Navigating the Complexities of Sustainable Investing

Jason Howell, founder of Jason Howell Company, has firsthand experience with the complexities of building first-generation wealth, including feelings of guilt, fear, and embarrassment. He advocates for sustainable financial planning, emphasizing budgeting, risk management, and estate planning for multigenerational wealth. Howell distinguishes between ESG integration, which he applies without sacrificing returns, and impact investing, which may accept lower returns for social or environmental impact. Beyond advising, Howell teaches at George Mason University, using education to demystify economic complexities and promote responsible citizenship. He emphasizes the importance of understanding finance, law, and policy's interconnectedness, highlighting that long-term economic stability depends on entrepreneurs, financiers, consumers, and clients, rather than short-term political fluctuations.

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Jason Howell Company is a family wealth management firm that strengthens families making the transition from first generation success to family wealth. We envision a world where wealthy families give, grow and govern themselves in ways that enrich their local communities. We do this by reducing the fear, isolation and guilt associated with financial success.

Jason J. Howell, CFP®, CPWA®, CSRIC® and Douglas W. Tees, MBA, CFP® CAP®, CBDA  have spent a lot of time in the Washington, DC area, and are aware that many people who are first generation wealth suffer from a kind of "financial imposter syndrome."  Successful entrepreneurs and family businesses are always looking over their shoulder; government contractors worry about the next contract; former Capitol Hill staffers privately wonder if they should "feel bad" for the money they now make. Imposter syndrome is common among people who work for the many corporate headquarters based in this area as well. These feelings get in the way of properly managing family wealth. We empower them to get organized, build a team of advisors and make decisions.

Our typical "first generation wealth" families include dual income parents who work, save and have just the right amount of fun. For long-time, family owned businesses we focus on much family preservation as we do wealth preservation. 

First generation wealth success stories and family business owners realize that they:

• Need to “do something” with the cash in their checking/savings
• Need to eventually diversify their portfolio away from the family business
• Need an investment strategy for “up” and “down” markets
• Need a plan to mitigate market, credit, inflation, and political risks
• Need to start tax planning instead of just tax paying
• Need to be sure they are choosing the right work benefits
• Need to reduce financial miscommunications between family members
• Need to separate business finances from personal finances
• Need to separate family wealth from individual wealth
• Need a plan to provide space for both family and individual philanthropy 
• Need to plan for money while alive and for what happens after death