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Toussaint Bailey is the founder and managing partner of Uplifting Capital, a fund of funds manager based in San Rafael, Calif., focused on ESG, sustainable and impact investing.
‘I have more than enough money. I want it to do something.’
More and more, advisors are hearing clients express this sentiment. The client that started it all for Uplifting Capital was a retired (and relatively young) chief technology officer and co-founder. When his renewable energy-enabling technology company IPO’d, he made enough money for his family to live comfortably for generations. I sat with him and his financial advisor in his well-groomed but modest backyard, listening intently as he grappled out loud with how to align his deep-seated values with his sudden wealth.
Gone are the days when clients simply sought portfolio management advice, tax strategies or insurance options. Today’s clients want bespoke financial strategies that reflect their whole lives, a dynamic the industry calls ‘holistic financial planning.’ This approach is personal, comprehensive and continuous. It’s clear that relationship-oriented professionals have an edge.
Increasingly, the advisor-client relationship transcends, ‘How can I grow my wealth?’ This is especially true for higher-net-worth clients.
A growing number of clients are reflecting and asking, ‘What impact is my wealth having?’ Values-aligned investing helps show a client that the advisor is invested in helping fulfill the client’s personal purpose and legacy — and that their relationship is about more than money.
Why values-aligned investing is here to stay
With over $1.5tn in assets under management according to the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN), strategies such as impact investing, once considered a niche offering, are becoming essential tools in a modern advisor’s toolkit. Personal values and investment strategies have been dancing since the 1700s, with groups like Quakers and Methodists long expressing their religious convictions with their portfolios.
What’s new is the scale of investor demand.
In Morgan Stanley’s 2025 report, 88% of global individual investors reported being interested in investing for market-rate financial returns and positive social and/or environmental impact. Over 75% said they would select a financial advisor or investment platform based on their sustainable investment offerings. And this is just the beginning.
Women and younger generations are particularly interested in aligning their investments with their values. With $84.4tn set to change hands in the coming years, impact investing is a solution financial advisors can use to differentiate themselves and attract (or retain) the next generation of investors. Further, they can use values-alignment to bridge intergenerational gaps and develop strong relationships with younger beneficiaries early on.