Your client is clear on their values. You’ve had conversations that go beyond asset allocation and risk tolerance — discussions that have touched on legacy, purpose, and the world that your clients hope to help shape. Now the question becomes: what can they do with their portfolio?
At CapShift, we often see well-intentioned portfolios fall short of their impact potential simply because the next step — implementation — feels too murky. Financial advisors can play a critical role here, not just in identifying options, but in demystifying what’s possible. Here are ways to turn values into actionable strategies across asset classes.
1. Reimagine public markets: Don’t just screen — engage
Public equities and fixed income are often a substantial portion of client portfolios. Advisors can go beyond negative screens by helping clients invest in ESG-integrated strategies that proactively buy companies or own bond issuances that are advancing sustainability and equity either through the products and services they offer or through the projects and initiatives they fund. Better still, within public equities, look for fund managers who engage in shareholder advocacy to drive improvements on climate disclosures, labor practices, and board diversity.
⟶ Ask: What does a client want to own rather than what they want to screen out? Is the client comfortable with exposure to imperfect companies if it means using ownership to create change?
2. Unlock private markets: Fuel solutions at the frontier
Private investments offer clients the opportunity to get closer to the source of impact — directly investing in companies, projects, and funds solving pressing global challenges. Whether it’s venture capital backing climate innovation or private credit funds financing affordable housing, private markets can deliver measurable, catalytic outcomes.
⟶ Actionable next step: Introduce the client to fund managers focused on mission-aligned sectors like clean energy, regenerative agriculture, or financial inclusion.
3. Put idle cash to work for good
Even the cash portion of a portfolio can be optimized for greater impact. Community development financial institutions (CDFIs) and mission-driven banks offer impact-aligned cash alternatives — placing capital in underserved communities, funding small businesses, and supporting affordable housing.
⟶ Option to explore: Consider impact-oriented cash accounts or insured deposit programs with social mission alignment.
4. Use the entire toolkit: Philanthropy
Clients with donor-advised funds (DAFs) or private foundations can align their philanthropic assets more intentionally. Program-related investments (PRIs) and recoverable grants offer ways to deploy charitable capital with investment discipline.
⟶ Recommendation: Consider a DAF provider with impact investing capabilities.
Help clients lead with capital and purpose
Your role as an advisor is not just about stewarding wealth but also about helping clients lead with it. With the right tools, partners, and intentional design, a portfolio can do far more than grow — it can create the change your clients want to see in the world.
At CapShift, we work with advisors to unlock the full impact potential of client portfolios. Whether you’re looking to source opportunities, build education, or implement custom strategies, we’re here to help. Get in touch with us to get started.
Liz Sessler is president, COO and co-founder of CapShift.
Advisors’ Corner is a content partnership between ImpactAlpha and CapShift. CapShift’s impact investing platform empowers financial and philanthropic institutions — and their clients — to invest in their vision for a better tomorrow. All content is solely for informational purposes and should not be used as the basis for investment decisions.
