Jean Case, CEO of 'For What it's Worth' and Chairman of the National Geographic Society, joined Closing Bell's Kristen Scholer to discuss the rise in impact investing, as millennials increasingly want to invest in companies that align with their values.

Closing Bell

Businesswoman, Philanthropist Jean Case Helps Promote Impact Investing in Weekly Newsletter

Welcome back to closing balance better news. Everyone. Impact investing is a hot topic these days amid multiple global crises. Seismic events like the pandemic, which has claimed some 6.5 million lives, of course, the war Ukraine climate change and much more. Well, they're driving investors to put their money into companies that are looking to make a positive change. But it's not charity. People want to see you return on these investments regardless of the cause. So my next guest has a track record of success in impact investing and started a weekly newsletter which helps people align their investments with their values. Joining me now is businesswoman, philanthropist and impact investing. Pioneer jean case, chair of the National Geographic Society jeans. Such an honor to have you on the show. I want to be with you. Thanks for having me so happy to have you. So tell me more about this newsletter for what it's worth and why you started it. Sure, well, it's really exciting. You know, there are big changes taking place in the world of finance that aren't being covered as carefully. And one of them is the emergence of the economic power of millennials in the next gen overall. And what we see is a very different approach from this generation in the same way they were conscious consumers. They have really turned into conscious investors fortune put the combined wealth of millennials over $9 trillion dollars there. The large, just workforce in history and they want to use their investment capital in a way that can shape a better world. So our newsletter for what it's worth, is a free weekly newsletter aimed at next gen. And really it's helped them build their knowledge and confidence as they try to use their investment capital, not only for a financial return, but to make a bigger difference. What are some of the biggest sectors, Gene that you're seeing people want to invest in to make an impact? Yeah, well, I would say it's around sustainability is really where most of the momentum has been. You know, 95% of millennials say they're interested in sustainable investing. And of course, we've just seen that whole category mushroom in recent years. Um, and it's a really exciting time for a young investor and one of the things we try to do, you know, we cover different sectors, whether they be wind, hydrogen, talking about e B batteries, all kinds of things that aren't being covered in many cases by the mainstream press. And these are areas that next gen is very, very passionate about what about some of the tv makers in particular. Gene, I'm thinking of companies like Tesla and increasingly GM and ford Motor, are those popular investments that you're seeing in appetite in as well. Absolutely. And, you know, I just, this week picked up my new Rivian truck, which is an E V pickup truck, the first one in the United States, a real innovation and, you know, what I find is next general watching these companies and their moves, in fact, some data came out that said 50 c 7% of next generation investors have sold a stock if they feel that the company isn't being a good actor. So not only are they proactively looking at great areas and sectors to invest in but they're paying close attention to what kind of actors the companies are that they're invested in. So gina munger many accolades. I know you are chair of the National Geographic Society. How does your work there connect with investing to make better change for the climate? Well obviously that's been part of the Mission of National Geographic for 134 years. What's really exciting is we've taken our $1.4 billion dollar endowment and we've looked at ways to use that endowment capital to extend our mission and we've done that through impact investing. And it's been really exciting you know to get everyone comfortable. We started with what I call a tow in The water approach where we just took $50 million dollars and did some investments. And not surprisingly soon we were able to demonstrate that those investments in many cases outperformed and today we don't have a cap on what we do in impact investing. And we're always looking at mission aligned investments that can help do the same things for the world that are broader nonprofit is out there doing Arjun. We have seen some politicians basically dissuade people investors from making some of these E. S. G. Investments. I'm thinking of florida's Governor, Ron DeSantis for instance. What do you make of this practice and what's your response to that decision? It's a real movement, this anti E. S. G. You know what I think the case it's trying to be made is this is woke capitalism actually you know when I spend time with the next generation, they don't think about it as well or not, won't they simply asked the question why haven't we used the power of capital to make a difference in the world? We've given it to government to do, we've given it to nonprofits but why can't companies be change makers? And you know we see come like Warby Parker are super hot impact investing company but also just one of the hottest brands on the planet. And these next generation of entrepreneurs are coming along at the same time. This next generation of investors are who are looking to invest in these kind of companies buy these products and support this kind of work. Alright, businesswoman, philanthropist and impact investing, pioneer jean case jean, thank you for coming on the show jeans. Also the chair, as we mentioned as the Nationals of the National Geographic Society