Real Leaders magazine named Veris Wealth Partners one of their top impact companies of 2024
January 8, 2024

Veris Named On Real Leaders 2024 List of Top Impact Companies

“At Veris, we’ve always believed in the power of responsible investing to create a positive and lasting impact. Veris is honored to be featured on Real Leaders’ 2024 list alongside so many companies that are working to build a more sustainable future.” 

-Veris CEO Stephanie Cohn Rupp

Veris Wealth Partners has been recognized by Real Leaders®️ as one of the top Impact Companies of 2024. Veris is an independent, woman-led, B Corp certified investment advisory firm with offices in New York, NY, San Francisco, CA, Portsmouth, NH, and Denver, CO. This is the second year in a row that the firm has been named on Real Leaders’ list of top impact companies. 

Real Leaders® is a media platform and CEO network “dedicated to inspiring the future of business.” Their Impact Awards recognize companies that are “solving existential problems through innovative and sustainable market-based solutions.” Their 2024 list features a mix of respected impact brands from across sectors including Cotopaxi, Vital Farms, and RSF Social Finance. 

“At Veris, we’ve always believed in the power of responsible investing to create a positive and lasting impact. Veris is honored to be featured on Real Leaders’ 2024 list alongside so many companies that are working to build a more sustainable future,” said Veris CEO Stephanie Cohn Rupp. “This recognition underscores our commitment to growing as a firm while remaining focused on our mission to drive meaningful change through our work. We look forward to continuing our journey as leaders in the field of impact investing.” 

About Real Leaders and their Impact Awards

The cover of Real Leaders MagazineReal Leaders®, which is itself a Certified B Corp, has a mission to “unite farsighted leaders to transform our shortsighted world.” Founded in 2010, Real Leaders recognized early on that businesses bore a responsibility to be as cognizant of their impact on employees, society, and the planet as they are on their bottom line. 2024 is the sixth year that Real Leaders has ranked the Top Impact Companies. This year, they received over 500 nominations from businesses located around the world. 

Real Leaders ranks the privately-owned companies that are nominated for the list by considering their answers to 30 questions within 6 categories of I.M.P.A.C.T (Intention, Model, People, Accountability, Collaboration and Transformation). Learn more about the Real Leaders Impact Awards nomination and ranking process here.

About Veris Wealth Partners

Founded in 2007, Veris Wealth Partners is an independent, majority woman-led firm that serves as investment consultants for endowments and foundations and as wealth managers for high-net-worth individuals and families. Veris aims to help their clients achieve their financial goals while aligning their portfolios with their values and mission. 

With deep knowledge of the sustainable investing landscape and relevant financial, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues, Veris structures diversified portfolios that aim to drive positive change while bringing rigor and discipline to the investment process. The firm operates on the belief that investing in companies committed to sustainability and ESG principles can deliver competitive market performance while mitigating risk and that investors can have positive social and environmental impact across asset classes and strategies through ESG integrated investing, shareholder advocacy, and thematic impact investing. 

Learn more about Veris. 

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Nonprofit organizations that Veris supported as a firm through monetary donations and volunteer support in 2023.
December 28, 2023

Nonprofit Organizations Veris Supported in 2023

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. 

Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project

With a name meaning actions not words, the mission of Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project is to take actions that improve the lives of young people and families in communities in Oakland and East Bay, CA. This primarily BIPOC and woman-led organization offers a variety of programs, including urban farms that expand local access to fresh, healthy food as well as classes that teach about nutrition, food production, healthy living, and the natural environment.

The Chase Home  

Founded over 140 years ago, The Chase Home offers a variety of programs to help New Hampshire’s at-risk children, youth, and their families live happier and healthier lives. First established as an orphanage in 1877, The Chase Home now serves a mission to provide supportive and restorative residential and family services to at-risk youth in a safe and nurturing environment. 

