The common advice says to put money in index funds and let time do the work. That advice is not for me. My stance is simple: money is a vote. Every dollar backs a company, a practice, and a set of values. I choose not to vote for businesses that hurt people, even if they sit inside a popular index.
As an entrepreneur who built wealth young, I’ve seen how capital shapes behavior. So my opinion is clear: values should drive investment decisions. Not hype. Not fear. Not blind diversification. This issue matters because many portfolios quietly fund companies that extract more than they create.
My Core View
I don’t have any money in the stock market. That surprises people who see me as a “money guy.” It shouldn’t. The market doesn’t match my investor DNA. It also conflicts with how I want to show up as a human.
“I don’t have any money in the stock market… It’s not really my investor DNA.”
I believe a large share of major indexes include firms that damage lives, communities, or the planet. That is not a bet I’m willing to make.
“I believe I vote with my dollars. And 40% of the S&P 500 I would love to go away because I don’t think they’re helping humanity.”
Yes, public markets are liquid. But liquidity is not the same as integrity. Liquidity lets you exit fast. It doesn’t fix a broken model.
What I Choose Instead
My focus is on what I know and touch. I back my own enterprises. I own a few pieces of real estate that I understand well. Some of those properties don’t even throw cash flow today. They still serve as a hedge against inflation. The key is intimacy with the asset, not a ticker symbol.
“Yes, it’s more liquid than my businesses… and the few pieces of real estate that I intimately know and utilize and don’t even create cash flow from, but helps as a hedge against inflation.”
Over time, I cut the noise and simplified my finances. Less complexity. More clarity. Fewer middlemen. Better alignment with what matters.
“I just simplified my financial…”
Why This Approach Works For Me
Ownership beats speculation. When you build or buy what you understand, risk falls and conviction rises. That invites better decisions. It also brings accountability. There’s no hiding behind a fund manager.
Values create staying power. When capital aligns with purpose, patience is easier. You don’t panic when headlines shift every hour. You act from principle, not from fear.
Returns come from focus. Spreading money across hundreds of companies you don’t know is not diversification. It’s confusion. Focused bets on known assets build real skill and insight.
What About the Counterarguments?
Some say, “But the market outperforms.” Sometimes it does. Sometimes it doesn’t. Chasing averages ignores the moral cost and personal stress. Others say, “Liquidity is king.” Liquidity is nice. But selling fast is not the same as sleeping well. Alignment matters more.
Another pushback: “You’ll miss the big winners.” Maybe. Missing gains in firms that harm people is a win in my book. Money is not neutral. It funds something—good or bad.
How to Vote With Your Dollars
This is not about perfection. It’s about intention. Start small and make it real.
- List the industries you refuse to fund. Draw clear lines.
- Audit your portfolio. Find out what you own through indexes and funds.
- Shift capital to businesses you know, use, and believe in.
- Consider local or private deals where you can add value.
- Keep cash for options. Patience is an asset.
- Simplify. Fewer accounts. Fewer products. More clarity.
These steps will help align your money with your values without getting lost in complexity.
The Real Point
Wealth is not only about returns. It is about who you become through the way you earn and invest. It is about what your dollars say about you when you are not in the room. As Garrett Gunderson, I refuse to fund companies that harm humanity just to chase convenience.
Choose alignment over autopilot. Choose ownership over noise. Choose integrity over liquidity worship. Your portfolio should reflect your deepest beliefs. That is how money becomes a force for good.
My call to action: review where your dollars sleep at night. If they back something you would never defend in daylight, change it. Vote with your money—on purpose.
