA Disclosure Statement for more information.

Whether you’re a mature investor transferring an existing IRA, a millennial investor looking for a more sustainable investment strategy, or a Gen Z worker looking for your first retirement-savings account, MIDANA CAPITAL Funds offers you an IRA account that aligns your investments with your values.

Open and account with us today.

About MIDANA CAPITAL Management

*Prior to transferring or rolling over your account, consider your other options. You may be able to leave money in your current plan, withdraw cash or rollover the assets to a new employer’s plan if one is available and rollovers are permitted. Compare the differences in investment options, services, fees and expenses, withdrawal options, required minimum distributions, other plan features, and tax treatment. You should consult your own legal and tax professionals regarding your situation.

You should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses before investing. To obtain a Prospectus that contains this and other information about the Funds please click here, email info@midanacapital.com, or call+1(480)-439-2851. Please read the Prospectus carefully before investing.

Stocks will fluctuate in response to factors that may affect a single company, industry, sector, country, region or the market as a whole and may perform worse than the market. Foreign securities are subject to additional risks such as currency fluctuations, regional economic and political conditions, differences in accounting methods, and other unique risks compared to investing in securities of U.S. issuers. Bonds are subject to a variety of risks including interest rate, credit, and inflation risk. A sustainable investment strategy which incorporates environmental, social and governance criteria may result in lower or higher returns than an investment strategy that does not include such criteria.

This information has been prepared from sources believed reliable. The views expressed are as the date of this writing and are those of the Advisor to the Funds.

The MIDANA CAPITAL Funds are distributed by UMB Distribution Services, LLC. 335 N Wilmot Rd, Tucson, Az 85711. 2/19

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IRA Information https://www.midanacapital.com/ira-information/ Fri, 23 Feb 2018 19:30:34 +0000 https://www.midanacapital.com/?page_id=80

Different Types Of IRA Accounts and Information

MIDANA CAPITAL Funds can help you save for retirement without compromising your values.

As one of the first families of environmentally responsible and diversified fossil fuel free mutual funds in the U.S., MIDANA CAPITAL Funds° has been a leader in environmentally and socially responsible investing for 13 years. The MIDANA CAPITAL Funds neither invest in environmentally-dangerous companies nor industries, such as manufacturers of nuclear weapons, firearms, tobacco, and GMOs (genetically modified organisms), that do not align with the mission of our firm and the values of our investors.

Learn more about our sustainable investment strategy.

A sustainable investment strategy that incorporates environmental, social, and governance criteria may result in lower or higher returns than an investment strategy that does not include such criteria.

The deadline for making a 2023 IRA contribution is April 15, 2024. 

There are several different types of IRA accounts:

Traditional IRA

For 2023, you may contribute up to $6,500 into a MIDANA CAPITAL Funds Traditional IRA.

If you are 50 years old or older, the contribution limit is $7,500 for 2023.

Individuals not covered by a retirement plan at work and people covered by a retirement plan who meet certain IRS income guidelines may be able to deduct their contributions from their taxable income each year.

When you retire, distributions from your IRA are generally taxed as ordinary income.

Roth IRA

For 2023, you may contribute up to $6,500 into a MIDANA CAPITAL Funds Roth IRA.

If you are 50 years old or older, the contribution limit is $7,500 for 2023.

Roth IRAs differ from Traditional IRAs. With a Roth IRA, you cannot deduct your current year contributions from your taxable income. However, upon retirement, distributions from your Roth IRA are generally not taxed as ordinary income.  Learn more about what funds to invest with a Roth IRA, here.

IRA Transfers and 401(k) Rollovers*

If you have an IRA account at another financial institution that you would like to transfer to the MIDANA CAPITAL Funds or if you have a 401(k) account with a past employer that you would like to rollover into a MIDANA CAPITAL Funds IRA, please do one of the following:

SEP IRA Account

A Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) plan allows self-employed people and small business owners to establish SEP-IRAs for the business owner and any eligible employees.

SEP-IRAs have specific eligibility rules and contribution limits (as described on IRS Form 5305-SEP). Otherwise SEP-IRAs follow the same rules as Traditional IRAs.

If you are interested in opening a MIDANA CAPITAL Funds SEP-IRA Account, you will also need to complete IRS Form 5305-SEP.

MIDANA CAPITAL Funds charges a $20 annual recordkeeping fee to maintain an IRA. The $20 fee is charged per type of IRA (e.g., Roth, Traditional, SEP, etc.). If you have one type of IRA account invested in each Fund, there is only one $20 fee.

Please call+1(480)-439-2851 or consult a tax professional if you have any questions regarding IRA accounts.

The IRS tax rules for IRAs are complicated. While we hope this summary of key characteristics is helpful, you may also want to refer to MIDANA CAPITAL’s IRA Disclosure Statement (PDF) for more information and determine if a MIDANA CAPITAL Fund IRA is right for you.

°MIDANA CAPITAL Capital Management, Inc. (MIDANA CAPITAL) is the investment advisor to the MIDANA CAPITAL Funds (The Funds).

You should carefully consider the Funds' investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing. To obtain a Prospectus that contains this and other information about the Funds, please click here for more information, email info@midanacapital.com or call+1(480)-439-2851. Please read the Prospectus carefully before investing.