Veris' Portsmouth team volunteering at The Chase Home, a local nonprofit

In October of 2023, Veris’ Portsmouth, New Hampshire team spent a day volunteering at the Chase Home. The Veris crew helped decorate the nonprofit’s residential care home for Halloween and gave out freshly baked cookies. 

Friends Forever International 

Founded in Durham, New Hampshire, Friends Forever International now provides empathy-based programming to vulnerable youth and their families globally. Their service list includes leadership programs, classes, and other types of support for youth from diverse backgrounds. Their mission is to help youth become the best versions of themselves so they can help their community become the best version of itself.

Make the Road NY

Offering community organizing and a variety of programs designed to support working class and immigrant New Yorkers, Make the Road NY empowers, engages, and helps vulnerable communities overcome challenges. With programs aimed at expanding access to education, legal services, health and wellness care, and more, Make the Road NY has helped millions of New Yorkers, inclusive of all immigration statuses, races, and gender identities, find safety, support, dignity, and justice.

New Hampshire Civics 

By offering non-partisan civics programs to children and adults, New Hampshire Civics serves their mission is to develop, nurture, and maintain an informed, engaged, and civil New Hampshire citizenry. Since they were founded in 2016, the organization has provided civic education and training to thousands of Granite State teachers and community members.

New York Immigration Coalition 

With a mission to transform the lives of all New Yorkers by strengthening and building the power of its member organizations, organizing and educating communities and the public, and using its collective voice to advocate for opportunity and justice, the New York Immigration Coalition is a member-led coalition of immigrant and refugee organizations from across the state of New York. By supporting initiatives aimed at changing unjust policies, growing civic participation, expanding access to education and healthcare, NYIC is working to build a New York where everyone is treated fairly and has equal opportunity to pursue their dreams.

Operation Blessing 

Veris’ Portsmouth Office helped out with the Operation Blessing Christmas Giveaway program in December of 2023. The volunteers helped local families in need select and wrap gifts for their children, which included new clothes, toys, crafts, and sporting equipment, in “Santa’s Workshop.” Since they were first founded in 1978, Operation Blessing has provided food, clothing, and household necessities to thousands of individuals and families in the Seacoast region of New Hampshire.

Urban Tilth

Based in Richmond, California, Urban Tilth has a mission to help build a more sustainable, healthy, and just local food system. This organization grows healthy food in community gardens and schools while also providing agricultural education, watershed restoration training, employment opportunities, and more. Their goals include teaching members of the local community about the relationship between food, health, poverty, and justice and forging partnerships with local small farmers to increase demand for their produce.

Veris' NYC office volunteered at the West Side Campaign Against Hunger in December of 2023.

In December of 2023, Veris’ New York office team volunteered at The West Side Campaign Against Hunger. As part of their service, they unloaded shipments and packed food boxes for distribution to the local community. 

The West Side Campaign Against Hunger, 

With a mission to alleviate food insecurity for local families, The West Side Campaign Against Hunger serves to ensure that all New Yorkers have access to healthy food choices. First launched in 1979, today the organization delivers millions of pounds of fresh food annually (including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, proteins, and dairy) to New York families in need.

Women’s Bean Project

Based in Denver, Colorado, Women’s Bean Project programming offers education, career training, and employment to chronically unemployed or formerly incarcerated women, while also providing transitional employment to meet immediate income needs. They prioritize independence, education, and dignity for the women they serve. 

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Veris visited Washington D.C. Our firm's delegation to US SIF Capitol Hill Day and Member Day events share their insights.
August 1, 2023

Veris Goes to Washington: Insights from US SIF’s 2023 Capitol Hill Day & Member Day

The US Sustainable Investment Forum (US SIF) is a member-based organization, established to be the leading voice advancing sustainable investing across all asset classes. Their mission is to rapidly shift investment practices toward sustainability, focusing on long-term investment and the generation of positive social and environmental impacts.

