Creating a Values-Based Financial Plan
More savers and spenders are thinking big picture when it comes to their financial decisions.


Personal values play an important role in many aspects of our lives and have become more prominent recently in how we think about and manage our finances. More and more investors are asking how they can support the causes they care about through their financial decision-making.
Charles Schwab’s latest Modern Wealth Survey found that 69% of Americans say that supporting causes they care most about is a top consideration when it comes to their financial decisions. If you count yourself among them, consider starting with a financial plan to ensure you stay on track toward your long-term goals while also staying true to your personal values.
Define your saving and spending goals
The best way to start is by translating your dreams into concrete financial goals. Identify your most important goals and commit to saving toward each. Write things down so you can build confidence, stay focused and refine your plan over time while prioritizing both your own financial wellness and the greater good.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Be a smarter, better informed investor.

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
For example, we recently had a client looking for ways to maximize her charitable donations with a limited budget. After pinpointing the causes that she connected with most – the environment and medical research – we laid out a three-year charitable-giving budget. This helped her stay on track with her long-term plan while mixing in creative ways to give back, including ongoing gifts through a donor-advised fund supporting cancer research and volunteering for weekend river cleanups.
I also see this values-based approach in spending habits, with nearly eight in 10 Americans (79%) indicating that they aim to support brands that align with their beliefs. Shopping local, buying secondhand goods, and choosing brands that support environmental and social causes are a few ways consumers make an impact with their purchasing power. Knowing what you need to save toward your goals likewise helps you determine how much you can spend. Armed with that knowledge, you can then spend in a way that matches your values.
Align your investments with your values and interests
With personal beliefs and interests becoming more important in saving and spending, investors are also seeking ways to tie those values into their personal portfolios. Almost three-quarters of American investors (73%) agree that their values guide their investment choices, and most (69%) say that they invest in companies that align with their personal values. When looking at the factors that influence investing decisions, a company’s reputation (91%) and its corporate values (81%) are almost as important as more traditional factors like a company’s performance (96%) and its stock price (93%).
As you build your own portfolio, there are various options to help align your investments to your values. Environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing or socially responsible investing (SRI), are two strategies gaining traction. Additionally, thematic investing, an approach that uses research to identify trends, opportunities and relevant companies and group them into overarching themes, allows you to personalize your investing based on interests and values.
Whether you’re an experienced investor or just starting out, you can use DIY investing tools and resources or work with a financial adviser to invest your money while making a positive difference. Whatever your goals or investable assets, you have choices to ensure you’re on the right track.
Investing involves risk including loss of principal. Diversification strategies do not ensure a profit and do not protect against losses in declining markets.
The information here is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. The type of securities and investment strategies mentioned may not be suitable for everyone. Each investor needs to review an investment strategy for his or her own particular situation before making any investment decision.
©2022 Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab”). All rights reserved. Member SIPC.
(0822-2KDC)
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.

Joe Vietri has been with Charles Schwab for more than 25 years. In his current role, he leads Schwab's branch network, managing more than 2,000 employees in more than 300 branches throughout the country.
-
These Stocks Dipped in 2025. Do They Have Value?
If you are looking to add new long-term positions to your portfolio, as you should, this is the time to examine stocks that the market shuns.
-
Striking Gold (or Gas): A Financial Pro Unpacks the Nuances of Energy Investing
Investing in the energy industry, particularly oil and gas, involves understanding the facts about how projects generate returns through cash flow and long-term asset building, while also being aware of the risks.
-
Striking Gold (or Gas): A Financial Pro Unpacks the Nuances of Energy Investing
Investing in the energy industry, particularly oil and gas, involves understanding the facts about how projects generate returns through cash flow and long-term asset building, while also being aware of the risks.
-
Escaping the New Golden Handcuffs: A Financial Expert Has a Plan for Today's Executives
Feeling stuck in your job? It could be your complicated compensation package, but it also could be where you live, your family or even how you view yourself.
-
I'm a Financial Planner: Here's How to Invest Like the Wealthy, Even if You Don't Have Millions
Private market investments, once exclusive to the ultra-wealthy and institutions, have become more accessible to individual investors, thanks to regulatory changes and new investment structures.
-
Four Ways a Massive Emergency Fund Can Hurt You More Than It Helps
Saving too much could mean you're missing opportunities to put your money to work. Redirect some of that money toward paying off debt, building retirement funds, fulfilling a dream or investing in higher-growth options.
-
I'm a Financial Planner: How to Dodge a Retirement Danger You May Not Have Heard About
Timing is everything, and sequence of returns risk can mean the difference between a retirement nest egg that's overflowing … or empty.
-
Caring for Aging Parents: An Expert Guide to Easing the Financial and Emotional Strain
Early conversations, financial planning and understanding the progression of care needs can help to mitigate stress and protect family relationships.
-
I'm a Financial Adviser: The OBBB Is a Reminder for Older People to Have a Long-Term Plan
The new tax bill presents a good opportunity for retirees to revisit tax plans, look into doing some Roth conversions and consider plans for long-term care.
-
I'm an Insurance Expert: This Is Exactly Why Your Insurance Rates Are Soaring (and What You Can Do)
A dramatic rise in the frequency and cost of severe weather and wildfires means you need to prepare, prepare, prepare — no matter where you live — for higher premiums.