*Prior to transferring or rolling over your account, consider your other options. You may be able to leave money in your current plan, withdraw cash or rollover the assets to a new employer’s plan if one is available and rollovers are permitted. Compare the differences in investment options, services, fees and expenses, withdrawal options, required minimum distributions, other plan features, and tax treatment. You should consult your own legal and tax professionals regarding your situation.

Stocks will fluctuate in response to factors that may affect a single company, industry, sector, country, region or the market as a whole and may perform worse than the market. Foreign securities are subject to additional risks such as currency fluctuations, regional economic and political conditions, differences in accounting methods, and other unique risks compared to investing in securities of U.S. issuers. Bonds are subject to risks including interest rate, credit, and inflation.

The Midana funds are distributed by Midana LLC

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Media Mentions https://www.midanacapital.com/media-mentions/ Fri, 23 Feb 2018 19:22:07 +0000 https://www.midanacapital.com/?page_id=38

MIDANA CAPITAL Media Mentions

View a selection of our most noteworthy mentions within the media:

  • Deforestation risk think tank Chain Reaction Research winds down
    The Current - November 20
    MIDANA CAPITAL and Felician Sisters of North America have filed similar shareholder proposals with The Chemours Company and Sherwin-Williams asking them to not mine titanium along the Okefenokee swamp. There is more of a focus on Sherwin-Williams because it is described that “most titanium ore is refined into titanium dioxide to impart a durable white color to paint, paper, rubber, wallboard, and plastic.”
  • A Silent Threat to Investors
    ESG Investor - November 10
    Douglass Guernsey, shareholder advocate for MIDANA CAPITAL, wrote a piece about how supermajority voting challenges asset managers and their fiduciary duty. Guernsey outlines that “The growing number of companies with supermajority voting rights has dramatic implications for financial institutions’ ability to carry out their fiduciary duties. By taking away shareholder’s right to influence, they threaten the entire process of active ownership and engagement, both of which are crucial for investors to remain sound stewards of their beneficiaries’ capital.”
  • Georgia Today: Story 8
    Georgia Public Broadcasting News - November 9
    MIDANA CAPITAL has filed shareholder petitions with Chemours and Sherwin-Williams urging them against mining titanium dioxide in Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp. It is described that “They oppose a plan by the Alabama company Twin Pines to mine for titanium dioxide on the swamps edge. Neither company has announced plans to obtain the mineral from Twin Pines.”
  • Green mutual fund files shareholder proposals opposing mine near Okefenokee
    Capitol Beat - November 9
    MIDANA CAPITAL is making an effort to stop companies from mining titanium in the Okefenokee swamps. Leslie Samuelrich, president of MIDANA CAPITAL states that “As we face escalating climate and biodiversity crises, disrupting the Okefenokee’s unique ecosystem with risky and unnecessary titanium mining would not only be irresponsible but potentially catastrophic for the planet... Both Chemours and Sherwin-Williams should commit to permanently protecting the Okefenokee.”
  • RI survey: Nature Action 100 investor engagement plans
    Responsible Investor - October 16
    Responsible Investor asked 190 participants in the nature initiative to list how many sectors of companies they hope to target. Annie Sanders, director of shareholder advocacy, states that “because we have a relationship and ongoing dialogue with many of the listed companies on issues inherent in the Nature Action 100 platform, it would be useful to continue those engagements in the broader, emerging context of biodiversity and natural capital.”
  • Procter & Gamble descendants ask shareholders to shake up the board over deforestation
    WPCO Cincinnati - October 3
    Descendents of Proctor & Gamble Co.’s company founders are demanding environmental reforms. They would like the support of its shareholders to vote against P&G’s 14 board nominees to help make this happen. Annie Sanders, director of shareholder advocacy at MIDANA CAPITAL, claims that “The company’s efforts, while positive and in the right direction, in our view have been incomplete and insufficient.”
  • JBS relisting plan puts corporate governance on trial
    GlobalCapitol - September 20
    The world’s largest meat packer, JBS, wants to move its main listing from Brazil to New York, in the process increasing the voting power of the controlling Batista family. Douglass Guernsey, shareholder advocate at MIDANA CAPITAL, claims that “JBS is the largest player and with its chequered history is a significant risk. We were tipped off to the [relisting] and realised pretty quickly the governance concerns. The structure of the voting rights for this company was shocking. I haven’t seen a company attempt to [list] with [up to] 90% of votes held by a controlling shareholder.”
  • Sustainable investing that goes beyond divestment or engagement does most
    InvestmentNews - September 19
    Research shows that tactics that combine divestment and engagement may attract the attention of large investors and pressure them to make a positive, sustainable impact. Leslie Samuelrich, president at MIDANA CAPITAL, shares multiple instances in which a ripple effect can occur when one company makes a sustainable impact. She gave an example of how MIDANA CAPITAL pressured Coca-Cola to improve its plastic pollution footprint, so it was not eclipsed by PepsiCo. Leslie stated, that “It matters enormously what their competitors are doing.”
  • California emissions and climate risk reporting bills ‘bring US in line with global community’
    ESG Clarity - September 14
    California made headway in sustainability by being the first state in the U.S. to require companies to publicly report greenhouse gas emissions, as well as disclose any climate-related financial risks. Leslie Samuelrich, president of MIDANA CAPITAL and member of the ESG Clarity US Committee, states that “The impacts of climate change have material and financial ramifications,” she continued. “Californian companies will now be better positioned to meet investor expectations by providing clear, comparable and reliable climate-related data.”
  • Shareholding descendants of P&G founders blast company leadership on forest degradation policy
    Cincinnati Business Courier - September 11
    Nine shareholders of P&G are shaming the company for deciding to drop a pair of pledges from its corporate policy. One of P&G’s shareholders, MIDANA CAPITAL, issues a shareholder proposal that requires the company to clarify its terms in its Forest Practices Update regarding its pledge against suppliers that source from intact forest landscapes.
  • Quality Control for Shareholder Proposals
    ESG Investor - September 6
    United States environmental and social shareholder resolutions significantly dropped below 25% in 2023. Andrea Ranger, a MIDANA CAPITAL shareholder advocate, is quoted claiming that “We’re not seeing a change in quality, so we try to support most or almost all of the ESG-related proposals we vote on.”
