Dallas Welcomes SRI, Highland Wealth Management Has Added Socially Responsible Investing to Its Existing Financial Applications

Dallas, TX, July 18, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Highland Wealth Management (HWM) announced today that Heidi Karlsson has joined the firm as Vice President, Socially Responsible Investing Division. With the headlines full of economic uncertainty, investment scandals on the rise and socially responsible investing becoming more and more mainstream, concerned citizens around the country are looking into the investments of the institutions they are connected to, including city and state treasuries and public pension funds. According to the Social Investment Forum, Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) is a broad-based approach to investing that now encompasses an estimated $2.71 trillion or one out of 10 invested dollars out of $25.1 trillion in the U.S. investment marketplace today. SRI recognizes that corporate responsibility and societal concerns are valid parts of investment decisions. SRI considers both the investor's financial needs and an investment’s impact on society. “Between 1995 and 2007, total dollars under professional management in SRI grew from $639 billion to $2.71 trillion, outpacing the overall market. "We are very pleased to welcome Heidi Karlsson to the team as our new VP, Socially Responsible Investing Division at Highland Wealth Management," said Highland Wealth Management CEO Shaun Smith. "Heidi brings a wealth of knowledge, passion, skills and experience to HWM, and is one of the new real leaders in the field of socially responsible investing. We think Heidi is the right person to lead the SRI Division on a day-to-day basis during this important period in our own growth, and in the growth of socially responsible investing in general."

"Joining Highland Wealth Management as VP, Socially Responsible Investing Division is the opportunity of a lifetime," said Karlsson. "I have respect for the diversity and independence of the company, and I am honored that they have asked me to join them. HWM is well-positioned for growth and innovation at a time when investors are increasingly looking to align their investments with their values, and companies are increasingly seeing the bottom-line benefits of social and environmental responsibility." Socially responsible investing (SRI) spans a wide and growing range of products and investments, from stocks and bonds, to savings, checking and other banking accounts, to venture capital. Like all investors, socially responsible investors seek a competitive financial return on their investments, and the good news is that it is possible to consistently achieve this.

Just as many people are exhibiting their values by buying organic foods, driving hybrid cars, or choosing energy efficient appliances, they are also basing their investment decisions on their ethics and belief system, i.e. faith-based investors. Also called ethical investing, socially aware investing, or “green” investing, indicates an attitude to investing that combines intentions to maximize returns and social and environmental good. More and more, investors are trying to align their investments with organizations based on their products and services, their environmental impact and policies, labor relations and human rights records, and community involvement.

Karlsson most recently served as a consulting advisor for strategic Corporate Social Responsibility in Dallas, Texas. She has gained global expertise in the areas of social responsibility, international relations and sustainable development through her studies, her professional experiences and travels to more than 20 countries. Her university background is in Political and Social Science (Michigan State University), International Relations (London and Paris). She was in Corporate Communications for twelve years before becoming involved in Socially Responsible Investing, and holds a Master of Arts in Environmental Policy Dispute Resolution from Southern Methodist University.

About Highland Wealth Management
The SRI Division - strives to enable individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations of conscience to invest in keeping with their ethical values and to challenge corporations to establish and meet certain ethical standards. We provide investors with the information and tools needed to integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations in their sustainable investment decision-making.

Highland Wealth Management also offers independent financial services, advising and planning through its broker/dealer affiliation with Williams Financial Group, (WFG Investments, Inc.), member FINRA/SIPC. Accounts are cleared and held with National Financial Services LLC, a Fidelity Investment company, and are protected by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC).

To learn more, or for a free consultation, please call 972-473-3734, visit www.myhighlandsri.com or visit the full corporate site at www.myhighlandwealth.com .

Or contact sriinfo@myhighlandwealth.com for more information.

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