Adviser data provider Defaqto has added ESG filters to its Financial Planning software Defaqto Engage.

The company says the filters are a further addition to ESG tools for advisers added by Defaqto after it launched ESG Reviews recently.

The ESG filters give advisers 31 new data points that can be applied to sustainable funds or used on an exclusionary basis for the fund universe. The filters allow advisers to filter funds in line with the client’s ESG preferences.

Defaqto says that depending on the client, advisers can choose to only research sustainable investment funds. Funds can then be filtered at a more granular level under sustainability.

The list of filters includes:

• Community Development
• Low Carbon/Fossil fuel free
• Environmental
• Renewable Energy
• Alcohol exposure
• General Environmental sector
• Low Carbon Designation
• Carbon Risk Classification

The ESG filters and sorts used as part of a recommendation will automatically be included in the research report.

Pan Andreas, head of Insight & Consulting (Funds & DFM) at Defaqto said: “ESG is now bedding into advice processes. But advisers need more than a rating to help them discern whether a fund is doing more than just adding ‘ESG’ or ‘Sustainable’ to its name. Defaqto’s approach to this has always been to enable the adviser to easily access the information that allows them to deep dive and get under the bonnet of a fund.

“Armed with ESG filters within Defaqto Engage, advisers can directly translate their ESG conversations with clients into the research they’re carrying out. The addition of Defaqto ESG Reviews further cements this detailed approach to research. This ensures that advisers can have well-informed conversations with clients and ultimately provide suitable advice to those who have expressed that they want to invest sustainably.”