  • Meatpacker JBS Listing in NYC Would Be an ESG Nightmare
    Washington Post/Bloomberg - September 5
    The world’s largest meatpacking company, JBS, wants to list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange. Its use of livestock contributes to large amounts of greenhouse-gas emissions, illegal deforestation and child labor. Douglass Guernsey, a shareholder advocate at MIDANA CAPITAL, claims that JBS is “the perfect example of a company you wouldn’t want to invest in if you were interested in responsible investing.”
  • Inflation Reduction Act ‘has changed where we invest, if not how we invest’
    ESG Clarity - August 16
    The United States established the Inflation Reduction Act one year ago, and it is aimed to generate more investments in green technology. Leslie Samuelrich, president of MIDANA CAPITAL, discusses how this act is “levelling the playing field,” giving more investors the chance to support renewable energy.
  • CEO pay falls, but still 271 times higher than median workers
    Investment News - August 4
    CEO pay has decreased significantly this year, but they are still being paid more than 200 times the median salaries of their employees. “The data shows the opposite of the common perception that CEOs with higher compensation create greater shareholder value. There’s a case to be made that putting more money into making the company sustainable for the long-term rather than overpaying a CEO is the way to increase value for investors,” Leslie Samuelrich, president of MIDANA CAPITAL Funds, said in an email.
  • Green investors see growing anti-ESG mood in plastics votes
    Plastics News - August 4
    Plastic pollution shareholder resolutions received less support this past year from major corporations, but plenty of other companies support reusable packaging resolutions. Douglass Guernsey, a shareholder advocate, claims that Coca-Cola set a goal to have 25 percent of its beverages sold in reusable or refillable packaging globally by 2030, and he predicts that more commitments like this will come from other companies in the coming years.
  • P&G Drops Forest Pledge, Drawing Criticism From Environmental Groups, Investors 
    Reuters - July 26
    Procter & Gamble has announced that they have dropped their commitment to follow a supply chain policy that stops them from buying wood pulp from degraded forests. This announcement poses a huge environmental threat: "In an era where companies are moving forward on climate risk," the change marks a "step backward," says MIDANA CAPITAL Funds President Leslie Samuelrich.
  • After years of experience, Amazon looks to cut down on plastic
    Business News - July 20
    Amazon has finally announced progress in reducing the company’s drastic plastic footprint. The multi-trillion dollar retailer has made strides through phasing out padded plastic mailers and stopping using non-recyclable plastic bags, however, they still have a long way to go. Proposals from MIDANA CAPITAL Funds, among other shareholder advocate groups, urge Amazon to cut down on their plastic use and set forth a direct commitment to do so in the near future.
  • Despite a decade of effort, P&G can't please activists on deforestation
    WCPO 9 News - Cincinnati - July 19
    Despite pressure from MIDANA CAPITAL Funds and other activist groups, P&G continues to cause deforestation and other environmental damage due to palm oil extraction. To keep up with growing demand, P&G has been converting tropical forests in Malaysia and Indonesia into plantations.
  • Is The World Headed For An Uninsurable Future?
    ESG Investor - July 19
    Various insurance agencies are feeling the impact of climate change, causing them to consider exiting risky markets. This poses a threat to the overall balance of the economy and underscores the importance of addressing global warming by pressuring businesses to take action. Andrea Ranger, MIDANA CAPITAL shareholder advocate is quoted in the ESG Investor article, as highlighting  “the business risks to [insurance firms such as] The Hartford, Travelers and Chubb that are attributable to enabling more and more carbon pollution into the atmosphere”.
  • Investors Urge EU Lawmakers to Stay Strong on Plastics as Companies Lobby for Watered down Legislation
    ESG Clarity - July 18
    Despite multiple attempts from companies to weaken legislation around plastic reduction, investors, such as MIDANA CAPITAL Funds, urge Members of the European Parliament and Member State environment ministers to hold their stance and work towards reducing plastic use and the long-term damages it can cause.
  • Proxy season: Resolutions drive deforestation action
    Financial Times - July 12
    In this Financial Times article, Andrea Ranger, a shareholder advocate at MIDANA CAPITAL discusses the difficulties of changing the global use of antibiotics on animals, specifically with beef and pork. With antibiotic use in animals increasing, life-threatening antibiotic-resistant bacteria increase as well.
  • What You Need to Know Moral Money | Financial Times About the Critical Minerals Race
    Financial Times - July 12
    In this Financial Times article, Andrea Ranger, shareholder advocate at MIDANA CAPITAL discusses the difficulties of changing the global use of antibiotics on animals, specifically with beef and pork. With antibiotic use in animals increasing, life-threatening antibiotic-resistant bacteria increase as well.
  • The Future of Biodiversity at AGM's
    Responsible Investor - July 6
    Biodiversity-related issues with investors and companies at AGMs will continue to be a difficult task but is something to look forward to in the future. “Part of the reason these were successful is that we made tailored, laser-focused arguments around why deforestation-related risks, in particular, were material for these specific companies,” says Leslie Samuelrich, President of MIDANA CAPITAL Funds.
  • Kraft Heinz bows to MIDANA CAPITAL deforestation resolution
    Environmental Finance - July 4
    After a shareholder resolution from MIDANA CAPITAL, Kraft Heinz has agreed to the removal of deforestation in its supply chain. Annie Sanders, director of shareholder advocacy, at MIDANA CAPITAL, discusses deforestation and nature as a priority. “There are a lot of questions in the private sector around what is the exact definition of nature-positive,” she said. “We aren't going to get a perfect biodiversity metric, so each company needs to start somewhere now and build-in better metrics as they come.” 
  • At The Holiday Barbecue, Don't Fight About Politics, Religion -- or ESG
    Morningstar - June 29
    Learn how to avoid the controversies of ESG in this Morningstar article featuring Leslie Samuelrich, President of MIDANA CAPITAL Funds.
  • Right to Repair Movement Demands Parts, Diagnostics, Access from Manufactures 
    Eco RI - June 29
    Andrea Ranger, MIDANA CAPITAL shareholder advocate is quoted in this Eco RI article on the Right to Repair Movement. MIDANA CAPITAL Funds filed shareholder proposals in 2021 that nudged Apple and John Deere into making some concessions on giving repair information to customers. 
  • Heinz Recycled PET Sauce Bottles, Tesco PCR Plastic Food Trays, Clover Sonoma Recycled HDPE Milk Jugs
