Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Black Rock Blackened

Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson issued the following statement. 

On March 26, 2024, Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson and the Securities Division of the Secretary of State’s Office issued a Summary Cease and Desist Order and Notice of Intent to Impose Administrative Penalty against BlackRock, Inc., a multinational investment company and the world's largest asset manager. 

The Securities Division is seeking to stop BlackRock’s alleged fraudulent actions and impose a multimillion-dollar administrative penalty.

BlackRock provides exchange-traded funds (ETFs), or pooled investments categorized as securities, and currently manages over nine trillion dollars in investments through 70 offices in 30 countries. BlackRock has recently asserted itself as a leader in the investment industry to promote environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors on portfolio companies. 

The Securities Division alleges BlackRock, through its ESG assertions, has repeatedly made false and misleading statements to Mississippi investors. These misrepresentations pertain to BlackRock’s involvement in pushing ESG factors on portfolio companies.

"Investment companies will not push their political agenda on Mississippians, especially through fraudulent and deceptive means,” said Secretary Michael Watson. “All citizens should have the opportunity to make informed and educated decisions when investing their hard-earned money. If not, our office will hold these bad actors accountable." 

For funds marketed as non-ESG, BlackRock claims these funds do not follow an ESG investment strategy. However, BlackRock has issued several statements and actions in commitment of using all assets under its management to incorporate ESG considerations, including advancing the environmental goals of net zero carbon emissions. 

BlackRock also informed clients they would see better long-term financial prospects and financial outcomes through ESG-backed funds, with little to no evidence to substantiate the claim. 


24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Is this an election year?

Anonymous said...

Here is a novel idea. Go old school. Find a guy that can buy you a diversified group of quality US mid to mostly large cap stocks. It ain't rocket science to gear it more conservative with dividend payers or more aggressive with non dividend payers. Cut out that middle man, you wouldn't believe the fees. If your financial advisor is just taking your money, and putting it into funds, you aren't dealing with a financial advisor you are dealing with a salesman. Why do your bond funds pay 3%, then after your advisor fee you net 1.5% when a risk free cd pays 5%? Should not you be compensated for that risk of pooled corporate bonds? it isn't hard to figure out people quit being sheep and yes I'm looking at you local northwestern mutual and edward jones people.

Anonymous said...

@10:33 -- I've made quite a bit of money with my Edward Jones guy ... but thanks for the input.

Anonymous said...

This is how little the globalist, billionaire CEO of BlackRock Fink thinks of you. "Fink noted that Americans' longevity in retirement is also straining the financial health of Social Security..." Yes, Americans, it's your fault that Social Security benefits are about to be cut and/or eliminated. How dare you live a long time!

It's definitely not the fault of Congress, who has raided the Social Security trust fund for decades.

Anonymous said...

"However, BlackRock has issued several statements and actions in commitment of using all assets under its management to incorporate ESG considerations,.."

Makes sense. Companies that incorporate ESG considerations have lower future liabilities associated with their operations and should be better long-term investments. If only the companies that are the worst polluters would incorporate ESG policies. Unfortunately, the companies that incorporate ESG considerations are the ones that don't generate much waste anyway and ESG costs them virtually nothing.

Anonymous said...

Maybe tack on all of the housing market manipulation they're doing, too. Scooping up rooftops or throwing together rental communities via ownership in housing companies is a new favorite pastime. This keeps the supply low for individual buyers and prices high, and high housing prices helps their investments numbers look really, really good.

Oh but they'll be the first to tell you they don't own houses. Yes they do, it's just in some other company's name.

Anonymous said...

I support this. And I see the day coming when ESG faces tremendous backlash. PERS should just buy Vanguard's S&P 500 index fund.

Anonymous said...

Texas has done the same thing, mainly because of the oil and gas lobby in Texas, saying that BlackRock was offering ESGs which are not in line with the petrochemical foundation of Texas.

Anonymous said...

And you wondered why PEERS is in trouble. If this is the mountain on which he choose to fight, this place is doomed. Blackrock is moving into the future and we are stuck in the muddy past. Fool, put PEERS funds in IBIT to keep up with inflation!!!

