Billion Dollar Backstory 121: Chat Reynders, Co-Founder of a $4B RIA Reynders McVeigh on True Impact Investing, Differentiation, and Owning Your Story
Some RIAs slap ESG labels on products and call it impact investing. Chat Reynders has been doing it for real, since before it was cool.
In this episode, Chat sits down with Stacy Havener to unpack the story behind Reynders, McVeigh Capital Management, the $4B firm he co-founded after starting his career… raising money for a whale documentary.
Yes, really.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
- The wild backstory of how raising $4.5M for an IMAX film on whales sparked Chat’s lifelong mission to fuse capital with purpose
- Why Chat walked away from traditional finance (and how that shaped his view on sustainable investing)
- The truth about ESG, what Wall Street got wrong, and how Reynders McVeigh is doing it differently
- The power of curiosity, clarity, and staying true to your story (especially in a world full of productized sameness)
- How declaring your firm’s identity can fuel growth both externally and within your team
Whether you're a founder, an investor, or someone trying to align your money with your mission, this conversation will get you thinking.
More About Chat:
Chat Reynders is the Chairman and CEO of Reynders, McVeigh Capital Management, a $4B RIA he co-founded in 2005. With over 25 years of experience in investment management and social venture investing, Chat is known for blending fundamentals with forward-thinking strategies—and for being a true pioneer in values-driven investing.
Beyond finance, he’s raised over $150 million through public/private partnerships to support cultural and environmental initiatives worldwide. A longtime producer of socially conscious IMAX films (including the Oscar-nominated Dolphins), Chat’s passion for impact extends to his work on the board of the MacGillivray Freeman Educational Foundation and other nonprofits.
His work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Barron’s, and Business Week.
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