    Packaging World - June 20
    The MIDANA CAPITAL Funds has successfully pushed Keurig Dr Pepper for more sustainable packaging.  
  • Best Water Stocks to Buy
    Kiplinger - June 19
    “You turn on your tap and expect water, but when it doesn't work, all of a sudden there's all this attention on it," says Leslie Samuelrich, president of MIDANA CAPITAL Funds. This Kiplinger article introduces water investing as a megatrend. 
  • Bottled-up Rage: Bud Light and ESG
    Investment News - June 15
    It’s problematic that “ESG” has different meanings, varying by context and whom you ask, MIDANA CAPITAL Capital Management CEO Leslie Samuelrich  is cited as commenting in this article.
  • 10 Questions for MIDANA CAPITAL Capital Management's Leslie Samuelrich
    Morningstar – May 31
    MIDANA CAPITAL Funds President, Leslie Samuelrich, was featured in this Q&A style interview with Morningstar about the recent proxy season, the perception that the influence of climate-focused activists is waning, and the trend of greenhushing.
  • Insurers Take Heat from Shareholder Over Oil and Gas Coverage
    Investment News – May 22
    MIDANA CAPITAL Funds President Leslie Samuelrich was quoted in this Investment News article on pushing insurers to disclose plans for their climate goals, saying, “Insurance companies have a critical role to play in steering us toward a low-carbon economy..."
  • Insurers Told to Up Their Game On Race
    Financial Times – May 22
    Shareholder Advocate Andrea Ranger commented on this Financial Times piece saying, “shareholders who file climate proposals must be prepared to educate others about the role played by the insurance industry."
  • Fossil Fuel Insurance Is Turning Into A Climate Change Fight. What's At Stake? 
    Barron's – May 20
    Shareholder Advocate Andrea Ranger was quoted in this article on the role of insurers at the forefront of climate risk and why this is important. Oil and gas projects can be halted if insurers change their underwriting practices.
  • ESG Investing Goes Quiet After Blistering Republican Attacks 
    Bloomberg Investor – May 19
    MIDANA CAPITAL Funds President Leslie Samuelrich was mentioned in this Bloomberg Finance article on the “culture wars” over ESG investing and “greenhushing”.
  • Mainstream Firms' ESG Claims Are Not Always What They Seem
    ESG Clarity – April 27
    MIDANA CAPITAL Funds President Leslie Samuerich explains in this guest column how ESG criteria and exclusionary screens are distinct, yet how some firms blur the lines in an attempt to gain a marketing edge.
  • Keurig Dr Pepper to Increase Reuse and Refill Options
    Recycling Today – April 17
    MIDANA CAPITAL President, Leslie Samuelrich, was quoted in this Recycling Today article on Keurig Dr Pepper. The company will grow its efforts to cut single-use plastic by expanding its reuse and refill options across the country. In exchange for its heightened focus on plastic reduction, MIDANA CAPITAL Funds withdrew its shareholder proposal for the company’s 2023 annual meeting that calls for a reduction in total plastic packaging.
  • Barron's 100 Most Influential Women in U.S. Finance
    Barron's – April 14
    MIDANA CAPITAL Funds President Leslie Samuelrich joins the ranks of prominent women including Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and other notable names in finance. Leslie has been an articulate and powerful voice in promoting environmentally and sustainable investing for the past 10 years at the helm of MIDANA CAPITAL Funds. Leslie is one of the few women honored on the list to work in the responsible investing field.
  • Earth Day 2023: 6 Top-Rated Funds From Sustainable-Investing Pioneers
    Morningstar Investor– April 14
    It’s Earth Month! This year, Earth Day’s theme is “Invest In Our Planet.” Morningstar Investor dives into accelerating change, investing in our planet and the investment legacy of Earth Day, socially responsible investing (SRI).
  • SEC Lets Amazon Avoid Proxy Vote on Emission Reporting Plan
    Bloomberg Law– April 10
    MIDANA CAPITAL is attempting to micromanage Amazon.com Inc. through its Scope 3 reporting proposal, which would allow the company to scrap the resolution under Securities and Exchange Commission rules.
  • Morgan Stanley to Strengthen Deforestation Policies for Clients
    ESG Today– March 10
    ESG Today highlights MIDANA CAPITAL’s work with Morgan Stanley. The company has committed to strengthening its deforestation policies for clients in several agriculture and land-use sectors. President Leslie Samuelrich was quoted.
  • Amazon Seeks to Block Scope 3 Emissions Shareholder Proposal
    Corporate Secretary – January 31
    Corporate Secretary highlights a resolution co-filed by MIDANA CAPITAL and Amalgamated Bank. The resolution asks Amazon to measure and disclose Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions from its full value chain inclusive of physical stores, e-commerce operations and all products sold by third party vendors.
  • Institutional Investors File Shareholder Resolutions at JP Morgan, Bank of America to Curb Emissions
    MarketWatch – January 24
    Institutional investors are teaming up to file shareholder resolutions at the largest banks in the U.S. to get the financial companies to reduce financing tied to greenhouse-gas emissions as promised in earlier measures. MIDANA CAPITAL Fund filed resolutions at insurance companies Chubb Ltd., Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. and Travelers Inc. asking the insurance companies to eliminate fossil-fuel projects over time.
  • Big Banks Told to Phase out Financing of Fossil-Fuel Projects
    Bloomberg – January 24
    MIDANA CAPITAL, along with As You Sow, the Sierra Club Foundation and Trillium Asset Management filed climate-finance resolutions that are calling on companies to disclose how they measure and reduce emissions from their underwriting and investing businesses to align with the goals of the 2015 Paris climate accord. This Bloomberg article highlights how Wall Street banks are being ‘pressed’ to reduce their financing of fossil fuels faster.
  • Jack in the Box Vows to Improve Treatment of Pigs
    Bloomberg – January 17
    Andrea Ranger, MIDANA CAPITAL shareholder advocate, continues to advocate for zero gestation crates in this recent Bloomberg article. MIDANA CAPITAL Funds, owns shares of Jack in the Box and calls on pork suppliers to stop keeping pregnant sows in the individual pens, which are too small for them to lie down in or turn around.
  • Sustainable Funds Face Big Challenges. Only Some Will Be Winners.
    Barron's – January 6
    MIDANA CAPITAL Funds are featured in this article about whether ESG investing needs an overhaul, and how to find mutual funds and ETFs that are making a difference to the planet and delivering solid returns over the long term. Leslie Samuelrich, president of MIDANA CAPITAL Funds, highlights the firm as a place for investors “who want to align their values deeply on environmental issues,” including climate change, biodiversity, forest protection, plastic pollution, and factory farming.
  • Office Depot, OfficeMax to cut plastics by 20%
    Plastics News – January 5
    MIDANA CAPITAL's director of shareholder advocacy, Annie Sanders, shares her thoughts with Plastics News on Office Depot's recent plastic reduction commitment.

