Reflecting on Good Money Investing: Moving from "Why?" to "How?"

Posted by Stuart Mills, Practical Acts, on LinkedIn on 24th November 2025

It has been a few weeks since we gathered at Cazenove Capital for our Good Money Investing event to celebrate Good Money Week. While the calendar pages have turned since October 6th, the conversations from that evening have stayed with me, simmering and settling.

Sometimes, it takes a moment to step back and process the richness of a room filled with people asking the same big question.

We started the evening with the provocation that launched our entire journey: “Why is it so damn hard to invest in the things that matter to me?”.

It is a question born from frustration—sitting at a kitchen table, looking at ISAs and pensions, and realizing the disconnect between the world we want to live in and the world our money is funding. But as we discussed that night, while the system is complex, we are not powerless.

The Spectrum of Capital: A Roadmap for Action

The core of the evening was exploring how we can move from confusion to action using the Spectrum of Capital. We looked at how our financial lives don't have to be split into separate buckets of "making money" and "doing good." Instead, we can look at everything—from traditional wealth management to philanthropy—through the lens of our values.

To bring this to life, I had the privilege of moderating a panel of experts and collaborators who helped build the Wealth With A Why playbook. Each represented a vital piece of the puzzle:

• Emilie Shaw MCSI from Cazenove Capital represented the world of Wealth Management, discussing how we can engage with traditional financial institutions to align our portfolios with our values.

• Chris Butler from Ethex brought the perspective of Impact Investment, showing us how we can accept risk-adjusted returns while contributing to measurable solutions.

• Jane Cabutti from the Environmental Funders Network represented Philanthropy, reminding us that this is society’s most flexible capital, capable of taking risks that other finance cannot.

• Stephanie Mills, my co-author and partner, spoke to the personal side of the journey—how we used the Traffic Light System to audit our own assets and the realization that we are "worth more than our money".

The Power of the 5Ts

One of the night's most resonant themes was that our capital isn't limited to our bank accounts. We discussed the 5 Ts of Capital: Treasure, Time, Talent, Testimony, and Ties.

Whether it was chatting with a neighbor about what "Good Money" means to them or discussing the fear of greenwashing, the energy in the room proved that when we combine our "Ties" (networks) and "Testimony" (voice), we amplify our impact far beyond what we can do alone.

As the African proverb we quoted says: "If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together".

Continuing the Conversation

If you missed the event, or if—like us—you are still processing the ideas shared, the work continues. We are on a mission to encourage as many people as possible to have a conversation about their values and their capital.

It doesn't have to be perfect. As we said that night, a simple "Traffic Light" approach—marking investments Green (good), Amber (needs work), or Red (exit)—can get you to better. And incrementally, that is how the world gets better.

📖 Read More in Wealth With A Why

To dive deeper into the concepts discussed at the event, I recommend looking at the following sections of our book:

• For the "5 Ts" and finding your agency: Read Part 1: The Purposeful Investor. Specifically, the chapter Your Capital and the Power of Generosity breaks down Time, Talent, and Ties in detail.

• For the "Traffic Light" and investment types: Read Part 2: The Purposeful Investment Landscape. This section details the differences between Traditional Wealth Management, Impact Investment, and Philanthropy.

• For the "How-To": Read Part 3: Capital in Action, which details the specific financial vehicles we used, from changing bank accounts to community shares.

🔗 Explore More Resources

Our panelists represented organizations that are vital resources for this journey. You can explore their work here:

• Cazenove Capital: For understanding sustainable wealth management.

• Ethex: For direct positive investment in community and environmental projects.

• Environmental Funders Network: For guidance on effective environmental philanthropy.

• Impatience Earth: For specialist philanthropy advice on climate issues.

You can also find our full list of recommended books, reports, and websites at www.wealthwithawhy.co.uk.

Question for You:

At the event, we asked the audience: For someone motivated but overwhelmed, what is the most high-leverage action they can take this month to begin their journey?.

I’d love to hear your answer. What is the one small step you are willing to take this week?