In Wealth With A Why, authors Stephanie and Stuart Mills share their personal and professional journey of aligning their finances with a sustainable and thriving future. As a senior executive focused on navigating uncertainty and a dedicated leader in community empowerment, Stuart and Stephanie found themselves "alarmed" by the climate crisis and the disconnect between traditional finance and planetary wellbeing. They introduce the "Spectrum of Capital" framework, which simplifies the landscape of traditional wealth management, impact investment, and philanthropic giving for individuals with "some net worth". The book breaks down the "why" and "how" of greener pensions, strategic giving, and direct impact investments, proving that an investor's value is far greater than just their bank account balance.
The narrative emphasizes the power of individual agency in driving systemic change, especially when amplified through collective action. The authors explore how money "moves things first" and how capital allocations send powerful financial signals to markets. By focusing on things they could control—such as switching retirement funds away from fossil fuel industries—the Mills discovered that understanding one's values provides the clarity and stability needed to make sound decisions amidst chaos. The book is presented as a "live" guide and compass for individual investors and financial advisors alike, offering practical tools and questions to ask across the spectrum of capital to shape a more just and prosperous world.
Reclaiming Individual Agency: The Mills' work serves as an experiment in helping "ordinary people" articulate their experience in the world of finance. They argue that the greatest risk in a disrupted world is "not having a clear compass". The Sacred Canopy of Care is supported by their guiding principle that we all have much to offer beyond our wealth—including our time, talent, testimony, and ties (the Relational Capital). By recognizing and leaning into core beliefs, individuals experience a "ripple effect" where giving benefits not only the cause but also enriches the life of the giver. Their framework challenges the traditional pillars of sound financial advice (risk, return, and tax efficiency) by integrating a client’s deepest values and anxieties into the conversation.
Wealth With A Why supports the Sacred Canopy of Care by empowering individuals to exercise their agency as "purposeful investors," ensuring that the financial systems they participate in are anchored in ethics and the care of the planet's future.