Practitioners' views on holistic investing approaches that benefit people and the planet

By Christin ter Braak-Forstinger

Conscious investors are part of a growing movement who believe they can do better things with their money when they deeply connect with their money and when they allow themselves to see the big picture: namely, the wider systemic impact that their investment decisions entail.

Humanity’s current social and environmental challenges require us to dramatically rethink global growth for long-term prosperity and to transform capital markets into a force for good. This will need a fundamental shift towards a regenerative economy as well as a regenerative form of investing. Consciously reflecting and consciously acting upon one’s own personal- and financial choices will definitely be part of the solution. Conscious investors are profoundly connected to their mission in life, to humanity and to all the planet. To them investing is an extension of their life’s calling and they are aware that everything is not only connected, but also co-evolves in the web-of-life.

Conscious investing enlarges the picture beyond the intention to create a positive social and environmental impact, next to achieving a financial return, and brings a systemic view to the investor. It is both a state of awareness as well as a holistic form of impactful investing.

This book aims to share approaches to conscious investing that are valid for everyone: a normal person with a family to take care of, as well as dedicated impact investing enthusiasts. Throughout, you will find personal investment stories that have created tangible real-life outcomes and positive impact in multiple ways.

Conscious investors represent a new, enlightened group of investors who are not only value-driven but who proactively point their money towards the future they want for themselves, their children and their planet.

Dr Christin ter Braak-Forstinger, LL.M. is the founder of PVA Advisory (founded in 2011) and the co-founder of Chi Impact Capital (founded in 2017) and has a longstanding and professional track record in the area of strategic philanthropy- and impact investing advisory. She is an advocate of a holistic and conscious approach to investing and a regenerative capital market. Before founding PVA Advisory, Christin worked for Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, the Financial Market Authority Austria, Bank Julius Baer and SAM Sustainable Asset Management AG. Christin is the author of peer-reviewed articles in banking, law, philanthropy and impact investing. She has also published several books. Christin completed her postgraduate studies at Duke Law School and at Harvard Law School. Her dissertation and her master’s thesis received several awards.

Privately, Christin is the co-founder and president of BRAVEAURORA, a distinguished Austrian, Swiss and Ghana based NGO (founded in 2009) that aims to reintegrate orphans and vulnerable children into their extended families, abolish illegal orphanages, and undertakes collaborative community development work in Northern Ghana. Christin is a dedicated mother of two children and is an earth and nature lover. She is a certified yoga teacher. Yoga and meditation form an integral part of her life.