The History
Global Investment Company (GIC) began serving clients in the life and health insurance services industry in 1984. The need for a comprehensive approach to financial needs of our clients led to an expansion of our services to include financial planning for individuals, small businesses and business executives in corporate America.
The needs of our clients began to shift from a transaction-oriented service model to an Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) model in 1992. Clients became more aware of where they wanted their investments funds directed in ways representative of their concerns. As a Registered Investment Advisor, GIC created the opportunity for clients to develop investment portfolios customized to include social responsible and sustainable investments. Investments screened for tobacco, alcohol and/or defense stocks were some selected by clients to omit from their portfolios.
2007 was the year GIC made the statement about fiduciary standards and responsibility for Investment Stewards, Investment Advisors and Investment Managers and Cathy, the founder, became an Accredited Investment Fiduciary Advisor (A.I.F.A.). It is important that GIC became known as a company which puts its clients' interests over anything else. In addition, GIC makes every attempt to provide transparency in product costs, trading costs, investment fees and management fees.
GIC works with community development credit unions, non-profit organizations, municipalities, quasi-public agencies and individuals to help reach their financial goals. We offer fiduciary consulting, investment management and investment advice with focus on social and sustainable responsibility.
As a result of GIC's work with fiduciaries and individuals living and working within their territories the expansion into areas, such as providing advice and consulting in developing social development goals for organizations to impact their communities and financial markets.
The work with community and local decision makers led GIC to its current work in consulting in Public Banking which began in the cites of Oakland, Berkeley and Richmond along with the County of Alameda. In 2017, the first multi-jurisdictional collaboration seeking interest in the feasibility of a Public Bank for their communities.