Veris was proud to co-sponsor US SIF’s 2023 Capitol Hill Day and Member Day in Washington D.C. this summer. Our firm sent Veris CEO Stephanie Cohn Rupp; CIO Michael Lent, Managing Director of Research Roraj Pradhananga, and Director of National Client Service Karen Walls deRochemont to Washington to participate in both events. 

Roraj Pradhananga, Michael Lent, and Karen Walls of Veris Wealth Partners in front of the US Capitol building.

Roraj Pradhananga, Michael Lent, and Karen Walls of Veris Wealth Partners in front of the US Capitol building.

Capitol Hill Day Activities

As part of Capitol Hill Day, approximately 50 US SIF members met with the offices of 40 different Representatives and Senators from both sides of the aisle to help educate members of Congress on financially material Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors and data and why they are important to investors, urge them to support SEC disclosure proposals around climate risk and human capital issues, ask members to support the Congressional Sustainable Caucus in the US House of Representatives and to not allow riders to be attached to the Authorization’s bills that would limit the SEC’s authority. 

The delegation from Veris spoke with congressional aides who work with members of Congress including Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) Corey Booker (D-NJ), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Angus King (I-ME), Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Representatives Chris Pappas (D-NH) and Ann Kuster (D-NH). 

It was an honor to walk the halls of Congress in support of our firm’s mission and our clients’ vision for the future. 

Member Day Activities

The delegation from Veris also participated in US SIF’s Member Day event, which gathers together some of the leading voices of the sustainable investment movement for knowledge sharing and field-building conversations. 

At 2023’s Member Day event, we heard remarks from Representative Sean Casten (D, IL-6), Co-Chair of the Congressional Sustainable Investment Caucus, engaged in a listening session with incoming US SIF President Maria Lettini, and heard from industry experts on topics including refocusing the narrative around anti-ESG messaging and the Environmental Protection Agency’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. 

Stephanie Cohn Rupp, CEO of Veris Wealth Partners and US SIF's Director of Education and Outreach Michael Young.

Stephanie Cohn Rupp, CEO of Veris Wealth Partners and US SIF’s Director of Education and Outreach Michael Young. 

The Veris Delegation’s 6 Major Takeaways 

1. Congressional offices are knowledgeable about ESG topics. 

During our Capitol Hill Day experience, the Veris team saw high levels of conviction and interest from legislative aides who were extremely well versed in the legislative issues around ESG topics. It was inspiring to see so many passionate young professionals who are working to educate our congressional representatives and senators about pending legislation. 

We also saw signs of progress made in terms of greater congressional awareness of relevant critical issues surrounding ESG and in the depth of the questions that had to address their concerns. For example, Senator Chuck Schumer and his aide were very aware of EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB). Their primary questions were around avoiding the pitfalls they have seen Europe face. They wanted our thoughts on the best approach for how to incorporate and codify disclosure rules going forward. They were digging into these topics in detail to inform decision making and rulemaking. 

Hopefully the Congressional Sustainability Investment Caucus, which was created to help inform Congress about ESG topics, will continue to look for new Representatives to join to continue to be internal advocates for these critical issues.

2. There is strong support for SEC disclosure rules. 

All the Democrats that the Veris delegation spoke with were supportive of SEC disclosure rules on Climate Risk and Human Capital Management. 

When we advocated for the passage of SEC disclosure rules, we heard aides say that they see it as a way of increasing transparency for investors so they can better understand the potential impacts of their investment. We heard some aides emphasize the need for public messaging around the potentially negative impact of not including financially material ESG factors in investment decision making. 

The primary concern we heard from our Congressional representatives around standards requiring Scope 3 emission measurement and reporting, was that the requirements might place regulatory burdens on corporations and small businesses. They are concerned about the impact on farmers and the restaurant industry especially and are seeking ways to address these issues. 

Veris' Managing Director of Research Roraj Pradhananga with members of US SIF.

Veris’ Managing Director of Research Roraj Pradhananga with members of US SIF.