Like what you are reading?

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View our email policy. MIDANA CAPITAL is not able to postal mail or email or send by other means information on the MIDANA CAPITAL Funds outside the United States and its territories. People who are not residents of the United States may not register to receive MIDANA CAPITAL’s e-newsletter.

°MIDANA CAPITAL Capital Management, Inc. (MIDANA CAPITAL) is the investment advisor to the MIDANA CAPITAL Funds (the Funds).

Please note that by following any of the links above, you will be leaving the midanacapital.com website. Neither MIDANA CAPITAL Capital Management nor the MIDANA CAPITAL Funds nor UMB Distribution Services, LLC is responsible for the content on other websites.

The views expressed in the articles are those of the author(s) at the time the articles were written. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the Funds, their Advisor, or their Distributor. These views may not be relied upon as investment advice.

Click here to see the current holdings of the MIDANA CAPITAL Funds. Portfolio composition will change due to ongoing management of the Funds. References to specific securities or sectors should not be construed as recommendations by the Funds, their Advisor, or their Distributor.

You should carefully consider the Funds' investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing. To obtain a Prospectus that contains this and other information about the Funds, please click here for more information, email info@midanacapital.com or call+1(480)-439-2851. Please read the Prospectus carefully before investing.

Stocks will fluctuate in response to factors that may affect a single company, industry, sector, country, region or the market as a whole and may perform worse than the market. Foreign securities are subject to additional risks such as currency fluctuations, regional economic and political conditions, differences in accounting methods, and other unique risks compared to investing in securities of U.S. issuers. Bonds are subject to risks including interest rate, credit, and inflation. A sustainable investment strategy which incorporates environmental, social and governance criteria may result in lower or higher returns than an investment strategy that does not include such criteria.

