Dear friends of FCLTGlobal,
As we reflect on a period marked by significant societal and economic shifts, it’s clear that focusing on the long term isn’t just a strategy—it’s a necessity. And it is critical to distinguish between what is signal and what is noise.
2024 saw rising skepticism toward future-focused initiatives, often dismissed as too costly or uncertain in the face of immediate challenges. Many organizations have pulled back from their investments in sustainability, diversity, and other long-term priorities in response to political or economic pressures. While these efforts seem inconsequential to the bottom line in the moment, the reality is that investing now for future growth is what will separate the winners over time.
Today, businesses and investors again face choices that will determine whether they will thrive or struggle to keep up. How will we adapt to new technologies, namely artificial intelligence? How will we continue to transition to a greener energy future? How will we navigate an already volatile geopolitical landscape that has become no calmer amid conflict, social unrest, and rising prices?
The disruptive forces we face today—whether societal, technological, or environmental—are the very challenges we have been talking about when we say, “invest for the long term.” These forces underscore the need for resilient strategies that can withstand the inevitable swings of the pendulum. And yet, we still see the opposite course of action unfold with startling frequency, as evidenced by data – investment horizons continue to shorten across the global investment value chain – and by real-world actions.
Now is not the time to be passive or short-term oriented. Answering these questions strategically requires a persistent focus on the long term—and it requires investing the time and effort today to see the benefits tomorrow.
FCLTGlobal is committed to equipping our members and the broader business community with the research and tools they need to focus on the long term. Through our research, our convenings, and our collaborative work with leaders around the world, we push for long-term success by:
The goal is a sustainable and prosperous economy. Our mission is to focus capital on the long term, as we know that the outcomes are essential for businesses, investors, and, more importantly, savers and communities worldwide.
I want to thank our members, board members, strategic advisors, staff, and partners for your dedication to this mission. Your commitment, insights, and support have been invaluable in our shared goal of focusing capital on the long term.
In a world filled with noise, we remain focused on the signal: creating lasting value and safeguarding the financial futures of generations to come.
To a successful and forward-looking 2025,
Sarah Keohane Williamson
CEO, FCLTGlobal
Report
21 January 2025 - As we begin 2025, FCLTGlobal looks back on another year of progress in our mission to focus capital on the long term to support a sustainable and prosperous economy.
Report
18 December 2024 - This 5th edition of FCLT Compass reflects 15 years of data, examining global wealth and investment horizon shifts since 2009. In addition to answering the question, "Are capital markets becoming more long-term or short-term?" this project will now draw the essential connection between investment horizons, global participation in capital markets, and the health of household savings, demonstrating the power of long-term investing.
Press Release
30 September 2024 - In an era marked by rapid economic shifts, the need for long-term decision-making has never been more evident. FCLTGlobal has developed the FCLT Gold Standard to answer the question, “What does it mean to be long-term?”