Zevin Asset Management

Zevin runs its own proprietary social research alongside financial analysis — it's not a third-party rating overlay. Analysts score companies on environmental impact, workplace practices, and human-rights records, and those scores directly influence position sizing. Firms that fail to meet standards often become engagement targets rather than automatic exclusions.

It is an independent, employee-owned registered investment advisor, not a family office. The firm manages capital for individuals, families, trusts, and non-profit institutions through separately managed accounts. There is no single family wealth pool behind the AUM.

The firm runs exclusively separate accounts. Each client directly owns the underlying securities in their portfolio and retains full control over proxy voting. This structure allows Zevin to customize advocacy positions client-by-client rather than compromising across a commingled pool.

The firm files and co-files shareholder resolutions at portfolio companies on issues including climate transition plans, racial equity audits, and labor practices. It also conducts direct dialogue with management teams, publishes an annual Proxy Season Preview laying out its engagement agenda, and publicly discloses its voting record.

Zevin has historically screened out fossil fuel extractors, tobacco, and weapons manufacturers. The firm also avoids companies with severe and unaddressed human-rights violations, using its internal research to flag bad actors. Exclusion thresholds are applied consistently across client accounts unless a client requests a tailored variance.

Sonia Kowal, the firm's President, leads investment policy and portfolio construction. She is supported by a long-tenured team of research analysts and operations staff. The firm's flat hierarchy means the same people conducting financial analysis are the ones leading corporate engagements.

The investable universe starts with large-cap global and US equities that pass the firm's social screen. From there, the team uses fundamental analysis to find quality companies trading at reasonable valuations. Because its advocacy team is already monitoring hundreds of firms for ESG performance, the pipeline of engagement targets often overlaps with the research bench.