This article, featuring Net Positive Consortium members from Focus Partners Wealth, Brighton Jones, and Mariner, originally appeared in AdvisorHub. Click here to read the full article.
Purpose has long been part of the conversation in wealth management, but for a growing number of RIAs, it is no longer a side initiative or a branding exercise. It is becoming a core part of how firms operate, compete and grow.
From Philosophy to Strategy
That was the central theme of a recent webinar, where members of the Net Positive Consortium in Wealth Management — an industry group which promotes advisor community engagement — outlined how community impact is being embedded directly into business strategy. The discussion made clear that what was once considered “nice to have” is increasingly shaping everything from hiring to client retention to long-term growth.
At Focus Partners, Wealth Division President Gerald B. Goldberg framed the evolution in simple terms: purpose is no longer optional—it’s connective tissue. “It’s not just about doing good,” Goldberg said. “It creates connection. And through connection, trust is built.”
That idea is increasingly shaping how firms define growth. At Brighton Jones, the commitment is tangible, with structured programs that tie both revenue and employee time to community initiatives. Leadership sees a direct line between those efforts and business outcomes, particularly when it comes to client loyalty and referrals. Mariner Wealth Advisors has taken a similarly deliberate approach, using firmwide giving and volunteer programs to unify a fast-growing organization.
Mariner CIO Katrina Radenberg described the role of those initiatives as something deeper than branding. “It becomes cultural glue,” she said, pointing to the way shared purpose can align teams across geographies and business lines. For firms that have scaled through acquisitions or rapid hiring, that kind of cohesion is increasingly critical. Community impact, once seen as additive, is now serving as a stabilizing force.