Mary Austin became interested in “socially responsible investing” while working at Smith Barney 15 years ago, analysing a company that made drugs from the urine of pregnant mares. A client who wanted to invest in the company called her and asked about the mares.

“I’ve always been an animal lover, but I had no idea how the horses were being treated,” says Ms Austin, now a high-yield fund manager at New Hampshire-based Pax World . When she left Smith Barney years later, she resolved to find a job that would allow her to combine her financial interests with her love of nature.