3. We heard support for universal global standards. 

One major refrain we heard concerned the need for universal global standards for measurement and reporting of material ESG factors to make it easier for businesses to comply. Linda-Eling Lee, Head of ESG research at MSCI, said that it will be important to ensure that the US  standard is consistent with the regulatory framework in Europe. Universal global standards would make it easier for businesses that operate both in the US and in Europe to comply, because they would not have to abide by two separate sets of rules. 

4. US Congress members on both sides of the aisle need to hear from ESG supporters.

We heard it expressed that our field needs to have a strategy for engaging Republican members of the Senate who seem to be persuadable to vote for policies that support ESG investing. This is particularly important because there are concerns that SEC rulemaking could be blocked by attachments to the appropriation bills in September. 

We also heard from congressional staffers that Democrats need to hear from their constituents on these issues just as much as Republicans do. Hearing from constituents is very important for driving action in Congress across the political spectrum. 

As part of the conversation with Senator Mendez’s office, we discussed the fact that the House passed the Corporate Governance Improvement and Investor Protection Act, which would require disclosure of racial, gender, ethnicity of the board and C-suite members of public companies, in June of 2021 but it still hasn’t passed in the Senate. This Act includes many provisions we want to see, including disclosure on diversity, lobbying, C-Suite compensation, climate related risks, and more. Senator Menendez is pushing for more corporate governance disclosure and there is the potential for movement on that soon. If you support that, you may wish to write to your senators to express your views. 

5. We need to get better at explaining ESG. 

One of the major themes of the conversations that took place at US SIF’s Member Day event was that, as a field, we need to do a better job of explaining what ESG is and why integration of financially material ESG factors is so important in investment decision making. 

Most of the anti-ESG sentiment is broad and focuses on terminology instead of real-world concerns. Critics of ESG tend to attack the acronym in general ways – calling it “woke capitalism” instead of pointing to specific issues. 

We heard an idea expressed that the best approach would be to focus on our shared values and find ways to talk about financially material ESG factors and ESG in personal terms so that it’s more relatable. One powerful way to do this would be to offer real-world examples of environmental, social, and/or governance factors guiding decision-making. For example, increased wildfire risk due to climate change has already led at least two major insurance companies to stop offering homeowners insurance in the state of California.

Take a look at ESGtruths.com to get specific talking points to help connect with people – your friends, family, colleagues and elected representatives alike. 

6. US SIF seeks to further build the field. 

US SIF is helping to build the field of sustainable investing through research, education, media outreach, and policy advocacy. Your voice and perspective can help accelerate that work. 

If you are not already a member, consider joining US SIF. Membership is open to asset owners and asset management firms, and other types of organizations and service providers that are active in the field of sustainable and responsible investing.

If you are a member, US SIF’s New CEO Maria Lettini said at Member Day that she is actively seeking feedback on the future of the organization. She wants to hear from Members on what vision for the future we collectively want to see the organization advocating for. If you are a member, you can contact US SIF to express your ideas about the best path forward.

Disclaimer 

The information above is provided for informational purposes only, represents only a summary of topics discussed, does not constitute investment advice, and solely reflects the views of the authors, which are subject to change without notice. Additionally, this document contains information derived from third party sources. Although we believe these third-party sources to be reliable, we make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information derived from such third-party sources and take no responsibility, therefore.

Although Veris has highlighted herein various initiatives relating to policy activism in which it has participated, no inference should be drawn as to the success or failure of such initiatives or the ultimate impact on the financial or impact results achieved by our clients.  

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Veris wins 3 Wealth for Good Awards in 2023
July 10, 2023

Veris and Firm CIO Michael Lent Honored With Three Wealth for Good Awards

NYC, San Francisco, Portsmouth, – Veris Wealth Partners, an independent, woman-led impact wealth management firm, won two Wealth for Good Awards and the firm’s Co-founder and Chief Investment Officer Michael Lent was honored for Outstanding Individual Contribution in Wealth for Good. 

