Imagine a world where the gender pay gap closed in 1965. Where parents haven’t paid for childcare in generations. Where teachers earn more than lawyers, cervical cancer was eradicated in the 1980s, and the United States ranks as the happiest country on earth.
That’s not a utopian fantasy. It’s economic modeling; a data-backed reimagining of what the world looks like when women control half the capital and half the power. And it’s the driving force behind the Our Sheconomy, a new initiative helmed by Janine Firpo, impact investor and co-founder of Invest for Better.
In this week’s episode of HerMoney, Jean Chatzky sat down with Janine to talk about the Great Wealth Transfer, the real case for impact investing, and what every woman — at every income level — can do right now to start putting her money to work in ways that actually reflect her values.
Can Impact Investing Really Compete With Traditional Returns?
One of the biggest misconceptions about impact investing is that you have to choose between your values and your financial future. Janine pushes back on this, directly.
Jean Chatzky: One of the concerns I hear from women in their fifties and sixties, especially, is: I care about impact, but at this point in my life, I cannot afford to sacrifice returns. I’m too close to retirement. Is it possible to invest with intention without jeopardizing your financial security?
Janine Firpo: I do think it is. But this is not an all-or-nothing game. You can make choices where maybe you move some of your capital into something that feels safer and more comfortable for you.
You can think as simply as something like your bank. I moved all of my money out of the big banks, and it’s all now in local banks in my community, being used to provide capital to underserved populations. I’m getting the same kind of return on my cash. I have mobile banking just like I had before. And if you are in the stock market, you can use losses to offset gains, and you can think about moving from an existing investment into something that is more values-aligned that gives you the same return or better. If you’ve got money in retirement accounts, you can move money around in those accounts and not have to deal with the capital gains issue at all. There are many, many ways you can do this without giving up financial return.
Why ESG Is Still Smart Investing — Politics Aside
The term “ESG” has become politically charged. But Janine says the backlash against the label hasn’t changed the underlying logic, or the long-term case for impact investing.
Jean Chatzky: Does a changing regulatory or political climate alter the long-term case for impact investing?
Janine Firpo: The term ESG has become incredibly politicized, primarily due to the influence of the oil and gas industry. But it’s really important to recognize that the term only applies to the stock market. And what is important to understand is that it is, at its core, a risk management tool.
It’s really saying: the success of a company is dependent on more than just their bottom line. I want, as an investor, to know more about this company than what their financials look like. There are huge changes afoot — climate, AI, social upheaval. If you are not thinking about those changes and what that’s going to mean to a company’s viability in the long term, then you are not making the best strategic decisions. Although the term ESG has become a political hot button, it is not stopping people from looking at the risks these challenges pose to corporate success. It’s just smart investing.
The Bottom Line: Your Money Is More Powerful Than You Think
Impact investing isn’t a luxury reserved for the wealthy, and it’s not a political statement. It’s a practical, data-backed approach to making sure your money is working as hard for the world as it is for your portfolio.
Whether you move your savings to a local bank, run your fund tickers through As You Sow, or join the OurSheconomy’s 14-week challenge, every step counts. The Great Wealth Transfer isn’t hypothetical; it’s already underway. And the women who start paying attention now are the ones who will be best positioned to shape what comes next.
MORE ON HERMONEY:
- Investing For Good, With Nicole Connolly
- What U.S. Economy News Really Means for Your Money
- Financial Independence Isn’t Just About Retirement: It’s About Having Choices
Ready to put Janine’s advice into action? Join InvestingFixx, Jean’s twice-monthly women-only investing club, where expert stock pickers bring ideas to the table, and a community of women learn and win together. Your first two classes are always free.
