About Us

The Scales of Justice, our corporate logo, reflects The Social Equity Group’s core values—a dedication to integrity, excellence, fair-mindedness, and respect. We are guided by these principles every day as we serve our clients’ diverse investment needs.

Duncan Meaney is the founder and president of the Social Equity Group, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisory firm specializing in socially responsible investing for individuals and institutions. Mr. Meaney has been managing portfolios for clients employing social as well as financial criteria since 1990.

Mr. Meaney has been involved with socially responsible investing since 1983, when he began his career with Working Assets Money Fund as a registered representative. In 1985 he went on to join San Francisco’s oldest financial planning firm, Protected Investors of America. In 1987 he co-founded Progressive Asset Management and in 1992 started the Social Equity Group.

Mr. Meaney’s area of expertise includes securities management, fixed income, green and social impact bonds, option writing and community investing.

Mr. Meaney has been responsible for the due diligence, acquisition, origination and syndication of numerous affordable housing and community investing funds. These projects were all partnerships with non-profit institutions including Catholic Charities, the Housing Authority of Tulare County and the Low Income Investment Fund.

He is an acknowledged expert in the field of low-income housing and Community Investing. He has been quoted in national publications, including Business Ethics, The San Francisco Chronicle and The Chicago Tribune. He has given many public and private lectures on various topics pertaining to investing.

Mr. Meaney served on the Board of Directors of UA Housing, a non-profit organization involved in affordable housing development and management in Berkeley, California. Mr. Meaney was a co-founder and served as chair of the Bay Area Socially Responsible Investment Professionals.

Mr. Meaney received his degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 1981. Securities Licenses in the past included series 6, 7, 24, and 53. His interests include dance, art, bicycling as well as playing the banjo.

Ron Freund, CFS, is Vice-President of the Social Equity Group (SEG), and a Registered Representative for Western International Securities

For over 25 years, Ron has worked with investors seeking to integrate their financial and social objectives through their investments. He specializes in working with individuals, non-profit organizations, and small businesses. In this work, Ron has focused on retirement planning, social screening. He is a Certified Fund Specialist.

Ron Freund designs Strategic Allocation Portfolios designed to meet your financial and social objectives. In addition, Ron assists in the development of Investment Policy Statements (IPS) for institutional clients

At SEG, Ron is responsible for meeting with clients and evaluating which investment strategy is best suited for each client. Depending on the Risk Profile, this can include money markets, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, and comprehensive money management services.

He also coordinates the shareholder proxy campaigns to impact corporate policy.

Ron Freund has an M.A. in International Relations from Northwestern University and has studied abroad in Denmark and East Africa. Ron completed his securities training at the Institute for Business and Finance. He earned the coveted CFS designation with specialization in Modern Portfolio Theory.

Ron has traveled extensively researching new investment opportunities including trips to Europe, Russia, New Zealand, and China. These have included visiting solar and wind power companies as well as meeting with local NGOs which monitor environmental, labor and human rights policies.

Ron has been active in community affairs and corporate responsibility for over thirty years. He helped develop successful legislation to divest Illinois pension funds from South Africa. He has also led shareholder efforts to impact corporate policies on arms control, human rights, and the environment. Most recently, he coordinated a successful campaign to remove tobacco products from drug store chains.

Ron Freund has been featured in numerous media outlets including the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, Barron’s, Crain’s, the ABA Journal and numerous TV and radio programs.