Values, Legacy & the Future of Family Office Investing with Kristen Oliveri
On the latest episode of Dollars & Change: The Expert’s Guide to Sustainable and Responsible Investing, Peter Krull sat down with Kristen Oliveri, a journalist turned entrepreneur. The duo discussed the changing mindset of ultra-high-net-worth families, generational shifts in investing, and why people give her hope.
From Journalism to the World of Family Offices
Kristen didn’t begin her career intending to cover finance. A journalism graduate who originally wanted to write about food and travel, she “fell into” the investment world after landing a role at Institutional Investor. Assigned to cover wealth management, a field she admittedly knew little about at the time, she learned by asking questions, building relationships, and immersing herself in the industry.
Over the next two decades, Kristen covered the family office and wealth management sectors at leading publications like Crain Currency, Private Asset Management, and Markets Group. Today, she leads Wealth Reimagined, a digital publication and advisory platform that blends storytelling, content strategy, and curated experiences for firms serving family offices.
What Makes Family Offices Different?
Family offices stand apart from other investor segments in several important ways:
- A Long-Term Mindset: Unlike public markets’ quarterly earnings focus, family offices typically invest over multiple generations. Even first-generation wealth creators who recently experienced liquidity events often think in decades — not quarters.
- Flexibility & Conviction: Because they aren’t tied to short-term pressures, family offices can move decisively when they believe in an opportunity. If an investment corresponds to their values, they can act quickly and with conviction.
- Legacy-Driven Investing: Investments are rarely about one individual. They’re about sustaining a family’s mission, impact, and wealth for future generations.
This generational lens creates fertile ground for a deeper conversation around sustainability and value-based investing.
The Rise of Value-Based Investing
According to Kristen, one of the major changes over the past 20 years is the rise of value-based investing, particularly among next-generation and female investors.
This isn’t simply a “check-the-box” ESG exercise. Instead, it exhibits a broader philosophical shift. Younger investors want their money to reflect their values, for companies to treat their employees fairly, to live an eco-friendly lifestyle, and to support sustainable brands.
The goal isn’t just financial return. It’s alignment.
As Peter notes during the conversation, research shows overwhelming interest in sustainable investing among Gen Z and millennials, and advisors who fail to offer these options risk losing the next generation altogether.
Guilt, Inheritance & Finding the Middle Ground
Kristen and Peter discuss one of the recurring themes for ultra-high-net-worth families: the emotional intricacy of wealth, particularly inherited wealth.
Rising-generation family members often wrestle with questions like:
- “I didn’t create this wealth — what responsibility do I have?”
- “How do I steward it meaningfully?”
- “How do I make a mark without rejecting what my parents built?”
Some individuals give it all away; others disengage. But increasingly, families are looking for a well-balanced path, one that preserves wealth while directing it toward significant outcomes.
Values-based investing often becomes that bridge.
When asked the show’s closing question — “In light of climate change, global instability, and rising negativity, what gives you hope?” — Kristen’s answer was simple: People.
She believes in human connection, meaningful conversation, and the power of being present. In fact, she even champions something unexpected: boredom. In a world dominated by screens and constant stimulation, creating space to think, reflect, and engage in real dialogue may be one of the most powerful tools we have.
To learn more about Kristen and sustainability in family offices, listen to the full episode here.
Check out some of our recent episodes:
- Mallory McDuff, environmental educator, author, and longtime Warren Wilson College faculty member, discusses the rarely discussed topic of sustainable end-of-life planning.
- Iyassu Essayas, Board Member of US SIF, and the Chief Executive Officer of Inflows, discusses the next generation of ESG.
- Mark Hays, Director of Sustainable Investing at Glenmede, discusses the themes leading sustainable investing today.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic. Share your feedback or suggest future topics by contacting us at info@earthequityadvisors.com.
Be good. Invest better.
The Earth Equity Team
