Jennifer Risher, author of We Need to Talk: A Memoir about Wealth, discusses her journey from feeling intimated by investment discussions to becoming an empowered investor. She also shares her path to becoming a passionate philanthropist and launching #HalfMyDAF. The conversation explores parenting in a wealthy home and the evolving perception of money.
Women should overcome their hesitations and take an active role in managing investments.
Money can be used as a tool to create a more equitable world by investing in underrepresented groups and supporting causes that resonate personally.
Deep dives
Becoming an engaged investor and philanthropist
Jennifer Risher discusses her journey towards becoming an engaged, values-based investor and philanthropist. Initially, as a woman, she felt insecure and uncertain about investing, often deferring to her husband and feeling uncomfortable asking questions. However, through writing her book and exploring her own relationship with money, she gained the confidence to take control of her investments. Jennifer joined a group called Women with Capital, which provided a supportive environment for learning about her portfolio and understanding asset classes. This experience empowered her to make investment decisions aligned with her values, supporting companies that are doing good and focusing on areas like women's healthcare and underrepresented entrepreneurs.
Overcoming barriers and stereotypes for women in finance
Jennifer Risher highlights the challenges that women face in the finance industry, particularly feeling uncomfortable and hesitant to ask questions. Women often downplay their own knowledge and are afraid of being seen as foolish. However, Jennifer encourages women to overcome these barriers and embrace their power around money. She emphasizes the importance of learning and taking an active role in managing investments. Jennifer herself overcame these barriers by participating in learning communities like Women with Capital, where she gained the courage to engage with her financial advisor and make investment decisions aligned with her values.
Using money as a tool for positive change
Jennifer Risher shares her transformation in viewing money as a tool for creating a more equitable world. She realized that she had the power to effect change through her investments and philanthropy. Jennifer focuses on investing in underrepresented groups, such as women fund managers and women of color entrepreneurs. She recognizes the need to address the lack of diversity and inclusion in venture capital, which often overlooks talented individuals from these groups. Additionally, Jennifer emphasizes the importance of investing in areas like women's healthcare, which are underfunded but present both a social and financial opportunity. She encourages others to use their money purposefully to shape the world they want to live in.
Breaking barriers to charitable giving
Jennifer Risher highlights the challenges and misconceptions surrounding charitable giving. Many people feel overwhelmed and fear getting it wrong, leading to inaction. Jennifer advocates for starting small and finding causes that resonate personally, emphasizing that there's no right or wrong way to give. She emphasizes the importance of living one's values and recognizing that even modest contributions can make a significant impact. Jennifer also discusses her initiative, Half My DAF, which encourages donor-advised fund holders to activate their funds by committing to give away half the amount. By dispelling fears and simplifying the process, Jennifer aims to inspire more people to embrace philanthropy.
This is part two of my interview with Jennifer Risher, speaker, investor, philanthropist and the author of: We Need to Talk: A Memoir about Wealth.
After years of feeling awkward and embarrassed about her wealth, today Jennifer has a more comfortable, healthy relationship with the money.
In this episode, Jennifer describes how she moved from feeling intimated by investment discussions – letting her husband take the lead – to becoming an informed and empowered investor.
We also discuss her path to becoming a passionate philanthropist – from initially feeling overwhelmed by the choices and pressure to ‘get giving right’ to today, an inspiring advocate for charitable giving. In 2020, Jennifer and her husband, David launched #HalfMyDAF – a concept that has moved millions of dollars to the nonprofit sector in the past three years.
This is a very honest conversation about what it’s like to come to terms with significant wealth and use it in a way that is consistent with your values and the change you want to see in the world.
Serious Coin creator and host is Kelly Willis Green. Having spent a career as a marketing professional in wealth management and having come into affluence through marriage, Kelly brings both a personal and professional perspective to conversations about wealth – its complexities, privileges, opportunities and challenges.
