A ValuesAdvisor Success Story

About ten years ago, when I became an inheritor, all I knew was that I wanted to get the money out of Merrill Lynch and into someplace where I could be sure it would do no harm, while I was figuring out how to give it away. I met with a few people, looked at the Coop America (now Green America) Directory, read back issues of More Than Money magazine, and settled on Greg Garvan/Money with a Mission, which turned out to be a good choice for me. 

Last month, Greg announced his retirement, and so began my search for a new money manager. Thankfully, this time, I had the ValuesAdvisor tool at my disposal! What a helpful tool it turned out to be. First of all, every advisor listed has been put forth by members of respected High Net Wealth groups like Toniic, WDN, and Resource Generation, and vetted by the ValuesAdvisor team prior to joining the database. Secondly, all the data on each firm is in one place, and with a few clicks, I could filter and compare my choices without having to search online and compile the data myself.  

Thirdly, I learned a lot by using the tool. The more I explored, using the simple search and filter functions, the more I was able to articulate my priorities. I wanted to find someone in my general geographic area, and I wanted their AUM (assets under management) to be 100% impact. Also, I didn’t want to look at any firms that offered their own investment products. I wanted my AUM to lie comfortably within the firm’s range — not their biggest client, but not their smallest either. Shareholder action is also important to me.  

Once I narrowed my search down to four firms, I could make initial contact with one click. Zoom meetings were scheduled, during which I could ask questions specific to my situation, get a sense of the firm, and assess whether it felt like a good fit. One firm was eliminated quickly because they did not do private placements (direct investments in companies outside the stock market), but it was still valuable to have the conversation with them. Each interview helped me know better what to ask during the next one. 

Narrowing down to the final three firms, I felt fully confident that any of them would be a good choice.  I had two virtual meetings with each firm, followed by in person meetings to get a feel for the offices. I asked lots of questions, and shared my financial info in order to get specific feedback.   It ultimately came down to a matter of geography, the advisors’ management style, and how I connected with the team.  In the end, I chose a local-to-me firm with a very diverse all female team.  

Part of being a responsible wealth-holder is getting your investments aligned with your values. For people like me, who are happy to pay someone to manage their money, ValuesAdvisor makes it very easy to find a socially responsible firm to fill that role.

-Ellen