INSPIRED IMPACT™ is an ongoing blog series that gives voice to social entrepreneurs and leaders of purpose-driven organizations who are making an impact in their communities, industries, and around the world.
Julie Fletcher McDaniel is a Partner, Financial Planner with IMPACTfolio, LLC headquartered in Denver. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and learn more at impactfolio.co.
WHAT DO YOU DO?
IMPACTfolio is a flat fee-only independent RIA that provides financial planning and impact investment advisory services for our clients.
WHY DO YOU DO IT?
At IMPACTfolio, we believe that sustainability is not optional. It’s not a niche investment strategy that we offer clients if they are “into that kind of thing.” It is core to our investment philosophy and what we believe is the only way to properly manage money for the best long-term results.
WHAT IMPACT ARE YOU MAKING?
How we choose to allocate our investments of time, money, energy, and effort profoundly affect our world. We help our clients align their “nest egg” with their own personal value system. Many of our clients are philanthropic but would love to give more. We view values-based strategies as the natural intersection between philanthropic giving and investing.
WHAT (OR WHO) INSPIRES YOU TO MAKE THIS IMPACT?
All three partners of IMPACTfolio believe that providing services as Certified Financial Planners™ is the best way we know how to help people and serve our community. We all feel passionate about ESG (environmental, social, and governance) investing for different reasons. Rebecca is fueled from the environmental side, Julie is fueled from the social side, and Scott is fueled from the governance side. Read more about it in our bios at impactfolio.co/about.
WHAT’S YOUR BIG DREAM FOR THE ORGANIZATION AND THE IMPACT YOU WANT TO MAKE?
Our big dream is to radically reject the established norms of the financial services industry. We hope to inspire future advisors to follow in our footsteps by leaving “traditional investing” in the past and adopt sustainable investing practices as the way of the future. In addition, we hope to lead the way in adopting a flat-fee compensation structure that is tied to services provided, not the number of digits left of the decimal.
WHAT RESOURCES DO YOU NEED TO MAKE THOSE DREAMS COME TRUE?
Just help us spread the good word!
WHAT IS (OR HAS BEEN) YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE?
When telling our story, we have found incorrect preconceived notions about sustainable or impact investing principles. Our goal is to help our clients and professional partners understand that you do not have to accept lower rates of return on a portfolio in order to invest in companies that follow an ESG (environmental, social, and governance) mandate.
WHAT WORDS OF ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHER LEADERS LOOKING TO MAKE AN IMPACT?
Don’t be afraid to challenge the norms.
HOW CAN OTHERS SUPPORT YOU OR YOUR CAUSE?
We are accepting new clients and would be happy to chat with you if you would like our help and support!
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