Anonymous said...

@10:33 AM (likely troll) I too have been enjoying a good ROR through Edward Jones. Maybe you should invest real money and not Monopoly play money.

Anonymous said...

Good start, keep going.

Anonymous said...

"Companies that incorporate ESG considerations have lower future liabilities associated with their operations and should be better long-term investments."

Uhm, nope.

And while I can't speak to EJ, I have also enjoyed an excellent ROR WITHOUT them or anyone else.

Anonymous said...

March 27, 2024 at 11:04 AM, if you think ESG is for the betterment of the investors, have I got a deal on a bridge for you.

Anonymous said...

The SOS should take them to court in Rankin County and a judge should fine the $450 million.

Anonymous said...

@ 10:33

I agree with the EdJones and NWMutual statements... add in Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch and any bank too. If your Financial Advisor works for any company... you are just making a profit for them at your investment return's expense.

That said, there are good financial advisors... just not at an insurance shop or bank/wire house. Find an independent advisor that represents the side of the client as a fiduciary. A true advisor can't work for a company and their clients, they have opposing obligations of profit vs returns. I wouldn't send my worst enemy to an EdJones, NW/NY Life, or bank advisor.

Anonymous said...

@ 11:24 AM
Vanguard is the world's second largest investment company. Black Rock is the world's largest investment company. Vanguard holds the most shares of Black Rock with 12,868,201 shares as of January 25th, 2024. I totally agree with the Mississippi Secretary of State's representation of Black Rock. I would tell you more, but it would be longer than Kingfish would want to post. Research to find out how many shares of Target, Disney, and Budweiser that is owned by Black Rock.

Anonymous said...

@ 11:24 AM
Black Rock and Vanguard own a significant percentage of S&P 500.

Anonymous said...

Blackrock manages 8.68 Trillion with Tom Donilon as Chairman.

Tom Donilon was Obama's National Security Advisor, before that he was a lobbysit with O'melvney & Myers from 99 to 05. His number #1 client was Fannie Mae. Before that he headed up Fannie Mae's legal department.

Tom Donilon's brother is Mike Donilon who is Senior Advisor to Joe Biden. Tom Donilon's wife is Catherine Russell who is Biden's White House Personnel Director. She oversees every hire in the WH. His daughter is Sarah Donilon who is on the White House National Security Council.

They are setting the agenda, making policy, controlling the companies that profit from it. You think your life, your state is has no exposure to Blackrock's control?

The dragon is being well fed. If you think it isn't, then it is only because you refuse to read the menu.

Make no mistake most every aspect of your life is on it.

Anonymous said...

Great work Mr. Watson. Blackrock is an svil.

Anonymous said...

11:04 AM said "if you think ESG is for the betterment of the investors, have I got a deal on a bridge for you."

I fixed it for you.
"If you think ESG is for the betterment of the investors, have I got a deal on a on the Francis Scott Key bridge for you."

Anonymous said...

4:24,

Thank you for telling us who is actually running the country and the world. Always wondered who was the puppet master.

Anonymous said...

$:24 is spot on...

1% are the elite establishment and they control everything

4% are their puppets (media, entertainers, elected and non elected government officials)

90% of the population are asleep

5% of the population is trying to wake up the 90%

the 1% have instructed the 4% to stop the 5%

the ersatz mayor . . . said...

THANKS TO 4:24, and 7:23, Mr. Watson, and JJ for publishing this 'true crime' episode, this is the most important revelation I've read here on JJ, especially the 1%, 5%, 90% explanation! and wish it had greater circulation, try Emmerich's Northide Sun maybe? Kudos also for your coverage of the Goon Squad crimes.... Reading the JJ and most importantly, the comments for balance and humor, keeps me well informed.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Fink, the head of Blackrock, seems to think that it's his place to decide how people should act. He admits to this in the video link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cCs9Kh2Q08&t=1677s

Fast-forward to 27:57 mark


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