sustainable investing

How to Invest with Impact: 3 Strategies for Sustainable Investing

At SageSpring Wealth Partners, we believe in the power of making an impact with your dollar. Where you spend and invest your money matters. That’s why it’s so important to make sure that you’re investing in companies and organizations that align with your personal values. 

You may have heard that Generation Z is on a mission to make an impact on the world—especially when it comes to how they spend their money. A recent survey by US Bank found that active Gen Z investors want to invest in things they care about and 85% would accept returns on investments that differ from the S&P 500.1 Let’s face it: the younger generation is creating their financial portfolios with their values top of mind. And you can too.

In recent years, the financial industry has seen a major shift in the market as more people begin to align their money goals with their values to make an even bigger impact. We want to help you understand how you can do just that through sustainable investing strategies. 

What Is Sustainable Investing?

Sustainable investing is a type of investment that enables you to align your money with your values in order to have a greater impact on the environment, society, and governance (ESG) aspects of the economy. Another term for this concept is “values-based investing.”

Many investors believe that their dollar is their vote. Where you spend your money and what you invest in can make a huge impact on the world. That’s why it’s so important to make sure you’re working with a financial advisor who shares your professional and personal beliefs. They can help you find sustainable investing companies that align with your values while steering you away from others who don’t. 

How To Get Started With Sustainable Investing

Sustainable investing may sound like just another new investment strategy to keep up with, but if you care about how your dollars impact the world around you, it’s a worthy pursuit. Here are a few easy steps to get started on your values-based investing journey.

1. Know your values.

To get started with sustainable investing, you have to know what your values are. Spend some time thinking through your core beliefs and how they could have an impact on your family and even your greater community. Knowing your values will help you discover your own set of dos and don’ts of investing as you begin your journey.

2. Do your research.

Doing your research on the companies you’re investing in is important. What are their corporate values? Where do they spend their dollars and what impact are they making on society? Once you have answers to those questions, compare them with your core values. Do they align?

3. Find a financial advisor who aligns with your values.

Knowing the heart of who is on your money team is a big deal. When your dollar is making a financial impact on your family, impacting your future, and even the future of the world, you want someone on your team who truly cares about your values as well. Asking them about their values is a great way to see if they’re a good fit for you and your family.

Sustainable Investing Strategies

If you’re serious about making sure your values and your investments line up, it’s time to talk strategy. Here are a few sustainable investing strategies to discuss with your financial advisor as you move forward:

Environmental, Social, and Governance Investing (ESG)

This is a form of investing that takes the environment, society, and government into consideration when diversifying your portfolio and choosing which companies to buy into. Companies who care about ESG are doing their best to make a positive impact on environmental issues like climate change, social issues like human rights, and even government issues like standing by or against certain laws. 

Impact Investing

This sustainable investing strategy is great if you’d like to achieve your financial returns while supporting companies that are making an impact. For instance, maybe you care about renewable energy. If that’s a value of yours, you might invest in a company that’s leading the cause and making strides while giving you returns on your investment.  

Socially Responsible Investing (SRI)

This is a type of investing that keeps social impact at the forefront of your investing strategy. You may care more about your values and ethical considerations than you do your return on investment. This type of strategy considers that the return on investment isn’t just financial, but societal change.

If you want to consider sustainable investing strategies, we can help. Find a SageSpring Wealth Partner in your area today and we’ll help you invest with impact for tomorrow. 


Incorporating sustainable investing criteria into the investment selection process may result in investment performance deviating from other investment strategies or broad market benchmarks.

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Jeffrey T. Dobyns

CFP®, CLU, CHFC

President, SageSpring 

Jeffrey T. Dobyns

President, SageSpring 

Beyond crunching numbers and investment strategies, at SageSpring, we’re about building relationships. When you encounter Founder & President of SageSpring, Jeff Dobyns, it’s easy to understand why this is at the very heart of who we are as a firm. You won’t find stuffy formalities with Jeff; instead, you can expect to find him sharing a warm smile, communicating a compelling vision, or patiently untangling life’s complex challenges with clients. He believes in truly getting to know clients, understanding their aspirations and priorities, and navigating their financial plans with a tailored, comprehensive approach. Our team members have often been caught taking notes on Jeff’s effortless relationship skills from a distance, and we admire them for striving to learn from one of the best. 

Jeff’s financial expertise and wisdom are the perfect match to his innate people skills. Jeff holds the prestigious CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM certification, Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®), and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChLU®) designations, and has held executive positions with financial planning firms for more than two decades. 

His dedication extends beyond the office to the boardroom and the local community, where Jeff is passionate about giving back. He serves as Chairman of the Board of Men of Valor, a prison ministry and mentoring program. Jeff also serves on the board of Send Musicians to Prison, which shares hope, healing and restoration with the imprisoned through musicians & artists. Jeff actively supports other initiatives in the community by sitting on the board of The Signatry of Middle Tennessee and the Halftime Institute of Nashville. 

Witnessing his four children, Gracyn, Hunter, Tanner, and Logan, excel on the field is almost just as rewarding, if not more, than celebrating the victories of seeing his clients overcome obstacles and build wealth. Spending weekends boating on the lake, hiking mountain trails, and fishing with his family are the moments Jeff cherishes most. It’s this grounded perspective that reveals the true meaning of wealth for Jeff: not just numbers on a page, but the freedom to create experiences that enrich your life and the lives of those you love. When you choose the Dobyns McMillin Wealth Team, you choose more than financial expertise. You choose a partner who champions your dreams, celebrates your victories, and walks besides you on the path to achieving your unique goals.

**Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER TM, CFP® (with plaque design) and CFP® (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.