THE TOOLS
Questions
to Ask
We are not alone on this journey. Use these questions as conversation starters with your advisors, businesses, entrepreneurs, charities, friends, to help you along your purposeful journey.
You can start a meaningful dialogue with your wealth manager or financial advisor and ensure that your financial strategy aligns with your desire for a more purposeful and sustainable future.
Don't be afraid to challenge jargon and demand clear, understandable answers.
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Setting and sharing an agenda in advance of meetings will ensure the matters which are important to you and which you wish to discuss are not rushed and attention inevitably starts to fade. It will also give your adviser time to research or prepare if necessary, making it more likely that you can have an informed discussion. You may be asking questions or making suggestions that your adviser has never encountered before, and they will appreciate not being “put on the spot”.
​By asking these questions across the board, you'll be well-equipped to make truly purposeful impact investments that align with your values and contribute to a more sustainable and thriving future.
Don't hesitate to push for clear answers and evidence – your money has the power to make a real difference!
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Use investor clubs, with members’ shared experience and expertise, help navigate due diligence. They are also, potentially, more efficient use of time, beneficial for entrepreneurs, who don’t have to face individual questioning from many different interested potential investors.
You can approach philanthropy with the same intentionality and focus on purpose that you bring to your investments, ensuring that your giving truly contributes to the positive change you wish to see in the world.
Remember, generosity, when guided by purpose, can be a powerful force!
There can be an un-said power balance with funders, where charities tend to cater to the wishes of the funder rather than the people, causes and communities they are supporting. But, most charitable organisations are time and cash poor, with staff stretched thin at the best of times. You can be interested without being demanding: Be respectful of how much time you’re asking of the organisation in line with the size of your donation.
ASK Yourself...
What are my core values when it comes to social and environmental issues?
What does ‘purposeful’ truly mean to me in the context of my wealth?
Am I comfortable with the potential trade-offs between financial return and social/environmental impact?
What does 'purposeful giving' mean to me?
Beyond financial returns, what kind of impact do I want my money to have in the world?
