Aligning Money with Meaning
The Quiet Conversation That Changed Everything
When Keiko and David Tanaka first came to Alden Graff Tokyo Japan, they didn’t ask about stock performance or tax optimization.
They asked us something deeper.
“How can we make sure our money reflects the life we believe in?”
The Tanakas were both high achievers. Keiko had risen through the ranks of a global biotech firm. David was a second-generation entrepreneur with a thriving logistics company operating across Asia. Their combined net worth had quietly crossed $25 million.
But despite their success, something felt… unanchored.
“We were doing well,” Keiko said, “but we weren’t sure if we were doing good.”
Like many high-net-worth individuals, they had accumulated wealth, but hadn’t yet aligned that wealth with their purpose. Their portfolios were performing. But their hearts were restless.
That conversation became the starting point for a different kind of wealth management—one that goes beyond performance metrics and charts.
From Performance to Purpose
For years, traditional wealth management was dominated by a single question:
“How much return can I get?”
At Alden Graff, we ask a better question:
“What do you want your wealth to do?”
Returns are important—but they’re only part of the story. True wealth is about using money to live a life of significance, not just success.
Today’s investors are redefining prosperity. They want alignment between their financial strategies and their:
- Family values
- Ethical standards
- Environmental concerns
- Community responsibilities
- Personal sense of legacy
We call this values-based wealth management.
Why Values-Based Planning Matters Now More Than Ever
We live in a world that’s increasingly interconnected and emotionally aware. Global crises, environmental threats, rising inequality, and social upheaval have made one thing clear:
Money is not neutral. It is a tool. And how we use it reveals what we stand for.
Values-based planning isn’t just a moral luxury—it’s a practical necessity for clients who want peace of mind, family continuity, and long-term impact.
It helps answer questions like:
- Should my portfolio exclude fossil fuels or unethical labor practices?
- How can I give strategically—not just generously?
- What will my children understand about money, responsibility, and purpose?
- Am I supporting the kind of world I want to leave behind?
This isn’t about politics. It’s about authenticity. It’s about ensuring your capital serves your convictions—not undermines them.
How Alden Graff Helps Clients Align Wealth with Values
1. We Start With a Listening Session—Not a Balance Sheet
Before we talk numbers, we talk meaning.
We ask clients:
- What were the defining moments in your life that shaped how you think about money?
- What values do you want to pass down to your children or grandchildren?
- When do you feel most fulfilled or impactful?
- Are there industries, companies, or causes you feel strongly about—positively or negatively?
This process isn’t therapy—but it is transformative. It creates space for honesty, clarity, and direction. It brings your why to the surface.
2. We Map Values to Strategy
Once your values are clarified, we design financial strategies that reflect them.
That may include:
- Investment screening: removing companies or sectors that conflict with your ethics (e.g., weapons, tobacco, polluters, human rights violators)
- Positive impact investing: supporting companies making a measurable difference in education, climate, or health
- Philanthropic structuring: creating vehicles that enable sustained, tax-efficient giving
- Heir education: preparing children to understand that wealth is a responsibility, not an entitlement
- Mission-driven budgeting: allocating capital toward businesses, properties, or opportunities that reflect your vision
Your financial strategy becomes a mirror of your values.
3. We Use ESG and Impact Portfolios Intelligently
At Alden Graff, we don’t believe in greenwashing or shallow ESG claims. We analyze environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data rigorously, using:
- Third-party ESG scoring systems
- Fund-level sustainability assessments
- Company-by-company due diligence
- Real impact metrics (carbon offset, DEI policies, governance integrity)
- Independent certifications (e.g., B Corp, MSCI ESG ratings)
Our portfolios don’t just look responsible—they are responsible. And they’re structured to deliver strong, risk-aware returns while making a positive difference.
4. We Design Legacy Plans That Speak Beyond Wealth
For many families, the question becomes:
“What will my children remember when I’m gone?”
We help clients craft multi-generational legacies that include:
- Ethical wills (letters passing down values and stories)
- Family foundations with shared missions
- Charitable giving programs involving children or grandchildren
- Business succession plans tied to community development
- Scholarships, endowments, or named funds aligned with personal history
Legacy planning is not just about assets—it’s about identity.
Real Client Stories: From Meaning to Mechanism
Story 1: The Mission-Driven Entrepreneur
Yuki, a founder in the health tech space, had just sold her company for ¥8 billion. She wanted to “give back” but didn’t know where to begin.
We helped her:
- Establish a donor-advised fund focused on women’s health innovation
- Allocate 10% of her portfolio to social impact bonds and clean water investments
- Design a trust for her niece with educational milestones tied to fund disbursements
“I wanted my money to feel like an extension of my work,” she said. “Now it does.”
Story 2: The Dual-Citizen Family with Divided Views
When the Morales family relocated from Los Angeles to Tokyo, they struggled to agree on their family foundation’s focus. One spouse favored climate. The other championed arts education.
We facilitated a family mission retreat. After two sessions, they agreed to split the fund into three branches:
- Climate projects
- Arts scholarships
- A discretionary annual vote by their children
The structure respected individuality—while preserving unity.
The ROI of Alignment
What’s the benefit of aligning wealth with values?
Clients tell us:
- They sleep better.
- They argue less about money with their partners.
- They feel more connected to their community.
- Their children take an interest in finances—for the right reasons.
- They stop chasing meaningless goals and start living intentionally.
The return on aligned investing isn’t just measured in percentages. It’s measured in peace of mind.
Avoiding the Pitfalls of Performative Planning
Let’s be clear: values-based wealth management is not performative.
It’s not:
- Chasing ESG fads for the headlines
- Donating to causes for tax write-offs only
- Outsourcing moral decisions to algorithms
- Forcing family members to adopt your exact views
True alignment is about authenticity, strategy, and sustainability.
We don’t push a particular agenda at Alden Graff. We help you define yours—and bring it to life.
FAQs: What Clients Want to Know
Q: Does aligning values mean sacrificing returns?
A: No. Numerous studies show that ESG and impact portfolios often perform as well—or better—than traditional counterparts, especially over long-term horizons.
Q: Can I include values in my trust documents?
A: Absolutely. We work with attorneys to include purpose statements, disbursement guidelines, and clauses that reflect your legacy wishes.
Q: How do I involve my children in values-based planning?
A: We facilitate family sessions, financial education workshops, and collaborative projects that make wealth management a shared, purpose-driven journey.
The Alden Graff Difference
Values-based wealth planning is more than a trend—it’s a mindset. And at Alden Graff Tokyo Japan, we’ve been practicing it long before it was fashionable.
What makes us different?
- Deep cultural fluency—ideal for international, multi-ethnic families
- Personalized ESG and impact portfolio construction
- Multigenerational legacy design and family education
- Cross-border compliance for philanthropic structures
- Quiet discretion and thoughtful execution
We understand that wealth is intimate. We treat your story with care.
Final Thought
Money, left unguided, will follow the market.
But wealth, when aligned with values, follows your heart.
You’ve worked hard to earn and grow what you have. Now it’s time to direct it—toward something meaningful.
At Alden Graff, we’re here not just to protect your assets—but to help your wealth reflect your best self.
Let’s start the conversation.