Every year, Veris provides donations and other kinds of support to a variety of nonprofits across the United States. Our firm’s offices seek out local charitable organizations that are doing outstanding work to support vulnerable individuals, families, and communities. In 2023 Veris contributed to or provided volunteer service to the following mission-driven organizations based in New York, NY, San Francisco, CA, Portsmouth, NH, or Denver, CO.
By Michael Lent, Co-founder and CIO of Veris Wealth Partners
This letter was originally published as part of Veris’ 2023 Impact Report.
I write this at a time of great turbulence in the world. We are seeing acts of violence and warfare, extreme partisanship and political turmoil, and a barrage of attacks on ESG investing and DEI practices.
It can sometimes be hard to feel hopeful in this period, but I still believe that progress is being made and that impact investors are making meaningful contributions towards solving social and environmental challenges.
By Jane Swan, CFA and Roraj Pradhananga, CPA
The first quarter of 2023 was characterized by major events such as the failure of Silicon Valley Bank, escalating concern of a pending recession. Sentiment made an about face in the second quarter, buoyed by limitless enthusiasm for artificial intelligence. At the end of the third quarter, we seemed to have settled into an uncomfortable normalcy: uncertainty.
The labor market remains tight despite slowing job growth in 2023. The unemployment rate remains low at 3.8% despite increasing 0.2% in Q3.¹ Employees are losing confidence in their job prospects, as shown by recent declines in the Conference Board survey and stalling of the quits rate.
By Jane Swan, CFA
In the hours approaching the end of the third quarter of 2023, Congress passed a bipartisan 45-day funding bill, temporarily preventing a government shutdown. At the time, President Biden prematurely expressed optimism for continuing engagement with Speaker McCarthy in a bipartisan process to approve a budget, including ongoing aid to Ukraine.1 Within two days, Representative Gaetz of Florida began the process of removing McCarthy as Speaker. That effort succeeded on October 3rd. The need to organize new leadership and pass a budget was eclipsed by the humanitarian crisis in Israel and Gaza.
By Alison Pyott
This August 8th, I am called to celebrate gender lens investing pioneer Suzanne Biegel. This is a tribute to my fellow Leo, colleague, collaborator, and most of all, friend. Suzanne has long been a source of insight, mentorship, and inspiration to me and to so many of us across the global impact space.