The Wealth For Good Awards recognizes the most innovative and exceptional firms, teams, and individuals in the global wealth management industry. Winning these Wealth for Good awards, “validates what I’ve been doing for 30 years and what Veris has been doing for 16 years,” said Veris’ CIO Michael Lent. Veris won in the following categories: 

Outstanding Individual Contribution in Wealth For Good (Americas) – Michael Lent 

Award organizers noted that Michael Lent was selected to receive this award as “a pioneering impact investing leader who has been delivering financial planning and investment consulting services to high-net-worth families, family offices, and foundations.” The judges noted that Michael’s “leadership and contributions to the impact sector have been immense” and praised him for his “vision, commitment, and achievements.”  

Best ESG Communication Strategy (Americas)

The ESG communication strategy category applies to internal and/or external communication and also includes a review of how the strategy has been implemented. The judges noted that Veris was selected because the firm has been “a trailblazer” in their distinct focus on ESG and impact investing themes and communications highlighting their belief that the integration of material ESG factors can mitigate risk and have a positive impact on returns.

Best Diversity and Inclusion Program (Americas)

In their award citation, judges highlighted evidence that “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging influence all aspects of work” at Veris, including company culture, vendor selection practices, and investments as well as the firm’s “aim to foster an inclusive economy, expand economic and financial access and cultivate a sense of belonging internally and externally.” 

A Look Towards the Future

Speaking to what he hopes the future impact of the Wealth For Good awards will be, Michael Lent said, “we believe that, as a firm and as a field, we will need to rise to meet new, complex challenges related to poverty and climate change. We want to see more investment managers focused on opportunities to create authentic positive impact. Veris participates in efforts to build the field and expand the amount of assets and the number of strategies built to address critical challenges. We believe that investors can play an important role in solving these challenges and that Veris can play a role in helping make that happen.” 

About the Wealth for Good Awards

The Wealth For Good Awards are part of a global program run by WealthBriefing and Family Wealth Report. The awards have been designed to showcase outstanding organizations deemed by a panel of independent judges to have “demonstrated innovation and excellence during the last year.” The judging process was conducted by a panel of experts from family offices, private banks, trusted advisers, consultants, and other service providers with deep knowledge and experience in the industry. 

“I offer my congratulations and best wishes for the future to all winners and highly commended firms – they are all worthy recipients” said Stephen Harris, ClearView Financial Media’s CEO, and publisher of WealthForGood. 

Winners and highly commended companies were announced on July 6, 2023.

About Veris Wealth Partners 

With a mission to create an equitable, just, and sustainable world through capital markets, Veris Wealth Partners is a wealth management firm that builds customized, well-diversified portfolios that focus on creating long-term, sustainable social and environmental impact. 

With offices in New York City, San Francisco, and Portsmouth, NH, Veris helps high net worth individuals, families, and foundations achieve their financial goals while aligning their wealth with their values. Veris believes investors can have positive social and environmental impact across all asset classes and strategies through ESG integrated investing, shareholder advocacy, and thematic impact investing. The firm’s four impact themes are Climate Solutions & The Environment, Sustainable & Regenerative Agriculture, Community Wealth Building, and Racial & Gender Equity. 

For more information, visit www.veriswp.com.   

About ClearView Financial Media Ltd (“ClearView”)

ClearView Financial Media was founded by Chief Executive, Stephen Harris in 2004, to provide high quality ‘need to know’ information for the discerning private client community.  London-based, but with a truly global focus, ClearView publishes the WealthBriefing group of newswires, along with research reports and newsletters, while also running a pan-global thought-leadership events and awards program. 