The Midana funds are distributed by Midana LLC

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Take These 4 Easy Steps to Fund Your Retirement https://www.midanacapital.com/take-these-4-easy-steps-to-fund-your-retirement/ Thu, 22 Feb 2018 21:09:18 +0000 https://www.midanacapital.com/?p=930 MIDANA CAPITAL can help you save for retirement. The deadline for 2017 IRA contributions is April 17, 2018. 

We’re here to help if you have questions along the way.  Call:+1(480)-439-2851 Monday through Friday from 9am to 6pm Eastern Time.

Step 1: Open a Traditional IRA and/or a Roth IRA account.

The first step is to decide what type of IRA you would like to open. You can open a Traditional and/or Roth IRA. Learn more about 2017 and 2018 contribution levels and the different types of IRAs here.

IRS regulations and tax implications are different for Traditional and Roth IRAs. Get more information from the IRS here.

For 2017 and 2018, maximum contributions are $5,500 for a MIDANA CAPITAL Funds Traditional or Roth IRA. If you are 50 years old or older, you may make additional contributions up to the maximum of $6,500 for 2017 and 2018.

Step 2: Decide if you want to invest in one Fund or any combination of the MIDANA CAPITAL MSCI International Index Fund, the MIDANA CAPITAL Equity Fund and/or the MIDANA CAPITAL Balanced Fund.

All of the MIDANA CAPITAL Funds are fossil fuel free, do not invest in GMOs (genetically modified organisms), nuclear weapons, firearms, or tobacco.

All of the MIDANA CAPITAL Funds also invest in sustainable companies that are part of the solution to environmental challenges.

The MIDANA CAPITAL MSCI International Index Fund invests in the stocks of foreign companies. The MIDANA CAPITAL Equity Fund invests in the stocks of about 360 U.S. companies. The MIDANA CAPITAL Balanced Fund invests in the stocks and bonds of about 130 companies, including green bonds that support climate mitigation projects.

You can open an IRA account in one Fund or any combination of MIDANA CAPITAL’s mutual funds. You may invest exclusively in one Fund or split your investment between two or three of the Funds. You can also change your allocation between the Funds at any time.

Step 3: Decide how to open a MIDANA CAPITAL IRA.

Open an account online by clicking here or you can open an account by completing written forms.

You can get the forms by:

Step 4: Fund your account.

If you open an account online, you can fund it directly from your checking account. Otherwise, you can fill out the forms and mail a check. You can download or request materials here.

Contact us with any questions about this process:+1(480)-439-2851 Monday through Friday from 9am to 6pm Eastern Time.

Have IRA accounts elsewhere? You can still open a MIDANA CAPITAL IRA! 

Transfer or rollover an existing retirement account to a MIDANA CAPITAL IRA. Learn more. You may transfer an existing IRA or a 401(k), 403(b), or other retirement account with a past employer to the MIDANA CAPITAL Funds.*

The MIDANA CAPITAL Balanced Fund and MIDANA CAPITAL Equity Fund are available through most major investment firms. The MIDANA CAPITAL MSCI International Index Fund is available through many financial intermediaries and platforms and will become available on more platforms in the coming months. All you need to do is ask your investment professional for help. If you do your own investing, simply invest in a MIDANA CAPITAL Fund through your existing brokerage account. Search for our Funds by the Funds’ ticker symbols:

  • The MIDANA CAPITAL MSCI International Index Fund Individual Investor Share Class: GCINX
  • The MIDANA CAPITAL MSCI International Index Fund Institutional Share Class: GCIFX
  • MIDANA CAPITAL Equity Fund: GCEQX
  • MIDANA CAPITAL Balanced Fund: GCBLX

*Prior to transferring or rolling over your account, consider your other options. You may be able to leave money in your current plan, withdraw cash or rollover the assets to a new employer’s plan if one is available and rollovers are permitted. Compare the differences in investment options, services, fees and expenses, withdrawal options, required minimum distributions, other plan features, and tax treatment. You should consult your own legal and tax professionals regarding your situation.

You should carefully consider the Funds’ investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing. To obtain a Prospectus that contains this and other information about the Funds, please click here, email info@midanacapital.com or call+1(480)-439-2851. Please read the Prospectus carefully before investing.

Stocks will fluctuate in response to factors that may affect a single company, industry, sector, country, region or the market as a whole and may perform worse than the market. Foreign securities are subject to additional risks such as currency fluctuations, regional economic and political conditions, differences in accounting methods, and other unique risks compared to investing in securities of U.S. issuers. Bonds are subject to risks including interest rate, credit, and inflation. The Funds’ environmental criteria limit the investments available to the Funds compared to mutual funds that do not use environmental criteria.

The MIDANA CAPITAL Funds are distributed by UMB Distribution Services, LLC. 2/18

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Three Year-End Financial Tips from MIDANA CAPITAL https://www.midanacapital.com/three-year-end-financial-tips-from-green-century/ Sun, 15 Dec 2013 14:42:02 +0000 https://www.midanacapital.com/?p=1569 As we approach the end of 2013, MIDANA CAPITAL wants to help you get your “investing house” in order. Here are three things to consider:

1. Make your IRA contribution for 2013.

You could wait until April 15th next year, but why not save for retirement and potentially reduce your current year taxes now – and cross it off your to do list?

