Investment Strategies for Women: Building a Portfolio That Reflects Your Values. 

Wealth with Intention: Making Your Money Mean More

Wealth management isn’t just about growing assets—it’s about using them to reflect who you are and what matters most to you. For many women, that means investing in alignment with personal values, social priorities, and long-term impact.

Whether you care deeply about environmental sustainability, corporate ethics, gender equity, or global development, your investment portfolio can—and should—reflect those convictions.

At Apriem Advisors, we work with women who want their wealth to serve a greater purpose. And that starts with building a portfolio that does more than perform—it resonates.

What Is Values-Based or ESG Investing?

Values-based investing is the intentional selection of investments that align with your ethical, social, or environmental principles. While it’s often associated with ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) frameworks, it can also include:

  • Faith-based investing

  • Diversity and inclusion-focused strategies

  • Impact investments that generate measurable social return

  • Negative screening (excluding companies that don’t meet your standards, e.g., tobacco or fossil fuels)

This type of investing allows you to fund your future while championing the causes you believe in—without necessarily sacrificing financial performance.

Why Women Are Leading the Shift

Women are statistically more likely than men to:

  • Consider environmental and social outcomes when choosing investments

  • Want their money to reflect their personal and family values

  • Think long-term about legacy and intergenerational impact

Women also tend to approach financial decisions holistically—thinking not just about ROI, but about values alignment, quality of life, and generational influence.

This trend is only accelerating as more women accumulate wealth, become primary financial decision-makers, and inherit assets from previous generations.

Building a Portfolio That Reflects Your Values

Here’s how to put values-based investing into action:

1. Define Your Values and Vision

Start by reflecting on what causes, industries, or principles are non-negotiable for you. This could include:

  • Environmental sustainability

  • Racial or gender equity

  • Ethical supply chains

  • Faith-informed stewardship

  • Health and education access

  • Board diversity and executive accountability

2. Incorporate ESG Screening

Use ESG filters to include companies that score highly on sustainability, governance, or social factors—and to exclude those that don’t meet your standards.

3. Explore Thematic and Impact Investing

You might consider funds or ETFs focused on clean energy, gender-lens investing, sustainable agriculture, or global development.

4. Don’t Sacrifice Diversification

Values-aligned investing can still be diversified across asset classes and sectors. A well-structured portfolio balances alignment with opportunity.

5. Engage in Active Ownership

For those with significant holdings, voting proxies and shareholder engagement can be powerful tools to influence corporate behavior.

6. Measure What Matters

While ESG ratings are still evolving, your advisor can help you evaluate not just performance, but social outcomes and long-term alignment.

Avoiding Greenwashing: Do Your Homework

Some funds use the ESG label without truly following responsible investing practices. Be cautious of:

  • Greenwashing: Marketing a product as “sustainable” without data to back it up

  • Overconcentration: Putting too much of your portfolio into one theme or sector

  • Performance gaps: Not all ESG investments outperform—but many match or exceed traditional benchmarks over time

Partnering with a fiduciary advisor ensures due diligence, transparency, and alignment with both your goals and your values.

The Bigger Picture: Your Values, Your Legacy

Investing in alignment with your beliefs can spark deeper conversations with your family, clarify your vision for future generations, and support philanthropic efforts alongside financial ones.

It’s also a key part of building a lasting legacy—one where your wealth reflects not only what you’ve earned, but what you stand for.

Final Thoughts

You don’t have to choose between performance and purpose. With the right guidance, you can build a portfolio that reflects your values, advances causes you believe in, and supports your long-term financial freedom.

If you’re ready to explore how to align your investments with your values, we’re here to help.

📩 Email us at bri@apriem.com to connect with a values-focused advisor who will help you bring purpose to your portfolio.