Contact 

Mandy Gardner, Marketing Associate, Veris Wealth Partners 

mgardner@veriswp.com

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May 9, 2023

Veris Wealth Partners Recognized as Best ESG Investing (Advisory) Firm at the 2023 Family Wealth Report Awards

NYC, San Francisco, Portsmouth, – Veris Wealth Partners, an independent, woman-led, B Corp certified impact wealth management firm, has been selected as the winner in the Best ‘ESG Investing (Advisory)’ category at the Tenth Annual Family Wealth Report Awards.

The annual Family Wealth Report Awards program recognizes the most innovative and exceptional firms, teams and individuals serving the family office, family wealth, and trusted advisor communities in North America. Award organizers announced that Veris was selected for Best ESG Investing (Advisory) because “the firm’s 100% focus on impact investing and ESG investing made it a clear winner in this category.” They noted that the judges were also impressed by our firm’s community lending platform which enables Veris clients to invest in entrepreneurs in low-income communities across the United States.

“We are honored to receive this recognition of our firm’s leadership in our industry and dedication to ESG in our investment approach and platform,” said Veris CEO Stephanie Cohn Rupp. “This is a testament to everyone’s hard work at Veris and our leadership in the space of ESG investing, sitting on the shoulders of our founders.” 

Veris Wealth Partners is named the winner in the Best ‘ESG Investing (Advisory)’ category at the Tenth Annual Family Wealth Report Awards.

Veris’ General Counsel Richard Chen, COO Sheryl Kucer & CEO Stephanie Cohn Rupp receive the award for best ESG Investing (Advisory) firm.

About the Family Wealth Report Awards

The Family Wealth Report Awards’ judging process was conducted by a panel of experts from family offices, private banks, trusted advisers, consultants, and other service providers with deep knowledge and experience in the industry. 

“Every category winner and highly commended firm has been subjected to rigorous and independent judging process” said Stephen Harris, ClearView Financial Media’s CEO, and publisher of Family Wealth Report, “and (can) be rightly proud of the success they have achieved this year.”  

Winners and highly commended companies were announced on May 4, 2023 at a Gala Ceremony at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Manhattan, New York. 

About Veris Wealth Partners 

With a mission to create an equitable, just, and sustainable world through capital markets, Veris Wealth Partners is a wealth management firm that builds customized, well-diversified portfolios that focus on creating long-term, sustainable social and environmental impact. 

With offices in New York City, San Francisco, and Portsmouth, NH, Veris helps high net worth individuals, families, and foundations achieve their financial goals while aligning their wealth with their values. Veris believes investors can have positive social and environmental impact across all asset classes and strategies through ESG integrated investing, shareholder advocacy, and thematic impact investing. The firm’s four impact themes are Climate Solutions & The Environment, Sustainable & Regenerative Agriculture, Community Wealth Building, and Racial & Gender Equity. 

For more information, visit www.veriswp.com. 

About ClearView Financial Media Ltd (“ClearView”)

ClearView Financial Media was founded by Chief Executive, Stephen Harris in 2004, to provide high quality ‘need to know’ information for the discerning private client community.  London-based, but with a truly global focus, ClearView publishes the WealthBriefing group of newswires, along with research reports and newsletters, while also running a pan-global thought-leadership events and awards program. 

For More Information 

Contact Mandy Gardner, Marketing Associate at Veris Wealth Partners mgardner@veriswp.com

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Veris Wealth Partners celebrates Transgender Day of Visibility
March 31, 2023

Transgender Day of Visibility 2023

March 31st is Transgender Day of Visibility. Today, we celebrate the transgender and gender-expansive community, honor the contributions of transgender individuals to society, and work to raise awareness of the challenges and discrimination that trans and non-gender conforming people face every day.

Rachel Crandall Crocker, a transgender psychotherapist and activist based in Michigan, founded Transgender Day of Visibility in 2009 to address the lack of positive representation of trans people in American media and culture. The event has since grown into a globally recognized celebration of the courage and resilience of transgender individuals that also raises awareness of the challenges and discrimination trans people face.

