JULY NEWSLETTER: Happy 6th Birthday To Us!
Hi friends,
As we celebrate our sixth birthday, we’re reflecting on how we have practiced generosity during the last year. Dismantling racial wealth inequality has always been our generosity focus; 2020 brought that work front and center for all of us.
With clients: we suggested that those selling a business or property consider gifting 3% for reparations to Indigenous or Black-led organizations.
At Modernist: we further refined our annual birthday gifting tradition by supporting the Black Resilience Fund, an organization that connects Black Portlanders with direct financial assistance.
As our gift to you: we created another edition of the Modernist Money Stories conversation guides.
This one is focused on the essential question: Is there a responsibility associated with wealth? If yes, what could it be?
You can download a printable and fillable version here, or drop us a line and we’ll mail you a printed copy!
We hope this guide sparks meaningful conversation with folks you love, hopefully leading to new ways of understanding money, always learning as we go.
Onward, together.
Georgia + Team Modernist
investment insights
Over on the blog, we shared Q2 2021's Market Commentary with all the stats and deets for asset classes around the globe.
And in case you missed it, Georgia’s June letter helps us take a critical look at inflation data and what it really means.
MODERNIST TAKES IT OUTSIDE
Did you catch the full page of Georgia in Portland Business Journal’s Money Issue earlier this month?!
Georgia chatted with Matt Kish about the recent rise of women-led investment firms, taking a closer look at newfound diversity in the industry.
She wonders whether it actually reflects a lack of opportunity for women at existing firms. Read a highlight!
If you're a finance nerd like we are, you know that Michael Kitces’ Financial Advisor Success podcast is essential listening and a go-to resource in the industry.
Georgia joined Michael on a recent episode to share her journey from artist to CEO, how she built Modernist, and her thoughts on why progressive values are a necessary part of positive change in the financial industry.
FUND YOUR HEROES
Modernist is teaming up with Oregon Community Foundation (one of our nonprofit heroes!) to co-host a virtual event uplifting their TOP Report, which helps us understand youth economic mobility in Oregon.
In this interactive one-hour session, Georgia and Madeline Brandt (Research Officer at OCF) will help us explore this research through brief journaling exercises and breakout conversations. Madeline will also highlight key data and findings from the report.
We hope you can join us for this fun interactive event on September 23rd, from 12 to 1 p.m. Register here!
Attendees will receive a physical copy of the report prior to the event.
Another way we’re funding our heroes: our badass Director of Operations Katia Belskaya has been supporting the work of FinAbility. This Oregon nonprofit aims to directly address the most common reason domestic abuse survivors remain trapped in abusive relationships: financial dependency on abusers.
They are having a kickoff event this Friday, August 6th to celebrate their launch and share more about this resource.
A Song That is REALLY About: WHY WE WORK TO WALK OUR TALK
From Wikipedia: Based on a true story, Pride depicts a group of lesbian and gay activists who raised money to help families affected by the British miners' strike in 1984, eventually becoming the Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners campaign.
The classic folk song, “Bread and Roses”, made famous by the historical justice movements (and the tear-jerker film Pride) reminds us of why, at Modernist, we're so committed to working to walk our talk.
As we go marching, marching / Unnumbered women dead / Go crying through our singing
Their ancient call for bread / Smart art and love, and beauty
Their drudging spirits knew / Yes, it is bread we fight for / But we fight for roses, too
Check out the manifesto that guides us everyday to get a feel for what we’re up to at Modernist.