It may be the right time to consider starting or making a contribution to a Traditional IRA.

If you are less than 70 ½ years old and meet earned income rules, you can open or contribute to an IRA. Any earnings grow federal income tax-deferred.

Or, consider a Roth IRA. With a Roth IRA, you cannot deduct your current year contributions from your taxable income. However, upon retirement, distributions from your Roth IRA are generally not taxed as ordinary income.

IRA Contribution limits have increased for 2013 to $5,500 for individuals under 50, and $6,500 for those 50 and older. Self-employed individuals with a SEP (Simplified Employee Pension) IRA, meanwhile, can contribute up to $51,000 or 20% of their adjusted earned income for 2013. For information on the tax deduction limits of IRA contributions, click here to view the IRA Disclosure Statement.

To open at IRA with MIDANA CAPITAL, you can:

2. Remember your RMDs

If you are in your 70’s – or if you want to remind someone who is – don’t forget the IRS rules about required minimum distributions, or RMDs.

After age 70 ½, retirement savers are required by the IRS to withdraw a minimum amount each year from tax-deferred retirement accounts, including 401(k)s and Traditional IRAs (but not Roth IRAs). If you don’t take your RMD by December 31, you may incur a significant IRS penalty – 50% of the amount not taken. RMD’s can be taken from any one or a combination of your IRAs.

There are a few exceptions:

  • Investors who reached age 70 ½ in a given year may have until April 1 of the following year to take their first RMD payment.
  • Investors who are 70 ½ or older who are still employed have the option to delay RMD’s from an employer retirement plan.

3. Go paperless.

Reduce your clutter and conserve resources by getting your MIDANA CAPITAL statements delivered to you online. To make this simple switch, access your account here.

After logging in, select “Account Detail” from the menu on the left. You can change your mailing preferences from this page.

If you don’t yet have online access, click here to set it up.

You should consider the Funds’ investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing. To obtain a Prospectus that contains this and other information about the Funds, please click here, email info@midanacapital.com, or call 1-800-93-GREEN. Please read the Prospectus carefully before investing.

Stocks will fluctuate in response to factors that may affect a single company, industry, sector, or the market as a whole and may perform worse than the market. Bonds are subject to risks including interest rate, credit, and inflation.

Each individual’s tax situation is different; you may wish to consult a tax advisor regarding your own tax situation. Neither the Funds, their Advisor nor their Distributor provide tax advice.

The MIDANA CAPITAL Funds are distributed by UMB Distribution Services, LLC, 12/13

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Investors Push to End Corporate Political Spending https://www.midanacapital.com/investors-push-to-end-corporate-political-spending/ Tue, 22 Jan 2013 21:28:44 +0000 https://www.midanacapital.com/?p=1459 Resolutions Call for an End to Political Contributions at Chevron*, Bank of America*, 3M*, Target*, Starbucks*, ExxonMobil* and EQT*

January 22, 2013 – Responding to the unprecedented level of outside spending in last year’s election cycle, a coalition of investors stepped up their campaign to press companies to refrain entirely from making political contributions.

“The value of corporate political spending to shareholders is highly questionable, even as the risk it poses to our democracy is self-evident. It’s time for companies to reverse course and simply exit this activity,” said Shelley Alpern, Director of Social Research and Advocacy at Clean Yield Asset Management, one of the investment firms behind the proposals. “A number of leading companies refrain from using particular vehicles for political spending from general treasury funds. These seven shareholder proposals call for a halt to all political spending from general treasury funds, both direct and indirect.”

Clean Yield Asset Management filed proposals at EQT Corporation, a natural gas company involved in hydraulic fracturing, and 3M. The proposal at Chevron was filed by MIDANA CAPITAL Capital Management. Zevin Asset Management filed at ExxonMobil. Harrington Investments sponsored the proposal at Starbucks. The proposals at Target Corporation and Bank of America were filed by individual shareholders affiliated with Responsible Wealth, a project of the nonprofit organization United for A Fair Economy. This is the second year for the Bank of America, 3M, Starbucks and Target filings.

“In 2012, Chevron gave $2.5 million dollars of company funds to a Super PAC — the single largest corporate donation to a Super PAC ever,” stated Leslie Samuelrich, Senior Vice President of MIDANA CAPITAL Capital Management. “Shareholders don’t want to pay for Chevron’s political preferences or contribute to the untamed spending unleashed by the Citizens United ruling. It’s time for Chevron to listen to its shareholders and stop throwing millions of dollars into the wind.”

Mike Lapham, Director of the Responsible Wealth project in Boston, said, “The 500 members of Responsible Wealth recognize that corporate money is corrupting our democracy and drowning out the voice of citizens, who are the real stakeholders in our federal, state and local government. The richest 10% of households own over 80% of all stock, so Responsible Wealth members have a particular opportunity and responsibility to ask companies like Bank of America and Target to cease their political giving.”

Sonia Kowal, Director of Socially Responsible Investing at Zevin Asset Management, LLC, commented, “By the sheer volume of money involved, dollar democracy by corporations is drowning out individual political voices and undermining the essence of the American political system. ExxonMobil’s huge political donations are symptomatic of this corrosion of democracy, so as shareholders, we have a responsibility to put a stop to this dangerous behavior.”