The mission of Transgender Day of Visibility is especially critical now as a wave of laws targeting the transgender community are being introduced across the country. As of today, Trans Legislation Tracker is tracking 492 anti-trans bills from across the United States that are designed to “block trans people from receiving basic healthcare, education, legal recognition, and the right to publicly exist.”

Ways to Support the Transgender Community

There are a number of ways that allies and advocates can support the trans community:

  • Listening to the stories of trans people and educating ourselves about the unique experiences and challenges that transgender individuals face
  • Supporting organizations that are working to advocate for and protect transgender rights and promote education and awareness about transgender issues
  • Speaking out in support of transgender-inclusive policies in our schools and workplaces
  • Challenging harmful stereotypes and misinformation about transgender people and standing up against discrimination and hate crimes

Below is a list of organizations that provide support Transgender individuals and are working to help build a more inclusive and welcoming world:

Transgender Law Center

Trans Lifeline

National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE)

Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund

LGBT Foundation

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2022 Impact Report
November 22, 2022

Veris Celebrates 15 Years of Impact in our 2022 Impact Report

In this season of thanks, we are grateful to be celebrating our firm’s 15th Anniversary with the release of our 2022 Impact Report.

In this year’s Impact Report, we illustrate the positive social and environmental progress we have helped create, thanks to our wonderful clients, team, investment managers and industry partners.

Download Report
2022 Impact Report

As our CEO Stephanie Cohn Rupp writes, “Through a great recession, volatile markets, a global pandemic, and attacks against our sector steeped in deep misunderstanding, Veris has grown. We owe this to our wonderful clients who believe finance can be a force for justice and sustainability, to our talented team, and to our founders – whom I thank for making such a powerful dream a reality.”

This Impact Report also offers highlights from our history as one of the oldest independent wealth management firms with a 100% focus on authentic ESG and impact investing, our work in shareholder activism, efforts to dismantle obstacles to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within Veris and across the industry, and much much more. We hope you enjoy it and we welcome your thoughts.

From all of us at Veris, we wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

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Download 2022 Impact Report
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Don't Say Gay
November 21, 2022

Veris Condemns Violence Against the LGBTQ Community

“Places that are supposed to be safe spaces of acceptance and celebration should never be turned into places of terror and violence. Yet it happens far too often. We must drive out the inequities that contribute to violence against LGBTQI+ people. We cannot and must not tolerate hate.”
– President Biden’s Statement on the Shooting in Colorado Springs 1

Veris Wealth Partners is outraged at yet another violent attack on the LGBTQ+ community and we are heartbroken for the victims. We honor the memories of the five people who were killed in the Saturday night shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs and express our sympathy to the wounded.2

Veris firmly believes that LGBTQ rights are human rights and that violent acts like these are intended to harm not only the victims, but the entire community by destroying any sense of safety in the spaces where lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer people gather. We also believe that the rise of cruel anti LGBTQ rhetoric and legislation like the “Don’t Say Gay” law in Florida has contributed to a rise in violent acts against this community.3

We believe that the shocking number of mass shootings in the United States4 shows that all Americans are at risk of gun violence, but the data shows that LGBTQ individuals are particularly vulnerable – especially trans people of color.5 This cruel and cowardly act in Colorado coincided with the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance. The LGBTQ rights advocacy group Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has tracked the deaths of over 300 transgender people due to violence over the last decade and that two-thirds of those deaths were caused by gun violence.6 Before the shooting in Colorado, HRC had tracked the deaths of 32 transgender and gender non-conforming people in 2022 alone.7

We agree with the statement issued by HRC President Kelley Robinson in the aftermath of the attack in Colorado: “We must rise against hate in the strongest possible terms, we must stand together in solidarity and love with our LGBTQ+ family in Colorado Springs and demand an end to this epidemic of gun violence. From Pulse to Colorado Springs to so many other lives stolen from us— this has occurred for far too long.”8

Organizations Providing Support to the LGBTQ Community

References

1 www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/11/20/statement-by-president-biden-on-the-deadly-shooting-in-colorado-springs/

2 www.nytimes.com/live/2022/11/20/us/colorado-springs-shooting

3 www.hrc.org/resources/hate-crimes

4 www.gunviolencearchive.org/reports/mass-shooting

5 www.hrc.org/resources/hate-crimes

6 www.hrc.org/press-releases/human-rights-campaign-foundation-marks-ten-years-of-tracking-violence-against-transgender-and-gender-non-conforming-people-recording-32-fatalities-in-2022

7 https://reports.hrc.org/an-epidemic-of-violence-2022

8 www.hrc.org/press-releases/human-rights-campaign-responds-to-tragic-fatal-shooting-at-lgbtq-nightclub-in-colorado-springs-calls-attention-to-rise-in-anti-lgbtq-hate-and-senseless-gun-violence

The information above is provided for informational purposes only and reflects the views of the authors. Additionally, this document contains information derived from third party sources. Although we believe these third-party sources to be reliable, we make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information derived from such third-party sources and take no responsibility, therefore.

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Sheryl Kucer Businesswire article
November 18, 2022

Sheryl Kucer Named COO of Veris Wealth Partners

We are thrilled to welcome Sheryl Kucer to Veris as our new Chief Operating Officer.

Sheryl brings to the role over 15 years of operational and human capital experience and her deep commitment to the Veris values of social justice, racial and gender equity and environmental sustainability.

Sheryl Kucer

Sheryl’s experience will help ensure that Veris continues to innovate and evolve while remaining a leader in the impact investing movement. She most recently served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer at Dyson Capital Advisors.

Sheryl said that she is excited to be joining Veris at this moment in history because “thoughtful and forward-thinking impact investment is needed more than ever” and that she is “grateful to have the opportunity to align with a firm and a client community whose values so deeply mirror my own.”

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Read more about our new COO
Sheryl Kucer Businesswire article
Veris Wealth Partners
September 19, 2022

Veris Wealth Partners Signs Onto The SME Climate Commitment to Achieve Net-Zero Emissions

Veris Wealth Partners is pleased to announce that we have formalized our longstanding goal to achieve Net-Zero carbon emissions by signing onto The Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Climate Commitment. By making this commitment, Veris has pledged to:

  • Reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 50% before 2030*
  • Achieve Net Zero Emissions before 2040
  • Disclose our progress on a yearly basis

Reducing our carbon footprint has been important to Veris since our firm’s inception. Long before we took this pledge, we made an internal commitment to reduce our carbon footprint and offset 100% of carbon used in our operations. We currently offset 100% of carbon emissions through fellow B Corp NativeEnergy, which uses high quality offsets certified by third parties such as the Gold Standard and Verified Carbon Registry. By signing onto the SME Climate Commitment, Veris publicly reconfirms our belief that climate change poses grave threats to the natural world, humanity, and the global economy and our conviction that all businesses have a responsibility to be part of the solution.

Net-Zero Action Steps

In accordance with our Climate Commitment, Veris will take the following action steps: Measurement – Veris will continue to measure our firm’s carbon footprint on an annual basis. Reduction – Veris will continue to seek innovative ways to reduce our emissions firmwide and adopt new practices to make progress towards our goal of net zero. Reporting – We have historically included data about our firm’s annual carbon footprint in our annual Impact Report and we will continue to do so to mark our progress.

Join the Effort to Achieve Net-Zero & Fight Climate Change

The SME Climate Commitment was designed to spur more small and medium sized organizations to take bigger steps to achieve our shared goal of emitting Net-Zero carbon emissions and is part of the United Nations Race to Zero Campaign. We believe that public accountability is a powerful tool to drive behavior change and we encourage more business leaders to join us in signing onto a Net-Zero commitment.

*Veris uses 2019 GHG emissions as the baseline year for GHG emissions to reduce by 2030.

Veris WP