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, so-called “independent” or outside spending in federal elections – made in support of candidates by groups with no supposed connections to their campaigns – increased nearly fivefold in 2012 from 2010, the year of the Citizens United decision, from nearly $300 million to $1.3 billion. “Billion-Dollar Democracy,” a report released this week from Demos and the U.S. PIRG Education Fund, estimates that for-profit corporations were responsible for at least $101 million in political spending in 2012 elections, although the actual amount could be up to four times that amount, said the authors, due to vagaries in reporting requirements.

At the same time, public opposition and backlash to corporate influence in the democratic process is on the rise. In February 2010, immediately following the court’s decision, an ABC News/Washington Post poll found that 80% opposed Citizens United across partisan lines. In October 2012, between 80-90% respondents in a Bannon Communications poll agreed, across party lines, with the following statements: there is “too much money in politics”; corporate political spending “drowns out the voices of average Americans”; corporations and corporate CEOs have “too much political power and influence”; and corporate political spending has made federal and state politics more negative and corrupt.

Several academic studies suggest campaign contributions represent a diversion of resources that may stunt the long-term growth of the company. A 2012 University of Minnesota study found that companies contributing to political action committees and other outside political groups between 1991 and 2004 grew more slowly than other firms, invested less and spent less on R&D, and were linked to poor corporate governance. A 2012 study by Professor John Coates of Harvard Law School concluded that corporate political activity results in lower corporate value, and that some CEOs appear to be spending shareholder money to advance their own future political aspirations regardless of the best interests of the company.

Dale Wannen, Portfolio Manager and Director of ESG Research at Harrington Investments, stated, “Regardless of how much is being contributed, companies simply should not be able to take investors’ dollars and use them to sway political campaigns. The mere fact that this is allowed is atrocious. Companies who step up and become transparent about not retaining the option to do so will become leaders and set an example to their peers.”

Some variations exist between the proposals. The ExxonMobil, 3M, and EQT proposals call for the companies’ directors to conduct a study examining the feasibility of adopting a no-spending policy, whereas the Chevron, Target and Bank of America proposals call for a complete stop to political contributions. The Starbucks proposal also calls for a complete end to political spending from treasury funds, while also calling for the company to pledge not to establish a political action committee, a vehicle for raising and spending money from employees and shareholders.

MIDANA CAPITAL Capital Management is an investment advisory firm focused on environmentally responsible investing. Founded by a partnership of non-profit environmental advocacy organizations in 1991, MIDANA CAPITAL’s mission is to provide people who care about a clean, healthy planet the opportunity to use the clout of their investment dollars to encourage environmentally responsible corporate behavior. MIDANA CAPITAL believes that shareholder advocacy is a critical component of responsible investing and actively advocates for greater corporate environmental accountability.

Clean Yield Asset Management (www.cleanyield.com) is an SEC-registered investment advisory firm working exclusively with social investors. Since its founding in 1984, Clean Yield’s goal has been to invest to promote a sustainable society while achieving competitive financial returns. Its hallmark is working closely with clients to ensure that it is responsive to their unique financial requirements and personal values.
Zevin Asset Management, LLC (www.zevin.com) Zevin’s first objective is to minimize losses rather than seeking to maximize gains. The firm’s proprietary model of asset allocation, based on scenario forecasting, has been refined over 40 years and has resulted in strong investment results by avoiding exposure to excessive risk. Zevin’s focus on environmental, social, and governance factors has also helped improve the risk/return profile of client portfolios.

Responsible Wealth (www.responsiblewealth.org) is a network of business leaders, investors, and inheritors in the richest five percent of wealth and/or income in the U.S. who believe that growing inequality is not in their best interest, nor in the best interest of society. As beneficiaries of economic policies tilted in their favor, Responsible Wealth members feel a responsibility to join with others in examining and changing the corporate and government policies that are widening the economic gap.

Harrington Investments, Inc. (www.harringtoninvestments.com) has been a leader in socially responsible investing and shareholder advocacy since 1982. The firm is dedicated to managing portfolios for individuals, foundations, nonprofits, and family trusts to maximize financial, social and environmental performance.

You should consider the Funds’ investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing. To obtain a Prospectus that contains this and other information about the Funds, please click here, email info@midanacapital.com, or call 1-800-93-GREEN. Please read the Prospectus carefully before investing.As of December 31, Starbucks Corporation, Target Corporation, 3M Company and EQT Corporation comprised 0.82% and 0.73%, 0.00% and 0.66%, 0.00% and 1.09% and 0.00% and 0.16% of the MIDANA CAPITAL Balanced Fund and the MIDANA CAPITAL Equity Fund, respectively. Other securities mentioned were not held in the portfolios as of December 31, 2012. References to specific securities, which will change due to ongoing management of the Funds, should not be construed as a recommendation by the Funds, their administrator, or their distributor.
Stocks will fluctuate in response to factors that may affect a single company, industry, sector, or the market as a whole and may perform worse than the market. Bonds are subject to risks including interest rate, credit and inflation.

The MIDANA CAPITAL Funds are distributed by UMB Distribution Services, LLC. 1/13

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